NOTE:
The following is extracted from the 1983 USFL Media
Guide. Supplemental information follows.
George Matthews, a Boston businessman, and former NFL
wide receiver Randy Vataha represent the guiding forces
behind the Boston Breakers franchise.
Matthews, a Boston native, attended East Boston High
School and Northeastern University where he received a
bachelor's degree in business management with a major in
industrial engineering. He subsequently attended
Suffolk University, receiving his master's degree in
business administration.
Following his college studies, Matthews embarked on a
multi-faceted business career. He is general
partner of the Matthews Group of Boston, chairman of the
board of Nuclear Metals, Inc., of West Concord, MA;
chairman of the board of FF Industries Corporation of
Caguas, Puerto Rico; director of Mrs. Grass, Inc. of
Bellwood, IL; and the Center for Blood Research of
Boston.
It was through the formation of LMV, Inc., which began
with one racquetball facility and has now expanded to
six in the greater New England area, that Matthews first
joined forces with his partner in the Breakers, Vataha.
Vataha's football roots grew as a youngster in Garden
Grove, CA. Following two years in junior college,
Vataha transferred to Stanford University, where he was
coached by John Ralston, who now coaches at Oakland.
Vataha teamed with QB Jim Plunkett to form a potent
passing duo for Stanford, which went to the Rose Bowl in
Vataha's senior season and defeated Ohio State.
Vataha holds the Stanford record for the longest scoring
pass, 94 yards, from Plunkett.
Drafted in the 17th round by Los Angeles, Vataha was cut
by the Rams but quickly caught on with the New England
Patriots. He made the NFL all-rookie team in 1971
with 51 receptions. Vataha played through 1976
with the Pats and finished his active career the
following year at Green Bay. It was in his final
New England season that Vataha, teammate Bill Lenkaitis
and Breakers partner George Matthews founded LMV, Inc. |
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GEORGE
MATTHEWS
General Partner
RANDY VATAHA
General Partner,
Secretary and Treasurer
Boston Breakers |
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Matthews serves as a member of the executive committee
and board of trustees of Northeastern University and as
a trustee of Children's Hospital Medical Center of
Boston. He and his wife Hope are the parents of
four children and reside in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA.
Vataha and his wife Debbie have two sons and live in
Canton, MA.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Matthews and Vataha operated the Breakers in 1983, but
their inability to lease either Harvard Stadium or
Foxboro (then Sullivan) Stadium proved to be a hurdle
they simply couldn't overcome. After playing one
season at tiny Nickerson Field, the pair decided to sell
the Breakers to Joseph Canizaro, a Louisiana real estate
developer, who relocated the club to New Orleans.
Matthews went on to be chosen as chairman of
Northeastern's board of trustees in 1989, serving for
ten years and being awarded an honorary doctorate and
Chairman Emeritus. Today he serves as the Chairman
of the Gorbachev Foundation of North America as well as
a member of the board of the prestigious Club of
Madrid. In 1994, Vataha teamed with longtime
friend and Breakers president Bob Caporale to form Game
Plan, LLC, an investment capital firm that focuses on
sports-related enterprises. Vataha and Caporale
have gone on to be key players in many of sports most
prominent franchise sales, including the $ 360 million
acquisition of the Boston Celtics by Wyc Grousbeck. |
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