ATLANTA -- Turner Entertainment Networks president Steve Koonin is joining the Atlanta Hawks ownership group, which hopes he can raise the profile of an NBA team that has struggled to draw fans or lure big-name free agents. nfl jerseys china . The Hawks announced late Sunday that Koonin would take an ownership stake, serve as chief executive officer, oversee all business operations and represent the ownership at league functions. Koonin comes to the Hawks after 14 years with Turner Entertainment Networks, where in his most recent role he led the division that included TNT, TBS, TruTV and Turner Classic Movies. He previously spent more than a decade as a marketing executive at Coca-Cola. "Steve Koonins reputation as a game changer in both marketing and media makes him the ideal leader to usher the Atlanta Hawks into a new era," said Bruce Levenson, the teams majority owner. "He has created a legacy as an expert in sports marketing, television, branding and digital media." The Hawks clinched their seventh straight playoff appearance this past weekend but perennially rank among the worst teams in attendance. The team is hoping Koonin can change that after his stint at Turner, where he was involved in programming and media rights acquisition with both the NBA and the NCAA. At Coca-Cola, he served as vice-president of sports and entertainment marketing. Koonin is a lifelong resident of Atlanta, headquarters of Turner and Coca-Cola. "My family has been a part of this city for nearly a century," Koonin said in a statement. "We have a lot of work to do, but I believe my professional experience, my passion for this team and the NBA, as well as the Hawks great existing executive talent ... make this organizations future very bright." Under general manager Danny Ferry and first-year coach Mike Budenholzer, the Hawks are in the midst of a major rebuilding effort. Only two players, centre Al Horford and point guard Jeff Teague, have been with the team longer than two years -- and Horford missed most of this season with an injury. Koonins focus will be off the court. Heading into its final home game Monday night, the Hawks were averaging crowds of 14,400 a game -- 28th out of 30 NBA teams. The actual turnouts are generally much lower, with thousands of empty seats a trademark of games at Philips Arena, where capacity was actually reduced by curtaining a section of seats at the top of the upper deck. Over the past decade, the team has never ranked higher than 18th in attendance and is largely overlooked in a market that also has the NFL, Major League Baseball and a passion for college football. "I have known Steve for more than two decades and based both on firsthand experience and his stellar record of accomplishments," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. "He is one of the very best executives and creative minds in the entertainment industry." wholesale jerseys . The Formula One circus has arrived in town and on this Thursday afternoon the teams crew members are setting up their equipment in the pit lane ahead of the three day race weekend. jerseys from china . -- Dwight Howard vs.SAN JOSE, Calif. - Brent Burns kept waiting to see a replay of his shot that struck Martin Brodeur in the back of the neck and left the New Jersey Devils goalie flat on his back on the ice. "Its pretty scary seeing a goalie go down like that," Burns said after the San Jose Sharks edged the Devils 2-1 on Saturday night. "I didnt think I hit him, but I got worried when there was no replay that I might have hit him. Hes a legend of the game." Brodeur, who stopped 28 shots, was struck after he turned his back to the play as Burns tried to sneak the puck past him. Brodeur threw up his left leg to block an attempt from Burns, and then collapsed on the ice for a few minutes with his arms and legs extended. "Usually you dont turn your back to the guy shooting the puck," Brodeur said. "It was like an electric shock through my body. It went really quick through my legs, my feet and my fingers. "I wasnt sure. I had never felt that before, and thats why I didnt move. When I got up I felt a little dizzy but I guess thats normal." Brodeur was attended to by a trainer and was able to get up and remain in the game, before being pulled moments later for an extra skater as New Jersey pressed for the tying goal. "I was kind of upset there because I wanted to get one off of him," said Burns, who earned an assist in his second game after missing 13 because of an injury. Brodeur said he felt fine and was just sore where the puck hit him. He expected to be examined by a doctor. Scott Hannan and Tyler Kennedy scored first-period goals, and Antti Niemi made 18 saves for the Sharks, who have won five of six. "We talked after the first period that they tend to get stronger later in the game," Sharks centre Joe Thornton said. "They played well and made it close in the third. At this point were happy to get the two points." Pattrik Elias scored for the Devils, who had a season-high, three-game winning streak snapped. cheap jerseys from china. "We had some trouble in our zone covering them," Elias said. "They were very active and able to create a lot of chances. But we got better as the game went on and we had our chances in the second and third periods." The Devils played their third game in four nights. They beat the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in overtime before travelling to Northern California to face the Sharks. "We played them pretty well but they got the two goals," Devils centre Travis Zajac said. "We matched them after that and there were just a couple of plays we didnt execute, and couldnt get another one." Hannan scored early in the first period from just inside the blue line. Hannan received a pass from Thornton, who has 43 points in 35 games against the Devils, his second most against any Eastern Conference opponent. Thornton has 11 points in 10 games. Kennedy scored late in the first period to make it 2-0 after Marty Havlat passed the puck out to him from behind the net. "I dont know how he saw me, but Marty found me with a great pass," Kennedy said. "I couldnt ask for better linemates. All the credit goes to them." Elias scored during a power play midway through the third period. Andy Greene slid the puck out to the right side, and Elias shot it past Niemis right shoulder. Steve Bernier helped by screening Niemi. The Devils, who came in averaging 25 shots a game, were held to 19 — including only 10 through two periods. NOTES: Thornton moved into a tie with Nicklas Lidstrom for 50th place on the NHL career points list with 1,142. ... Elias has eight points in his last seven games against the Sharks. ... Devils RW Michael Ryder played in his 700th NHL game. ... Havlat recorded his first point in seven games. cheap jerseyscheap jerseys from china ' ' '
