(Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE)
Jerry Colangelo
David Stern announced last month that his run as NBA commissioner will be coming to an end. He will stick around for another full season and retire in February 2014, ending his reign as the longest-tenured commissioner in professional sports.
There is no debating that he is leaving the sport and league in a more healthy and viable position than the one he inherited nearly 30 years ago.
The reaction from around the sport has been positive. With Stern at 70 years of age, this day was going to be coming soon. Jerry Colangelo, the former owner of the Phoenix Suns and current director for USA basketball, believes this is all-around good news for the NBA.
“I was aware of his plan; we have been close for a number of years, and I’m kind of happy he took the initiative to leave on his own accord in his own timing,” Colangelo told the 110 Sports Podcast.
“I’m also very pleased that Adam Silver, the deputy commissioner, has been already named and approved as the next commissioner. He’s ready; he’s well equipped; he’s a very bright guy; he enjoys great relationships with people within the league and outside the league in terms of the NCAA, etcetera.
“I think he’s the right guy, just as David was the right guy when he was hired as commissioner, so I’m happy for both of them.”
Like any leader, Stern does have some blemishes on his career with the NBA. He did have two lockouts on his watch due to stalled CBA negotiations. He put up little fight in allowing the Seattle franchise to leave a profitable, successful market. And the WNBA — a project that was his brainchild — has largely hemorrhaged money and received little traction among basketball fans.
The most damaging incident could have been with former referee Tim Donaghy and his illegal betting scandal. It was a story that nearly put the entire league’s integrity into question and had to be among the NBA’s darkest day.
Regardless of some failed ideas over his time, you have to remember the NBA Finals were shown on tape delay when Stern entered the picture. The league is now front and center in the sports landscape. That is something all owners, players and fans should largely thank commissioner Stern for.
“I think he’ll go down as one of the great commissioners of all-time, that includes all sports,” Colangelo said. “I’ve firsthand witnessed everything that he’s done and they don’t get much better than David Stern.
“When you look at his track record, it’s an incredible accomplishment because at the end of the day, what is he judged on. He’s judged on how have values increased under his tenure because what that means is that all of his business that he has conducted — the international stage, the television and cable contracts — everything that’s been done to increase value, that’s what a commissioner is really judged on.”
Arizona native Matt Minkus is the host of the 110 Sports Podcast, a show that pays homage to one of the most repeated cliches in sports: “Giving 110 percent.” Excerpts of new shows will be available at LindysSports.com every Wednesday.
