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Sports world reacts after death of Seahawks, Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen

Ryan Young
·Staff writer

Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen died on Monday from complications of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He was 65.

Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, has long been involved in the sports world in the Pacific Northwest. Allen purchased the Trail Blazers in 1988 and then the Seahawks in 1997, where he led them to three Super Bowl appearances and a championship in 2014.

Many in the sports world — including coaches, current and former players and more — took to social media on Monday to remember the longtime owner.

Plenty of fellow owners, teams and officials across both leagues took to Twitter, too.

“Paul Allen was the ultimate trail blazer — in business, philanthropy and in sports,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “As one of the longest-tenured owners in the NBA, Paul brought a sense of discovery and vision to every league matter large and small … He was a valued voice who challenged our assumptions and conventional wisdom and one we will deeply miss as we start a new season without him.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a similar statement.

“Paul Allen was the driving force behind keeping the NFL in the Pacific Northwest. His vision led to the construction of CenturyLink Field and the building of a team that played in three Super Bowls, winning the championship in Super Bowl XLVIII,” Goodell said. “The raising of the ’12th Man’ flag at the start of every Seahawks home game was Paul’s tribute to the extraordinary fan base in the Seattle community.

“His passion for the game, combined with his quiet determination, led to a model organization on and off the field. He worked tirelessly alongside our medical advisers to identify new ways to make the game safer and protect our players from unnecessary risk. I personally valued Paul’s advice on subjects ranging from collective bargaining to bringing technology to our game.

“Our league is better for Paul Allen having been a part of it and the entire NFL sends its deepest condolences to Paul’s family and to the Seahawks organization.”

Many in the sports world took to Twitter on Monday to remember Seahawks and Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, who died after complications with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. (Getty Images)
Many in the sports world took to Twitter on Monday to remember Seahawks and Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, who died after complications with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. (Getty Images)

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