Monthly Archives: January 2011

A Wonderful Moment

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A wonderful scene.

George Washington University honors our new Mayor at last night’s men’s basketball game. Read this story. Amazing!

A great man. A great message.

We are fortunate that our Mayor is a fan of all things related to athletics and youth.

He understands the higher calling represented in competition.

Sports helped make our Mayor the man that he is today.

Mayor Gray has been very enthusiastic in support of all our teams and he is the driving force behind several high school basketball tournaments in the city. He rocks on the softball fields as well, I hear.

And he and I had a wonderful moment once at a Washington Mystics game where we both had the opportunity to sit at center court with President Obama.

We are all looking forward to working with him and his staff.

The Mayor understands the double bottom line nature of athletics.

Let us all work together with our new Mayor to help make Washington DC the greatest city on earth. Ladies and gentleman, our new Mayor…Mr. Vincent Gray.

SnagFilms iPad App is Live

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Go for it.

The best and only full length free movie app for the iPad is now available from SnagFilms. Click here to get it now!

Download the app; watch full length high quality movies for free on your iPad. This is the future. Today. Right now. You will love the selection and the quality.

THIS is very exciting. This is big news. Click here for the full release.

Enjoy. I am proud.

Wes Unseld

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Just to clear the air on some noise in the system today.

When I finished the acquisition of Washington Sports and Entertainment, the first person I sought advice from was Wes Unseld. We went and had a nice long productive lunch at a local dining establishment.

The message was sent and received.

“Wes, you are beloved and respected by everyone in our organization and in our city. I believe you are one of the most important sports figures in our city’s history and it would be an honor to work with you on an ongoing basis.

I would like the opportunity to seek advice and counsel from you. I intend to pay respect and homage to the past while trying to find my own positive way into the future.

I would like to embrace you as a founding family member. I need help and you are wise and experienced and don’t be shy. Talk to me when you see things we are doing – or that I am doing -that don’t make any sense. I will always hear what you have to say. I respect your instincts and your words of wisdom.

And I want to make sure you are apart of the Wizards family – always.

You have carte blanche in the building and at games. Come to as many games as you so desire. Come to practices. Park wherever you want. Your seats are available for life. If there is anything that you ever need, call me or anyone at the Wizards organization. The Owners’ Box is open to you and to your family. Our house is your house.

Thank you for all you do and have done for the city, the franchise and for the NBA. I was and will always be a big fan and grateful for what you have done for the franchise.”

I don’t know how to be any clearer than that. End of story. Stop the noise and focus on the signal. Thank you.

Halfway Home

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41 games played.

51 points.

102 point run rate.

Better defensive play.

A new system being implemented.

A long losing streak overcome. Last 10 games, 5-2-3.

A very tough Southeast division. Competition is a good thing.

Lots of new players being integrated into the team culture. Count ‘em up yourself.

A good record with best players struggling from a stat standpoint in first half.

Penalty killing improved.

Power play units struggling.

Goals for down.

Goals against average improved.

The Winter Classic behind us. The HBO cameras gone.

Every game sold out.

A few days off to count our blessings and heal up and rest. We are tired from the travel and holiday hoopla.

Second half of the season starts on Saturday, January 8th.

We are what our record says we are, 5th in the East. Neck and neck with other great teams.

Thanks for being such great and supportive fans to your Washington Capitals.

It has been a long adversity-filled first half of the season. I believe this journey and process to be healthy for us. Wish us luck and good health in the second half of season. Thank you. Go Caps!

Reality

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Could you live your life with cameras in your face 24 /7 for months at a time?

Naked?

Losing? Stressed? During the holidays with your family?

Would you be able to prosper and feel comfortable?

Would you be a better person or organization because of that experience?

Think of it. Be honest with yourself. Could you do it?

Do characters on reality television prosper after their experience on reality TV shows?

Continue reading →

House and Home

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You may soon be hearing about some personal family news that I wanted to confirm and provide some context for before you hear or read about it elsewhere. The news is about real estate transactions and our future family domicile.

Late last year, our family sold our residence in Vero Beach, Florida.

And right before 2010 concluded, we also sold our home in McLean, Virginia.

We have since purchased the Marwood Estate in Potomac, Maryland from our good friends, Chris and Nalini Rogers. We will move into this historic home that has been lovingly restored by the Rogers family in the first quarter of 2011. This home is situated on more than 13 acres of river front property and has a storied local history with FDR, Joseph Kennedy and the Gore family all having occupied this beautiful house over the years.

My wife Lynn and I are very excited to be moving into such a significant local home on the river front here in the DC area and we promise to respect the tradition and history of this estate.

The Rogers family has in turn purchased our home in McLean, Virginia. Chris and Nalini will live in this lovely home with their family until they find their next dream property and develop it to their exact family specifications.

Lynn and I and Chris and Nalini wish to thank Mark McFadden, Marc Fleisher, Mike O’Connor, Brandon Ward, Jim Gibson, Trish Roddy and Randy Rothstein for helping us to manage through this process in such a friendly and respectful manner.

Same Old Same Old

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Documentaries continue to struggle at the box office and in getting theatrical distribution. So sayeth the NY Times right here.

I am hopeful that a digital distribution platform will help. Filmmakers. Charities. Advertisers. Viewers.

In 2011, we will really make major additional investments into SnagFilms to not only help documentary filmmakers but also independent filmmakers as well.

Stay tuned for news around the Sundance Film Festival from SnagFilms. I am here to serve.