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Adam Finkel

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

in the franchise and how

This

using his decades of rela­

during conversations with Pistons owner

Tom Gores. The orga­
nization created this

tionship-building in the

role to support the
management team, led

his

by Pistons president/
coach Stan Van Gundy

chapter that
led him to heights he
never imagined to start­

and Palace/Pistons

sporting agency world in

closes

presi­

team

a

again.
Community outreach will be a vital part
of this role as well. Tellem hopes to learn

once

and meet

people

from

the

across

new

role

-

run

Frankly, though, he says
that he's pumped and
energized.
"Tom was offering me

a

chance to

making

com­

a

join him in

difference in

Detroit and its surround­

munity.

"I have

he

from terror to elation.

championship-
contending basketball

Pistons

as

-

one

ing this

to make the

Mannion,

job.

new

His emotions

dent and CEO Dennis

Tom Gores

looking forward to

he's

job offer came together in May

a

ing neighborhoods:' he

lot of questions and will be

immersed in

being

out

there and

said. "I

getting

thought, 'I'm 61.

to know

business, community and govern­
ment leaders, including those who are

If not now, when?'
"This is the right time

making a difference and seeking to posi­
tively impact Detroit:' he said.
Media reports have speculated about

in my life for

whether the Pistons should

move

and

change.

a

Kobe

transition

I've been

agent

the

right time in my life to

continue to

was

stressed that it's premature to comment
on the matter, adding that the Palace "is

learn, explore and challenge myself. This

great place

a

a

valuable asset with mil­

allows

c

iii

Tellem does believe the

a

pivotal

&

1

play

�

Together

Foundation to further

enrich the lives of Detroiters

local

youth, encouraging

by mentoring

volunteerism and

partnering with the vested stakeholders

in

the Detroit area, such as charitable causes,
and government and business entities. He

realizes that Detroit, at its

stage,

is in

a

post-bankruptcy

EnerCJized"
challenge of the

Tellem is drawn to the

new

role, which he sees

well

beyond just his

as an

[Gores], Dennis [Mannion] and
[Van Gundy]. I knew it was

Stan

felt

a

connection to

Gores, who

has great people skills and great
relationships with the players, manage­
ment and the league offices.

'l\t the end of the

I want the chance

day,
to work with smart people in a collabora­
tive way
with everyone pitching in and
toward
a common agenda
to
working
make this a leading fran­

-

-

an

uPumped

a

chise and business with

unique position.

And

opportunity

individual

a

shared purpose around. I
really felt a connection with Tom

Mannion

ment the mission of the Pistons'

Come

of people and

�
� right because I really felt in sync
with the people pare'
Tellem said he immediately

around, and that can mean engag­
ing with the community in ways

beyond the location of operations.
He specifically wants to aug-

organization

feel

�

role in Detroit's turn­

I desired to work with

team that I believed in and could

�

Sports

myself.

an

merit"

Entertainment will both

impact something larger and

to

me

greater than

lions of dollars of recent invest-

Pistons and Palace

Lakers guard, poses for

Angeles

Arn

after Kobe

Tellem, shortly

once

photograph

a

purchased

a

50

in 2000 with his father, Joe

growth.

"There's no better opportunity or pur­
pose for the final chapter of my career:' he
said. Tellem relayed how much he believes

percent

30

..

2015

an

played for.

impact on

pieces

in motion

Piston's

are

to' make the

increasing
community-at-large
because the team is an important commu­
nity asset:' he said. "I think success will be

the fans and the

defined in all of those

"I'm

hoping

haul, looking beyond just

long­

few years.

My
spending a considerable
in Detroit as well:' They

a

planning
Birmingham.

are

to live in

an

apartment

in

Gundy

con­

career.

He

sented center Ben Wallace and remembers

game at the Palace being one of the most
energized he's ever attended.

a

addition, he became acquainted with

Detroit in the late 1970s while

law school at the

University

attending

of Michigan.

graduation, he's continued to sup­
his
alma mater, including through
port
the Arn Tellem Faculty Research Support

Since

Fund created at the law schooL His

son"

University of Michigan
graduated
last year, and his sister is also an
� alumna.

from

Family Affair

Tellem is married to

Tellem,

and

a

..

Nancy

�

former entertainment

digital

Microsoft.

media

president
During executive

of

During the interview, he said he
could envision at least one of his

sons,

by an Israeli rock star.

three

sons:

who all share

sports, working

roles at CBS and Warner Bros.,
she brought many shows to air,

point

an

interest in

in Detroit at

some

in the future.

Tellem, who will officially start

Nancy

Michael, Matty and Eric.

Tellem

his

new

position

the first week in

looks forward to

mov-
September,
most
iconic
America's
to
one
of
ing

an

startup founded
The Tellems have

interactive music video

stan Van

through his

to know the Pistons when he repre­

In

for the

wife and I will be

amount of time

got

areas.

to be here

and chief media officer of Interlude,

a

Tellem said. He believes

nected to Detroit

the engagement between

role in

of Holocaust survivors, is cur­
rently the executive chairman

set

championship­
contending team under'
Van Gundy's direction,

for most of his adult life, he's been

looking forward to playing a large
community and playing a large

including CS1,

the suburbs:'

The

"I'm

role in the

Survivor, Friends
and ER. Nancy, the daughter

Detroit and

Although Tellem grew up in
Philadelphia and has lived in Los Angeles

the business, under the leadership of
Mannion, is headed in the right direction.

cities. He

sees

Detroit

than

as more

just a

great sports town, but also a city rich with
history. Going back to his childhood, he

admired Hank

Palace

8 July

Bryant,

stake in Olimpia Milano,

decades. I felt like this

to the

city of Detroit from Auburn Hills. Tellem

and

Los

Italian League team his father

agent for over three

an

Bryant,

and his

Greenberg,

Sports

on

the

legendary

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I