As we roll into the second half of summer (who can believe it?!), I checked in with a few friends and readers about their plans over the months when we are supposed to catch our breath, dial it back and recharge. Here is the first installment of their to-do lists:
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RAY WARREN
Comcast Sports Group | EVP and CRO
The summer began for us on July 1 with Billy Joel at MSG. We move the music east to Westhampton, Long Island, for the Fab Faux on July 18, and then it’s over until we see Madonna at MSG in September.
We head to Seattle in late July for fun — I’ve only been there on business — and we will take in a Blue Jays-Mariners game.
We’ll spend all the in-between weekends at our house in Southampton entertaining friends and family; we are fully booked and have a new Weber grill.
When the guests are gone, I’ll be reading “Orient” by Christopher Bollen, “Seabiscuit” by Laura Hillenbrand, “Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole, and “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking. Seriously!
As for the must-do list: sitting on the beach is a very high priority; movie attendance is based on the weather, not the title; and television bingeing is Mets and Yankees games. We will catch up on and close out favorite series like “Aquarius,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Ray Donovan,” “The Affair” and anything else that we haven’t completed. Cannot wait!
ALEC SCHEINER
Cleveland Browns | President
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I would like to take my three kids to Legoland in Florida.
A must-vacation is the same place we have been vacationing for years — Montecito, Calif. — the perfect place to relax before the season starts.
There are a couple of must-reads. “Misbehaving” by Richard Thaler. It’s the story of (and stories about) behavioral economics; plus he is a good friend. I also want to read Kamel Daoud’s debut novel, “The Meursault Investigation.”
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A must-attend is a Cleveland Indians game with my 8-year-old daughter — it’s finally time to get her to the ballpark.
A must-do: buy a bike that actually moves instead of staying in place (i.e., spin class) and then ride it outside.
Must-binge: “Silicon Valley.” I just finished “Band of Brothers” and it was outstanding.
DUNCAN WARDLE
Walt Disney World | Vice President, Creative Inc.
The Sun & Sea Cottages on Longboat Key is one of our favorite Florida beach escapes. It has 22 rustic, yet meticulously kept, fully serviced cottages, nestled between the trees right on the beach, all with a throwback to yesteryear. The tranquil spot allows families to really enjoy each other and the close-knit community that quickly develops among fellow holiday makers, most of whom have been coming back for years. There’s nothing formal about it and the beach chairs, sun umbrellas, beach toys are all on an honesty basis, as are the books and DVDs. The couple who run the front desk have been there for years. They too started as guests but loved it so much now they run the place. It’s about as laid back as you want to be.
NANCY LOUGH
University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Professor, Higher Education/Faculty Chair, College of Education
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Summer for me means Colorado. As a Colorado native, living in Las Vegas, I escape the desert heat to spend cool mornings and evenings cycling, hiking and seeking concerts in beautiful venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The reward for hikes at altitude and long bike rides is always a local microbrew. Since many come to Colorado to summit a 14,000-foot mountain, a common question is, How many “14ers” have you done? In a fun twist on this question, the #epicbrewtour became my quest in 2014. My goal is to visit 14 new micro-breweries; making it my personal “14er.”
Summer would not be complete without binge-watching Wimbledon, followed by the Tour de France and WNBA. The final must-see event of the summer is the U.S. Pro Cycling Championship in August. This year, the event will include official stage races for women.
To balance out my summer sport and activity, my guilty pleasure includes reading recent releases from Marshall Goldsmith, including “Mojo” and “Triggers.” He’s one of the top leadership thinkers in the U.S., which means his books serve as inspiration and fuel as I prepare to leave Colorado and head back to Nevada.
JESSICA GELMAN
Kraft Sports Group | VP, customer marketing and strategy
Our must-vacation is a weeklong family trip to Manchester Village, Vermont.
Must reads: Mindy Kaling’s “Why Not Me” and David Brooks’ “The Road to Character”
Binge watching: “True Detective,” some recent ESPN “30 for 30s” and “Patriots 3 Games to Glory: 2014” (all 7-plus hours!).
Must-do: teaching our 22-month-old son to swim!
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ANDY ENGLAND
MillerCoors | EVP and CMO
It won’t be summer if I don’t spend time with family in the North Carolina mountains. And it’ll be a special summer if I binge-watch “True Detective,” Season 2, go to the movies with the kids, hit the tennis court a lot, straighten out that driver, see Brad Keselowski in victory lane and catch up on my SBJ backlog.
Fun plans. I hope they all see them through! Check back here next week for more summer musts.
Abraham D. Madkour can be reached at amadkour@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
