Star Turn: Actress Jami Gertz Has Major Role With Hawks

Actress JAMI GERTZ, wife of Hawks Principal Owner & Chair TONY RESSLER, is the "public face" of the team, and the couple's "division of duties is by design," according to a profile by Seth Abramovitch of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Gertz is "all smiles out front, while Ressler furiously works behind the scenes to lift the Hawks out of the cellar." Ressler said of Gertz' role, "It's fair to say that she makes a better impression on our fan base than any of us in the organization. I'm very active on the business and player personnel decision-making. But Jami steps in when it comes to so many parts of the business that I did not appreciate or have any experience in." Ressler said that one example of this was a "rousing pep talk" Gertz gave to 1,500 "new employees hired to work at the soon-to-reopen" State Farm Arena. In May, Ressler "insisted that Gertz represent the team" at the NBA Draft lottery in what was "essentially her coming out party as the face of the Hawks." Gertz being the team's ambassador at the lottery was "not popular with NBA officials, who typically want the role to be filled by a team legend." Ressler: "But I said f--- it. I'd rather go with Jami" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/11).