The Winter Holidays are upon us and after digging through 20 inches of snow this past weekend, I’m looking forward to spending the next week enjoying this special time of year with my family. I also want to wish everyone happy holidays and a happy, healthy new year.
Speaking of happy holidays, there are a few families that we know had an extra special holiday thanks in part to Wizards Care. Over the past few weeks, Wizards Care has been hosting their 12 Days of Holiday Cheer. During those 12 Days we have seen everything from Gilbert Arenas having a meet-and-greet with Brent Johnson with help from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, several of our players going out and giving loads of gifts at Family to Family, Caron Butler’s Big Bike Giveaway, Antawn Jamison’s Sneaker Giveaway and most recently the Wizards Wives joined in the act as they provided tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring the Rockettes, to two families who have children at Children’s National Medical Center. For more on the 12 Days of Holiday Cheer please click here.
Lastly, our team returned from a week on the West Coast and will be at home tonight to take on the 76ers. After a week away, I’m sure our players are looking forward to having YOU behind them as they look to end 2009 on a positive note.
Today we annouced that the team will honor the legacy of Abe Pollin by prominently displaying a logo featuring his name, “Abe,” on both the court and a patch that will adorn the players home and away jerseys for the remainder of the season.
We will proudly debut both the court logo and jersey patch tonight in front of a national television audience when we take on the Boston Celtics at 8:00 p.m. on TNT.
Earlier today D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, District of Columbia Council Chair Vincent C. Gray, Councilmember Yvette Alexander, the Pollin family and representatives from Enterprise Homes, Inc. celebrated the groundbreaking of the Linda Joy and Kenneth Jay Pollin Memorial Community Development in northeast Washington. The new development will feature 125 green for-sale and rental homes that will provide quality workforce housing affordable to the District’s workers, including police officers, firefighters, teachers and health care workers. The Linda Joy and Kenneth Jay Pollin Memorial Community Development, named in honor of two of the children of the late Abe Pollin and Irene Pollin, will continue Abe Pollin’s legacy of public spirit and generosity through community revitalization.
“My father worked long and hard to see this day come true,” said Robert Pollin. “The night before he died, he spoke to me about how committed he was to this project. He was eager to be out here in the mud, even though he would have to do it in a wheelchair. We have every intention of carrying out the project at the highest possible standard, exactly as he would have insisted.”
Reminder: Tonight at 7:00 pm the Wizards and Washington Sports & Entertainment will be hosting an open public memorial for Abe Pollin at Verizon Center. The memorial event is free and open to the public.
We are on a roll….winning 4 out of the last 5! The fans were great last night and I even enjoyed listening to the MVP chants for Earl Boykins. Let’s keep the momentum going and I look forward to seeing you at our game this Friday vs. Toronto. As a reminder, if you come out to any game during the month of December please bring an unwrapped toy to benefit The Salvation Army. In return, you will receive a voucher to a future Wizards game.
I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous effort of our Wizards Care department. They have officially launched their annual 12 Days of Holiday Cheer. Last night was Day 1 as Mike Miller surprised a deserving family with an evening out. Mike treated the Laws family with limo service to the game, VIP tickets, dinner in the executive board room and a surprise visit by Mike himself, the Wizard Girls, and of course Santa Claus with tons of presents and cookies. We know Mr. Pollin was smiling from above as Mike Miller kept his legacy of giving alive by providing the Laws family with a night that they will never forget. Click here to see pictures and check out the video below for more from the event.
Sundays give me the chance to relax, spend time with my family, and catch up on some reading. Yesterday, I sat down with the New York Times and read Maureen Dowd’s article on Mr. Pollin titled “The Wizards’ Wizard.” I have long enjoyed and respected her writing. If you have a moment please click here to read her article.
In addition to the memorial service that took place this past Friday, we will be hosting a public service to honor and remember Mr. Pollin at Verizon Center on Tuesday, December 8th. Please visit WashingtonWizards.com for details as they become available.
As most of you may know, yesterday, the Washington Wizards family, Washington, DC, and the entire world of sports lost one of its finest, Abe Pollin. Mr. Pollin was a great mentor to me both personally and professionally. I was very fortunate and lucky to have worked with and for him for 13 years and have seen or talked with him almost every day during that time.
Let me be clear….the most important fact about tonight’s game (Wizards vs. Thunder @ 8pm) is that the Wizards leave Oklahoma City with a win! However, being a Georgetown alum I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Jeff Green (# 22 for OKC) also played for the Hoyas and is one of my favorite Hoyas to enter the NBA.
So, let’s go Wiz….pick up the “W” and come on Jeff, I hope you have a great game!
What a great win at home on Wednesday night!!! The atmosphere inside Verizon Center was electric and all the credit goes to YOU! Let’s see if we can bring the same atmosphere during our next home game. I was really proud of the effort that was displayed on the court. I am a fan at heart and was equally excited to see our team at full strength. It feels great to have your entire team together and when healthy there isn’t a team in the NBA that we can’t compete with. Our team played a full 48 minutes of basketball and that’s what you FANS deserve. I hope you enjoyed the game as much as I did.
Another point that I want to make is about the recent addition of Earl Boykins. I really enjoy reading and pulling for individuals that defy the odds. Boykins at 5 feet 5 inches tall does not fit the physical bill of a typical NBA Player, but boy am I glad that he is on our team. His ability to run the point and provide a spark off the bench is exactly what we needed and I am glad to see him scoring for us, instead of against us! Did you know how strong he is…check out this video:
In today’s Washington Times there is an article which I was quoted in that talks about the 2009 Team Marketing Report-Fan Cost Index. I enjoyed being interviewed for this article as it is very important to our owner that our games are affordable to anyone that wants to see the Wizards play.
logo featuring his name, “Abe,” on both the court and a patch that will adorn the players home and away jerseys for the remainder of the season.
