Hawks CEO Steve Koonin yesterday tweeted an image of a "doctor's note" that fans could give to their bosses today after last night's game against the Clippers from L.A. did not tip off until 10:30pm ET, and fans "who bring their boss to Wednesday’s home game get a two-for-one," according to ESPN's Kenny Mayne. Mayne called Koonin a "damn marketing genius" for the promo ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/6). The team's game against the Grizzlies tomorrow also will be "Swipe Right Night," as the Hawks are "helping you find your match with Tinder, the matchmaking mobile app that lets users connect via their phones if they ‘like’ each other’s picture" (AJC.com, 1/5). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan said, "It’s a singles night in essence, with a dating service to get people to come to their basketball games." MacMullan: "That is a shame. This team is 18-2 since Thanksgiving, they’re the best team in the East. ... Come on Atlanta Hawks fans, what’s wrong with you!? You don't have to be single to go to the game. Just go support a basketball team that's very, very entertaining, and maybe you'll meet somebody there. I don't really care about that part. Go support your team” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 1/5). The Hawks through 17 games are averaging 16,015 fans per contest at Philips Arena (THE DAILY).
IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES: Atlanta-based WGCL-CBS' Scott Light recently sat down with Koonin, who noted that nothing in his "long storied career prepared him" for the racial crisis the team endured during the offseason. Koonin said, "I don't want to go through that again, but I think I'm a better person for having gone through it." Asked if he was mad at the organization when the scandal surfaced, Koonin replied, "Very. You know I felt like for years, things should never have gotten to the level that they got to." He added, "I had several sleepless nights. Several nights that were extremely difficult because there really wasn't anywhere to turn." Light noted some Hawks fans "said Koonin and the organization were slow to respond at first," as some 800 e-mails "flooded his inbox" in those first few days. The Hawks ultimately drew 19,000 fans to Philips Arena for their season-opening game, and Koonin said that the game marked "the night the organization rounded a corner" (CBS46.com, 1/5).
BUYER BEWARE: USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt writes with
100% of the Hawks now on the market, whoever buys the club "should search carefully for a general manager who wants to work" with coach Mike Budenholzer, "a coach of the year candidate who is responsible for helping players move past offseason issues and focus on basketball." Budenholzer "told players that the best way to rebuild trust and support with fans and the community was by putting a strong product on the court," and he "played a large part in that" (
USA TODAY, 1/6).
