“Pollin made a clear choice of preference between the clubs with his management choices for the two clubs. ”

Exactly how? What did he do in the 1990s that could possibly back up this assertion? Not spend on free agents? Guess what: he didn’t do that for the Bullets/Wizards either. He did not discriminate with his management choices – if anything, he was more reckless with the Bullets/Wiz, keeping Wes Unseld on for way too long.

“that rupture, seemed to happen in Washington before it did in other big cities, and I can’t help but think that the Scott Stevens matter played some modest role in it.”

Another empty assertion. What on earth would Scott Stevens’ departure have to do with Caps fans not being Bullets fans anymore? Or Bullets fans not being Caps fans? Are you saying Abe’s lack of commitment to star players turned away casual, Bullets-first DC fans? If that’s what you mean, say it. And if so, if “losing star players” causes cross-over fans to drop, then Abe’s mismanagement of the Bullets is just as if not more culpable for this divide. Remember C-Webb for Mitch Richmond?

It’s great to have perspective in death, and give an honest assessment. But I see little more than bitterness stemming from a two decades old personnel decision.

This just can’t be the case. I can’t help but think that the primary motivation for this bitterness is really the financial divide between the two clubs. Abe chose to tie himself to the Wizards and Verizon Center in 1998, and it nearly cost this city the team. Well I hope you’re happy. Scratch that…I can read between the lines. I know you are.

The most telling moment about Abe’s double standard was the respective last game’s at the old Capital Center. I believe the Capital finale was in the middle of the week and only televised on HomeTeamSports(HTS) At the time HTS was part of the premium cable package with the likes of HBO and Showtime and thus unavailable to a large percentage of the population.

The Wizards finale was broadcast on WB50, an over the air station available to anyone rabbit ears and a pulse. It was billed as the “final event” at the building and the ceremonies were far better produced than those of their ice skating predecessors.

One would think that they would thus get the distinction of playing the first game in the new place. That first went to the Hoyas…

“Some people — specifically, Michael Jordan’s undead legion of media sycophants, reflected glory addicts and folks who still care about $200 basketball shoes — like to joke that the only person who could stop the former NBA superstar was his college coach, Dean Smith.

“These people are wrong.

“In reality, two individuals memorably put the kibosh on Jordan. One is Smith. The other is former Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin, who died Tuesday at 85. The latter is more interesting, because while Smith trumped Jordan through power and authority, Pollin earned a checkmate the old-fashioned way: by playing the hoops assassin like a wind-up toy.”

Now, the million dollar salaries were likely inevitable, but Pollin was probably NOT going to be the one to open the floodgates.

Abe was running a business. While I was unhappy to see Stevens go, he took the decision he did for good reason. Hindsight is 20/20, etc. BTW, the Blues didn’t seem to keep Stevens more than one season either. Also think it was Stevens contract with the Blues that started to run on salaries to the levels they are today. Now, the million dollar salaries were likely inevitable, but Pollin was probably going to be the one to open the floodgates.