ATLANTA -- Less than one month after the Clippers sale ended Donald Sterlings ugly downfall, another NBA team is on the market following a racially charged disclosure from its owner. [url=http://www.discountcurryshoes.com/]Wholesale Stephen Curry Shoes[/url] . Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson sai

ATLANTA -- Less than one month after the Clippers sale ended Donald Sterlings ugly downfall, another NBA team is on the market following a racially charged disclosure from its owner. Wholesale Stephen Curry Shoes . Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson said Sunday he is selling his controlling interest in the team, thanks in part to an inflammatory email he wrote two years ago. Levenson said he wrote the email in an attempt to bridge Atlantas racial sports divide. Instead, he offered his divisive comments, including his theory that Hawks black fans kept white fans away. Levenson said he regrets the email sent to the teams co-owners and general manager Danny Ferry in 2012 as inappropriate and offensive. In a statement released by the team, Levenson said he sent the email due to his concerns about low attendance and a need to attract suburban whites. He says he later realized the email made it seem white fans were more important. He voluntarily reported the email to the NBA. I have said repeatedly that the NBA should have zero tolerance for racism, and I strongly believe that to be true, Levenson said in the statement. That is why I voluntarily reported my inappropriate email to the NBA. After much long and difficult contemplation, I have decided that it is in the best interests of the team, the Atlanta community, and the NBA to sell my controlling interest in the Hawks franchise. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Sunday the league will work with the Hawks ownership group and CEO Steve Koonin, who now will oversee all team operations. Silver said the leagues independent investigation regarding the circumstances of Mr. Levensons comments in the email was ongoing when he was told Saturday night of Levensons plan to sell his share of the team. Silver said he supported Levensons decision. As Mr. Levenson acknowledged, the views he expressed are entirely unacceptable and are in stark contrast to the core principles of the National Basketball Association, Silver said. He shared with me how truly remorseful he is for using those hurtful words and how apologetic he is to the entire NBA family -- fans, players, team employees, business partners and fellow team owners -- for having diverted attention away from our game. I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully co-operative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first. Sterling was forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers after a recording surfaced in April of the owner scolding his girlfriend for bringing black men to Clippers games. Steve Ballmer officially became the teams new owner on Aug. 12. In the email sent in August 2012, Levenson said southern whites were uncomfortable at games. My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base, Levenson said in the email released Sunday by the Hawks. Please dont get me wrong. There was nothing threatening going on in the arena back then. I never felt uncomfortable, but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority. Levenson said Hawks crowds were 70 per cent black, the teams cheerleaders were black and hip-hop music was played. Then I start looking around at other arenas, Levenson said. It is completely different. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Atlantas population was 54 per cent black and 38.4-per cent white in 2010. For metro Atlanta, the ratio is 55.4 per cent white and 32.4 per cent black. Levenson said he often heard fans say the area around Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta is dangerous. This was just racist garbage, Levenson said. When I hear some people saying the arena is in the wrong place I think it is code for there are too many blacks at the games. Though he said he disagreed with the conclusion, he said he told team executives to add white cheerleaders and music familiar to a 40-year-old white guy. Added Levenson in the email: I have even (complained) that the kiss cam is too black. Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed said the comments in Levensons email were reprehensible and offensive. The statements do not represent the city of Atlantas history of diversity and inclusion, and we will be clear and deliberate in denouncing and repudiating them, Reed said. I applaud the NBAs efforts to enforce a no-tolerance policy of discrimination. As a city, we will continue to stand behind the Atlanta Hawks organization as they work to find new ownership that reflects the values and ideals of a city that is too busy to hate. The Rev. Al Sharpton released a statement encouraging Silver to continue vetting all owners. The announcement by Bruce Levenson is welcomed and appropriate by those of us in the civil rights community, that raised the issue of Donald Sterlings need to be removed, and that other owners must be held accountable, Sharpton said. Though the NBA investigation of the email was ongoing, Levenson apparently concluded he couldnt continue in his ownership role. If youre angry about what I wrote, you should be, Levenson said in Sundays statement. Im angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them. This is not Levensons first effort to sell the team. In 2011, the Hawks ownership group, headed by Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr., made an unsuccessful attempt to sell to California developer and pizza chain owner Alex Meruelo. The group acquired the Hawks and the NHL Thrashers from Time Warner in 2004. The Thrashers were sold and moved to Winnipeg in 2011. Stephen Curry Shoes Clearance . Re-signed by the club to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract on July 5, Bass appeared in three preseason games with Columbus prior to breaking a bone in his hand on Sept. Cheap Curry Shoes China .C. -- Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is resigning after 13 seasons at the school. http://www.discountcurryshoes.com/ . The Canadian tennis players first full season on the WTA Tour was a strong one. She has risen to No. 32 in the world rankings and will likely be seeded at the first Grand Slam event of the 2014 season.MIAMI - The Marlins are no longer pinching pennies, and Giancarlo Stanton wont be, either. Stanton agreed to terms with the team Monday on a $325 million, 13-year contract, Miami owner Jeffrey Loria said. Its the most lucrative deal for an American athlete and averages $25 million per season, or $154,321 per game. The deal includes a no-trade clause, and Stanton can opt out after six years, Loria said. A news conference was planned Wednesday. Its a landmark moment for the franchise and Giancarlo, and its for the city and fans to rally around, Loria said. Any kind of multiyear deal is a big departure for the Marlins and Loria, whose frugal ways in the past alienated fans, angered the players union and made the franchise the butt of jokes. Given such thriftiness, the Marlins generosity toward Stanton becomes even more stunning. His contract tops the $292 million, 10-year deal Miguel Cabrera agreed to with the Detroit Tigers in March. Alex Rodriguez signed the largest previous deal, a $275 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees before the 2008 season. Stanton, who turned 25 on Nov. 8, is perhaps the games most feared slugger. He has 154 career homers despite playing home games in spacious Marlins Park. Giancarlo Stanton has come of age, and hes going to be here a long time, Loria said in a phone interview. Its wonderful to have a young man this calibre, integrity and ability, and Im very happy. Stanton wasnt due to become eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season, and signing him to a long-term deal was considered a long shot for the Marlins. They havent reached the playoffs since 2003, and he was distrustful of the franchises direction. Wholesale Curry Shoes. The Marlins 2014 payroll of $52.3 million was the lowest in the majors. The last time they spent big was before the 2012 season, the first in their new ballpark. Then came another salary purge, intensifying fan animosity toward Loria. The owner hopes that will start to subside with the Stanton deal. Stantons 2014 season ended Sept. 11 when he was hit in the face by a pitch. Despite missing the final 17 games, he led the NL with 37 homers and a .555 slugging percentage for the Marlins, who went 77-85 but ended a three-year streak of last-place finishes in the NL East. The Marlins have said theyre not concerned the injuries will have lingering effects. They made locking up Stanton their top off-season priority and overcame his skepticism about their efforts to fielding a winning team. The Marlins believe theyre poised to contend next year with a young roster than includes right-handers Jose Fernandez and Henderson Alvarez, Gold Glove left fielder Christian Yelich, centre fielder Marcell Ozuna and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria. Stanton made a team-high $6.5 million in 2014. The two-time All-Star right fielder recently won the NL Hank Aaron Award and was voted the NLs outstanding player in balloting by his fellow major leaguers. He won a Silver Slugger Award and finished second to Clayton Kershaw in NL MVP voting. 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