Eagles Christina Lurie: I Would Let My Son Play Football

Christina Weiss Lurie, minority owner of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, insisted she would let her son with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie play football despite the growing body of evidence that concussions on the field cause permanent brain damage. Her one stipulation is that "the appropriate medical personnel were on the sidelines of the field during the game."

Lurie, on the sidelines of Philadelphia Magazine's Thinkfest, argued football is not dangerous at the NFL level although the league recently agreed to pay a record $870 million settlement to former NFL players. "By the time the players get to the NFL, they have suffered 10 or so concussions," said Lurie. "We need to worry about the 10 year olds that get hurt during a game. Their brains are not fully formed." 

She also pointed out that other sports are equally as dangerous. "Many of my friends' daughters ride. They fall off the horse and get right back up on the horse without being checked medically first." 

Lurie reflected onstage on her improbable journey from growing up in England to one of the few female owners in the NFL. Her remarks seemed to indicate she harbors no animosity against her former husband after their divorce. Unfortunately, the interviewer, Philly.com's Diana Lind, was out of her depth and unconscious of the recent controversies swirling around the NFL. 

"Having grown up in London, I loved soccer. I knew nothing about the NFL." recalled Lurie. "Being a female executive in the NFL has been an amazing journey. It's been invigorating. It's been eye opening... I was lucky to have Jeffrey Lurie as my partner when we first started. He had the same goals as I did, which was to make sure that we had a workplace environment where it did not matter whether you were a man or woman ....We actually have many female execs at the Eagles. I am really proud of that."

Lurie seemed oblivious of her inherent responsibilities as one of the few women with a seat at the NFL owners' table. She acknowledged, in a brief interview after the prepared program, she had written and talked to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the aftermath of the domestic violence incident involving former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice yet demurred on taking a leadership role in addressing domestic violence in the league. 

"The women that the NFL has consulted with and named to the committee are experts on domestic violence like prosecutors," said Lurie. "I am busy with the Eagles."

Lurie, who is a two time Oscar winner, has two new documentaries coming out shortly. "Dishonesty," will air on CNBC in March, and "We are the Giant," which is set in the Middle East, is expected in theaters in December.  She has recently broadened her film slate to include horror and action films. Her next project will be a biopic of a strong woman, the champagne widow Veuve Clicquot. It will star A lister Rachel Weisz. 

I didn't grow up thinking about the glass ceiling," said Lurie when discussing her success in male dominated Hollywood. "Maybe it was willful ignorance, but never thought about it. In film, you want to choose the best story possible. It doesn't matter whether you are a female or male producer. It's the story that counts and how you make the film."

Her advice to women: "The female aspect never came to me. I just ignored it and went on doing what I felt I was good at. I think that is an important thing for women. Find your passion. Don't think of the limitations. Follow your dreams. The limitations will go by the wayside."

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The Eagles Hammed It Up at Flight Night

Everyone, including the players, the 26,000 fans, the Swoop, Eagles cheerleaders, grieving Andy Reid, and the newly divorced owners, had fun at Sunday's Philadelphia Eagles Flight Night. Only part of the fun was on the playing field. 

This year, the players hammed it up for the fans. Jason Kelce trotted on the field with a coonskin cap. Chad Hall break-danced and back flipped to win my vote for best touchdown dance. DeSean Jackson first posed with his bobble heads and then shook his bootie and everything else to the delight of the crowd to come in second in the touch dance competition. The night ended with a spectacular display of fireworks. 

Since Jason Kelce, who is from Ohio, was wearing a coonskin camp, I stupidly asked if he was  from the West. 

Julian Vandervele opened the festivities with a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. He later said, "This was the biggest crowd that I have sung before. When Obama came through Iowa as a candidate, I sang for him. There were 7000 people there, which is a big deal for Iowa. I also got a chance to meet Hilary during the campaign."

Some players work hard on the field.

All of the proceeds from Flight Night go to the Eagles Youth Partnership. A $20 adult ticket underwrites the cost of eyeglasses for a kid who would otherwise not be able to afford them. The $12 child ticket price buys 5 books for a child; sometimes the first books he or she owns. 

One unique characteristic of the Eagles Youth Partnership is that they use children's love of football to help children help themselves. While a child might be reluctant to wear glasses because he thinks they will make him look nerdy, he will treasure the glasses                                                  

                                                                                    given to him by the Eagles. 

Owner Jeffrey Lurie threw mini footballs to the crowd. Young fans clamored for his autograph even taking off their shirts for him to sign. 

The team might be worth a billion dollars but Lurie can't throw for shit. 

In general, the Luries avoided each other on the sidelines. 

Eagles Owners Divorce No Surprise

Christina Lurie solo at the Barnes Gala

Jeff and Christina Lurie, billionaire owners of the Philadelphia Eagles, have announced that they are getting a divorce after twenty years of marriage. For anyone watching, this is not a surprise. 


Christina Lurie often appeared without her husband. I remember seeing her alone at the Steppingstone Scholars benefit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in June 2011. She also came solo to the opening gala of the Barnes Collection. At both these events, she was very pleasant and approachable. 


She animatedly discussed her Oscar winning film, "Inside Job" at the Barnes and the Eagles Charities at the Steppingstone. By contrast, she was very nervous when she came to the star studded opening of the Museum of American Jewish History with her husband. 


David Binswanger, who is on the board of Eagles Youth Partnership, once told me that she had a hard time when she arrived. She was not used to all the attention. 


Later, he said, "She came to her own after the Oscar." 


Lurie did not just write the checks to get that Oscar. The director of "Inside Job" said that she provided him introductions to people in the financial industry that were invaluable to the film. Lurie wants to be intimately involved in filming, but that was very hard to do from Philadelphia. Her work with the Eagles did not keep her occupied. 


Her friends tell me she will be sending more time in Los Angeles to concentrate on her film career. NBC recently bought a television series from twitter celebrity Kelly Oxford that she championed.


Christina does a lot of good. The Eagles Youth Partnership has a mobile optometrist's office that used the celebrity of the Eagles to convince kids to get eye exams. 


I hope that both Luries find happiness. For two billionaires who could have anything they want, they never struck me as particularly happy. 


I am wondering who gets to keep the former Annenberg estate that they are currently living in. 

Vick Can Own A Dog Says Humane Society President

President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States Wayne Pacelle and Fox 29 Sue Serio, Fur Ball Hostess

The President of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle, was this honoree at the Fur Ball, which benefits the Morris Animal Refuge. In recent years, Pacelle has taken a lot of heat for rehabilitating Philadelphia Eagle Michael Vick, who went to prison for running a dog fighting ring. He explained his rationale for not objecting to Vick owning a dog.

"His two girls really want one. I think it would be okay. It would be the most scrutinized dog in the world.Vick became involved in dog fighting at the age of 7. He did not know any better." said Pacelle. "I am concerned about more than one dog. Michael Vick helps us reach urban youth. Yesterday, Michael and I talked to 500 kids at Gratz High School. The kids listen to him."

Vick has also filmed a new public service announcement urging the public to phone in tips about dog fighting by calling 800-TIP-HSUS

He continued, "Vick tells the kids 'I made a mistake'. He has been doing this for three years up and down the East Coast.

Robert Beck, Chairman of this year's Fur Ball with this year's honoree Wayne Pacelle

The Fur Ball was alot of fun as these pictures will attest. As an extra treat, Pacelle was signing his bestselling book, "The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them."

The Arts Ballroom looked fabulous

This year's raffle winner with the President of the Board of Directors of the Morris Animal  Refuge Stephen Kwaszkiewicz

The Arts Ballroom went to the dogs!

The sponsors

Wayne signing his book, "The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend  Them

Bow Wow!

Lurie MIA

I do not follow sports, but wanted to report that Eagles Jeffrey Lurie did not accompany his lovely wife Christian to the Stepping Stone gala at the Philadelphia Art Museum. I was told he was out of town. I do not know if there is a secret meeting of the NFL owners.
A friend of Lurie's, who regularly goes to games with him, told me that there will be a NFL season next year, but it might be shortened. He predicts that they will settle in July.