Page 28 of Sacked
Aunt Rachel nodded. “Maybe you should consider promoting her to a director level. It’s just a thought. I know your plate is full.”
“My plate is overflowing, but so is yours. I should also reach out to the other owners. After you talk with them, let me know how it goes, and I’ll try to contact each one individually.”
“That would be a good thing,” she said enthusiastically. “I’m doing a group Zoom. You following up individually will be a nice way to introduce yourself to the other owners. You do know that, although we’re often underestimated, the NFL has had very successful female ownership going all the way back to Violet Bidwell. She took over the Chicago Cardinals in 1947 after her husband Charles passed away. She managed the team until her death in 1962.”
“The Cardinals is the oldest operated team in the country. Of course, today they play in Arizona.”
“Vee, if you’re willing to take some advice…?”
I nodded.
“You know more than you realize. Growing up immersed in the Coopers has given you knowledge you take for granted. You’ve also shown yourself to the operations side of the franchise and more recently, to the football side. I was ready to step away from the Coopers. That said, I’m happy to do this job. I also know that one day it will be yours.”
Tears sizzled in my eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for stepping up and for believing in me. I don’t feel like your opinion is shared by other members of the executive board.”
Aunt Rachel took a deep breath. “You asked me the other day why my father didn’t leave half the Coopers to me.”
I nodded.
“He didn’t leave me out of Cooper ownership because I am a woman. I knew before the reading of Dad’s will that he changed it, giving the entire franchise to Reid.”
This was news to me.
“Why did Grandpa write you out?”
Her lips pressed together forming a straight line. “It doesn’t matter any longer. I can tell you that Reid wasn’t happy. He didn’t gloat or anything like that. Dad’s final wishes prevented any part of the team from going to me. That was part of Reid’s indecision regarding changing his will. He did everything to include me and Darin with the Coopers without going against our father’s wishes. If Reid would have signed the new will that Darin wanted so badly, Reid felt he was disrespecting our father.”
Another reason Dad didn’t sign the new will.
“Our dad wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination,” Aunt Rachel went on. “He had his flaws and made mistakes. We all do. Deep down, your grandfather was a good and fair man. Life threw him some curves—interceptions, you might say. I was never angry about what he did.”
“But Uncle Darin was.”
While it wasn’t a question, Aunt Rachel nodded. “He felt betrayed.”
“Why did Grandpa cut you out?”
“He didn’t,” she said. “He split his estate evenly between Reid and me. Reid never froze Darin or me out of the franchise. I’m hoping you won’t do that to Grant, Lip, or Leigh.”
“Grant hasn’t been my biggest supporter.”
“I love my son. He shares his father’s drive and ambition. That doesn’t make either one of them wrong. We just need to keep reminding them that you and I are Hubbards, and we’re capable of anything we set our mind to.”
A quick look at the screen of my laptop told me that I had a meeting with stadium operations directors in about fifteen minutes. “I need to go. Thanks for this time. Let me know how the Zoom with the owners goes and also with the commissioner.” I looked around the large executive office. Other than a few minor additions, such as pictures of Aunt Rachel with her immediate family and a few plants, it looked the way it did with Dad sitting behind the big desk. Fighting new tears, I smiled at my aunt. “This was the right decision.”
She nodded. “Enjoy your one Sunday off during the season.”
My lips curled. “Believe it or not, Fin wants to go to Chicago to watch his brother play.”
“Play?”
“Football,” I said, gathering my things and thinking about Fin’s recent text message. “Zane is younger than Fin. He’s the starting center for the Vikings.”
“I didn’t know that. If you’d like, Darin could see if he can arrange tickets in a suite.”
I shook my head. “I think we might do this old school. Sit in the stands like regular people.”
Aunt Rachel’s eyes grew wide. “Soldier Field at the end of October. Goodness, dress warm.”
