Bob Vander Weide Steps Down as Magic CEO, But Not Before Drinking Wine and Calling Dwight Howard Late Night
By Tim Ryan
Strangely, it was Howard who Vander Weide phoned at 1 a.m. just a few days ago after guzzling “a couple glasses of wine.”
Vander Weide confirmed that he made a 1 a.m. phone call in recent days to Magic superstar Dwight Howard, and Howard thought Vander Weide may have been intoxicated. On that call, Vander Weide told Howard how much the Magic wanted to keep him in Orlando. “I was playing paddle with friends and had a couple of glasses of wine,” Vander Weide told BHSN. “Maybe Dwight thought it was inappropriate to talk business after a couple of glasses of wine… Maybe I should have waited until the morning.”
Dwight’s initial reaction must have been tremendous upon seeing “Bob Vander Weide” pop up on his iPhone at such an unusual hour. Perhaps he thought he was a Laker? Perhaps he thought Vander Weide spotted Paulina Gretzky in the club? Or perhaps he simply rolled his eyes and thought, “aw shit, Vander Weide’s boozin’ it up again.” Who knows.
Whatever it was, a couple glasses of wine or a pleasurable plethora, I think all of us can admit to making stupid decisions late night at one time or another. But whether it be texts, sexts or regretful drunk dialing, most of us are wise enough to ensure coworkers never make that list* so it’s a rather surprising move for such a successful guy. And after hearing how Magic execs were “taken aback” upon learning he was stepping down, you would be crazy not to think their late night chatfest packed a little more punch than the two are letting on.
Sadly, we probably won’t get the full story until D-Ho is wearing a Lakers jersey.
*To be fair, I’ve harassed both Jason McIntyre and Stephen Douglas quite a bit “after hours.”
[Via cfnews13.com]