Go Big to Go Home

Jake has left his Urban Johnny Cash behind for a day

 and was out and about doing his best Caroline in the City in NYC today.

On the street

 And courtside at the Celts/Knicks playoff game tonight sitting next to Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor.

Source

Now wonder why he did that? ; )


And congratulations to Jake on his 2013 Drama League Distinguished Performance Award nomination. In in some amazing company of for the nomination including Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Bobby Cannavale, Alan Cumming, Jesse Eisenberg, Edie Falco, EOW co-star America Ferrera, Judith Ivey, Scarlett Johansson, Nathan Lane, Judith Light, Laurie Metcalf, Bette Midler,
David Hyde Pierce, Vanessa Redgrave, Chita Rivera, Paul Rudd, Tony Shalhoub, Holland Taylor, Cicely Tyson, Michael Urie, Courtney B. Vance, and Vanessa Williams to name a few. The uniqueness of this award is it is a one(or won) and done. Once you receive the award, that's it, no more nominations for the award.

We know that Jake likes to celebrate with pancakes. May we suggest splitting a short stack with a Tall Texan.

Cake and syrup - Happy Birthday.

Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight is an American sports executive, who served as the third highest ranking official in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) front office, and was the President and Chief of Operations for Phoenix Suns and now with the Golden State Warriors. Coming out this past spring, he is the first openly gay prominent American sports executive. Today's Out Spotlight is Rick Welts.

Richard Welts was born in 1953 in Seattle, Washington, where he was raised. He went on to attend the University of Washington.

Welts began his career in sports, working for the Seattle SuperSonics first as a ballboy, at the age of 16, in 1969, and moving up the ranks through various positions, including as the team’s Director of Public Relations during back-to-back appearances in the NBA Finals (1978 and 1979) and the SuperSonics lone NBA Championship in 1979.

After leaving the SuperSonics, he spent the following three years (1980-1982) at Bob Walsh & Associates, a sports marketing firm in the Seattle area. His non-NBA résumé also includes serving as President of Fox Sports Enterprises (1999-2000).

He later worked at the NBA's league front offices from 1982 to 1999, eventually rising to the positions of executive vice president, chief marketing officer and president of NBA Properties.

During his time in the front office, he was credited with the creation of the NBA All-Star Weekend concept in 1984, a model that subsequently became a fixture in both MLB and the NHL. In addition he served as the agent for USA Basketball, the marketing campaign for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics "Dream Team."

In 1998 he was named Brandweek's Marketer of the Year for his work with WNBA President Val Ackerman in launching the WNBA.

He also played a prominent role in the organization of preseason games in foreign countries and the eventual opening of international NBA offices in Australia, Asia, Europe, Mexico and Canada.

Welts' work has spanned virtually every level of an NBA operation.

In 1999, he left the NBA executive offices to join the Phoenix Suns. During his tenure in Phoenix, which began as President and Chief Operating Officer in July of 2002, the Suns enjoyed success on all levels, including on the court, where the club registered five 50-plus win seasons and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2005, 2006 and 2010. He also oversaw the WNBA Phoenix Mercury team. The Mercury won the WNBA Championship in 2007 and 2009.

On May 15, 2011, Welts publicly came out as a gay man in an interview with The New York Times.Welts became the highest ranking executive in men’s professional team sports to publicly acknowledge he is gay.

When the story broke, Welts was in the air, knowing that after 40 years the world would know that he is a gay man. He said upon landing he turned on his Blackberry to be flooded with emails of praise and encouragement for what he he did.

That same day he came out in the NY Times he sat down for an interview with Time Magazine, talking about his life in the closet and journey he took to come out.

Part of the interview is available on video.


Ask why he felt the time was right he said, "For me, really, it's the culmination of a lifelong journey. In the last year, I've been giving it some serious thought. The time just seemed right for me personally. It's not as a result of any other events that have taken place."

Welts also spoke about how hard it was when he lost his partner of 17 years, Arnie, an architect, who died in March 1994 of AIDS. The two men had met in a Seattle restaurant in 1977. "At a time where I didn't think there was any knowledge of my sexuality in the NBA office. Having to navigate through, really, the loss of a spouse without being able to have that be known to the people around you was probably the most personally difficult. It wasn't a motivator for me to come out, but it was a private anguish that I wouldn't wish on anyone."

After Arnie's death, Welts was in another long term relationship from 1995 to 2009. The relationship ended after his partner could no longer live in secrecy.

The first person associated with the NBA Welts came out to was NBA great Bill Russell who was a trusted adviser to him.

"I took a deep breath and said what I had to say.And he was, you know, he was Bill. "Was that all you got?" He said all the right things about our friendship and what it meant to him, and nothing could change, and anything he could do to be supportive. That was the first person in my work life that I had been able to have that conversation with. "

On September 9, 2011, Welts announced he was resigning his position with the Phoenix Suns in order to relocate to northern California, enabling him to reside with his partner, a father of two, who lives there.

On September 6, he was presented with a United States Tennis Association 2011 ICON Award at the US Open in New York City. The ICON Award recognizes and celebrates those who have had a positive impact on diversity and inclusion in the sports industry and society.

A few weeks later, Welts signed on as team president and chairman of operations for the Golden State Warriors.

He lives in Northern California with his partner and family.

Hoop Dreams

It's all tied up with The Lakers and The Celtics and the series is back in Beantown.

Now Jake said he was a fan of both. But these pictures show a man who just lived a boyhood dream.


Back on December 2, 2006 Jake got to have a lunch with Magic Johnson. One of the greatest players in the history of The Lakers. Magic was the face of The Lakers and in the 80's he and Larry Bird from The Celtics personified the rivalry between the two teams.

You can just see the little boy in Jake.
Jake might say he's a Celtics fan, but don't know if he would have that look meeting Larry Bird.
Beat LA!

Tip Off

Well there is definitely one blonde who isn't wanted courtside. And she's a supermodel and former Victoria Secret angel to boot! Celtics fans have no love for Tom Brady's girlfriend Gisele. Deemed a jinx fans and the papers asked her to stay home.


Go back to LA for the game? Why? Fly up to Boston. Hey with this many movies in production in it's Hollywood East. You'll feel right at home. Meet up with friends, squeeze in a Sox game, drop by the house on the Vineyard. You can have it all right here. Who has time to fly cross country when you are 2 weeks behind in filming Nailed. Maybe you can ask Tom and sit courtside with him in BankNorth Garden, he'll be stag, Gisele won't make it inside the door. And hey Tommy's the man here in Beantown, sending Leo DiCaprio packing up to the luxury boxes during the Piston's series. And you know, he kind of looks like...

Hey just go and enjoy the game. You can even wear the hat.

True the half fun has gotta be the trash talking between Jake and Chris now, cause you know it started as soon as the game ended last night. No one calling themselves a Celtics or Lakers fan to pass up the opportunity to rag on the other.

Wonder what the wager will be, maybe what the name of the restaurant will be, nah it will be some act of humiliation after being friends for 16 years what else would you do to your best friend? Pick something good Chris and make him stick to the bet. GO CELTICS!


MOVIE CLUB REMINDER:

Next Saturday will be our discussion on our lastest movie selection, Maurice. You still have time to grab a copy and watch Merchant Ivory's beautiful adaptation of E. M. Forrester's novel. A great movie, hope that everyone gets a chance to watch it and join us to discuss.