Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelois an American businessman and sports executive who currently serves as an advisor to the Philadelphia 76ers. He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. He was also instrumental in the relocation of the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL to Phoenix to become the Phoenix Coyotes. In...
ProfessionSports Executive
Date of Birth20 November 1939
came decision time
When it came time to make the decision ... it was obvious.
alongside came guy
When it came right down to it, I had to make a choice. This was the individual, it was the guy, right time, right place. It was the guy I wanted alongside of me to go forward.
eye honor looked positive
He looked me right in the eye and said it would be an honor for him. It was a very positive experience.
adjust along bryant exactly kobe player role talent whatever
I think Kobe Bryant is a player with enough moxie to go along with his talent that he'll adjust to whatever his role is. In fact, that's exactly what he said today.
proud recognized
I'm very proud of what he (Bryan) has accomplished and he's well recognized around the league.
far hotels light major rail ready start sure talking
I'm not sure when we (as a league) will start talking about it. As far as downtown, we could be ready in '09 because the major hotels and the light rail would be completed.
competition major selecting seriously taking team
The first major competition we are selecting a team for is the 2006 FIBA World Championship. This is an important competition and we are taking this as seriously as we take the Olympics.
agents bit eye guys mind past players receive
In my mind how it's been done in the past was a little bit ludicrous. Guys would receive letters. Agents would get calls. Is your guy interested? That's not where we are. We only want players who want to participate, and I have to look them in the eye to find out where they are.
comments time
I have no comments on that. I really don't. There is a time and a place for everything, but not today.
decade next potential stability
The stability is very important to this league, and the potential over the next decade is huge.
sensitive
It's a sensitive deal. It'd be inappropriate for him to be out front.
agents bottom buy calls cry direct far hustled line national people players wanting
It's a far cry from where a lot of people thought they were mentally. The bottom line is when you're being hustled by agents and a lot of players making direct calls to me - things have changed. People buy in to wanting to be part of the first national team.
continue passing time
I will continue on all those committees, so it's kind of passing the gavel or baton, and time for someone else to have the chairman's title,
built calculated career people support
I built a career on risk-taking, so I support people who take risks, but calculated risks.