The high-pressure stakes of being a hedge fund manager has its share of risk and reward. Lose a few hundred million dollars one day on a bad trade and the next day gain a cool billion on the sale of a company. Some have anointed these dealmakers as the"new celebrities of capitalism" for the wealth they generate and the bravado and tenaciousness they are said to exude to make it. Outside the workplace, some of these hedge fund managers play with a mettle in a variety of sports that is just as competitive and daring as their daytime careers.
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Take, for example, hedge fund manager Philip Falcone at Harbinger Capital Partner Funds, which made headlines Friday trying to affect change at the New York Times Co. by nominating four candidates for election to the board of the tightly held New York media company. On the ice, Falcone tantalized opponents as a four-year hockey star at Harvard University, leading the squad to a national runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament in 1983.
Then there's Dave Christian and Mike Ramsey, founders of Minneapolis-based hedge fund Found Powerplay Capital Management. The two still put on the skates every now and then but are best known for their heroics as members of the 1980 gold-winning U.S. Olympic hockey team and former National Hockey League players.
Meanwhile, when it comes to endurance, Bodil Arlander, a senior managing director at Bear, Stearn Co.'s private equity arm is known for burning the midnight oil every now and then, but in her spare time, she has competed in 25 Ironman Triathlons.
Founder of Aragon Global Management, Anne Dias Griffin finds her adrenaline rush in race car driving and takes it down a notch, sharpening her analytical and number skills playing poker -- she prefers Texas hold'em.
The list goes on. For more hedge fund managers and the games they play, please take a look at the table below. - Gerald Magpily
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Dealmakers and the games they play
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Name |
Position/Company
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Sport
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| Philip Falcone |
Hedge fund manager/Harbinger Capital Partner Funds |
Hockey
Highlights: Four-year hockey player at Harvard |
|
Dave Christian
Mike Ramsey |
Founder/Powerplay Capital Management |
Hockey
Highlights: Members of the "Miracle on Ice Olympic" hockey team; former NHL players |
| Bodel Arlander |
Co-founder & senior managing director/Bear Stearn's private equity arm |
Competed in 25 Iron Man Triathlons |
| W. Thomas Augenthaler |
Founder/Hedge Fund Launch LLC (offers consulting services to Hedge Fund managers) |
Practicing of Renaissance Martial Arts - Western martial arts that combines skills of fighting with swords, spears, shields, staff and grappling.
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| Anne Dias Griffin |
Founder/Aragon Global Management
|
Race car driver; poker player |
| Victor Niederhoffer |
Founder/Niederhoffer Henkel |
Squash player
Highlights: National Intercollegiate Squash champion at Harvard; member of Squash Hall of Fame |
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See Wall Street Journal article via MediaInfo.com
Comments
I think the connection between sports and highly competitive business industries such as the hedge fund industry is very interesting. Most of the hedge fund professionals I work with were soccer or hockey players if they played competitive sports at the college leve.
- Richard
http://HedgeFundBlogger.com