Editing Pat Croce (section)

===Philadelphia 76ers===
He was an [[athletic trainer]] for the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] for more than 10 years, originally hired to help thin 7'6" center [[Shawn Bradley]] bulk up.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/357066/7000-CALORIE-DIET-JUST-WASNT-RIGHT-FOR-BRADLEY.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119080055/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/357066/7000-CALORIE-DIET-JUST-WASNT-RIGHT-FOR-BRADLEY.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |title=7,000-CALORIE DIET JUST WASN'T RIGHT FOR BRADLEY |newspaper=Deseret News |date=1994-06-04 |access-date=2016-10-31}}</ref>

He became president and minority owner of the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] [[basketball]] team in 1996 as part of a group led by [[Philadelphia Flyers|Flyers]] founder [[Ed Snider]] and [[Comcast]] that bought the team. Under their ownership, the Sixers went from last place in 1996 to the [[NBA Finals]] in 2001. Croce has said of his ownership and management "It was never about basketball. The real value proposition was changing the city from 'can't do' to 'can do.'" Croce was also known for greeting fans personally and getting a front-row seat at home games for low-level 76ers staffers (including maintenance men, ushers, and concessionaires). He appeared on the cover of ''[[Success (magazine)|Success]]'' magazine as the first trainer to rise to an ownership position with a professional sports team.<ref name=zenaf /> He has also been featured in ''[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Why It's Pat Croce's World|url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/20020401/24046.html|newspaper=Inc.com|date=April 1, 2002}}</ref>

In June 2001, Croce refused to allow former President [[Bill Clinton]] into his private box during game 3 of the NBA Finals, as it would have inconvenienced friends, family, and dedicated Sixers fans.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-11-ss-9109-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 11, 2001|title=Croce Won't Cave in, Not Even to Clinton }}</ref>

He resigned as 76ers president after the 2001 season due to a dispute with Snider.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nba/news/2001/0725/1230699.html|title=Croce steps down as 76ers president|publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=July 26, 2001}}</ref>