Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson admits to racist email, steps down

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson is stepping down after admitting he sent a racially charged email.

Levenson is apologizing for what he says was "an attempt to bridge Atlanta's racial sports divide" and sell more tickets.

In the email sent in 2012, Levenson wrote:

"I want some white cheerleaders. I want the music to be music familiar to a 40-year-old white guy," and complained that the "kiss cam was too black."

In the email, Levenson said the Hawks' crowd was 70 percent black and he theorized that scared away suburban white fans.

News of his inflammatory comments come less than one month after Donald Sterling was forced to sell the Clippers. Racist comments Sterling made were recorded and then released in April, leading to his downfall and lifetime ban from the NBA.

When that scandal broke, Levenson weighed in and publicly criticized Sterling.

"I think I speak for all of my partners when I say we were all deeply offended. We all quickly spoke out against these words that we heard on that tape," Levenson said.

Levenson went to the NBA on his own to report the email, and says it's in the best interest of the entire NBA family to sell his interest in the franchise. The Hawks' CEO will oversee all team operations.

"The NBA is still reeling from the Donald Sterling story, and in many ways they know they just cannot get away with this anymore," said Christine Brennan, ABC News contributor.

It's unknown if Levenson will be fined, like Sterling was. The NBA is still investigating.