NFL Draft takes on a Wordwide Flavor!

Seeing players drafted in the First Round who were born in countries
like Liberia and Uganda makes me wonder how many more great talents are around the world? I sure feel some global warming in the draft(npi).

Can an Agent help a Ricky Williams?

Maybe! Maybe Not!

But not when you have a hundred clients!

Players need a mentor, not a super agent.

It is impossible to mentor 100 clients at a time!

The Agent Industry is broken!

The Bush House may have included a Cook! (npi)

 

I find it interesting that the agent allegedly involved, David Caraventes, with the controversy surrounding the new home for the parents of Reggie Bush, has an email address with bcsports.  Supposedly, Caraventes used to work for the President of BCSports, Bus Cook.  I do not want to throw Mr. Cook under the Bus(npi), but why would he allow a former employee to keep his company’s email address?

 

 

Keith Hernandez should be fired just like Al Campanis!

His comments about women should not be allowed in the dugout is intolerable Male chauvinism has existed way too long in baseball just like the continual battle with racism. If the MLB understands the seriousness of his statements he should join the gowing list of Hall of Shamers. Sorry Keith, but this is Hard Ball(npi)

Dukes of Hazards for everyone involved!

 

As the allegations surrounding the infamous party put on by the Duke University Lacrosse Team continue to surface I have said all along how one reacts to the seriousness of the situation is as important as the situation. It is hazardous for anyone to condemn one party over the other.

 

 

NBA D-League gets a grade of “D”

 

When the NBA put in the new minimum age requirement of 19 years old David Stern and others gave the impression this would keep more athletes in college and would be the best policy for the welfare of the athlete.  When he announced that the new NBA Development League would allow 18 year olds out of high school to sign with one of their “D” teams it definitely undermines the purpose of raising the minimum age to 19.  I would rather see a star basketball player go to college and receive a letter D in the classroom than receive an A grade in the developmental league.  You might call it grade inflation in the bigger picture! (npi)

 

 

What did Ricky Williams and Matt Leinart have in common?

 

Until a few days ago Leigh Steinberg represented both of them. I do not know all the reasons why Leinart left for Tom Condon, but I find it interesting how one agent can provide mentoring to one client, Ricky Williams, who’s appealing drug charges and another client, Matt Leinart, who is trying to prepare for the draft. I do not want to sound Condonscending (npi) but someday players are going to wake up to the fact that the agents with the most clients does not necessarily mean the best in representation.  There is more to being an agent than doing a contract.  How about a contract for life, on and off the field!

NBA Comish's stern warning could foul things! (npi)

Before the Sonics and Blazers threaten to leave their cities they need to look at Mapquest. Leverage needs more than a great lease of buiding in another city, it needs a fanbase to build. (npi)

IMG is missing its Mark! (npi)

 

With the announcement that super agent in football, Tom Condon, is leaving IMG one has to wonder what the future will be for IMG.  Since the passing of its President and Founder, Mark McCormack, and the takeover by Ted Forstmann, IMG has lost some of its luster.  I think the true value of any agency is not necessarily the quality of clients it has,  but more the relationship someone in the company brings to the client. With so much of the glue not sticking around I am not sure the IMG we once knew will continue to thrive.  It is not about buildings, it is about building relaltionships! Forstmann poor relations with Tom Condon and other agents becomes a sinking ship! (npi)

IMG is missing its Mark! (npi)

 

With the announcement that super agent in football, Tom Condon, is leaving IMG one has to wonder what the future will be for IMG.  Since the passing of its President and Founder, Mark McCormack, and the takeover by Ted Forstmann, IMG has lost some of its luster.  I think the true value of any agency is not necessarily the quality of clients it has,  but more the relationship someone in the company brings to the client. With so much of the glue not sticking around I am not sure the IMG we once knew will continue to thrive.  It is not about buildings, it is about building relaltionships! Forstmann poor relations with Tom Condon and other agents becomes a sinking ship! (npi)

Athletes’ Reaction to Allegations Surrounding the Duke Lacrosse Team can also become a Serious Issue.

 

As a former coach and AD I understand how important it is for leaders to respond with an ethical compass. It is typical for both sides to claim the truth in telling the story.  What continues to bother me the most is the claim of complete innocence by athletes involved initially never seems to be as accurate as the facts after the investigation unfolds. The DNA will provide some truth to the incident and we can then compare previous claims from the witnesses.  This is a nightmare for everyone including the University, the community, and the Athletic Department. How they react is just as serious as the initial allegations.

Poison Pill is hard to swallow in the NFL!

 

Recent offer sheets by some NFL teams which include a “poison pill” are a classic example of how competitive spirits in sports encourage creative circumvention of the intent of the spirit of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  In the end the two sides will have to return to the table to talk.  This poison pill needs a safety cap! (npi)