Former Islanders/Nets owner Roy Boe dead at 79

[Lil Bit Special]

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2009/06/08/UPI-NewsTrack-Sports/UPI-98291244516400/

Former Nets and Islanders owner dies

UNIONDALE, N.Y., June 8 (UPI) -- Roy Boe, the original owner of the NHL New York Islanders who also owned the NBA New York Nets, has died in Connecticut, the Islanders said Monday. He was 79.

Boe died Sunday in Bridgeport, his daughter, Susan Boe, told Newsday. Cause of death was not disclosed but Susan Boe said it was unrelated to her father's battle with esophageal cancer in the 1990s, the newspaper said.

"On behalf of the New York Islanders organization we would like to extend our sincere condolences to the entire Boe family," Islanders owner Charles Wang said in a statement posted on then team's Web site. "It was Roy Boe's vision that enabled Long Island to become home of an NHL franchise and create a rich hockey history here."

Roy Boe owned the Islanders from 1972 until 1978, when he sold both the Islanders and the Nets.

He owned the Nets when they were a part of the ABA and starred Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J" Erving. He bought the team in 1969 and was the owner when the Nets -- who have since become the New Jersey Nets -- joined the NBA in 1976-77.

The Nets sold Erving's contract to the Philadelphia 76ers -- where he won a title in 1983 -- and the Nets have not won a championship since joining the NBA. New Jersey won two titles in the ABA.