Pat Croce still passionate about the Sixers

Pat Croce remains busy. He recently bought another bar in Key West, Fla., and he also finished a new children's book about pirates. His head long ago moved on to other matters, even if part of his heart stayed behind.

It's been 10 years since Croce stepped down as the 76ers president, and longer still since he allied with Ed Snider and Comcast-Spectacor to seize control of the franchise from Harold Katz, but he never stopped following the team that he helped push to its last Finals appearance. Croce, like many loyal local hoops fans, is intrigued by reports that Joshua Harris, a Wharton School graduate from New York, is poised to purchase the Sixers.

Croce talked to Page 2 about the potential change in ownership, the difficulties of owning an NBA team, Snider's primary interests, and why Harris would be wise to get a good deal on the sale price.

Question: Are you surprised Ed Snider is selling the team?

Answer: I think it's great to infuse new passion and blood and get someone who is purely focused on the team. No disrespect to Ed, but Ed bleeds the Flyers colors. He bleeds orange and black. The Sixers need someone who bleeds their colors.

Q: You know Snider well. The knock has always been that he's more interested in the Flyers than the Sixers. You think that's a fair criticism?

A: Yeah. But then again, the Sixers were my No. 1 priority when I was there. It's incredibly hard to focus on two teams. [Snider] would never have gotten rid of the Sixers if he had the same affiliation and affection for them as he does for the Flyers. You don't see him selling the Flyers right now.

Q: Can the Sixers truly compete for attention in a city where the three other teams always seem to matter more?

A: Yeah. This is a basketball city. It can be even easier than it was for me. People said I was dumb, foolish, Pollyanna-ish for getting involved when I did. They said this isn't a basketball town and the arena wasn't even filled during Doc's heyday in '83 when they were winning a championship. And I said "Watch. Watch." The people here want pure passion. They want a team at the top or a team that's part of the community or both. If they get love, they give love. They demonstrated that. In our fourth, fifth years it was packed. They've got Dougie [Collins] to start. He's perfect. His passion and pedigree is perfect.

Q: But that will only get you so far. No one watches basketball for the coach. Collins is excellent, but eventually they need a star to be the face of the franchise, don't they?

A: You're right. The NBA is predicated on stars. They've got to get a star. They have to get lucky in the draft or figure out a trade that works. I would have said you need two stars to win it, but Dallas just showed you don't. You do need one. Maybe they can put a basketball uniform on [Michael] Vick.

Q: So, then, how far from a title are the Sixers?

A: They need a superstar like [Dirk] Nowitzki. You know, give me two players. One great and one big. Jrue Holiday has great upside. Evan Turner hasn't shown anything yet. I'm just being candid with you. That's the scary part. One player can make the difference in basketball unlike in other sports, unless it's a quarterback in football or a hockey goalie or a major pitcher in baseball. But in basketball, one pick has to be as good as you can get. If Evan Turner doesn't turn out to be a great pick, a true all-star, it could set back the franchise for years. You could be Milwaukee forever. That doesn't work here. This is not just entertainment. This is living. This is life. This is everything. We want to win.

Q: How important are owners in aiding that process?

A: I think it's players and coaches first, but owners can put them in the position to excel. Owners have to expect excellence. Look at [Mark] Cuban. He brings fans to the arena because he's as passionate as they are. I wanted to win every night. I took every loss personally. That's what fans relate to. That's what they want. Sports is entertainment. Fans can go to the movies or the Shore. They can do anything. With times so tough, they think about it before they go spend money on an iPhone app or whatever. You have to make the fans feel important. That's where owners come in. They have to connect with the fans. It trickles down.

Look, if a fan pays 50 bucks for a game and the Sixers lose, the fan is upset. But if the owner doesn't care, that fan might not spend another $50. Look at Ed. He hates to lose. Flyers fans know that. He'll do whatever it takes to make the Flyers the Stanley Cup champions. Owners have to want it. Start there, and lose "no comment" from your vocabulary. That doesn't work here.

Q: Any other advice for Harris?

A: There's no owner's manual. It's not like when a Harley breaks down and you fix it. Mr. Harris will realize that Philly is different. This isn't Phoenix, Portland, Orlando. You have to win. When that spotlight comes close here, it burns.

Q: Is this team, right now, a good investment?

A: I don't know the price tag. If it's $100 million, it's a great deal. If it's $300 million, good luck. God bless you. Without owning the building or the TV network, you're basically a tenant in a mall.