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Wizards Owner Dies At 85

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By Sabri Ben-Achour

The owner of the Washington Wizards has died at the age of 85.

Abe Pollin was the NBA's longest tenured team owner. He and his wife Irene bought the Washington Wizards in 1964, though back then they were known as the Bullets. According to the Wizards' Website, Pollin championed redevelopment of the District, planning and building the Verizon Center in Chinatown. He donated millions of dollars to local and national charities.

As a manager, Pollin ran his pro sports teams like a family business. He bemoaned the runaway salaries of free agency and said it would have been difficult for him to keep the Wizards if it weren't for the NBA's salary cap. The team won the 1978 NBA title.

A cause of death for Pollin has not been disclosed, but he was known to have suffered from a rare brain disorder that impairs movement and balance. He also had heart bypass surgery in 2005.

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