Listen Live
Praise 102.5 Featured Video
CLOSE
2013 TNT/TBS Upfront - Presentation

Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin (Photo by Christopher Polk/WireImage for Turner)

Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin has released an open letter of apology to fans, the team and the city of Atlanta, saying the organization “did not do the right thing” to address and correct racially insensitive words and innuendos “over a period of years.”

The apology follows Hawks general manager Danny Ferry taking an indefinite leave of absence following his racially insensitive comments about then free agent Luol Deng, who eventually signed with the Miami Heat. This followed Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson announcing that he’d sell his controlling share of the team following the release of his racially inflammatory comments in an email to Ferry and the team’s other owners.

Read the letter below:

RELATED:

Civil Rights Leaders Stage Sit In After Hawks Execs Cancel Meeting

Hawks GM Danny Ferry Issues Apology, Civil Rights Leaders Call for Meeting

Bruce Levenson to Sell Controlling Stake in Atlanta Hawks Due to Racist E-mail

Why Is This Black Pastor Defending Donald Sterling?

Magic Johnson To Donald Sterling Charges: ‘I’m A Proud Black Man’ [Audio]

Donald Sterling Gives Unbelievable Interview To Anderson Cooper [TRANSCRIPT]