Longtime Pistons Owner Bill Davidson Passes Away At 86

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LEAVING A LEGACY: In Detroit, Vince Ellis reported despite his health, Davidson "remained involved in the day-to-day operations of [PSE] and Pistons until the end." Wilson spoke with Davidson on Friday, and noted while Davidson "was weak and didn't say much, he was very much interested in what was going on" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/14). Also in Detroit, Sharp & Ellis reported Davidson had been in "ill health the last few years," but leaves behind a "legacy of innovation and excellence." Davidson bought the Pistons in '74 for $7M. The team now is worth an estimated $500M, and Davidson turned the Pistons into "one of professional sports' more profitable and more identifiable brand names." Davidson "will be remembered most for making NBA basketball credible in Detroit." Davidson also owned PSE and the WNBA Detroit Shock. He became the first owner to win championships in three different sports -- the NBA, NHL and WNBA (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/14).

AN NBA LEGEND: The DETROIT NEWS' McCosky noted Davidson, along with NBA Commissioner David Stern, "helped bring the NBA into a more modern and lucrative era." Davidson was the first NBA owner to "purchase an airplane for his team," and also was the first to "finance his own arena." In addition, Davidson was the "first to encourage Stern to consider taking a more global approach to marketing the league" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/14). Stern in a statement said, "The NBA family has lost an innovative thinker, a visionary businessman and most importantly, a trusted friend. ... Bill's influence on our league will never be forgotten" (NBA). Mavericks coach RICK CARLISLE, who coached the Pistons from '01-03, said of Davidson, "In NBA circles, he's a giant. A great man, who shared a lot of wisdom with me in my two years there. Obviously, it's difficult news for those of us who knew him. But he lived a very rich life and helped untold thousands and probably millions of people with all his philanthropic things, which frankly, he never wanted anybody to talk about" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/14).

A MODEL OWNER: In Detroit, Mitch Albom wrote Davidson was "what you want an owner to be: decisive, trusting, smart, camera-shy -- and rich." Davidson "funded the Pistons and was proud" of the team, but he "let players play and coaches coach and mostly he let his business stewards -- Joe Dumars and Tom Wilson -- run the operations, and that is largely why it became such a huge success" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/15). Also in Detroit, Michael Rosenberg wrote Davidson "hired people with bright ideas, then gave them the authority to execute." It was his "finest quality as an owner" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/15). The DETROIT NEWS' Bob Wojnowski writes there "aren't many team owners like Davidson, an uncommon man with a common touch -- no owner's suite for him." Davidson "trusted his instincts and his people as few pro sports leaders ever do" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/16).

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LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE: USA TODAY's Kevin Allen wrote Davidson "wasn't a classic hockey owner," but in the nine years that he owned the Lightning, "what the NHL learned about him is that if Davidson is involved in any endeavor, he always operates in a professional, dignified manner." Davidson, who last year was inducted into the Basketball HOF, is "not likely to get" inducted into the Hockey HOF, because he is a "basketball guy, not a hockey guy." But Davidson won the Stanley Cup during just nine years of ownership, and "when you consider, the Boston Bruins haven't won in 37 seasons," and the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs "haven't won in more than 40 years, you realize those titles don't come by accident" (USATODAY.com, 3/15). Lightning co-Owner OREN KOULES said Davidson was, "without question, one of the greatest owners in the history of sports. ... His legacy in Tampa will be that he brought stability and direction to the franchise, culminating with the great Stanley Cup win in 2004" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/14).

BEYOND THE COURT: Red Wings and Tigers Owners MIKE and MARIAN ILITCH in a statement said Davidson was a "tremendous businessman, owner and competitor. His commitment to our community and his passion for innovation will leave a lasting legacy" (Tigers). Lions President TOM LEWAND in a statement said, "The sports world and the Detroit community have lost one of their true icons. Mr. Davidson will be missed not only for his accomplishments as an owner but also for his many civic and charitable contributions to our region" (Lions). Davidson was an "honored philanthropist, giving away more than $80[M] in the 1990s alone" (AP, 3/14). In N.Y., Peter Vecsey wrote Davidson was "lavishly loyal (a legendary philanthropist) and excessively compassionate" (N.Y. POST, 3/15).

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