Joe Axelson

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Joe Axelson | image = | caption = | birth_name = Joseph A. Axelson | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|12|25}} | birth_place = [[Peoria, Illinois]], U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|5|31|1927|12|25}} | death_place = [[Coronado, California]], U.S. | resting_place = | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = General Manager of the [[Sacramento Kings|Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City (Omaha) / Sacramento Kings]] | spouse = | partner = | children = }}

'''Joseph A. Axelson''' (December 25, 1927 – May 31, 2008) was an American sports executive who served as general manager of [[Sacramento Kings|Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City Kings/Sacramento Kings]] from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1982 to 1988. He played a role in the franchise's relocation from [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]] to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]–[[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]], and then on to [[Sacramento, California]].<ref name=death>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3421492 Former Royals, Kings executive Axelson dies at age 80]</ref>

==Early life and career== Axelson was born on December 25, 1927, in [[Peoria, Illinois]].<ref name="Hall of Fame">{{cite web |title=Joe Axelson |url=https://gseagles.com/honors/georgia-southern-athletics-hall-of-fame/joe-axelson/5 |website=Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame |publisher=Georgia Southern University |access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref> He grew up in [[Clinton, Illinois]], where his father was the high school basketball coach from 1928 to 1947.<ref name="Little Joe">{{cite news |last1=Barnhart |first1=Jim |title='Little Joe' says today's NBA not the same game |work=Pantagraph |date=November 3, 2003}}</ref> Axelson's first job came at the age of 15 when he began working as a dispatcher for the [[Illinois Central Railroad]]. In 1947, Axelson graduated from [[Officer Candidate School (United States Army)|Officer Candidate School]] at [[Fort Benning]]. From 1947 to 1949, was the officer in charge of the [[American Forces Network|Armed Forces Radio Service]] station in [[Whittier, Alaska]]. He was then stationed at [[Fort Gordon]], where he coached the base's basketball and baseball teams. While stationed here, From 1954 to 1956, Axelson attended Georgia Teachers College (now [[Georgia Southern University]]), where he also served as sports publicity director and edited ''[[The George-Anne]]''. After a one-year stint as the sports publicist at [[Furman University]], Axelson returned to GTC as the school's public relations director. He also hosted a twice-daily sports broadcast on [[WWNS]]. In 1960, Axelson left Georgia Southern to become sports director of [[WBOB (AM)|WPDQ]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lasky |first1=Midge |last2=Halpren |first2=Roberta |title=Axelson Resigns; Goes To Florida-To Work |url=https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3428&context=george-anne |access-date=21 July 2021 |work=The George-Anne |date=December 9, 1960}}</ref> In 1961, Axelson became the publicity director of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]]. Three years later he became the NAIA's assistant executive secretary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Axelson Gets N.A.I.A. Post |work=The New York Times |date=July 19, 1964}}</ref>

==Cincinnati Royals== On April 16, 1969, the Cincinnati Royals hired Axelson as the team's new general manager. The Royals, who were suffering from declining attendance, chose Axelson based on his reputation as a promoter with the NAIA. According to owner Max Jacobs, Axelson would be in charge of promoting the team while former GM [[Pepper Wilson]], who was promoted to vice president, would handle player development, contracts, player transactions, and scouting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gundelfinger |first1=Phil |title=Cincy Royals, In Shakeup |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=April 17, 1969}}</ref> However, Wilson soon left the team to become the public relations director for the [[Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden|Cincinnati Zoo]], leaving Axelson in charge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Berkow |first1=Ira |title=Zoo Job Is Similar To His Old One |work=Kingsport Times |date=December 11, 1970}}</ref> Soon after his hiring, Axelson commissioned a study on relocating the Royals to [[Kansas City, Missouri]], where Axelson had worked with the NAIA and the [[Delaware North|Jacobs family]] controlled concessions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=Oscar |title=The Big O: My Life, My Times, My Game |date=2003 |publisher=Rodale |page=247}}</ref>

In an effort to increase attendance, Axelson added 41-year old head coach [[Bob Cousy]] to the roster. Axelson traded [[Bill Dinwiddie]] and a draft pick to the [[Boston Celtics]] in exchange for Cousy's playing rights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Bob |title=Cousy Activated, Plans Spot Duty |work=The Boston Globe |date=November 19, 1969}}</ref> That same year, Axelson dealt [[Jerry Lucas]] and [[Adrian Smith (basketball)|Adrian Smith]], whose style of play was not suited to Cousy's fast-break offense, to the San Francisco Warriors in separate trades. The Royals received [[Jim King (basketball, born 1941)|Jim King]] and [[Bill Turner (basketball)|Bill Turner]] in exchange for Lucas and a 1970 2nd round pick in exchange for Smith. The team finished with a 36–46 record, their worst since the 1960–61 season. During the offseason, Axelson traded star [[Oscar Robertson]] for [[Flynn Robinson]] and [[Charlie Paulk]], both of whom were not effective with the Royals. One game into the 1970–71 season, Axelson traded the team's third leading scorer from the previous season, [[Fred Foster (basketball)|Fred Foster]], and [[Connie Dierking]] to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in exchange for [[Darrall Imhoff]]. Due to the loss of many of their popular players, the Royals only drew 4,600 fans to their 1970–71 home opener. Four days later the team's attendance dropped to 2,500.<ref>{{cite news |title=Trades killing Royals, attendance at low |work=Chicago Daily Defender |date=October 22, 1970}}</ref>

==Kansas City–Omaha Kings== For the 1971–72 season, the Royals averaged only 3,357 fans. On March 14, 1972, Axelson announced that the team planned to move to [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. The team would play between 21 and 26 of their 41 home games in Kansas City with the remainder to be played in either [[Omaha, Nebraska]], or [[St. Louis, Missouri]], due to a lack of available dates at [[Municipal Auditorium (Kansas City, Missouri)|Municipal Auditorium]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Royals quit Cincinnati, shift club to Kansas City |work=The Boston Globe |date=March 15, 1972}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Royals move |work=Chicago Daily Defender |date=March 15, 1972}}</ref> When the team moved to Kansas City, Axelson was promoted to team president. Following the King's first season in Kansas City, Axelson won the first [[NBA Executive of the Year Award]].<ref>[http://members.aol.com/bradleyrd/apbr-faq.html Association for Professional Basketball Research FAQ]. Retrieved 9 September 2007.</ref> On June 25, 1973, the Jacobs family sold the Kings for $5 million to Missouri Valley Pro Sports, Inc., a group of Kansas City businessmen headed by [[Ray Evans (halfback)|Ray Evans]] and [[H. Paul Rosenberg]] that also included Axelson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kansas City Vote to sell Kings to businessmen |work=Great Bend Tribune |date=June 26, 1973}}</ref> On October 16, 1973, Axelson received a three-year contract extension.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kings extend Axelson's pact |work=The Boston Globe |date=October 17, 1973}}</ref> In 1975, the NAIA chose Axelson to serve as its executive secretary, however he was unable to get out of his contract with the Kings and had to turn down the job.<ref>NAIA executive committee meeting. (1975, August 7–10). 1974 NAIA Executive Committee Interim Meeting. Meeting minutes.</ref> [[Magic Johnson]] had strongly considered leaving Michigan State after the 1977–78 season to join the NBA, but after meeting with Axelson he changed his mind, because the Kings were in line to have a high draft pick and Magic was completely unimpressed by Axelson and considered the notion of being chosen by him in the 1978 draft a non-starter. On July 11, 1979, Axelson announced that he would become the NBA's vice president for operations. He remained with the Kings into the start of the 1979–80 season to assist the club with its move from [[Kemper Arena]] to Municipal Auditorium following the collapse of Kemper Arena's roof.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kings' boss to join NBA staff |work=Tallahassee Democrat |date=July 12, 1979}}</ref>

On April 30, 1982, The Kansas City Kings announced that Axelson would return as president and general manager on a five-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sports People; Axelson Rejoins Kings |work=The New York Times |date=May 1, 1982}}</ref> On June 17, the Kings were sold to New York City businessmen Irwin Feiner, Al Steinberg, and [[B. Gerald Cantor]].<ref>{{cite news |title=N.B.A. Kings Get New York Owners |work=The New York Times |date=June 18, 1982}}</ref> The team was sold again on June 9, 1983, to a group of [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] businessmen.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kings Are Sold |work=New York Times |date=June 9, 1983}}</ref> On October 31, 1984, Axelson announced that the Kings would not renew a five-year option on their lease of Kemper Arena due to a dispute with Kansas City over some of the lease provisions.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kings Reject Lease Renewal |work=Omaha World - Herald |date=November 1, 1984}}</ref> Although the city officials made efforts to improve the lease, the Kings announced on January 21, 1985, that the team had asked the NBA for permission to relocate to Sacramento, citing revenue and attendance problems.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kansas City Kings Ask NBA's OK for Move to Sacramento |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 21, 1985}}</ref> The Kings final game in Kansas City was on April 14, 1985. During the game, Kings fans targeted their anger at Axelson. Hundreds of spectators wore masks resembling him, other fans attacked a dummy made to look like him, and another fan had a sign that said “Kill Axelson”.<ref>{{cite news |title=NBA Roundup Kings end K.C. stay with a loss |work=The Globe and Mail |date=April 15, 1985}}</ref>

==Sacramento Kings== The Kings’ first season in Sacramento was a box office success. They were the first team in NBA history to sell out every home game in their inaugural season, finished fifth overall in ticket sales, and had the third highest local television ratings. However, on the court, the Kings went 37–45.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McMillan |first1=Tom |title=Sacramento's fans treat Kings royally |work=The San Diego Union |date=October 30, 1986}}</ref> In 1987, the Kings attempted to become more competitive by hiring [[Bill Russell]] as head coach. Russell's seven-year contract stipulated that he would become general manager after two seasons and succeed Axelson as president when Axelson retired. Russell would also be able to purchase a percentage of the team if it went public. Russell had not coached since an unsuccessful stint with the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] ended 1977.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaughnessy |first1=Dan |title=Russell to Kings |work=The Boston Globe |date=April 28, 1987}}</ref> On March 7, 1988, with the Kings sitting at 17–41, Russell was removed as head coach and was named vice president in charge of basketball operations. Axelson was reassigned to the position of vice president in charge of business operations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russell gone as King coach |work=Chicago Sun - Times |date=March 8, 1988}}</ref>

==Personal life and death== Axelson retired to [[Coronado, California]], in 1990. A lifelong [[Chicago Cubs]] fan, Axelson spent his later years writing a Cubs newsletter - ''Between the Vines''.<ref name="Cubs">{{cite news |last1=Martinez |first1=Michael |title=Left coast isn't left out |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-10-12-0310120520-story.html |access-date=21 July 2021 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=October 12, 2003}}</ref> He died on May 31, 2008, at his home in Coronado, aged 80.<ref name=death/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Axelson, Joe}} [[Category:1927 births]] [[Category:2008 deaths]] [[Category:Kansas City Kings executives]] [[Category:Sacramento Kings executives]] [[Category:Georgia Teachers College alumni]] [[Category:People from Clinton, Illinois]] [[Category:Military personnel from Coronado, California]] [[Category:NBA executives]] [[Category:United States Army officers]] [[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]] [[Category:Cincinnati Royals executives]]