Virgin Sport Global CEO MARY WITTENBERG, who last month resigned as N.Y. Road Runners President & CEO, "realized that she’d be busy" in her new role, "but it would be a different type of busy." Wittenberg: "I said to my boys, ‘I’ll be traveling more during the week, but I’ll be home more during weekends.' I’ve been gone every weekend for the last 17 years. ... It will be nice to spend a Sunday dinner with them. I’ll strike a good balance.” She said of working with Virgin, "It’s an extraordinary situation.” Wittenberg: "We’re looking at running events, biking events. ... We’re looking at what else is out there, including technology and other programs. We’ll mix acquiring and building" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/20).
TO THE PROMISED LAND: Pro Football HOFer CURTIS MARTIN is on a trip to Israel organized by Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT, and said it was "something I could not pass up and something I’ll never forget in my life." The trip, which ends tomorrow, was paid for by Kraft and brought along 19 Pro Football HOFers, including JOHN HANNAH, RAYMOND BERRY, ANDRE TIPPETT and MIKE HAYNES, along with THURMAN THOMAS (ESPNBOSTON.com, 6/21).
A REAL TREAT: S.F. Mayor ED LEE on Friday brought out the Giants' three World Series trophies, the 49ers five Super Bowl trophies, LARRY ELLISON's America's Cup and the Warriors' new NBA championship trophy at City Hall's 100th anniversary event. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Giants President & CEO LARRY BAER, who had "been with the Giants at the White House the week before, attended an OBAMA event at the home of political activist TOM STEYER." When Obama saw Baer, he quipped, "Oh, it's you again" (SFGATE.com, 6/20).
THE GOOD STUFF: Saints QB DREW BREES and his wife BRITTANY have made a $1M "commitment to the football program" at Purdue, where Brees played. The pledge came after AD MORGAN BURKE "organized a three-day summit in San Diego" (JCONLINE.com, 6/19). Brees this week also is hosting "up to 25 high school football teams from California to Georgia" for his annual Drew Brees Passing Academy in Orlando (MYSTATESMAN.com, 6/22).
CHANGES IN LATITUDE: Restaurant chain Latitude360, which operates four locations on the East Coast and Midwest with six more on the way, has acquired daily fantasy sports operator Major League Fantasy. Latitude360 intends to use the acquisition to create the first chain of live, in-venue fantasy sports books. Silicon Valley-based Major League Fantasy has partnered with the Warriors and prior to that deal signed Warriors F DRAYMOND GREEN to a separate endorsement deal. Latitude360 has seven current and former NFL players among its shareholders (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).
NAMES: UFC fighter RONDA ROUSEY is featured in the Wall Street Journal's "Playlist" feature, and noted her walkout theme music used to be "SEX AND VIOLENCE" by THE EXPLOITED, but her godfather's son suggested JOAN JETT's "BAD REPUTATION." She said the song is "equivalent of my attitude in the ring." Rousey: "I'm happier being a nasty piece of work" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/20)....The Bum Phillips All-American Opera "is coming to Houston." To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Phillips being hired to coach the Oilers in '75, the opera that premiered in N.Y. and is a "tribute to the life and coaching career of the Houston icon will be held Sept. 24 at the Stafford Centre" (CHRON.com, 6/19)....ESPN NBA analyst JALEN ROSE's Leadership Academy moves into its fifth school year this fall, and its founder "is seeking to raise" $5M for school upgrades and to build a gymnasium. Rose "looks at Michigan's place on the sports landscape as an area where he can find benefactors." He said, "Michigan has a unique niché in the sporting landscape by having so many owners currently with teams" (FREEP.com, 6/21)....ESPN's DICK VITALE yesterday received the AutoZone Liberty Bowl's Distinguished Citizen Award in Memphis (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 6/20)....The Steelers PR staff on Saturday received the '14 Pete Rozelle Award, which is presented by the Pro Football Writers of America and goes to the team public relations staff that "strives for excellence in its dealings and relationships with the media" (POST-GAZETTE.com, 6/20)....Eagles coach CHIP KELLY “has been hit with a $99,000 tab in a lease dispute over an $11,000-a-month penthouse.” A judge sided with the landlord and "found that Kelly failed to give notice he was moving out after a year” (AP, 6/19)....Blackhawks coach JOEL QUINNEVILLE was spotted “with the Stanley Cup by his side at Chicago Cut Steakhouse” (N.Y. POST, 6/21).
IN MEMORY: Univ. of Montana Assistant AD/Communications MIKE HANSON, who was hired in April, died Wednesday night of “natural causes” at the age of 49. He previously worked for the Dolphins, Patriots, Trail Blazers and NHL Panthers (MISSOULIAN.com, 6/18)....Univision co-Founder DANNY VILLANUEVA died Thursday in L.A. at the age of 77. Villanueva, “one of the wealthiest” Latino execs in the country, was “key to the growth of Spanish-language broadcasting” in the U.S. (L.A. TIMES, 6/21).
