We are grateful. We are happy with our re-branding efforts. We are happy with our professionals internally who handled this change over with style and aplomb and efficiency.
Rock the Red! Make it so.
Daily Archives: December 26, 2009
RIP George Michael
He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and the tight knit community that he loved and supported.
George Michael was a giant, a lion, an innovator and a king. He was a great mentor and a great boss. There was no one like him in DC media. He was bigger than the medium he served. He loved the Caps and I believe always gave us our due.
And boy was he tough! We would go at it at times all in a good natured way. I was asked if George was mad at us over the last few years and all I can recount is the following:
” The Caps ain’t making the playoffs and Alex Ovechkin ain’t no MVP!” A few fans reminded him of that comment and boy did he get mad at me in return and you never wanted George Michael mad at you that is for sure. He always growled at me when he would see me at charity events or press events.
“Look, if you tear down this team the fans will think you quit on them. I will think you quit on me as a season ticket holder. If you blow the team up and cut payroll, I will cancel my season tickets. I will never go to a Caps game again. Don’t do it. Listen to me, don’t do it. You are dreaming if you think you can improve the team by getting bad to get good. Won’t work – ever!” This was what George Michael told me as a mentor when I ran the rebuild program by him before we actually implemented the program. Sure enough, he canceled his season tickets. He was very angry with us for our announced plan to “get bad to get good.” I was very nervous that he so disagreed with our plan. Why? Because I respected him and his opinion. He was smart, savvy and knew the business inside and out.
One of my favorite moments ever was being on his NBC news show at 6:30 pm. He was grilling me and making me feel uncomfortable in a fun way. I looked at him, pointed to his tie and then ran my finger up his tie and tweaked his nose. He pushed my hand away laughing. Jim Vance couldn’t stop chuckling and said, “George, - That was the best TV moment ever! Ted, I got your back if George tries to get even for that one!”
I was a big George Michael fan. He was cantankerous. He was brilliant. He challenged you. He was “da man” in town. They broke the mold. George Michael will truly be missed. RIP. “Nice tie, George.”
My Reading List
Here are some of the books I have just read or are about to read this holiday season on my mini vacation.
Accelerated Disruption by Eric Lefkofsky
Eric is a friend. He is also a serial entrepreneur and is co- founder of MediaBank and Groupon, two companies that I am involved with and sit on their board of directors. Eric has written a crisp and smart book about innovation; speed to market; and the focus on execution and platforms to wring out ever last molecule of efficiency. Eric is very successful. Read this book to learn his methodologies and formulae for success. I enjoyed it very much.
SuperFreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Wow. What a great read! Fast, laugh-out-loud funny, a perfect follow up to Freakonomics. This is a perfect beachside reading book. I read it in two days and loved every word on every page. As I have noted in my blog, “Don’t believe the experts or conventional wisdom” and “Figures never lie but liars can figure.” I truly believe in the law of “unintended consequences” and this new book is destined to be a classic read.
This Time is Different by Carmen M. Reinhart and Kenneth S. Rogoff
This is the definitive book about the financial crisis and how we never learn from history. It reminds me of The Black Swan, another great book I recommended to you all. This one is a fast and simple read and is scary in its outline of why we think things will turn out different and they never do! I am halfway through the book. I recommend it highly to you all.
The Education of an American Dreamer by Peter G. Peterson
This is an autobiography of Pete Peterson, one of our great business leaders and founder of the Blackstone Group. He is also a neighbor of mine in Vero Beach and he grew up the son of a Greek immigrant. I relate very much to his story. He has lived quite a life and has served on Wall Street; in government; and is one of our country’s great philanthropists. This book is a very good tour of the American business climate from the 60′s to today.
The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons
The NBA according to the Sports Guy. A friend gave me this book. It has become a bestseller. I can’t wait to dig in. Who can write 700 plus pages on hoops anyway?