The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Brady buzz stirs Greenwich
Prospect of Patriots legend and family moving to Connecticut delights, and horrifies, local sports fans
GREENWICH — Reports that Tom Brady, the lovehimorhatehim star quarterback of the New England Patriots, was set to buy a mansion in backcountry Greenwich had sports lovers in a tizzy Friday.
A realestate and celebrity website reported Brady was buying a 10acre home in the rolling hills of horse country Greenwich, following media reports this summer that the star quarterback was house hunting in town. Property records at Town Hall did not show that a sale had been finalized. The realestate firm handling the property in question had listed it as a “pending” sale. The office did not return a request for comment Friday, and the Patriots media office also had nothing to say about the move.
But the property sounds like a good match for fitness fanatics, as Brady and his wife, Gisele Bundchen, are known to be. The home comes equipped with a climatecontrolled indoor pool with spa, a commercialsize gym, a steam room, an expansive outdoor pool and a tennis court.
The football legend and supermodel couple have kept paparazzi and gossip writers busy through the years. His intense physical regimen and diet have also attracted interest — and ridicule.
Football fans were excited by news that Brady could be coming to Greenwich — or at least happy to throw some shade on Greenwich’s latest potential homebuyer.
One sports fan walking Greenwich Avenue Friday gave a big thumbs up to the relocation.
“If Tom Brady was gonna move into my neighborhood, I would welcome it with open arms,” said Albert Hattem, a parttime Greenwich resident and staunch Bronxborn basketball and football fan.
Hattem said the move would be an exciting one for the community, and living in a town with celebrities is always a positive. “So, I mean, if Tom Brady was going to move next door to me, ‘I’d say come on in,’ ” he said
Not everyone was as enthusiastic.
“I’m a Steelers fan,” said Robert Ronia, the owner of the Two Door restaurant in Chickahominy.
“I hope it’s haunted,” he said about Brady’s potential new home.
Ronia said he wasn’t expecting to cross paths with the Patriots QB. “I’m sure he’s not gonna come here. I’m not looking to get invited to his house anytime soon — I’m not waiting by the mailbox for an invitation,” he joked. “He doesn’t drink. He’s vegan. We have nothing in common. Go Steelers.”
Scott Sievwright, the owner of MacDuff ’s Pub, has a photo of Brady in his tavern on Railroad Avenue — on his back after he was clocked by the Giants in one of their epic encounters.
“We have Patriots fans that I’m sure will be more excited than I am about Brady moving to town. But it’s kinda cool,” Sievewright said.
Sports legends have long been attracted to Greenwich, for its proximity to New York, as well as its privacy.
Brady would join a long list of celebrity athletes who have made Greenwich their home — including Frank Gifford (New York Giants), Tom Seaver, Lee Mazzilli and Craig Swan (New York Mets), Mark Messier, Mike Richter and Martin St. Louis (New York Rangers), Mark Texeira (New York Yankees) and Allen Huston (New York Knicks). Others were born and raised here, including Tim Teufel, Steve Young, Dorothy Hamill and Sue Merz.
Real estate agent Robin Kencel, a founding broker of Compass’ Greenwich office, said Greenwich is a natural draw for famous people.
“Seeing a recognizable figure out to dinner on Greenwich Avenue or on the sidelines cheering for their child’s sports team doesn’t surprise or faze residents,” he said. “My highvisibility clients are drawn to many features of Greenwich, from its city vibe and country beauty, but the ability to be a ‘regular Joe’ is not only appealing, but essential to them.”
While much of the chatter Friday centered on Brady, Bundchen is no slouch as an icon of celebrity culture. A highly compensated model, she’s a noted businesswoman, environmental activist and philanthropist.
Earlier this summer, Bundchen and Brady placed their Bostonarea home on the market, according to NBC Boston and media outlets. The couple also has a place in TriBeCa in lower Manhattan, and they’ve bought and sold homes with regularity. The power couple have plenty of disposable income — and Brady has defied the odds by playing into his 40s at top level.
“It’s a unique situation I’m in. I’m (in the) 20th year with the same team and I’ll be 42 years old, so pretty much uncharted territory I think for everybody, and I’m going to go out there and do the best I can this year and see what happens,” he told reporters prior to this season after an announcement was made that will give him a twoyear extension with the Pats that runs through the 2021 season. The deal will increase his 2019 income by about $8 million, to $23 million.