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Jeffrey Lurie as "Richie
Rich"
The Jeffrey Lurie Biography
Coming to a theater near
you-the story of a little rich kid who uses his family wealth to buy an
NFL team that breaks the hearts of it's fans for over 18 years as they
line his pockets with cash.
Jeffrey Lurie was born into wealth in
Boston; His grandfather Philip Smith founded the movie theatre chain
General Cinema.
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. Four months later his grandfather Philip
Smith died. Jeffrey was nine years old.
In the late 1960s the firm began acquiring
bottling franchises, including a Pepsi bottling operation.
Opening the Cinema Shoppers
World, Framingham in 1951 are Phil Smith, Dick Smith, and representatives
of the shopping center developer, National Suburban Centers.
General Cinema evolved
over the years into Harcourt General Inc., a $3.7 billion conglomerate
based in Chestnut Hill, Mass., with 23,700 employees worldwide. In it's 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.
the nation's fourth-largest chain of movie theaters, several
publishing houses, three insurance companies, a leading global consulting
firm and in 1984 Carter Hawley Hale, which was at the time the tenth
largest clothing retailer in the United States, including Bergdorf Goodman
and Neiman-Marcus.
Lurie, a native of Boston, graduated
from Clark University and later earned a Ph.D. in social policy at
Brandeis University, where he wrote his thesis on the depiction of women
in Hollywood movies. During this period, Lurie was also a professor of
social studies at Boston University.
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 & TV "Bombs".
- 2012 Inocente (documentary short)
(executive producer)
- 2012 A Place at the Table (documentary)
(executive producer)
- 2010 Inside Job (documentary) (executive
producer) $4,312,735 Academy Award for Best Documentary
- 2009 Sergio (documentary) (executive
producer)
- 1996 Foxfire (producer) $269,300
- 1996 Malibu Shores (TV series)
(co-executive producer) (co-producer) 10 episodes
- 1994 State of Emergency (TV movie)
(executive producer)
- 1993 Blind Side (TV movie) (executive
producer)
- 1991 V.I. Warshawski (producer)
$11,128,309
- 1990 I Love You to Death (producer)
$16,186,793
- 1988 Sweet Hearts Dance (producer)
$3,790,493
Tri-Star Pictures formed a
joint venture with Chestnut Hill Productions March 11, 1985 Press Release
The New York-based motion
picture company reached an agreement to co-finance the development of
theatrical projects by the newly formed Chestnut Hill Productions over the
next two years. Under the terms of the deal, Tri-Star has the right of
first refusal on the projects and will finance the productions it accepts.
Chestnut Hill is a private firm formed by Jeffrey Lurie, a member of the
family that controls the largest block of stock of General Cinema Corp.,
the nation's largest movie theater chain.
In a pre-production meeting
for I Love You To Death, Lurie met 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. In 2012,
the couple announced that they were divorcing. In August 2012 Jeffrey
Lurie and his wife of 20 years, Christina, quietly settled their divorce.
I Want To Own a Football
Team
Jeffrey Lurie is a member of that most
rabid subspecies of NFL fanatic, the draftaholic. While living in
Hollywood he prepared for the league's annual college draft by holing up
in the media room above the garage of his Beverly Hills home and watching
tapes of the Blue-Gray Game, the Japan Bowl, the Senior Bowl—Lurie would
have them all—on his big-screen, surround-sound TV. Lurie would
drive to Santa Barbara nearly every Sunday to a cheap roadside hotel. He
would check into a room and spend the next three hours sitting on the edge
of a bed watching his hometown New England Patriots, whose games were
rarely shown in Los Angeles. The hotel manager felt so sorry for Lurie, he
charged him only $20 for the room as long as he didn't mess it up. Those
were the days Lurie wore a huge button with the Patriots' team picture on
it. A button with blinking lights.
In 1993 Lurie, a fan
of the New England Patriots, the team with the first pick in the 1993
draft, went even further. He and Jeffrey Auerbach, a fellow producer and
football nut, obtained Washington State and Notre Dame game films, the
better to study the talents of the two top quarterbacks in the draft, the
Cougars' Drew Bledsoe and the Irish's Rick Mirer.
"We watched the films, and 98 percent
of the time we'd see Bledsoe go for what appeared to be the primary
receiver, while Mirer would look for his second and third option,"
says Auerbach. "We decided you couldn't go wrong, because they were
both so good. I favored Mirer. But Jeff favored Bledsoe for the Patriots
because of his raw talent." The Patriots, of course, took Bledsoe.
The Luries had been
season-ticket holders since the New England Patriots since franchise
was born in 1960, the year the American Football League was founded. Lurie
cheered for Gino Cappellitti, Houston Antwine and Babe Parilli. This was
the team of his dreams. Jeffrey 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 Norman Braman for $195 million. Lurie and his mother, Nancy
Lurie Marks of Chestnut Hill, Mass. - 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."
They met in 1969 in Chestnut Hill, Mass.,
two teenagers named Jeff and Joe who, like so many boys their age, shared
a love of sports When Jeffrey Lurie was introduced as the team's new
owner, Joseph Banner was there, watching quietly from the sidelines. He
had no title and no defined role with the team. He was described as
Lurie's right-hand man. "I don't really care if my title is ballboy,
as long as I'm able to make a significant contribution to the club,"
Banner said. He had an intriguing resume, one
that combines experience in sports reporting, business and charity - all
of which made him valuable to Lurie in different capacities.
When he graduated from Ohio's Denison University in
1975, Banner became a sports producer and reporter at Philadelphia's WCAU-AM
(1210). By the time he was 25, Banner had left
broadcasting to start his own business, Designers Clothing Ltd.. Joe
Banner eventually became President or the Philadelphia Eagles and then
left the team in 2012 to join The Cleveland Browns.
Lurie named Hollywood buddy Jeffrey
Auerbach as the Eagles' vice president for business development and
broadcasting of the Philadelphia Eagles. Two years late Aurebach announced his resignation, citing his frustration with "the slow
pace of decision-making in sports"` `It has truly been an enjoyable,
wonderful experience with the Eagles. But I've missed the entertainment
business and I'm looking forward to getting back into the creative
realm.''
The club is now
estimated to be worth $1.164 billion, as valued in 2011 by Forbes. Forbes
also describes him as a "self made" billionaire - the correct
term should be "family made".
Is it that Lurie is a financial genius that
made his investment grow?
No not really...... the chart below
shows how the valuations of NFL teams have grown in the past 11 years. The
NFL has grown exponentially over the last 11 years, as the league’s
growth continues to be driven in large part by highly profitable national
TV rights fees.
The NFL’s average team value
rose by $570 million overall at an 8.3% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
over the last 10 years.
Basically Jeffrey Lurie is "Richie
Rich" who never really worked a day in his life ( or paid to see a
movie) and used family money
to buy a big toy "The Philadelphia Eagles" and got in the game
at the right time.
The Philadelphia Eagle
"Relieve" Andy Reid of His Coaching Duties
December 31, 2012
"Andy Reid won the most
games of any head coach in Eagles history and he is someone I respect
greatly and will remain friends with for many years to come,” said Jeff
Lurie. "But, it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction.
Coach Reid leaves us with a winning tradition that we can build upon. And
we are very excited about the future.”
The New Coach
On January 16, 2013The
Philadelphia Eagles hired Chip Kelly to become the head coach. He was the
head coach at the University of Oregon. During his four seasons at Oregon,
he led the team to three Pac-12 Conference championships and four BCS game
appearances. Kelly is a native of New Hampshire, and attended Manchester
Central High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in physical
education from the University of New Hampshire in 1990. He played
quarterback at Manchester Central and defensive back at the University of
New Hampshire. He has been in coaching since 1990.
New Hire -vice president of
player personnel
The Philadelphia Eagles have
hired Tom Gamble to be vice president of player personnel.
Gamble spent the previous
eight seasons with the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers,
including the last two as director of player personnel. The move was
announced Wednesday.
Gamble will work in both the
college and pro personnel departments.
Gamble began his NFL career
working for the Eagles in 1988 and stayed until 1994, serving as a college
scouting administrator, area scout, contract negotiator, and director of
pro scouting. Gamble worked for the New York Jets as a defensive
assistant/quality control coach from 1995-96. He became a pro scout for
the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 before joining the Indianapolis Colts as a
college scout from 1998-2004.
Credit:
NY Daily News
His father, Harry Gamble, was
the Eagles' president from 1986-95.
Jeffrey Lurie from Messiah
to Enigma
Jeffrey Lurie does not relate well to
Philadelphia Fans who support his team no matter what. When he first
purchased the team he would walk through the stands and he was treated
like a "messiah" by the fans.
Today he does not talk to
the fans or the media. He now is above the "common man". He does give his annual
"State of Eagles Address" once a year- fitting of his position.
The Philadelphia Eagles have not won a
world championship since 1960, 52 years ago -Lurie has owned the team for
18 of those years- 35% of that time.
Lurie's beloved New England Patriots have
reached the Super Bowl 5 times and won 3 times since 2000. In 2005 they
beat The Philadelphia Eagles to win The Super Bowl.
Today the Philadelphia Eagles are awful a
team with no heart, no "character" and
with no championship possible in the coming years.
With his background and up bringing he has
no idea of what a Philadelphia fan really is. He is from Boston (via
Hollywood)! And remember The Philadelphia Eagles were his second
choice or third choice .
To the fans he is a "Corporate
Owner". He is an enigma with no observable personality.
The Philadelphia
Eagles development and success since Jeff Lurie purchased the team in 1994
has been attributed to Joe Banner, Christina Weiss Lurie and Andy Reid.
Joe Banner played an integral
role in transforming the Eagles into one of the most successful and
progressive organizations in professional sports, both on and off the
field "Joe plays a crucial role in most everything we
accomplish. His determination, intelligence and desire for success are
invaluable assets to the Philadelphia Eagles," said Eagles chairman
Jeffrey Lurie. "He's a great team player, unselfish and wants what's
best for the franchise, our fans and our players."
Banner left the team in 2012
and became CEO of the Cleveland Browns.
Christina Weiss Lurie
spearheaded the club’s efforts to become a leader off the field, as well
as on it. Christina was instrumental in the creation and design of Lincoln
Financial Field, the club’s state-of-the-art stadium and the NovaCare
Complex, the club’s corporate headquarters and training facility. She
was the driving force in the Eagles’ involvement in the important causes
of breast cancer and environmental awareness.
In 2012, the couple announced
that they were divorcing. In August 2012 Jeffrey Lurie and his wife of 20
years, Christina, quietly settled their divorce.
During Andy
Reid's 14-year tenure, Reid has
compiled the best win total (120), winning percentage (.609) and playoff
victory total (10) in team history. He captured six division titles and
five trips to the NFC Championship game. During this period, no other
franchise earned more divisional playoff round appearances and only
Bill Belichick's New England Patriots exceeded Philadelphia's (5)
conference championship game appearances with . Reid also sent 19 players
to 44 Pro Bowl appearances, the highest total for any team in the NFL
during that period.
Andy Reid was
"relieved" of his coaching duties on December 31,2001.
Jeffrey Lurie has ended his
relationships and parted ways with the people most responsible for The Philadelphia
Eagles development and success since he bought the team. In one
case the reason was obvious in the others not so much.
Today the Philadelphia Eagles are
an awful a
team with no heart, no "character" and
with no championship possible in the coming years. .
Credit-
http://www.sonymoviechannel.com/movies/sweet-hearts-dance/details
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1005095/index.htm
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-22/sports/sp-53442_1_jeffrey-lurie
http://articles.philly.com/1995-02-05/sports/25703138_1_jeffrey-lurie-lurie-s-hollywood-joseph-banner
http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml
http://legacy.philadelphiaeagles.com/eagles_files/html/Lurie_1.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/sources-gamble-front-runner-replace-jet-gm-tannenbaum-article-1.1234068
Harvey
Comics
Richie Rich is a trademark of
Harvey Comics. If Richie Rich were a real person and had actually bought the Philadelphia Eagles
the team would have won several Super Bowls by this point in time.
Credit: Forbes, WR Hambrecht+Co, The
Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Harvey
Comics, The Los Angeles Times
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