Joe Montana Joins SportsHabitat.com, Inc

Business Wire, April 11, 2000

Business/Sports Editors

LAKE FOREST, Calif--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2000

When Joe Montana retired from the NFL in 1994 it wasn't the end of his sports career.

It was announced today that Montana has signed as a business advisor with SportsHabitat.com, Inc.

Following 16 NFL seasons, 40,551 passing yards, two NFL Player of the Year awards (1989 and `90), four Super Bowl titles (1981, `84, `88 and `89) and a forthcoming July induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Montana is now making his mark on the sports Internet world.

"During my 16 years in the NFL (1979 - 1994) through today, I've received thousands of business overtures, and I've always tended to be cautious about who I work with," says Montana, who will divide his time at SportsHabitat.com with magazine editor-in-chief duties for Joe Montana's In The RedZone. "The founders of SportsHabitat.com want athletes who will participate as active business partners, not just as endorsers, which is exactly the kind of Internet opportunity I've been looking for. The business model is solid, and when Version II is introduced in June, the public is going to love what we have to offer -- prominent, accessible athletes lending their knowledge of sports."

Based in Orange County, Calif., SportsHabitat.com, Inc. is comprised of two business divisions. SportsHabitat Interactive focuses on the rapidly expanding business-to-business opportunities within the sporting goods segment, while SportsHabitat.com targets the business-to-consumer market.

The SportsHabitat.com site offers one of the largest online selections of sporting goods and memorabilia, plus sports news and fan access to an Internet community of athletes. The preview site debuted in January 2000, and Version II is slated for release in early June.

"While the NFL continues its search for `the next Joe Montana,' SportsHabitat.com is thrilled that the real No. 16 will be the marquee figure at the football habitat section of the site," says Matt McLaren, SportsHabitat.com co-founder and vice president, production. "We want athletes who want to work with us to make the company a success, and Joe fits this mold perfectly."

Montana's career in the NFL -- 1979 to 1992 with the San Francisco 49ers and 1993 and `94 with the Kansas City Chiefs -- includes three Super Bowl MVP awards, the highest quarterback rating of any non-active passer and 31 fourth quarter comebacks. Last year ESPN named "Super Joe" the best quarterback to ever play the game and the 25th greatest athlete of the century.

"Joe has told us he doesn't want to direct any fourth quarter comebacks for the company," says McLaren. "In fact, he said he wants to be part of our corporate game plan immediately, long before Version II debuts in June."

When Version II of SportsHabitat.com is launched, the site will become the Internet's most comprehensive source for sports information and equipment, and fans will have access to some of the world's most renowned athletes, including co-founder Reggie Jackson, golfers Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd and an array of other athletes who will be announced in upcoming weeks.