Philips Operations Up For Grabs?

Operations for the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks could be up for grabs with news majority team owner Bruce Levenson is selling his controlling interest in the company that owns the team and oversees the Philips Arena.

Photo: AP Photo / John Bazemore, File

Levenson, majority owner of Atlanta Spriit, recently voluntarily reported to the NBA a two-year-old email he’d written that allegedly attempted “to bridge Atlanta’s racial sports divide” by speculating black fans were driving off white fans at games.

News of the email followed the league’s recent pressure on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling to sell his team after he criticized his girlfriend for bringing black men to games. Steve Ballmer now owns the Clippers. Team officials were expected to meet with civil rights leaders at press time to discuss the matter.