Adidas and UCF discussed this matter again last week and could not find a middle ground on this situation. Before  making the decision to halt the contract extension with the University, Adidas spokeswoman Andrea Corso said, “We are in negotiations for a future relationship regarding the broader UCF athletic program. What I can say is that these relationships are based upon agreed deliverables for both parties.” Ultimately, Adidas said they were not willing to bend the rules, even for a Jordan.

If UCF did not allow Marcus to wear Nike’s, they could have lost Marcus Jordan as an athlete. Jordan was very persistent and was never seen wearing anything but Air Jordan’s. He even said that this issue was discussed on his recruiting trip to UCF. The only real option the University had was to amend the prior contract between Adidas and allow Marcus Jordan to be the exception to this sponsorship agreement. UCF athletic director Keith Tribble said Jordan could make his own choice on what shoes to wear.  He also mentioned that he wouldn’t be the first athlete at the school to get permission to wear something other than Adidas (a football player wore a different pair of shoes because of a better fit). However, the athlete in this situation was Michael Jordan’s son and the media attention and spotlight were shining bright on the athletic company.

This may seem like a silly dispute over shoes, but the effects of little Jordan’s actions are much more serious. The real issue here is a contract dispute; however the attention this story received will surely have an underlying effect on the current debate about intellectual property rights for NCAA athletes.

Are all student athletes bound by what sponsor the school has chosen or do they have any individual rights? What rights are college athletes giving away by signing with a school and playing college sports?

This is only one of the many conflicts that have arisen lately around the nation regarding college athletes and the rights they have while in school. Last year Nebraska University quarterback Sam Keller filed a lawsuit against video-game company Electronic Arts and the NCAA stating that they were illegally using the images of college football and basketball players in video games without their permission or compensation. Other related intellectual property cases are still pending and awaiting trial. The court will soon have to address the broad range of activities that athletes consent to give the universities when sign their name on the dotted line and agree to play for that school.

Jordan’s Heir Still Wears the Air Jordan from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Personally, I think MJ’s son has a legitimate reason for not wearing his team shoes.  But isn’t college basketball more about the team and not the individual?  How would it look if Marcus was the only one on the team wearing brand new Jordan’s that haven’t been released yet?

On a more serious note, the University of Central Florida has a 3 million dollar, six-year contract with Adidas.  This contract  requires all UCF athletes and coaches to use only Adidas apparel and equipment.  If Marcus wears his fathers Nike’s this will clearly be a breach of contract and with the last name of Jordan, it is likely to cause a big scene.

Adidas said they were aware of Marcus Jordan’s attendance at UCF and on the basketball team, and will be working to resolve this “unique” situation without causing too much controversy.

Although this may not seem like a big deal and some of you may think little MJ should be able to wear his fathers shoes, it has very serious legal and athletic ramifications for UCF.  If Adidas and UCF can’t find a middle ground with this situation and Marcus wears Nikes, the University may be liable for breach and owe  damages up to $3 million dollars to Adidas.  On the opposite side, if UCF does not allow Marcus to bend the rules and amend the contract, they may lose Marcus Jordan (if he cannot be persuaded to switch to Adidas).

The battle of the footwear seems silly but surely has some serious ramifications for UCF.

Would Jordan Ever Wear Adidas Shoes? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

In every generation, one athlete makes a bold move, laces up a new pair of shoes never seen before, and does something that turns the footwear industry on its head.  In 1936, Adi Dassler came to the Berlin Games with a suitcase of track spikes and persuaded Jesse Owens to give them a try.  When Owens won 4 gold medals, he was catapulted to superstar status along with the adidas shoes he was wearing.

32 years later, when Tommie Smith took the 200M gold in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, he stood on the podium with a clenched fist high above his head and a pair of Puma suede shoes at his feet.  Walt Frazier would also don Puma shoes that year, triggering a fan base a million strong to follow “Clyde’s” impeccable style.

On the heels of Michael Jordan, basketball-newcomer Nike soared past the competition in 1985 with the release of the Air Jordan line.  As we approach the silver anniversary of MJ’s grand entrance into the NBA, Nike still reigns supreme in the sporting goods industry.  History tells us that can change instantly when a star athlete bucks the norm to begin a different movement.  The next seismic shift in the shoe landscape could be on the horizon, or overseas to be more exact.

Brandon Jennings has been a trendsetter since he skipped out on college hoops to play professionally in Italy for his “purgatory year” between high school and the NBA.  On the business side of the game, Jennings signed a deal to be Under Armour’s first basketball endorser.  The Maryland-based company is betting millions that Jennings can be a catalyst for a new generation of shoes and are promoting Brandon with his very own website (wheninrome.underarmour.com) and the “Young Money” prototype kicks that have all the sneaker blogs buzzing.

The Under Armour of today parallels the pre-Jordan Nike in many ways.  Both built strong brands in other markets (Under Armour in performance apparel and football, Nike in running) before breaking into hoops.  To gain entry into the lucrative basketball shoe market, they signed young standout players on the cusp of entering the league.  Both Jordan and Jennings were innovators mentored by the sneaker guru himself, Sonny Vaccaro.  Will the similarities end there?  We won’t know for some time, but the battle over the feet of ballplayers and the thousand of kids that follow their steps is overdue for the next big shoe craze.  Maybe the next big shoe tagline will read, “Be Like Brandon.”

Book to Read:  Sneaker Wars by Barbara Smith (http://www.amazon.com/Sneaker-Wars-Brothers-Founded-Business/dp/0061246573)

Article to Read: The Last Don by Ric Bucher (http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol5no23vaccaro.html)

Under Armour, Brandon Jennings, and the Next Epic Shoe Deal from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Stephenson, a guard for Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, which is known for producing stars such as Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, is the ninth-ranked prospect in the class of 2009 according to Rivals.com.

Some insight into his recruiting situation first comes with the fact that Lincoln is an Adidas-sponsored program, but this arrangement doesn’t stop Stephenson from sporting his Nike produced Air Jordans each game. Despite his loyalty, Stephenson was not asked to participate in the Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden on April 18, some believe due to Lincoln’s deal with Adidas.

Stephenson’s recruiting trail heats up when his prospective schools are considered. The 6-foot-5 blue-chip prospect is considering St. John’s (a Nike school), Kansas (an Adidas school), and Maryland (an Under Armour school).

Recently, Stephenson’s shoe-deal entwined courtship became more muddled when he visited the Maryland campus and was given a tour of the Under Armour site, which is owned and operated by former Maryland football player and current Board of Trustee’s member, Kevin Plank. The Washington Post first broke the story of this potential recruiting violation and the school has been investigating.

It has been rumored that some top players may have been advised to consider Maryland because of the school’s ties with Under Armour, according to a source close to the situation.

Plank plans to unveil his line of basketball shoes in 2010, but has been building relationships with high school athletes that have been targeted as potential representatives of the product line, including Stephenson. Lincoln has also “wear-tested” several Under Armour products. Currently, Under Armour has deals with over 70 collegiate programs, including Auburn, Texas Tech, and South Florida, in addition to Maryland.

To say Stephenson will base the majority of his decision on the shoes a school wears is preposterous, but clearly it will be some-what of a factor in his choice, which says a lot about the current state of recruiting and the effects of school’s ties to company sponsorships. Many “one-and-done” basketball players may want to lock up a potential shoe deal early on, potentially having an immense impact on the recruiting process.

Stephenson is still looking at schools and has said he could announce his college commitment on March 21 after the PSAL championship game, which Lincoln has won the past three years, but his answer to where he will play in college may already be laced up.

Is Lance Stephenson All About The Shoes? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

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Every year, hundreds gather to “Network with the Pro’s”, an elite networking experience of hand picked athletes (retired and active), celebrities, and top executives.

Last year’s successful event was at the Wrigley Mansion in Arizona. This year’s event is hosted at and sponsored by Robb and Stucky (International Plaza), The Strand, Budweiser, and Athletes and Executives. The massive luxury furniture store will close down the entire upstairs and most of its downstairs areas to make room for custom designed and very private VIP networking rooms, a press room for red carpet interviews, and a 100 item silent auction. Along with of course the classic amenities of gourmet food, drink, and live music.

Hand picked invitees for the event range from the local up and coming executives to the respected local mainstays. But the wow factor for everyone will be the opportunity to network with top level executives and CEO’s from major national and international corporations including but not limited to: Anheuser Busch, M&M Mars, Adidas, Nike, Sports Illustrated, XM, Red Bull, Lear Jet, Marriott, and Raymond James.

Of course there will also be a fair share of politicians, sports agents, and even Olympic Committee officials coming to tag their piece of the action.

“Business will be done at this event. This is not a shake a hand and lets exchange small talk. The entire event is centered around making connections and making business happen. People come to this event every year- fly in from all over the country- expecting to sign deals and start on the path to new negotiations” says Jenn Greacen, Executive Director of Red Frog,  the Coordinating host of this years event.

Pro player sightings will include Hall of Famer John Hannah who’s charity foundation Fourth and Goal Unites will benefit from the massive silent auction featuring items from the traditional signed Peyton Manning jersey or a Bruce Springsteen Hand Signed Guitar, to the exceptionally unusual items like a Tony Hawk signed skateboard or a Michel Phelps signed swim cap.

A confirmed 50 pro-athletes are registered to attend including retired local resident Seth Joyner, our own Bucs local Dave Moore, two time Super Bowl Champ Leonard Marshall, and MLB baseball great Curt Shilling.

“What makes this event unusual and unlike any other is the fact that it is not a party. It is held during business hours, you can’t ask to get on the list, you can’t buy a ticket, it isn’t about the food or the glitz or glam, it’s just about business. That’s why our people love it. That’s why everyone wants on the list year after year.” Says Alan Anastos, co-founder of Athletes and Executives.

Network with the Pros will take place at Robb and Stucky in International Plaza on Friday, January 30^th 2009 from 1-5PM. For security reasons, invitees including press must register in advance at www.networkwiththeprostampabay.com and bring proof of ID or press credentials to be granted access.

Tomorrow Is Your Chance To Network With The Pro’s from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Baseball

• The Nationals had no problem signing its top draft picks last year, but this year, no such luck thus far [Top Five Picks, Team at Odds Over Bonuses].
• Goodbye to a man who opened up a new market for agents recruiting foreign clients [Nomo's impact hit Majors like a 'tornado'].
• We’ve discussed buscones before.  Here is one tied to our boy, Michael Inoa [Ties between Dominican prospects and bookie raise concerns for MLB].
• I am still not convinced that Gus is guilty [Despite smuggling conviction, agent has no regrets].

Basketball

• The Vegas Summer League has experienced tremendous growth [Summer League on firm ground].
• Is there a higher valued position player than a superstar point guard right now? [Report: Jazz, Williams agree to four-year, $70M extension].
• adidas better get ready to send me a pair [Bulls' Rose gets shoe deal].

Football

• The other Long has signed, meaning that the top 4 picks are with their respective teams for the start of training camp [Rams first-round pick Long agrees to six-year deal].
• Jason Taylor to the Redskins…Jeremy Shockey to the Saints.  Two of my favorite players no longer playing for my favorite teams.
• Brian Urlacher has the potential to make $43.5 million between now and when he turns 35-years-old [Sources: Urlacher to get raise with revised contract].
• The Chargers are showing a lot of faith in someone who is injury prone [Chargers DE Castillo gets $43M in 5-year extension].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

adidas, if you are reading this, I would like a pair of your choice in exchange for posting this press release. I honestly think this campaign is going to be immensely successful. Size 10 1/2 should do. Thanks.

I honestly did not think that Kari would take notice. I grossly underestimated Kari’s and adidas’ kindness. Earlier this week, I received a gift in the mail. The gift ended up being the shoes that adidas released on March 21, the day Arenas’ Wizards played my hometown Miami Heat. The kicks are called TS Lightswitch GIL II ZERO x CUBA, and literally have the word “Cuba” printed all over them. I believe that his paternal great-grandfather, who was originally from Cuba, inspired the creation of this particular pair of shoes.I don’t care what they say on them, the shoes are fire! Everyone was looking at them when I wore them to class, and everyone was staring at them while I blew by the competition on the court today (beware of this 5’9 Jewish boy’s skills).

Anyway, I want to publicly thank Kari and adidas for their generosity. See below for some goofy pictures of me with the shoes.

adidas Hooked It Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

“In efforts to woo China’s consumers, Nike Inc., the country’s market leader in sportswear, and Adidas AG are both aggressively promoting apparel and shoes with designs incorporating Chinese elements — a departure from the mostly Western-influenced styles they have marketed in the past.

They are betting that the Beijing Olympic Games in August will be a prime opportunity for sportswear to ride a wave of Chinese national pride. At an Adidas fashion show in Beijing in January, costumed Peking Opera performers provided a backdrop for models showing uniforms for Olympic staff and volunteers, featuring polo shirts decorated with ancient Chinese swirling “lucky cloud” patterns.”

Will savvy Chinese customers be able to see right through this marketing campaign or will they fall for the “cutting edge” marketing by Nike and Adidas?

“Already this year, Nike and Adidas will each surpass sales of $1 billion in China, their biggest market after the U.S. From 2002 to 2006, sales of athletic shoes and clothing in China by volume doubled, according to market-research firm Euromonitor International.”

But myopic numbers aside, what Nike and Adidas do not understand is that you can not market to Chinese people from a Westernized prospective. There are a lot of dollars in the East but the people with the purchasing power are aware of the contrast between authenticity and fraudulence. For example, Li Ning, the largest sportswear brand in China, founded by the Olympic gymnast of the same name, who won three gold medals for China in 1984 is loved and supported by the people because it stays true and does not try to market based on old and outdated trends. Although Li Ning is using Olympic subjects in its ads, its athletic wear does not integrate traditional Chinese components. Despite all their money and power, Nike and Adidas should grab a seat in Beijing and take notes from their Chinese brother.

What do you think?

Nike and Adidas Proudly Made in China? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The worldwide presence of the MLB almost came to a grinding halt this week as the Boston Red Sox threatened to boycott their season opener against Oakland in Japan due to a pay dispute. But this wasn’t any old pay dispute. The players weren’t interested in an increase on their $40,000 appearance fee, but rather they wanted an increase in the amount paid to their support staff who were traveling with them. The Red Sox prevailed, with their staff receiving the exact same amount as the players for the trip. [Red Sox call of Japan no-show]

Punter paying off

It’s well known that Ricky Ponting makes quite a nice living off his chosen sport of cricket. But now details have emerged about how much he actually makes off the field.The aforementioned article highlights just how marketable Australia’s captain is. As I reported last year, Ponting was recognized as the most marketable Australian in the Sweeney Sports Survey.

Brands would be jumping over backwards to get Ponting to represent their brand. Just some of the sponsors that he has includes (dollar figure in brackets):

Adidas, who have their own line of Ricky sunglasses ($150,000).
HarperCollins, who publish his ‘Captain Diaries’ each year ($100,000-$150,000).
Kookaburra Bats, who is his bat sponsor ($350,000).

It’s good news to both current and future Cricket agents that Cricket Australia is quite relaxed on allowing several individual sponsors, unlike in England where most of the image rights are retained by both the National and County Associations.

Lampard not happy at Chelsea

Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s attacking midfielder is not happy with Chelsea at the moment. The England player has under 18 months left to run on his contract, and has expressed interest in extending his stay. [Lampard frustrated about contract]

But despite the club telling him everything is going along smoothly, they are yet to get back to him, and Frank is not happy.

As Frank told the London Evening Standard:
“I’ve been approached a few times by the club saying they are going to come to me with something and they haven’t, hat means they’re saying they will have to wait until the summer and I don’t really know what that means. I said at the beginning of the season I didn’t want to talk about my contract because I wanted to concentrate on my football.”

It would be frustrating for someone in Frank’s position, who would expect to be given a new contract as he is the current captain of the club.

March Madness

As March Madness sweeps all over the US, it’s not just the players that are showcasing if they can make it in the big time- but also the coaches. As this Sports Illustrated article suggests, there are some teams who are headed for the Sweet 16 who may be suited by bigger teams they knocked out to get there. Speaking a little bit out of my depth here, and a bit gutted over USC’s first round loss, I ask you the readers to suggest who you can see being suited during the other ‘March Madness’?

The Wash Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

It’s a good thing for Tripp Isenhour that we no longer run a ‘Nightmare Clients Of the Week’ column anymore. As you’ve probably already read, Isenhour, represented by John Mascatello and SFX Golf, faces misdemeanor criminal charges (up to 14 months in prison and $5,000, if convicted, per government sources) for his ‘one-in-a-million’ shot that ended up killing a protected migratory hawk at the Grand Cypress Resort in Florida (where a film crew had been busy filming an increasingly irate Isenhour for an instructional video, during which time the hawk began making loud, distracting noises).

Oddly, it took three months for this story to come out, though the details are still freshly sordid. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Brian Baine, Isenhour “got into a golf cart and drove closer to the bird and started hitting balls into the sky. When the hawk moved within about 75 yards, Isenhour allegedly said, ‘I’ll get him now,’ and aimed for the hawk. After getting closer and closer to hitting the bird and getting more excited, Isenhour hit the hawk and it fell to the ground and died.”

Much to do about nothing? Isenhour’s fellow pros certainly think so. “It’s a bad break for the bird, but it sounds like there are a lot of other things people should be worried about,” Mark Calcavecchia said later. Tour brass, as expected, took a more diplomatic route. PGA Tour executive VP Ty Votaw called the entire event “unfortunate,” right after the head of the Humane Society faxed Tour commissioner Tim Finchem a letter urging “appropriate remedial action against Isenhour up to and including fines and suspension.” Ultimately, the stiffest penalty Isenhour will pay will be from fans, and perhaps the loss of sponsors. As Michael Vick can attest, you don’t mess with animals and escape public wrath. Jail time, fine, or not, at the very least Isenhour is sure to go down in eternal infamy as a dumbass.

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Daly, Butchie and Chucky

Another troubled SFX client, John Daly, got (another) wake-up call this week. Months after losing several key sponsors (TaylorMade, Maxfli, Hooters and 84 Lumber), Daly’s longtime friend and swing coach, Butch Harmon, said that he “was not going to waste his time with a two-time major champion who is more interested in drinking than working on his golf game.”

Daly meanwhile, without a Tour card, has been relying on the largesse of sponsors exemptions (including the ones he’s suing) with which to get by. Even Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden pitched in during last week’s PODS Championship, carrying Daly’s bag en route to a 77 and an 80. A few (dozen) brews at the tournament’s Hooters “Owl’s Nest” put out those flames, and Daly seemed happy as ever, even signing his name to the back of a woman’s pants. But for Harmon, the whole circus of it all was the final straw. “When things don’t go right (for John), it’s back to the alcohol stuff,” Harmon said. “I love this kid. He’s a tremendous talent. But if he’s not going to give 100 percent effort, it’s a waste of my time.” Even the commish seemed taken aback. “We’ve worked with John in the past, and we’ll continue to be available to work with him in the future regarding his issues,” Finchem muttered.

Speaking of time, Daly was a no-show this past Wednesday morning for the pro-am round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational automatically disqualifying him from the tournament itself (PGA Tour rules require those in the pro-am to participate or risk being ineligible for the event. And it applies to alternates, whose job it is to know where they are on the list and be prepared in case someone drops out). Another exemption gone. Another day in the life of John Daly.

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Arjun Atwal: Back In The Fast Lane

Things are looking up for once-Nightmare client Arjun Atwal (pictured), represented by Bobby Kreusler and Blue Giraffe Sports. Atwal joined the PGA Tour in 2003 as its first Indian-born player, but lost his card after failing to finish in the top 125. While he was later implicated in a lingering investigation for his role in a fatal car crash that saw the Indian pro getting his ‘Fast and the Furious’ on, Atwal was finally cleared of all charges by Florida prosecutors this past week. Meanwhile, things are improving on the course for Atwal as well. Atwal won the Malaysian Open this past Sunday, and finished second on the Nationwide Tour’s Panama Movistar Championship in January. Asked about his improved play, Atwal credited practice rounds with none other than Tiger Woods.

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World’s number-one Lorena Ochoa “likes the way she’s started” 2008, and who wouldn’t? Ochoa cruised in the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore by 11 strokes over second-place finisher Annika Sorenstam, relegating the Swede to “Phil Mickelson status” in the process. Yahoo! Sports Josh Peter weighed in with a nice piece on “the real Lorena,” which features comments from ex-agent Rocky Hambric. Ochoa, at the request of her one-time caddy and brother Alejandro Ochoa, left Hambric in 2005, turning over to him control of her business affairs. Alejandro now oversees Ochoa Sports Management, Ochoa Golf Academy and the Lorena Ochoa Foundation. “He also works hard to protect and shape her public image, and frequently erects a wall that separates the private Lorena from the media,” writes Peter.

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Speaking of Rocky Hambric, rumors are swirling that stud client, Anthony Kim, has either jumped ship, or may in fact be in the process of doing so. Hambric Sports Management has been a long time player in the golf management game, and even ‘expanded’ in a way in 2002, when CSS, a British sports-management and marketing company, acquired a minority stake in Hambric. As part of the deal, Hambric became CEO of Stellar Golf, CSS’ golf-management business in North America and Europe. Where could Kim be headed? The smart money, as always, says IMG. If true, one would hope the latest Hambric ‘divorce’ ends a bit more amicably than the last one, when Rocky went to court against IMG and his former client, Charles Howell III.

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Other News

* The annual Golf Digest Top 50 tracks the leaders in total (on-course plus off-course) income. Remember that their agents don’t make a dime of on-course income, but may make upwards of twenty-percent to one-quarter of their off-course contracts. Do the math on some of these guys.

* The LPGA goes You Tube. Check out their channel. I know Hound Dog will. I’ll probably stick to checking out other random stuff.

* More great college golf coverage from Golf World’s Campus Insider Ryan Herrington, including analysis of the recent Stacy Lewis-Amanda Blumenherst duel that I’m guessing had a few prospective agents/managers in attendance.

* Nice piece by The Chicago Tribune’s Ed Sherman regarding Ernie Els, who told Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press that his five-year old son Ben is autistic. The next person who goes on a cliched rant about Els being preoccupied psychologically by thoughts of finishing-second to Tiger Woods should maybe think a little deeper.

* Callaway Golf introduced a stylish, Fall 2008 golf line for women. Pebble Beach meets Paris.

* TaylorMade-Adidas Golf and the Royal Canadian Golf Association announced a new three-year agreement in which TMAG will become the official golf equipment and apparel partner of the RCGA.

The Primary Cut from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules