<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Atlanta Spirit honcho resigns Mullin leaves president/CEO posts with Hawks, Thrashers By TIM TUCKER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 01/22/08 Atlanta Spirit President and Chief Executive Officer Bernie Mullin resigned Tuesday, according to Mullin and part owner Michael Gearon, Jr. Mullin called his resignation a mutual decision between him and the Hawks-Thrashers owners. Your Turn Do you think Bernie Mullin's resignation will endanger the job security of Hawks GM Billy Knight and/or Thrashers GM Don Waddell? "I'm leaving to pursue other opportunities," Mullin told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this morning. "It's a mutual decision. "Basically ... I believe the owners want to get more intimately involved in the running of the business on an everyday basis," Mullin said. "And obviously that impacts the role I performed, and therefore it makes more sense for me to move on." Employees of the Atlanta Spirit, owners of the Hawks and Thrashers, were informed of the move Tuesday. Mullin has held the position since April 2004.</div> that's to bad, he usually hinted us, on what the Hawks were planning to do.
