Add Angels hurler Dan Haren to the roster of pro athletes with homes in Shady Canyon—and pencil in slugging first baseman Albert Pujols as an on-deck hitter. Word around the ball yard has Pujols shopping there as he settles into his 10-year, $240 million contract …
From sports to sports business, with a note on Augie Nieto, who made a fortune as an exercise equipment entrepreneur before lining up against ALS. He shares his battle with the world because “it’s important for people to know that I still live a very productive life.” See our story on page 1 for just how active Augie remains. It’s also important to know that Augie keeps a sense of humor, as in his Top 10 Reasons Why It’s Good to Have ALS: “I never have to pay for a meal because I can’t reach for my wallet” …
More on sports business, from our Chris Casacchia: Newly opened Next Level Sports Complex in Garden Grove is trying to woo New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin to hold a basketball camp. Sounds smart, based on OC’s large population of Chinese-Americans and others of Asian heritage. Lin is the first Asian-American to play in the NBA, and gained a cult-like following in China after exploding on the scene earlier this year. Other ballers already lined for camps at Next Level: retired NBA vet Reggie Theus and current players Chauncey Billups, Trevor Ariza and Mike Bibby (see story, page 4) …
Microsemi Chief Executive Jim Peterson tells Casacchia that he left a recent meeting with Congress-woman Loretta Sanchez “with action items” on ways to help returning vets with job opportunities and other support. Give an assist to Sanchez’ husband, Jack Einwechter, a retired Army colonel who’s pushing to enlist local execs in the cause. Sanchez and Peterson also have practical ties to the military: She serves on the House Armed Services Committee; Peterson and Microsemi count the military among the biggest customers for its computer chips …
Pac Life President Khanh Tran didn’t see combat, but he did overcome the aftermath of war in his native Vietnam, where chaos scattered his family, including his wife, who spent six years in a refugee camp. Tran had thoughts of being a photographer back then, but events steered him toward finance. He’s in the process of making another transition, and talked with reporter Jane Yu about his recent promotion (see story in CFO Special Report, starting on page 17) …
Academic Get: UCI Dean of Humanities Vicki Ruiz and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Steven A. Frank are among 220 new fellows of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences for this year. Among their classmates: filmmaker Clint Eastwood, Amazon founder Jeffrey Bezos and philanthropist Melinda F. Gates. UCI has 37 members of the academy overall, including Chancellor Michael Drake …
Academic Give: $1.25 million from Peter Bren to the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate. Bren is chairman and president of KBS Realty Advisors in Newport Beach, where his brother, Donald, also does some business. The gift will go to establish the Peter Bren Initiative for Real Estate Entrepreneurial Studies, which aims to create an advanced case-studies course focused on entrepreneurial real estate.
