Denise DeBartolo York - San Francisco 49ers' Co-Chairman

Marie Denise DeBartolo York (born 1950 in Youngstown, Ohio) is the former owner and current co-chair of the San Francisco 49ers. She is the daughter of late construction magnate Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. and the late Marie Patricia Montani DeBartolo.

Denise and John York bring long and distinguished careers in sports and business to their roles as Co-Chairmen of the San Francisco 49ers, where they combine their passion for building a championship team with their commitment to being the best possible business partners and community citizens.

A THIRTY YEAR LEGACY IN BUSINESS AND PRO SPORTS

Since Denise’s father, Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., purchased the 49ers in 1977, she has been an integral part of more than three decades of 49ers football, including 41 playoff contests and five Super Bowl victories. Earlier in her career, Denise served as President of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. Under her leadership, the Penguins were revitalized and transformed into a championship team, winning the Stanley Cup. She is one of only 12 women to have her name engraved on the Stanley Cup.

A successful entrepreneur, John spent years as Senior Vice President/Director of Racing Operations for the DeBartolo Corporation, instituting programs designed to enhance the fan experience and raise the profile of thoroughbred horse racing. John, a noted pathologist, began his business career in 1982 as founder of DeYor Laboratories in Youngstown, Ohio. From three employees, he molded the company into a 500-person operation with facilities in three states before selling the company to Corning, Inc. in 1993.

As owners of the 49ers, Denise and John provide the resources and guidance to uphold the 49ers celebrated history and oversee the team’s relationship with the Commissioner of the National Football League and other team owners.

TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE NFL

Denise and John’s dedication to the sport of football extends to the top levels of the NFL.

Denise is an active member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee, where she helps to oversee the League’s ongoing support of the museum that pays tribute to the triumphs of pro football’s greatest stars, including 14 legendary members of the San Francisco 49ers.

John is Chairman of the NFL’s Health & Safety Advisory Committee, which was established in 2011. He is also a member of both the League’s Audit and International committees, the latter of which he previously served as Chairman. Under his leadership, the 49ers became the first team to play a regular season game outside the boarders of the United States, taking on the Arizona Cardinals in front of 100,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The League expanded its presence abroad with regular season games at Wembley Stadium in London, England, under his direction. The 49ers are set to play the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley in October of 2013. It marks the second 49ers appearance in London in the last four years, as the 49ers hosted the Denver Broncos at Wembley in 2010.

CELEBRATING THE TEAM’S LEGENDARY HISTORY

Denise and John have played a pivotal role in reaching out to former players and coaches to help celebrate six monumental decades of 49ers football. Over the past decade, Denise and John have brought back every Hall of Fame enshrinee from the 49ers to be honored at Candlestick Park for their tremendous contributions to Bay Area sports.

When Levi’s® Stadium opens in 2014, one of the premiere features of the venue will be the 49ers Hall of Fame. The 20,000-square-foot facility will utilize cutting-edge technology to bring to life the legacy and mystique of the 49ers. Visitors will we be treated to an educational trek through the history of the franchise and the Bay Area.

Under the guidance of Denise and John, the team enhanced its annual alumni weekend event to give all players who have donned the red and gold throughout the team’s history a chance to catch up with old friends. As part of the event, the former players are recognized on the field during a half-time celebration at Candlestick Park, where so many of them made their mark on history. They have also worked with players like Joe Montana, Steve Young and Dwight Clark, and the members of the 1981 49ers defense to re-enact and commemorate some of the team’s most famous plays such as “The Catch” and the goal line stand that propelled the team to its first Super Bowl victory.

ENHANCING THE FAN EXPERIENCE

Denise and John are dedicated to embracing the passion of 49ers fans everywhere. They are committed to giving fans an opportunity to experience the excitement of 49ers football year-round. From the team’s annual Winter Fest Fundraiser in Lake Tahoe, to Pasta Bowl in Santa Clara and Fan Fest at Candlestick Park each summer, they have made it their mission to embrace the fans as family.

On game days, they have spearheaded the effort to create a great atmosphere for fans by making significant enhancements to Candlestick Park, from the creation of the Alumni Tailgate Party and Faithful City, to improvements inside the stadium such as new flat screen TVs, new escalators and remodeled restrooms.

They’ve also provided new opportunities for fans to participate in the excitement of 49ers football by giving local musicians the opportunity to sing the national anthem in front of 68,000 fans at the ‘Stick, and providing opportunities to local talent to participate in half-time events on the field.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Under the leadership of Denise and John, the team’s community outreach programs and 49ers Foundation have grown tremendously.

The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 21st year, the 49ers Foundation supports development programs for underserved youth that keep them, “Safe, On Track, and In School.”  The San Francisco 49ers are promoting RESPECT for schools and community by donating a significant portion of the foundation’s funding toward family violence prevention programs and activities that teach youth leadership and respect.  Since 1992, the Foundation has donated over $20 million to support non-profits, including $2.9 million in 2012.  In 2012, 100% of players participated in one-or-more community program and were joined by ownership, coaching staff, executives and their families at most of these events.

In recognition of their community involvement, the couple has been honored with a number of accolades including City Year’s Service Leadership Award, Silicon Valley Exemplary Community Leadership Award by Silicon Valley FACES, Outstanding Corporate Philanthropy Award at the Catholic Charities/Catholic Youth Organization’s Loaves & Fishes Dinner, and inclusion on the Top Corporate Philanthropists list for the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal.

The couple’s passion for community involvement extends beyond the Bay Area as well. John has been honored with Loyola University’s Strich Medal - the highest honor awarded by the school - for his ongoing contributions to his alma mater. Denise and John were honored with the Youngstown Hearing & Speech Center’s Great Communicators Award in recognition of their philanthropic leadership. The couple continues to support the Boys and Girls Club of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley United Way, while also being intimately involved with the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. Memorial Scholarship Foundation which awards college scholarships to deserving Youngstown area high school seniors.

Denise continues to provide mentoring and tuition assistance for at risk youth throughout all levels of education. She is also involved with the No Stone Unturned Foundation, which provides support for children and their families affected by developmental and neurological disorders. Denise is also passionate about cancer related causes, including The Serenity Garden at the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center and the A Way With Words Foundation.

PUTTING FAMILY FIRST

Though Denise and John have accomplished much in their professional careers, they first define themselves as husband, wife and parents.

Their eldest son, Jed, now carries on the family’s legacy begun by his grandfather Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., his Uncle Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and his parents, by serving as CEO of the 49ers. Their son, Tony, is currently an entrepreneur in the high-tech industry in the Bay Area, and is involved with support programs for incarcerated juveniles alongside team pastor Earl Smith. Their twin daughters, Jenna and Mara are pursuing careers in oenology in the Napa Valley. All of the York children share their parents’ passion for community service and are very active in the 49ers Foundation. Denise and John, have one grandchild, Jaxon, the son of Jed and his wife, Danielle.

Alex G. Spanos - San Diego Chargers' Owner

Alexander Gus Spanos (born September 28, 1923) is an American real estate developer and self-made billionaire who founded the A. G. Spanos Companies and owns the San Diego Chargers.

Alex Spanos and his wife Faye are shining examples of how the American spirit of hard work and determination can pay off for those willing to follow their dreams.

In 1951 at the age of 27, Alex Spanos decided he could no longer support his growing family on $40 per week working in his father’s bakery. So he borrowed $800, purchased a used catering truck and set out on his own by providing catering and support services for the migrant farm workers in California’s Central Valley.

From those humble beginnings, Spanos’ tireless work ethic built one of the leading real estate and development companies in the industry, and today he is the patriarch of one of the most accomplished and philanthropic families in the United States.

A.G. Spanos Companies builds multi-family housing and master planned communities and is one of the nation’s largest family-owned builders. Alex Spanos’ personal commitment to quality and integrity is now carried on by his family in the daily operation and management of the San Diego Chargers as well as the companies that bear his name.

Spanos made family part of his formula for business success. The A.G. Spanos organization, including the Chargers, is a family-run operation. Spanos’ amazing journey and his passion for giving back is outlined in his autobiography, “Sharing the Wealth: My Story,” a compelling first-hand account of the events and decisions in his life that became his basic fundamentals for success.

His success in the construction and development industry allowed him to pursue many dreams, including purchasing the Chargers on Aug. 1, 1984. Alex turned over the day-to-day operations of the Chargers to his oldest son, Dean, in 1994. Today he enjoys retirement and watching sons, Dean and Michael, along with grandsons, A.G. and John, guide the Chargers’ organization to success.

Spanos’ community spirit and generosity are renowned. Few can match the benevolence and philanthropy that Alex and Faye have shown through their support of deserving institutions and community-service efforts. San Diegans have Spanos to thank for the huge economic windfall of two Super Bowls and a Republican National Convention to San Diego. In addition to the millions of dollars donated by Spanos and the Chargers Community Foundation, which he established, the Spanos family has delivered more than $11 million to help San Diego’s youth by supporting education as well as health and fitness programs.

In 2008 the President of the Republic of Greece, Mr. Karolos Papoulias, awarded Spanos the Medal of the Commander of the Order of Honor. The honor came in recognition of his many contributions to the birthplace of his parents.

These acts of caring demonstrate the commitment of a man whose rags-to-riches story has been an inspiring example for others. Though his life has taken him places he never dreamed possible, Spanos continues to reside in his hometown of Stockton, California.

Alex and Faye are celebrating 65 years of marriage in 2013. And they will celebrate with their four children – Dean, Dea, Alexis, Michael and their spouses – 15 grandchildren, and four great grandsons.

Early life and education
Spanos was born in Stockton, California to a Greek family, the son of Greek immigrants, Constantino and Evanthia Spanos. His father owned a bakery where the young Spanos started working at the age of eight. In 1942 he dropped out of college and joined the Army Air Force training as a pilot but left the program and instead serving as a tail gunner during World War II. Spanos earned varsity letters in running and diving at the University of the Pacific in Stockton and later distinguished himself as an amateur golfer.[citation needed]

Career
In 1951 he borrowed $800 from a local banker to buy a truck which he then used to sell sandwiches to migrant farm workers in the San Joaquin Valley. By 1955 he had made his first million dollars. He invested his earnings in real estate and at the suggestion of his tax accountants, and started to build apartments. In 1960 he founded A.G. Spanos Companies, which by 1977 had became the largest apartment builder in the United States. The corporation is based in Stockton and has 10 subsidiaries.

San Diego Chargers
In 1984, Spanos bought 60% of the San Diego Chargers from majority owner Eugene Klein for $48.3 million. Over the next 10 years, he bought out the shares of several small co-owners, bringing his control of the team to 97%. He remains partnered with retired San Diego restaurateur George Pernicano, an investor in the team since a few years after its inception. Since 1993, Spanos' son Dean has handled the daily operations of the franchise. According to Forbes, in 2007 the San Diego Chargers were worth $826 million.

Philanthropy and political contributions
Spanos donated $500,000 to renovate the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Stockton, and with the approval of the City of Stockton, renamed the facility the Fox California Bob Hope Theatre. The Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton and the Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo are named after him.

Spanos was one of the largest contributors to George W. Bush's reelection campaign in 2004. By contributing $5 million to 527 groups that supported the Bush campaign in 2004, Spanos ranked among the top five GOP donors. President Bush appointed Spanos to the Kennedy Center board in 2004. Spanos was inducted into the California Building Industry Hall of Fame in 2005. Spanos also received the AHEPA Award, an award that recognizes members of the community for their contributions and achievements in their chosen field of endeavor.

Personal life
In 1948, Spanos married Faye Papafaklis. They are the parents of four adult children: Dean Spanos, who serves as the Chargers' Team President; Micheal Spanos, who serves as the Charger's Executive Vice president; Alexis Spanos Ruhl, a vice president of A.G. Spanos Companies; and Dea Spanos Berberian, a vice president of A.G. Spanos Companies. The Spanos reside in Stockton, California. Spanos also owns property in Las Vegas, Nevada. Spanos had a seven-way heart bypass in 2000, and has had surgery and undergone chemotherapy for colon cancer. After his heart bypass at Sacramento Mercy General Hospital, Spanos donated $10 million to the hospital sponsoring the construction of its new state-of-the-art heart center.

He has written a book called Sharing the Wealth: My Story which details his rise from a moneyless man of 27 years to become a billionaire.[citation needed] Spanos was the first person ever to be on the winning teams in both the Bob Hope Desert Classic in Palm Desert (1977) and the Bob Hope British Pro-Am (1980).

Daniel M. Rooney - Pittsburgh Steelers' Chairman

Daniel Milton "Dan" Rooney, (born July 20, 1932) was the United States Ambassador to Ireland from July 3, 2009 until his resignation in 2012. He is chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in the National Football League (NFL), which was founded by his father, Art Rooney. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his contributions to the game. He is credited with spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach and general manager vacancies interview at least one minority candidate, which has become known as the "Rooney Rule".

Ambassador Rooney is well-known in Ireland as one of the founders of the American Ireland Funds which are dedicated to building bridges of peace, culture, and charity in Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Ambassador Rooney has also funded the annual Rooney Prize for Irish Literature to highlight the work of Irish writers under the age of 40.  He has also been actively involved in charities in the U.S.  Among his community activities, Ambassador Rooney was a board member for The United Way of America, The American Diabetes Association, The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.  In February 2000, Ambassador Rooney was recognized by the prestigious Maxwell Football Club in Philadelphia by presenting with the Francis "Reds" Bagnell Award for "contributions to the game of football."

Rooney is also co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization The Ireland Funds.

Life and career

Rooney was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Kathleen (née McNulty) and Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney. In the Steelers organization, Rooney has been involved in every aspect[citation needed] of the franchise since he was a young boy, often assisting his father at Pitt Stadium and Forbes Field. He grew up in the North Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh and attended North Catholic High School where he excelled as the team's quarterback. He was also the coach for the St. Peter's Elementary school football team, which was quarterbacked by future CIA Director and lifelong friend Michael Hayden. Rooney was mentored by Fran Fogerty, Joe Carr, and Ed Kiely. These men assisted in teaching Dan the business of football. After being mentored and graduating from Duquesne University he knew football was what he wanted to pursue. He then met his future wife in the office of the Steelers where she was currently working. The couple got married soon after. By early 1969 Rooney was managing the day-to-day operations of the team and personally selected the coaching hire of Chuck Noll. He was appointed team president in 1975 and was officially given full operational control of the franchise by his father who remained Chairman and President Emeritus, as well as the public face of the franchise until his death in 1988. During his tenure, he has implemented a philosophy and management style that emphasizes open, practical and efficient management. The results have been obvious: since 1972, the Steelers have won 15 division championships, 8 AFC Championships, and an NFL record 6 Super Bowl Championships. Rooney became the patriarch and controlling owner of the team in 1988, following the death of his father. In 2003, Rooney followed in his father's footsteps by slowly ceding day-to-day operations of the franchise to the next generation of the family. Although still chairman and to many fans the public face of the team, his son Art Rooney II has now assumed full operational control of the Steelers.

Dan Rooney is a graduate of Duquesne University, majoring in accounting. He has been involved with the Steelers since 1960, originally working as director of personnel. While Rooney has generally avoided the spotlight, he has been a very active owner behind the scenes. Rooney helped lead the negotiations of the collective bargaining agreement of 1982, and is largely credited both by owners and players of having ended a strike that lasted half of the season. He is also one of the main architects of the salary cap, which was implemented in 1993. He surprised many with his public endorsement of Barack Obama for president. The family had traditionally been very private on politics, even being rumored to have a Republican bent. Rooney responded to his public endorsement with: "When I think of Barack Obama’s America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency." Rooney is the benefactor of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and Vice-Chairman of The American Ireland Fund. He is also a Founding Chairman of The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania. In 2008, Rooney became an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In 2009 he won the 2009 Jack Horrigan Memorial Award, presented by the Professional Football Writers of America to a professional football official or player "for his or her professionalism in helping football writers do their job".

He was named to the PoliticsPA list of "Sy Snyder's Power 50" list of influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2002.

Sale of the Steelers

On July 7, 2008, Dan and his son, team president Art Rooney II, announced that they were seeking to buy out Dan Rooney's brothers' shares in the team. The team initially said that some of Rooney's four brothers want to "get out of the NFL and focus their business efforts on their racetracks and other interests." This was report in The Wall Street Journal's Web site that the Steelers have "been secretly shopped to potential buyers amid continuing divisions among the five sons of the team's founder, Art Rooney Sr." This forced the Steelers to announce that prolonged, ongoing negotiations were under way concerning the "restructuring" of ownership, which could result in the sale of the franchise or a consolidation of control within the Rooney family. Discussions have supposedly been taking place for two years. The team said that chairman Dan Rooney and his son, president Art Rooney II, are trying to buy Dan's brothers' shares in order to "ensure compliance with NFL ownership policies." Dan and Art Rooney II, reportedly control 16 percent of the Steelers' shares but conduct most of the team's operations. Together, the Rooneys hold 80 percent of the company. The other 20 percent is owned by the McGinley Family, who are first cousins of the Rooneys.

The policies refer to The Rooney family's gambling operation. The family owns racetracks in New York and Florida, and the team said "these facilities have added forms of gaming that are inconsistent with NFL gambling policy." The racetracks that were owned by the Rooney's recently received slot machines. According to league policy, no NFL owner may own, directly or indirectly, any interests in a gambling casino. The NFL defines any facility with slot machines as a casino.

One of the Rooneys' interests called into question are the Yonkers Raceway, a harness racing track outside of New York City, which was purchased by the five Rooney brothers in 1972. The facility recently added video gaming machines, slot machines, and now has 5,300 such games, according to its Web site. The other interest is the Palm Beach Kennel Club, a Greyhound racetrack in West Palm Beach, Fla. The track was purchased by Art Rooney Sr. and his five sons in 1970. The facility advertises poker rooms on its Web site.

The Steelers' statement said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has asked former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue to "serve as a league representative in discussions with the family in order to reach an agreement on the separation of the gambling interests and on a restructuring of ownership if the team is sold." Any sale involving an NFL team is subject to a league review and must be approved by 75 percent of member clubs. The Steelers were valued at $929 million by Forbes Magazine in September 2007. However Rooney's brothers: Art Rooney Jr., Timothy Rooney, Patrick Rooney and John Rooney released a statement confirming that they retained Goldman, Sachs & Co. to put a price tag on the franchise, and analysts in New York placed its value between $800 million and $1.2 billion. Their shares are likely worth more than Dan Rooney and son Art II have offered in the initial buyout could raise even higher and still remain under the NFL's ceiling of $150 million in ownership debt. Each Rooney brother's stake is worth about $160 million, or less than Dan Rooney is believed to be offering. Also the brother who may determine if the majority of the team remains in the Rooney family is Art Rooney Jr., a Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee for his drafting skills who was fired by Dan Rooney in 1987.

The brothers likely would not have retained Goldman, Sachs if they felt they could soon work out a deal with Dan Rooney. The move also reflected on their fears that selling to Dan Rooney, coupled with the ensuing taxes, could leave their children and grandchildren with far less money than their shares are worth.

If any of the brothers were to die in the near future without a change in ownership, their heirs would face estate taxes of up to 45 percent of the shares' value. Dan has been working with Morgan Stanley and PNC Financial Services to attempt to bring in additional investors who might prop up his buyout attempt.

However Duquesne Capital Management chairman Stanley Druckenmiller apparently is interested in acquiring the team, according to the Wall Street Journal story. The Associated Press reported on July 8, 2008 that a deal could be reached within days to sell a majority interest in the Steelers to Druckenmiller, taking control of the franchise away from the Rooney family. However Dan Rooney, stopped short of guaranteeing that he and his son, would be able to stay at the helm of a team. He hinted that "many people," not just Druckenmiller, might be interested in the NFL franchise.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello stated that the NFL will continue to support the Rooneys in their efforts to retain control of the Steelers. The only thing that is known at this time is that the franchise will not relocate to another city, only that the ownership will either change or be consolidated.

On November 21, 2008, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that,

Tim and Pat Rooney plan to sell each of their 16 percent stake in the Steelers so they can remain involved in racetracks and casinos in Yonkers, N.Y., and West Palm Beach, Fla., family sources told the Post-Gazette. But John and Art Rooney Jr. each plan to keep a little less than half of their 16 percent stake...Dan Rooney and his son, Art, are trying to acquire 30 percent of the team to abide by NFL policy and have compiled a list of investors who, in essence, will become their new partners in the franchise.

Controversies

James Harrison vs. Cedrick Wilson
On March 19, 2008; Rooney released wide receiver Cedrick Wilson from the Steelers, after he was arrested for punching his former girlfriend. However earlier that month, on March 8, Rooney failed to offer any type of discipline to linebacker James Harrison for slapping his girlfriend. When asked about the incident involving Wilson, Rooney stated that "the Steelers do not condone violence of any kind, especially against women,". However he was then confronted about this by Ed Bouchette and Michael A. Fuoco of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who asked why Harrison was not punished for committing the same crime.

Rooney said that the cases were different and stated that "I know many are asking the question of [why] we released Wilson and Harrison we kept. The circumstances—I know of the incidents, they are completely different. In fact, when I say we don't condone these things, we don't, but we do have to look at the circumstances that are involved with other players and things like that, so they're not all the same. What Jimmy Harrison was doing and how the incident occurred, what he was trying to do was really well worth it. He was doing something that was good, wanted to take his son to get baptized where he lived and things like that. She said she didn't want to do it."

Rooney later said that Harrison had no intention of harming his girlfriend when he went to her house to pick up his son. "The situation angered him. He didn't go there with intent." Meanwhile Rooney stated that the Wilson case was different. According to Rooney "[Wilson] knew what he was doing. He knew where his [former] girlfriend was and went to the bar looking for her. When he got there he punched her. That's different and I understand he expressed no regret.

Afterwards Rooney was criticized by the Women's Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh as a result of his comments. ESPN's Matt Mosley later wrote that Rooney's attempt to "explain that Harrison's heart was in the right place ... had to be one of the worst Public Relations moments in club history."

Steelers taxes and taxpayer funding
In August 2004, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writer Bill Steigerwald reported that Rooney's team received $5 million in state funds for a new, $12 million amphitheater. This was in addition to the $158 million in public subsidies the organization received to build Heinz Field. Steigerwald wrote that: Since the Steelers don't own any taxable property, the Rooneys dodge city and county real estate taxes. Heinz Field, which the Steelers operate and profit from in myriad ways, is owned by taxpayers through the Sports and Exhibition Authority. The team offices, practice field and workout facilities are leased from UPMC's tax-exempt Sports Performance Complex. Steelers players pay payroll and occupation taxes like everyone else. Fans pay the 5 percent city amusement tax on each ticket. But the Steelers - like a few other profit-making corporations - aren't exempt from paying both a city mercantile tax (3 mills on concessions, etc.) and a city business privilege tax (6 mills on gross receipts). Tax officials say these taxes are highly complicated to compute - and the final amounts the Steelers pay are top secret.

Ambassador to Ireland and politics

On March 17, 2009, President Obama announced he had nominated Rooney to become the next US ambassador to Ireland, citing the owner's longstanding support for Irish-American charitable causes. However a March 18, 2009 story in the USA Today, stated that Rooney was awarded the position of ambassador, by Obama, for being "a loyal supporter who campaigned on his behalf in a key battleground state." In 2008, Rooney gave $30,000 to a Democratic Party committee that aided Obama's campaign, according to CQ MoneyLine, a non-partisan group that tracks political contributions. According to David Lewis, a Vanderbilt University political scientist and the author of The Politics of Presidential Appointments, "giving coveted ambassadorships to political supporters is a relatively low-risk way for presidents to repay campaign debts."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton swore him in as the new ambassador to Ireland on July 1, 2009. Ambassador Rooney presented his credentials to Irish President Mary McAleese on July 3, before making his first official speaking engagement at lunch hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland.

In an interview with The Irish Times in April 2011 Rooney mentioned that he would consider resigning his ambassadorship in order to campaign for Obama's re-election. However, in a prepared statement released after that interview was published Rooney stated, "I was asked what I could do to help [Obama] in the next election and I responded that the best thing I could do would be to help him campaign. Were I to do so, it would require my resignation as ambassador to Ireland. However, I am very pleased with my accomplishments to date and I intend to continue to carry out my duties." On December 14, 2012, he resigned as US Ambassador to Ireland and returned to Pittsburgh. He would eventually be replaced in June 2014 by Kevin O'Malley.

Jeffrey Lurie - Philadelphia Eagles' Chairman

 Jeffrey Lurie (b. September 8, 1951, Boston, Massachusetts) is a former Hollywood producer turned NFL team owner. Lurie bought the Philadelphia Eagles on May 6, 1994 from then owner Norman Braman for $195 million. The club is now estimated to be worth $1.024 billion, as valuated in 2006 by Forbes.

Since becoming owner of the Eagles, Lurie has been named NFL “Owner of the Year” by The Sporting News in 1995 and by Pro Football Insider in 2000. He is also responsible for helping push through the deal to build a new, $512 million, 68,500-seat football stadium, now called Lincoln Financial Field. Lurie currently is a member of eight different NFL committees, making him one of the most active owners.

Before purchasing the Eagles, Lurie served as the president and chief executive officer of Chestnut Hill Productions, a Los Angeles-based film company, which he founded in 1985. His corporation did not make any blockbuster hits, but became successful supervising production of films made by much larger companies. The company also produces television commercials.

Prior to entering business, Lurie served as an adjunct assistant professor of social policy at Boston University. Lurie earned a B.A. from Clark University, a Master’s degree in psychology from Boston University and a Ph.D in social policy from Brandeis University.

Early life and education
Lurie was born into wealth in Boston; His grandfather Philip Smith founded the General Cinema movie theater chain. His father Morris John Lurie married Nancy Smith, the daughter of entrepreneur Philip Smith. Morris and Nancy Lurie had three children: Jeffrey, Peter, and Cathy. Morris John Lurie died on April 14, 1961 at the age of 44. In July his grandfather Philip Smith died. Jeffrey was nine years old.

In the late 1960s General Cinema began acquiring bottling franchises, including a Pepsi bottling operation. General Cinema evolved over the years into Harcourt General Inc., a $3.7 billion conglomerate based in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, with 23,700 employees worldwide. In its heyday it was the nation's fourth largest chain of movie theaters, owned several publishing houses, three insurance companies and a leading global consulting firm. In 1984 Carter Hawley Hale was acquired, which was at the time the tenth largest clothing retailer in the United States, including Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman-Marcus.

Lurie earned a B.A. from Clark University, a Master's degree in psychology from Boston University and a PhD in social policy from Brandeis University, where he wrote his thesis on the depiction of women in Hollywood movies. He was born to Jewish parents but has spent his adult life as a non-practicing Jew. Prior to entering business, Lurie served as an adjunct assistant professor of social policy at Boston University.

Career
In 1983 he left academia to join General Cinema Corporation, a major film company founded by his grandfather, Philip Smith, and now headed by his uncle, Richard Smith. He worked as an executive in the company as a liaison between General Cinema Corporation and the production community in Hollywood. He was also an advisor in The General Cinema national film buying office.

He then founded Chestnut Hill Productions in 1985, which produced a string of Hollywood movie and TV "bombs".

1988 Sweet Hearts Dance (producer) $3,790,493
1990 I Love You to Death (producer) $16,186,793
1991 V.I. Warshawski (producer) $11,128,309
1993 Blind Side (TV movie) (executive producer)
1994 State of Emergency (TV movie) (executive producer)
1996 Malibu Shores (TV series) (co-executive producer) (co-producer) 10 episodes
1996 Foxfire (producer) $269,300
2009 Sergio (documentary) (executive producer)
2010 Inside Job (documentary) (executive producer) $4,312,735
On February 27, 2011, the Lurie-produced movie Inside Job won an Academy Award for best documentary film. The company also produced television commercials.

Philadelphia Eagles ownership

Lurie loved all the Boston teams. He went to games and put himself to sleep listening to the Boston Red Sox on his transistor radio. The Luries had been season-ticket holders since the New England Patriots franchise was born in 1960, the year the American Football League was founded. Lurie cheered for Gino Cappelletti, Houston Antwine and Babe Parilli. This was the team of his dreams. In 1993 Lurie tried to buy the New England Patriots but he dropped out of the bidding at $150 million when his uncle Richard Smith nixed the purchase based on the financials.

Lurie's name also had surfaced in sale talks regarding the Los Angeles Rams, and he was a potential investor in a bid for a Baltimore expansion team with Robert Tisch, who subsequently bought 50 percent of the Giants. Five months later, Smith agreed to let his nephew buy the Eagles. Lurie contacted Norman Braman, then-owner of the Eagles. Lurie bought the Philadelphia Eagles on May 6, 1994 from Braman for $195 million. Lurie and his mother, Nancy Lurie Marks of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts—Philip Smith's only daughter—borrowed an estimated $190 million from the Bank of Boston to buy the Eagles. To back the Bank of Boston loan, Lurie put up millions of dollars' worth of personal stock in Harcourt General and GC Companies Inc., as equity capital. Additionally, he and his mother pledged their stock in the family trust as collateral so Lurie could borrow the rest.

"I am very excited at the prospect of acquiring the franchise and becoming a Philadelphian," Lurie said in a statement. "Philadelphia is one of the great sports cities in America, and I look forward to a long and successful relationship with the city, its team and its loyal fans."

The club is now estimated to be worth $1.164 billion, as valued in 2011 by Forbes.

Personal life
In a pre-production meeting for I Love You To Death, Lurie met Lori Christina Weiss, a former actress who was working for his production company. In 1992, Lurie married Weiss in Gstaad, Switzerland. They had two children: a son and a daughter. Weiss was born in Mexico City and has dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. She speaks three languages fluently: Spanish, French (her mother's native tongue), and English; she also speaks passable German and Italian. She is ethnically Jewish but was raised non-religious. She feels closest to Buddhism. The Luries celebrate Passover and exchange presents with their children on Christmas. She was instrumental in changing the Eagles' colors from the traditional kelly green and recreating the logo. In 2012, the couple announced that they were divorcing. In August 2012, Lurie and his wife of 20 years quietly settled their divorce. On May 4, 2013, he married Tina Lai.

Mark Davis - Oakland Raiders' Owner

Mark Davis (born 1954/1955) is principal owner and managing general partner of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL).Davis inherited the team after the death of his father, Al, in 2011.Davis with his mother, Carol, own a 47 percent share of the Raiders, which is contractually structured to give them controlling interest. However, Mark has day-to-day control of the team.Davis is a graduate of California State University, Chico.

In 2013, Davis fired the Raiders public relations director after a Sports Illustrated article that was critical of Davis' father. Davis stated that the director's replacement needed to understand the importance of his father's legacy and actively protect it.


Kawakami, Tim (January 11, 2012). "Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis makes good first impression". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012.

Woody Johnson - New York Jets' CEO

Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV (born April 12, 1947) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is a great-grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I (co-founder of Johnson & Johnson), and the owner of the New York Jets of the National Football League.

Early life

Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His father was Robert Wood Johnson III, president of Johnson & Johnson for four years, and his mother was Betty Wold Johnson. Johnson grew up with four siblings: Keith Johnson, Billy Johnson, Elizabeth "Libet" Johnson, and Christopher Wold Johnson. He grew up in affluent areas of North New Jersey, and attended the Millbrook School. He graduated from the University of Arizona. Johnson then worked menial summer jobs at Johnson & Johnson with the expectation of ascending to the top of the family business.

Career

Johnson became involved in charitable organizations full-time in the 1980s. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His family has been affected by both lupus and juvenile diabetes, which motivated Johnson to take a role in raising funds to prevent, treat, and cure autoimmune diseases. He has led efforts on Capitol Hill and at the National Institutes of Health to increase research funding for lupus, diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases. and personally contributed to causes related to diabetes, after his daughter Casey was diagnosed with the disease. He also started a research foundation, the Alliance for Lupus Research, after his daughter Jaime was found to have lupus.

On January 18, 2000, Johnson purchased the Jets for $635 million, the third-highest price for a professional sports team and the highest for one in New York. Johnson, who also owns courtside seats to the New York Knicks, outbid the $612 million offered by Charles Dolan, chairman of Cablevision, which owns Madison Square Garden, the Knicks and the Rangers. The team sold for more than $100 million above what some sports finance analysts had expected. Based on the Jets' recent[when?] financial performance and the team's low-revenue lease at Giants Stadium, the analysts said the team was really worth about $250 million.

After buying the Jets, Johnson announced plans to move them to the proposed West Side Stadium in Manhattan. However, after the project's defeat in 2005, Johnson announced the Jets would move to a new Meadowlands Stadium (opening day 10 April 2010) co-owned with the Giants. Johnson served on the NFL Commissioner search committee in which a list of 185 candidates to succeed Paul Tagliabue was narrowed down to the final choice of Roger Goodell.

Johnson is the chairman and chief executive of the Johnson Company, Inc., a private investment firm founded in 1978. In August 2006, Johnson was asked to testify before a Senate panel about his participation in a sham tax shelter. A Senate report said that Johnson, along with others, were able to buy, for relatively small fees, roughly $2 billion in capital losses that they used to erase taxable gains they garnered from stock sales. The U.S. Treasury lost an estimated $300 million in revenue as a result. In a statement, Johnson said he had been advised by his lawyers in 2000 that the transaction "was consistent with the Tax Code." But after the Internal Revenue Service challenged that view in 2003, Johnson this year "settled with the IRS and agreed to pay 100 percent of the tax due plus interest."

Johnson was the committee president for Pre-Commissioning Unit for the USS New York (LPD-21).

Politics

Johnson has personally given more than $1 million to various Republican candidates and committees. In May 2008, he orchestrated a fundraiser in New York City that brought in $7 million in a single evening for John McCain, by far the largest amount collected up to that point by a campaign that had been struggling to raise money. Johnson also provided significant funding to the Republican National Convention of 2008 in Minneapolis-St. Paul convention host committee; from a $10 million shortfall, Johnson contributed personally and solicited friends to assist in covering the convention deficit. In 2011, Woody Johnson announced that he would endorse former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election.

On September 23, 2013, Johnson hosted a fundraiser for the Republican National Committee at his home in New York City.

Personal life

In 1977, Johnson married former fashion model Nancy Sale Johnson. They had three children: Casey, Jaime, and Daisy, before divorcing in 2001. In early 2010, Casey died of diabetic ketoacidosis.

In 2009, Johnson married Suzanne Ircha Johnson, a former actress and Equities Managing Director at Sandler O'Neill & Partners. They have two children: Robert Wood Johnson V and Jack Wood Johnson.

Johnson has homes in Bedminster Township, New Jersey and New York.

John Mara - New York Giants' CEO

John Kevin Mara (born December 1, 1954) is the president, CEO, and co-owner of the New York Giants.

Early life

Born in New York City on Dec. 1, 1954, Mara grew up in Westchester County in White Plains and graduated from Iona Prep High School in New Rochelle. He attended Boston College where he received a B.S. degree in marketing, graduating with Cum Laude honors in 1976. Mara earned his law degree from Fordham University in 1979 and then began his career as an attorney with the New York law firm of Vedder, Price, Kaufman, Kammholz and Day, specializing in labor and employment law and litigation. Two years later he moved to the Manhattan firm of Shea & Gould, where he practiced until joining the Giants.

Mara is the chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee and he played an important role in negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA. He also has served for 13 years on the influential NFL Competition Committee, which studies all aspects of the game and recommends rules and policy changes to NFL clubs, as well as the league’s Health and Safety Committee and the Committee on Workplace Diversity.

Mara has been affiliated with the Giants his entire life. The franchise was founded in 1925 by his grandfather, Tim Mara. Wellington Mara was one of the most influential, respected and beloved executives in NFL history. Since John Mara joined the organization in an official capacity, the Giants have reached the playoffs nine times, won five NFC East titles and played in three Super Bowls, winning two.

Mara serves on the Board of Directors of Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Harrison, N.Y. and Boys Hope Girls Hope of New York.


New York Giants

John K. Mara is in his 23rd season with the Giants. The franchise’s President and Chief Executive Officer, he assumed the team presidency upon the passing of his father, Wellington Mara, in 2005. John Mara is the oldest of Wellington Mara’s 11 children. He had been the team’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In his present position, Mara, who joined the Giants in 1991, is responsible for all administrative, legal and financial aspects of the organization.

With team Chairman Steve Tisch, Mara was at the forefront of the planning and negotiations for MetLife Stadium, where the Giants began playing their home games in 2010 after 34 seasons in Giants Stadium. In addition, Mara, Steve Tisch and Jonathan Tisch, as well as Jets owner Woody Johnson, headlined the bid committee that helped convince the NFL owners to award Super Bowl XLVIII to the new stadium. The game, the first Super Bowl to be held in a cold-weather outdoor venue, will be played on Feb. 2, 2014.

After working as an attorney, John Mara joined the Giants in 1991, serving as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer until his father's death in 2005, when he assumed the team's presidency. Under John Mara and Steve Tisch, the Giants have won Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI.

Personal life

Mara is the third generation of his family to own the Giants. His grandfather, Tim, founded the team in 1925. Tim's sons, Wellington and Jack (John Mara's uncle), inherited the team in 1959, when Tim Mara died. Among NFL franchises, only the Chicago Bears (controlled by the Halas-McCaskey family since 1921) have been in the hands of one family longer than the Giants.

John and his wife, the former Denise Walter, are the parents of five children: Lauren, Courtney, John Jr., Christine and Erin. They also have four grandchildren, Christopher, Jack, Hailey and Thomas. The Mara family resides in Harrison, N.Y