The "glacial progress" of Hawks Managing Partner Bruce Levenson selling his stake in the team is "another sign of the continued dysfunction that has been an earmark of the ownership group as well as a reflection of the complexity of multi-owner sports franchises," according to Chris Vivlamore of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The Clippers sale "took just 109 days" after racist comments by Donald Sterling were made public. But it "has been 47 days since Levenson admitted to and released a racially inflammatory" e-mail and announced his intention to sell. Since then, "several issues have arose." There has yet to be an Atlanta Spirit ownership meeting to "vote on the stakes available to those who have expressed interest in the team." Levenson "can force" up to 60% of the club to be sold, although he and his partners in DC own 50.1%. The NBA also is "believed to be putting pressure on the other remaining groups to sell their entire stakes so that the franchise could have completely new ownership and a fresh start." Sources said that Levenson currently owns 24% of the club "as an individual," the Atlanta group holds 34% and the N.Y. group holds 16%. Sources said that the goal of the Atlanta group is to "retain ownership, even if it turns out to be less of their current stakes." Meanwhile, with Hawks GM Danny Ferry "on an indefinite leave of absence," coach Mike Budenholzer has been "balancing several tasks, including keeping an open ear to player concerns, addressing public questions about the image of the franchise and getting a team ready for the grind of an 82-game season" (ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION, 10/23).
