Magic CEO Bob Vander Weide Drunk-Dialed Dwight Howard, Retired

With rumors swirling around Dwight Howard’s future, the Orlando Magic were dealt more turbulent news today, as CEO Bob Vander Weide reportedly will step down, leaving Magic leadership in flux as the ’11-12 season approaches. Perhaps more interesting is Vander Weide’s last move as CEO—a late-night call to Howard, pleading for him to stay in Orlando. Central Florida News 13 has the details: “Bob Vander Weide is retiring as CEO of the Orlando Magic, Bright House Sports Network learned Tuesday. Alex Martins, the Magic’s current president, was named as Vander Weide’s replacement. Vander Weide was promoted to CEO in July 2010 after serving as the team’s president for 16 years. He began his career with the Magic in 1992 as vice president of basketball operations. Solid sources have confirmed Vander Weide made a 1 a.m. phone call Tuesday morning 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 want to keep him in Orlando.”