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Ozzie (December 27, 1932 – April 26, 2016[1]) and Daniel (born August 26, 1944[citation needed]) Silna are American businessmen of Latvian descent[2][3] best known for their success in the textile industry, as well as being co-owners of the American Basketball Association's Spirits of St. Louis and the lucrative deal cut to fold that team during the ABA-NBA merger.
Brothers Ozzie and Daniel Silna made a fortune as pioneers in the manufacture of polyester. In 1974, they wanted to own an NBA team. After an attempt to buy the Detroit Pistons fell short, the Silnas purchased the ABA's Carolina Cougars franchise with the expectation of moving it into the NBA with the impending merger of the two leagues.[4][5]
On April 26, 2016, Ozzie died of cancer at the age of 83.[1]
- ^ a b Sandomir, Richard (April 28, 2016). "Ozzie Silna, Savvy A.B.A Owner Who Got Rich Off the N.B.A., Dies at 83" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "When Negotiation Mistakes Compound over Time". PON - Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
- ^ Burke, Monte. "Revisiting 'The Greatest Sports Deal Of All Time'". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
- ^ Pluto, Terry (1990), Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association, Simon & Schuster, pp. 349–351, ISBN 978-1-4165-4061-8
- ^ Spirits of St. Louis. - RememberTheABA.com.