The Washington Wizards will promote the memorial at the MCI center on February 23 with a national simulcast of  a half-time ceremony honoring the black patriots and Abe Pollin’s contributions to the community.  The memorial maquette will be displayed in the lobby.

Abe and Irene Pollin enter their 39th year of National Basketball Association ownership in 2003-04 as the longest tenured owners in the NBA. Since becoming owners in 1964, the Pollins have watched the NBA become the standard by which all other professional sports leagues are measured, exploding in growth from a small, regional league to a worldwide presence on the business landscape.

In their distinguished career, Abe and Irene Pollin have been at the center of every major issue in the NBA during their time at the helm of the Washington Bullets/Wizards. In 1978, they reached the pinnacle of the NBA as their Bullets, behind the play of Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and Bob Dandridge, defeated Seattle and brought a World Championship to Washington.