It’s not uncommon for someone to accrue millions or billions of dollars in the business world, decide to purchase a pro sports franchise as a sort of fun diversion, then fail spectacularly, like a Lego champion who expected to seamlessly blend into an aerospace laboratory.



Owning a sports team doesn’t require any unique brilliance, but having expertise in real estate, retail or operating private equity firms means bupkis in the world of bats, balls and, “What? You signed Dwight Howard?”



Which brings me to Hawks owner Tony Ressler. If there is one reason to feel good about the franchise’s future, it’s him. That’s bound to get lost at some point because the Hawks finished 24-58 last season and are not expected to be any good this season (notwithstanding their win Sunday in Cleveland). Ressler has significantly moved the franchise forward in several ways the past year, and equally important, he acknowledges his early missteps put...