Leonsis formed the Monumental Basketball team in order to give the Wizards a fresh perspectiveMONUMENTAL SPORTS
Monumental Sports & Entertainment Founder & Chair Ted Leonsis said that he "spoke to 78 people in professional sports and beyond, seeking to learn where he had erred and how he should reconstruct the Wizards into a modern sports organization," according to Candace Buckner of the WASHINGTON POST. Leonsis' talks included "exit meetings with Wizards players, Monumental Sports & Entertainment executives and members of the ownership group." But the discussions "also stretched to giants of their industries" like Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and agents like Rich Paul, David Falk and Mark Bartelstein. Leonsis said, "I knew I would get grief for it, but if I did the work, my partners and the executive team would feel good about it." It all started when Leonsis "sought information" from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who suggested Leonsis call Sportsology CEO Mike Forde. Sportsology is a "consultation group that works with and caters to the specific needs of professional and collegiate sports teams." Forde began "sending Leonsis articles to read as well as board structures of other teams and how they got there." Forde was a "sounding board" for Leonsis and also "lined up several" of his clients to speak with Leonsis, including Pelicans President of Basketball Operations Mickey Loomis and MLB Rangers GM Jon Daniels. Leonsis also "reached out to someone he considers a friend," President Obama. The two "spoke in late April about the importance of building the right culture for the Wizards" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/14).
