Mr. Irrelevant Comes to Newport
Lonnie Ballentine of the University of Memphis is being honored in Newport Beach this week as Mr. Irrelevant, the last player selected in the 2014 NFL draft.
— NB Indy staff photo ©
Ballentine is a 6-foot, 3-inch, 220-pound defensive back selected by the Houston Texans with the 256th and final pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
A Memphis native, Ballentine and his wife, Brittany, have two daughters. His mother, Sheila Smith, played college basketball at Murray State and later player professionally in France.
The athlete graduated from the University of Memphis this spring with a degree in Sports and Leisure Management.
During Irrelevant Week, Ballentine was toasted and roasted at an All-Star banquet attended by past Mr. Irrelevants and other sports greats. At the event he received the coveted Lowsman Trophy.
He and his family are also enjoying visits to Disneyland and Angel Stadium.
Ballentine is also the Guest of Honor at the Newport Beach Community Day this Saturday where he will interact with the local residents, youth football players and participate in Unified Sports recreational activities with Special Olympic athletes.
For more information on The Foundation for The Undefeated or Irrelevant Week, visit TheUndefeated.org.
Lincoln Club Endorses Diane Dixon
The Lincoln Club of Orange County has endorsed Diane Dixon in her race for the Newport Beach City Council.
The Lincoln Club is Orange County’s oldest and most accomplished political organization. Founded in 1962, it is made up of business leaders and professionals who share a common belief in limited government, lower taxes, and personal and fiscal responsibility.
Dixon is the only Newport Beach council candidate endorsed by the club so far this year.
“Diane Dixon is an experienced, articulate and savvy woman,” said Dr. Kerry Reynolds, vice president of the Lincoln Club and chair of the Lincoln Women Leadership Coalition. “She knows that what works best for all Americans is a government that supports the dreams and aspirations of its citizens and doesn’t get in their way with large government control and onerous taxation and regulation.”
Dixon said she is delighted and honored to accept the club’s formal support.
“I have talked with more than a thousand people from every part of Newport Beach – from Newport Coast to Peninsula Point. What I hear over and over is that the city’s government has taken on too much debt and unfunded liability and is out of touch with the residents,” Dixon said. “The pillars of my campaign are fiscal discipline and listening to the people: spend less, listen more and work together!”
In a 30-year career with Avery Dennison, Diane Brooks Dixon created, led and managed global corporate communications and governmental affairs for the Fortune 300 corporation with $6 billion in sales and operations in more than 60 countries. Since 2011, she has offered her expertise to select corporate and nonprofit clients through Diane Dixon Global Consultants. She lives on Lido Isle with her husband, Patrick Dixon, who served as Assistant District Attorney after his long-time role as head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
More information on Diane and her campaign is available at dianedixon2014.com.
