Croce: 'Perfect time' for prospective new Sixers owners
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Croce: 'Perfect time' for prospective new Sixers owners
Bob Cooney
The Daily News caught up with former Sixers president Pat Croce on the reported "imminent" sale of the team.
"I think if you get bought by a passionate owner, who is into it 100 percent, I think it's great ... You want that owner who is dedicated, who has leadership, who will bleed red, white and blue.
"When I was there, I didn't care about any other team. I wanted the Sixers to be better than the Flyers, the Eagles and the Phillies. I still rooted for those teams, but I wanted us to be the best, to be the No. 1 team among the fans.
"When we took over in 1996, we hadn't been to the playoffs in 8 years, it was almost an insult to be a Sixers fan. I would think between 1996 and 2001, we unleashed the basketball spirit in the city. Now the new owners know that the fans are out there. They might be a little dormant, but they're out there. My man Doug Collins is so passionate, so dedicated, so right for the franchise. You can smell success with him.
"It's not like you're buying the Dallas Mavericks, who have been a top level team, but this is a great time to be taking over that franchise. A perfect time. Sixers fans will hope, and demand, whoever it is taking over gives it their all. You can't beat the city of Philadelphia or its fans."
Wish Pat was still here glad Doug is...johnnyu— john ullman- pat wanted ed snyder's job. would he take it now?— mold1103
- If I bought the Sixers, Pat Croce would be my first hire. Basketball was fun when he was in the mix.— Vote for Dickie
- Would love to see new ownership bring Pat back into the fold - he was nothing but good for the team when he was involved.— CTL
- Amen — phillyroni
- The reality is the current NBA is an 8 team league, essentially created by ESPN (Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Boston, Lakers, Dallas, OKC, San Antonio). If you aren't one of those 8 teams (like the Sixers), there is no interest from the TV networks, advertisers or fans. This is why the NBA is on the verge of a major work stoppage next season. If the Sixers disappeared from the league, the impact would be minimal in Philly and the NBA.— Kingsalami
- actually that isn't true...iverson and the old sixers teams made it so that it would leave a whole in the NBA...with that being said San antonio is going to be replaced by the overrated knicks as that 8th team...ESPN did miss up the NBA ur right about that!!! — popoff
- @Kingsalami - you're clueless— MrBigDizzle
-
Mr B-Fizzle - let me drop some more knowledge on you - 22 of the league's 30 teams are expected to lose money this season (hmm, I wonder which 8 are making money?) and the league is expected to lose $300 million this season after losing $370 million and $340 million the past two seasons.— Kingsalami - Wow do i miss seeing pat in his box or down by the floor. The games were never the same after he left. His passion and energy flowed through that arena. I'll never forget Carter missing that shot as the sixers moved on to the finals— philly2880
- It's a shame the Sixers will no longer have local ownership; instead they'll have a bunch of New York hedge fund people trying to run a pro basketball team. Should be fun to watch this ship sink!!!!!!!— JBinPA
Comment removed.- Croce comes to the team and they compete at the leagues top level........he leaves and they drop to the basement again...........Sorry, not buying it. — Voytas
- Kingsalami.. It always amazes me how billionare owners actually claim to own a business that losses $300+ million per year.. I don't buy it.. Billionares don't become wealthy by loosing $300+ millions of dollars per year.. These are all charades by the NBA.. All major league sports are a poster child for corporate welfare-ism.. We (taxpayers) pay their major expenses (building their venues) while they reap the benefits of advertizing and merchandising income.. Anyone who believes that ANY major league sports team looses any money is a fool... The franchise is an excuse to print money...— USAFirst1
- u r right on the money with this one....and they threaten cities for extra cash or they will move...snyder just wanna sell so he can focus on the flyers more as he should...but sixers will b back to the top 4 in the east because of collins rep.... — popoff
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
