Pat Croce
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When the Philadelphia 76ers named Pat Croce team president on March 19,
1996, they were looking for a fresh start, a new direction. Well, for
anyone who knows, seen or heard of Pat Croce, the Sixers got what they were
looking for and much, much more.
Croce brought with him an infectous winning attitude and unmatched positive
outlook on basketball, the City of Philadelphia and life. In his
three-plus years as president of the franchise, Croce has instilled pride
and excitement in Sixers and helped reshape the franchise by working
closely with General Manager Billy King and Coach Larry Brown. The results
have paid off this season as his team reached the NBA Playoffs for the
first time since 1991 and bested the Orlando Magic 3-1 in their opening
round series.
When Croce isn't talking basketball, practicing karate (he's an
international champion), driving his Harley Davidson, or giving
motivational speeches, he is a devoted husband and father and also is
active with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Police Athletic
League.
Join the high-octane president of the Sixers on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET as
he talks about the resurgence of Sixers basketball this season, their 3-1
First Round victory over the Magic, and their current Eastern Conference
Semifinals matchup with the Indiana Pacers. And once the basketball talk
is taken care of, Croce will no doubt expound on why he shaved his head for
the playoffs, his passion for motorcycles and anything his that comes to
mind.
Pat answered your questions in a live chat.
jason from utah from tsc101.usu.edu at 3:57pm ET
First off, I'd like to tell you that I love the shaved head. Are you going to keep it smooth? My real question is, what is your personal philosophy on staying happy and positive in life?
Pat Croce at 3:58pm ET
Jason, first of all, thanks for the compliment on the shaved head. I'm going to keep it throughout the playoffs, right up until we meet the Utah Jazz! My positive outlook comes from my mother, who passed down to me the "dream gene" - that dream that anything can come true. And now that I've moved from the locker room to the board room, I hope I'm proof of that: That any dream can come true.
BERT VALETNTE from proxy.aol.com at 3:59pm ET
Hey, congrats on the season! The Sixers are my favorite team and I really enjoy your excitement. How about getting a tattoo when you guys win the second round? First round it's shaving the head, second round it's getting a tattoo. Hopefully the Sixers and Lakers will go to the Finals so I can see the Sixers here in L.A. Go Philly!
Pat Croce at 4:02pm ET
Bert, I can guarantee you this: I will get a tattoo if we win the Finals. I'll have a dragon on my forearm intertwined around the NBA Championship trophy! The NBA, in my estimation, is supposed to be fun, it's supposed to be Hollywood. So why not let people have fun? As far as the shaved head goes, hundreds of people, as we speak, are getting "Croce Crewcuts", in Philadelphia. I believe in marketing. It truly should be a circus atmosphere, a la Disney. That was my goal -- to have a fan-friendly atmosphere where people enjoyed the game. Hopefully we won, but they also should get more for their dollar. Three years ago when I took over the team, we didn't have a game, so we had to put on a show. We took the best of Orlando, the Knicks, the Gorilla, and created our own.
Bryce from 38.lvcm.com at 4:02pm ET
PC, you are the bomb! Are you upset that the shortened season robbed Philly of All-Star Weekend?
Pat Croce at 4:03pm ET
Thanks, bombette! I was upset. I was upset that they took away the NBA Jam Session. Once they took that, I didn't want the All-Star Game. I didn't just want the elite. I wanted everyone, from the street to the elite, to be able to enjoy the weekend. Hopefully, in the year 2000, Allen will be in the game, maybe Larry will be in the game, and we'll put on a great show. So thank you, bombette!
JOHN KLOSTERMANN from txed.net at 4:03pm ET
Of all of your Harley-Davidson's, which one is your favorite?
Pat Croce at 4:04pm ET
John, I love my '46 Harley Knucklehead. I love the Knucklehead engine. It's so cool, so hard to get. We restored it form the ground up. So I love it, though when you drive it, your fillings fall out of your face.
Joey at 4:04pm ET
What new changes will the team make next year?
Pat Croce at 4:05pm ET
Joey, regarding personnel, we definitely need a sniper, a three-point player who can put the ball in so that when Allen and Larry and Snowy penetrate, we'll have someone to dish to. We need that 30 to 40 percent sniper out there.
Vince from Philly at 4:06pm ET
First, I would like to say that your life story is inspirational. Second, what was it that sold Larry Brown on the Sixers?
Pat Croce at 4:06pm ET
Vince, thanks, my homie! If you listened to Larry Brown in the press conference when we introduced him to Philadelphia, he said he had no choice. I barraged his hospital room - his wife was having a baby girl - with 62 pounds of flowers. Too many other owners were trying to get him!
Noah from nycap.rr.com at 4:07pm ET
What sports did you play as a kid?
Pat Croce at 4:08pm ET
Noah, I played all sports. I excelled at none of them. I did play football in college for a couple of years, but I switched over to the martial arts at age 18. That sport I did excel in. I was national champion in Karate until a couple of years ago. I was always a street fighter. My dad taught us to box at a young age. But I had these skinny legs and wanted to use them as weapons. I was inspired by Bruce Lee.
Bad Scooter at 4:08pm ET
The fans in Philly went wild for your two home games against Orlando. What do you anticipate for Friday?
Pat Croce at 4:09pm ET
Bad Scooter, I love the name. I think our fans in Philly will be just as rightous. An 8 o'clock start on Turner will drive people crazy, because starting at 5, we'll unveil our Sixers Block Party - we'll have the whole parking lot as a party. It'll be a hit. It'll be the event of the year in Philly.
Scott Montgomery at 4:09pm ET
Who on the Pacers will give the 76ers the toughest matchups?
Pat Croce at 4:10pm ET
Scott, we already know this. When you have Mark Jackson posting up Allen is tough. Reggie Miller hitting a three is tough. And now you have Jalen Rose, who can make his shot at will, is tough.
Bryce from 38.lvcm.com at 4:11pm ET
PC, what advice would you give to college students who want to be as happy and as successful as yourself? What would be the first step?
Pat Croce at 4:12pm ET
Bryce, the first step is to set goals, becuase the journey toward achieving your goal is more fun than attaining it. Once you attain, you're looking for the next goal. And think positive toward attaining that goal. Right now, my journey is more fun. Once I get a championship, I'm done. I'm leaving.
Daniel from upenn.edu at 4:12pm ET
What is the secret of your special relationship with Allen Iverson?
Pat Croce at 4:13pm ET
Daniel, I can relate to Allen because I grew up on the street corner. Maybe not exactly the same kind of corner, but mine was pretty tough. I also can relate to him being slightly different. I think it's cool to be different. And I can relate to his being a friend to a fault, because I'm the same way. Through age he'll learn who are the real friends and who are not. I think we have a good dialogue. Personally, I like his cornrows when everyone else is shaving it. I like his hip-hop look when everyone else is corporate. Let him be him! When I let him be himself, sometimes I have to pull on the leash, but he understands, because he knows I care about him. And I think that's the secret - that he knows I care about him.
christopher at 4:14pm ET
What are the five craziest things you've ever done?
Pat Croce at 4:15pm ET
Oh! Okay, Christopher, five things: One, I rode my motorcyle across the badlands, through a hailstorm. That was scary. Two, I was lost in space on my helicopter solo flight. I was looking for an airport. I thought I found it but it was a KMart parking lot! I don't even consider the bungee jumping off that bridge in New Zealand or the repelling 120 feet crazy. I've got to think about the other ones.
Omar Nova from bellatlantic.net at 4:15pm ET
Do you get nervous when your team plays?
Pat Croce at 4:16pm ET
Omar, I'm a basket case. I get the butterflies before the game, I get nauseous when we're down a couple of points, I get overly excited when we're up a couple of points. I'm a mess.
Rich at 4:17pm ET
Congratulations on a great season. This series looks to be a tough one for both teams. What do you think is the key to Philly winning this series? Do you think that it is just Allen Iverson's scoring?
Pat Croce at 4:17pm ET
Rich, no, I think for us to win this series, everyone on our team has to play to the best of their ability. The Pacers are a better team than us. So the rebounders have to rebound, the scoreres have to score, and the team has to be very unselfish.
Iverson from tnt1.grapevine.tx.da.uu.net at 4:17pm ET
What type of music do you listen to? The same as Iverson?
Pat Croce at 4:18pm ET
(laughs) The only time I listen to Allen's music is when I'm in the bus with Allen. Other than that I listen to all kinds, whether it be blues, jazz, oldies...I like good music. I like music that's going to make me move.
Jim Roberts from wvhcs.org at 4:18pm ET
Have you ever repeled from a tall building before the other night at the First Union Center?
Pat Croce at 4:19pm ET
No, the first time I ever repelled was the day before I did it from the rafters of the First Union Center! That was it!
Pat Croce at 4:19pm ET
I'm not afraid of heights, though. I was a roofer during my college days. It was, though, a little scary climbing over the railing and then letting go of the railing.
James at 4:19pm ET
If you could have any player in the NBA join your team, who would it be?
Pat Croce at 4:19pm ET
James, although I can't say a player because it would be tampering, I would love to have Michael Jordan.
AL at 4:20pm ET
Do you plan on adding a veteran thru free agency to help
stabilize your young team i.e, Charles Oakly
Pat Croce at 4:21pm ET
Al, veteran leadership is important, but more importantly for our puzzle to be complete, we need a sniper, someone to throw that outside bullet through the basket. I do like Charles Oakley, though. We do need some leadership through mature players who know what it takes to get through this. I love our balance, though, our scales leaning toward youth. That adds excitement. Like right now: we're too young to know we should lose. Same with Sacramento.
Noah from nycap.rr.com at 4:21pm ET
If you became the president of the league what would you change about the NBA
Pat Croce at 4:22pm ET
Hmm. Noah, that's a hard question. As an owner, on the Board of Governors, I have input. And I think David Stern is the master marketer. If I was adamant about changing something, I'd grab his ear. I do believe, and I think they're looking into this this summer, in increasing the offensive potential of the game. And calling fouls on everyone who touches Allen Iverson. (laughs)
B'more Bobby from umd.edu at 4:23pm ET
Pat, thanks for putting the Sixers back on the map; you are truly an inspiration to us all. How do you feel last year's #1 pick Larry Hughes has developed?
Pat Croce at 4:24pm ET
Bobby, thank you for the compliment, and I know Larry Brown held Larry Hughes' minutes to maybe 20 per game so there wasn't pressure on him. I'm so excited that in the last 1/4 of the season, and into the playoffs, we're calling him, here in Philadelphia, Larry Huge. This kid is going to be scary. He's really, really talented.
Nik Fuess from dial.gov.bc.ca at 4:25pm ET
Is Matt Geiger going to be a large factor in the hopefull win against Indianna due to the size of Rik Smits (7'4) ?
Pat Croce at 4:25pm ET
Rick, I like the way you're thinking. We need Matt to play large, because Rik Smits is a very effective offensive weapon. Not only does Matt have to stay on top of Rik, but he has to help Allen double-team in other places, say Mark Jackson. He'll be a very big factor.
Raymond Canty from nas.siue.edu at 4:25pm ET
How does it feel to have the best player in the NBA apart of your organization?
Pat Croce at 4:26pm ET
Raymond, it feels great! More importantly, I'm excited to know that he hasn't even achieved his potential yet.
Bryce from 38.lvcm.com at 4:26pm ET
Pat, do your players have a nickname for you?
Pat Croce at 4:27pm ET
(laughs) No, Bryce, I never thought about it. They just call me Pat. It's amazing. I've never had a nickname. I've always gone by Pat. It seems like Pat Croce is one name. My real first name is Pasquale, but Pat's always been my name. No one every gave me a nickname. Maybe they were afraid I might smack them? I don't know.
Rick from proxy.biola.edu at 4:27pm ET
Pat, what has the fan support been like for you and the team this year, especially coming out of that whole lock-out fiasco?
Pat Croce at 4:29pm ET
Rick, the fan support in Philadelphia has been overwhelming. I can't even put a finger on the pulse of Philly because it's so rapid. It's been exciting to reinstate basketball to Philadelphia, and the city is in the midst of a renaissance. I'm having so much fun right now. The city of Philadelphia. These are probably the most passionate fans in the world. They're raving maniacs, and I just keep stirring them up.
Pat Croce at 4:29pm ET
I still love this game and I'm going to keep on having fun!
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