Orlando Magic President and CEO Bob Vander Weide, who has served the organization in some capacity since 1992, has tendered his resignation effective immediately, reports Dave Pingalore of Orlando's WKMG news station, citing "sources." Alex Martins, the team's President, will take over for Vander Weide.
Vander Weide's departure comes abruptly and a critical time for the organization, which is trying to convince superstar center Dwight Howard not to leave in free agency in 2012.
Citing "sources," Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM reports Vander Weide made a late-night phone call to Howard "in recent days," and that he may have been "intoxicated" during the call.
Vander Weide is the son-in-law of Magic owner Rich DeVos. According to the team's website, his responsibilities as president and CEO include "player planning and procurement, long-term strategic planning, and new business initiatives." In addition, "Vander Weide is also very involved in all league issues and is a member of the NBA Board of Governors and the NBA Planning Committee."
UPDATE: Vander Weide confirmed to David Baumann of Bright House Sports Network that he indeed called Howard "after a few glasses of wine."
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