The world of professional sports is often perceived to be full of greedy athletes and even more selfish owners. The people who control it all, the ones with the fattest wallets, they never seem to make a good impression.
There is always the typical aloof corporate president who hires people to make all of the decisions and is never available for comment. Their team may win games, but they seem to be missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.
At the other end of the spectrum you have your embarrassingly meddlesome owners. Those like Marge Schott who not only disgrace their team with their comments, but actually hinder on-field performance by intervening in the day-to-day operation of the team.
She is certainly not alone in making her team a laughing stock; Malcolm Glazier, who purchased the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, recently sold the naming rights to Tampa Stadium. How pleased will the fans of Tampa be to root for their team in Houlihan's Stadium? Haven't these people endured enough suffering-13 consecutive losing seasons-without having to deal with indignity as well?
This brings us to the exception-the new managing general partner of the Philadelphia 76ers, Pat Croce. Croce took full control of the franchise at the end of the regular season after he teamed with the Comcast Corporation to purchase the 76ers from long time owner Harold Katz. The aforementioned Katz had not been popular in Philadelphia dating back to the trade of former Sixer's all-star Charles Barkley.
Many new owners display a certain amount of enthusiasm about their teams, but Croce can be described only as ecstatic. Whenever he is interviewed for television or quoted in the newspaper, he speaks with remarkable candor and passion. He exhibits a type of youthful vigor and excitement about basketball and the Sixers, in particular, that can't help but endear him to fans.
At the NBA Draft Lottery, he was one of 12 officials present representing their respective teams. Most teams had sent their general managers or head coaches, but Croce himself wanted to be there to represent Philadelphia. As the order of selection was slowly unveiled, each of the official representatives acknowledged their turn with a simple hand movement or an artificial smile. As the final card was shown, it revealed what everyone present already knew, that the Sixers would have the first selection in the 1996 draft. Croce jumped out of his seat and let loose with shouts of joy as he proceeded to shake the hands of the other representatives. He reacted not like an owner, but like a fan.
As the Sixers prepare for next season, they face a difficult challenge. Last year the team finished 18-64, second only to Vancouver for the league's worst record. It also marked the sixth consecutive season in which the team's record was worse than the year before-a dubious NBA first.
However, the team is not without redeeming values. They have a core of young players that includes last year's highest scoring rookie, Jerry Stackhouse, and consistent forward and team captain, Clarence Weatherspoon. Veteran forward Derrick Coleman has a reputation as a head case, but his talent is certainly an asset.
When it comes to building the Sixers back into a contender, Croce has once again made the right move by first hiring a savvy general manager. Brad Greenberg, formerly vice president of player personnel for the Portland Trailblazers, has made his mark in his first few weeks on the job with an aggressive coaching hunt and a remarkable computer-based player evaluation system.
Croce and Greenburg took their first step towards the future on Monday when they hired former Trailblazers assistant Johnny Davis as their new head coach. In doing so, they bucked the disturbing trend of NBA teams recycling coaches, and gave one of the brightest young minds in the game a chance to prove himself.
In the following months, before the start of next season, Croce will have a plethora of opportunities to further improve the team. The first will come in two weeks when he gets the chance to use that No. 1 selection he coveted. He has made it clear that he has his own preferences on who the pick should be, but that when it comes time to make the selection, he will listen to the advice of his 'basketball people.' Luckily it appears that they may already agree that the electrifying quickness and talent of Georgetown point guard Allen Iverson are a perfect fit in Philadelphia.
As the summer wears on, Croce should also be able to use his large corporate wallet and the team's room under the salary cap to land at least one big-time free agent out of the most talent laden pool in history.
When opening day comes next season, the Philadelphia 76ers will walk on to the floor in the brand new CoreStates Center and see something they haven't in years-fans. Can you guess who will be cheering the loudest?
Mike King is a Engineering sophomore and associate sports editor of The Chronicle. A Tampa native, he can't wait to eat at Houlihan's Stadium.
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