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ATLANTA -- Less than one month after the Clippers sale ended Donald Sterlings ugly downfall, another NBA team is on the market following a racially charged disclosure from its owner. Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson said Sunday he is selling his controlling interest in the team, thanks in part to an inflammatory email he wrote two years ago. Levenson said he wrote the email in an attempt "to bridge Atlantas racial sports divide." Instead, he offered his divisive comments, including his theory that Hawks black fans kept white fans away. Levenson said he regrets the email sent to the teams co-owners and general manager Danny Ferry in 2012 as "inappropriate and offensive." In a statement released by the team, Levenson said he sent the email due to his concerns about low attendance and a need to attract suburban whites. He says he later realized the email made it seem white fans were more important. He voluntarily reported the email to the NBA. "I have said repeatedly that the NBA should have zero tolerance for racism, and I strongly believe that to be true," Levenson said in the statement. "That is why I voluntarily reported my inappropriate email to the NBA. "After much long and difficult contemplation, I have decided that it is in the best interests of the team, the Atlanta community, and the NBA to sell my controlling interest in the Hawks franchise." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Sunday the league will work with the Hawks ownership group and CEO Steve Koonin, who now will oversee all team operations. Silver said the leagues independent investigation "regarding the circumstances of Mr. Levensons comments" in the email was ongoing when he was told Saturday night of Levensons plan to sell his share of the team. Silver said he supported Levensons decision. "As Mr. Levenson acknowledged, the views he expressed are entirely unacceptable and are in stark contrast to the core principles of the National Basketball Association," Silver said. "He shared with me how truly remorseful he is for using those hurtful words and how apologetic he is to the entire NBA family -- fans, players, team employees, business partners and fellow team owners -- for having diverted attention away from our game. "I commend Mr. Levenson for self-reporting to the league office, for being fully co-operative with the league and its independent investigator, and for putting the best interests of the Hawks, the Atlanta community, and the NBA first." Sterling was forced to sell the Los Angeles Clippers after a recording surfaced in April of the owner scolding his girlfriend for bringing black men to Clippers games. Steve Ballmer officially became the teams new owner on Aug. 12. In the email sent in August 2012, Levenson said "southern whites" were uncomfortable at games. "My theory is that the black crowd scared away the whites and there are simply not enough affluent black fans to build a significant season ticket base," Levenson said in the email released Sunday by the Hawks. "Please dont get me wrong. There was nothing threatening going on in the arena back then. I never felt uncomfortable, but I think southern whites simply were not comfortable being in an arena or at a bar where they were in the minority." Levenson said Hawks crowds were 70 per cent black, the teams cheerleaders were black and hip-hop music was played. "Then I start looking around at other arenas," Levenson said. "It is completely different." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Atlantas population was 54 per cent black and 38.4-per cent white in 2010. For metro Atlanta, the ratio is 55.4 per cent white and 32.4 per cent black. Levenson said he often heard fans say the area around Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta is dangerous. "This was just racist garbage," Levenson said. "When I hear some people saying the arena is in the wrong place I think it is code for there are too many blacks at the games." Though he said he disagreed with the conclusion, he said he told team executives to add white cheerleaders and music "familiar to a 40-year-old white guy." Added Levenson in the email: "I have even (complained) that the kiss cam is too black." Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed said the comments in Levensons email were "reprehensible and offensive." "The statements do not represent the city of Atlantas history of diversity and inclusion, and we will be clear and deliberate in denouncing and repudiating them," Reed said. "I applaud the NBAs efforts to enforce a no-tolerance policy of discrimination. As a city, we will continue to stand behind the Atlanta Hawks organization as they work to find new ownership that reflects the values and ideals of a city that is too busy to hate." The Rev. Al Sharpton released a statement encouraging Silver "to continue vetting all owners." "The announcement by Bruce Levenson is welcomed and appropriate by those of us in the civil rights community, that raised the issue of Donald Sterlings need to be removed, and that other owners must be held accountable," Sharpton said. Though the NBA investigation of the email was ongoing, Levenson apparently concluded he couldnt continue in his ownership role. "If youre angry about what I wrote, you should be," Levenson said in Sundays statement. "Im angry at myself, too. It was inflammatory nonsense. We all may have subtle biases and preconceptions when it comes to race, but my role as a leader is to challenge them, not to validate or accommodate those who might hold them." This is not Levensons first effort to sell the team. In 2011, the Hawks ownership group, headed by Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr., made an unsuccessful attempt to sell to California developer and pizza chain owner Alex Meruelo. 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Subban has picked the right time of the year to go on an offensive tear.BROSSARD, Que. - A line shuffle that moved Alex Galchenyuk to centre and dropped David Desharnais to the third unit looks to be working for the Montreal Canadiens.But it remains to be seen what will happen now that Lars Eller, whose upper body injury prompted the moves, is close to returning to the lineup.Eller skated without a no contact jersey for the first time on Wednesday since he suffered a suspected shoulder injury nearly two weeks ago.He is not expected to dress when they play host to Anaheim on Thursday night, a game that will be marked by a tribute to former Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, who ended his career with the Ducks. But Eller is close to a return.I will let you know when Lars comes back, was all coach Michel Therrien would offer.The 20-year-old Galchenyuk was a centre when he was drafted third overall by Montreal in 2012 but has played mostly on left wing in the NHL. He got a look at centre in the pre-season, but was quickly put back on the wing.In three games since the Eller injury, he has been eye-catching while centring the first line with Max Pacioretty and Brandan Gallagher, playing with speed and intelligence and setting up several scoring chances.He broke out with a hat-trick Tuesday night against Carolina, with Pacioretty assisting on all three goals.With Larry (Eller) being out, theres an opening and someone needs to step up and hes done a very good job of that, Gallagher said of Galchenyuk. I know that me and Patch (Pacioretty) find him easy to play with because hes going to find you and make plays.We can be a really good line, but its a matter of doing it night in and night out.Since the change, the line has combined for five goals while the team has gone 3-0-0.Pacioretty said it is key that Galchenyuk is developing into a strong two-way centre who can be a scoring threat without being a defensive liability.Hes open minded and thats the most important thing; his willingness to learn, said Pacioretty, who leads the team with 13 goals and 25 points in 32 games. Nobody in this league is perfect and we want him be a certain type of player.Hes the future of this team. The way he builds up his game over time is important.Meanwhile, Desharnais looks to be flourishing on the third line with P.A. Parenteau and Brandon Prust. He has a goal and two assists since the moves, including a clever pass against the grain to set up Prusts goal against the Hurricanes.Hes great to play with, Pacioretty said of Desharnais, who has been his centre for most oof the last few seasons.dddddddddddd Davy has a way of making people around him better.And Prustys a great guy for that line because he brings a lot of energy and hes a straight-line player who crashes and bangs. Theyve been unbelievable these three games.Being on the third line may help the diminutive Desharnais because he is not going against the opponents top checking unit and first defence pair every shift.He has taken some heat from fans and the media, who say hes too small. Hes had that since he joined the team as an undrafted try-out in 2008. But when hes on his game, Desharnais is a clever passer who doesnt shy away from the opponents crease.Since the beginning of the year I thought I wasnt playing that bad, said Desharnais. Now Im in a different role and Im feeling good out there.Of course, you dont want anybody to criticize you, but thats how it goes. Youve got some haters and some people that love what you do. Of course I care, but Ive got to do my job and focus on what I have to do.Eller is at his best as a centre, but something will have to give when he returns. Tomas Plekanec has the second line centre job, while Manny Malhotra is a key pivot on the fourth unit.Someone will have to move to the wing. Galchenyuk would be the prime candidate, but he looks to be making that choice more difficult with each strong outing.Defenceman Mike Weaver, out three games with a concussion, is back to normal practising while rearguard Bryan Allen, who has missed five games with a virus, also is close to a return.A week after the emotional funeral of Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau, another who spent 10 years as captain will be celebrated when Koivu takes part in a pre-game tribute.The Finnish centre was a much-loved figure in 13 seasons with the Canadiens from 1995 to 2009. The 40-year-old played his last five seasons in Anaheim before retiring.A highlight was Koivus return near the end of the 2001-02 campaign after a successful season-long battle with abdominal cancer.I think everyone there that night could feel the emotion, said Therrien, who was in the first of his two stints as the Canadiens coach at the time. He was a great captain.Through his determination, his professionalism, his work ethic and his actions, he was everything you want from a captain.NOTES: The Canadiens assigned forward Sven Andrighetto to the American Hockey Leagues Hamilton Bulldogs on Wednesday. Andrighetto had three points (two goals, one assist) in four games with the Habs. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '