There is Excel Sports Management, which has added a baseball division under the guidance of former Creative Artists Agency (CAA) baseball agent Casey Close and former Career Sports & Entertainment baseball agent Victor Menocal, along with a brand new golf division headed by former IMG golf agent Mark Steinberg.

Last week, I covered mgmt one, which looks to be a brilliant start-up comprised of many agents who formerly worked for other large agencies, with an emphasis on previous experience at Blue Equity Sports Television (BEST).

And there is a third agency to add to this limited list of eye-catching agencies: Morgan Advisory Group (MAG).  In the past year, Ryan Morgan has taken what was a boutique agency representing a few football, baseball, and volleyball players and turned it into a real competitor in the sports agency field.  He has accomplished growth through the addition of Gustavo Vasquez (the man behind Pablo Sandoval) to lead the company’s baseball division, and more recently hiring long-time football agent Zeke Sandhu to further develop MAG’s football division.

Sandhu was added to the MAG team in May 2011, but the signing was kept under wraps until late last week.  He has been given the title of Senior Vice President and will work hand-in-hand with Wynn J. Silberman, who is also an NFLPA certified contract advisor.

Along with Sandhu come his clients, which include LaGarrette Blount, Gerald McRath, Jeremiah Masoli, Kenny Rowe, Matt Klapp and Ricardo Lockette.  Since Sandhu joined on with MAG, Nic Grigsby has switched over to the firm for representation.

But MAG is not just a company to watch with regards to its growing baseball and football divisions.  Ryan Morgan tells me that there are 2-3 deals that will close shortly, which he considers to be “game changers.”  He also promises that Sports Agent Blog will get the scoop as soon as those deals are concluded, so make sure to check back in the future to see what is brewing at fast growing MAG.

Morgan Advisory Group (MAG) Is An Agency To Watch from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Before signing with WMA, Rosen was with Endeavor Agency.  When WMA and Endeavor merged, Rosen was on his was out to BEST.

BEST named Rosen the company’s Executive Vice President (EVP).  Roughly a year later, Lagardere Unlimited, a large French talent-management company, purchased BEST.  And now, roughly a half-year after that, Rosen has once again made a change of employer.

Yesterday, Rosen sent a message to his friends and colleagues to inform them that he has joined Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) as an Executive Vice President (EVP).  The move makes sense, as Rosen has had a 30-year relationship with Magic, and Magic’s businesses seem to be doing quite well.

Lon Rosen Joins Magic Johnson Enterprises as an EVP from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Seattle won their first title in 2004. This year, Seattle defeated the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury to secure a spot in the championships. The Storm went 28 – 6 during the regular season and clinched home court during the playoffs.

Sue Bird and Swin Cash helped the Storm bolt over the Mercury by posting high numbers in rebounds and points per game.  Sue Bird finished second in the league in assists. Bird is known as a clutch shooter in the WNBA. She made the last shots, which “sealed the deal” for Seattle during both playoff games against Phoenix.

Swin Cash is enjoying her resurgence as a top defender in the WNBA.  Cash is a former Detroit Shock and two-time WNBA champion. However, she has suffered multiple injuries, mainly knee and back problems. She decided to undergo back surgery over a year ago, and took time off for rehab and rest.  She’s back with a vengeance.

The Atlanta Dream’s story is different. They were not expected to beat the New York Liberty to advance and play in the championships. The Dream is an expansion team. They went 19-15 during the season, and experienced financial troubles at the beginning of the season. The Dream was able to secure new ownership and a new star emerged. Angel McCoughtry is the new leader of the team. She is the Dream’s leading scorer, a former University of Louisville standout. It is McCoughtry’s first year as a pro.

McCoughtry is a rookie, playing for a championship, and she was selected to represent and play for the USA Team during the FIBA World Championships. The FIBA World Championships are slated to begin September 23, 2010. The USA will play Senegal in a preliminary round on Sept 24 and another preliminary round against France on Sept 25. After the preliminary rounds, the teams are seeded for the Eight Final Rounds on September 27 – 29 before being classified for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The women are playing overseas this month. The ultimate goal is win the championship and get slotted for the Olympics.

The USA Team’s roster is comprised of Jayne Appel, Seimone Augustus, Alana Beard, Sue Bird, Rebekkah Brunson, Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles, Shameka Christon, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Lindsey Harding, Ebony Hoffman, Asjha Jones, Kara Lawson, Angel McCoughtry, Renee Montgomery, Maya Moore, Candace Parker, Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi, Kia Vaughn, Lindsay Whalen, and Candice Wiggins.

Tina Charles received the “Rookie of the Year” award, and the All-Rookie Team includes Charles, Monica Wright, Kalana Greene, Kelsey Griffin, and Epiphanny Price.

It must be difficult and overwhelming to maintain such a busy schedule. These women definitely love the game of basketball!

2010 WNBA Championship from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Joel Segal of BEST/Lagardere Unlimited, appears to be the man for the job. Segal represents the likes of Chris Johnson, Reggie Bush, and Michael Vick. So I guess we will have to be on the lookout for Moss on Television. Who knows, maybe he will end up on Dancing With the Stars like other NFL notables, Chad Ochocinco, Emmitt Smith, Warren Sapp, and Lawrence Taylor. Moss is going into his final season with the New England Patriots, and he does not believe that he will be offered an extension. We will also have to pay attention and see how well (hopefully) he negotiates his next contract.

On another note, here is a list of some other athletes who at one point or another, have represented themselves: Dave Stieb, Mike Singletary, Daunte Culpepper, Ricky Williams (we know how that turned out), Curt Schilling, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Greenwell, Ray Allen, Danny Ainge, David Wells, Tom Seaver, Hakeem Olajuwon, Alan Trammell, and Steve Largent. Also, the late NFLPA President Gene Upshaw used to negotiate his own contracts when he played with the Oakland Raiders.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @DouglasVinci

On To The Next One (Kind Of): Randy Moss from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

First Round

1. John Wall (Washington Wizards) - Dan Fegan (Lagardère) – Washington D.C. is getting used to having 1st overall picks.  Last year it was Strasburg.  This year, it is Harper and Wall.  This is the first draft for new NBA mover, Lagardère, which recently acquired Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST).  Nice way to make a splash with a #1 overall pick.
2. Evan Turner (Philadelphia 76ers) – David Falk – David Falk’s biggest draft client since re-launching his agency, FAME, back in 2007.  Falk is best known for his representation of Michael Jordan.
3. Derrick Favors (New Jersey Nets) – Wallace Prather – Prather represents NBA players Josh Smith, Randolph Morris, Javaris Crittenton, and Anthony Morrow.
4. Wesley Johnson (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Rob Pelinka – Pelinka represents quite a few players, but none more popular than Kobe Bryant.
5. DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings) – John Greig – A huge win for Greig. His other client is Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
6. Ekpe Udoh (Golden State Warriors) – Chris Grier Luchey – The music on his website really pumps me up. Interestingly designed, as well.
7. Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons) – David Falk – 2nd David Falk client off of the board. Falk doesn’t spend much time recruiting these days, yet he still gets 2 clients drafted in the top 7.
8. Al-Farouq Aminu (Los Angeles Clippers) – Raymond Brothers – My man Justin Herzig swore by him before he ever set foot on Wake Forest’s campus.
9. Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz) – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports) – I don’t see this as a reach. Nice pick by the Jazz.
10. Paul George (Indiana Pacers) – Aaron Mintz (Priority Sports) – 2 in a row off the board for Priority Sports. Tied with Falk for 2 clients taken in the top 10.
11. Cole Aldrich (New Orleans Hornets) – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management) – Schwartz represents the #1 pick from last year’s draft – Blake Griffin.
12. Xavier Henry (Memphis Grizzlies) – Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group) – I had the privilege of watching Henry play AAU ball for the Okalhoma based Athletes First team.  He is truly something special.
13. Ed Davis (Toronto Raptors) – Rob Pelinka – Pelinka’s 2nd client off the board.  Remember this post regarding Davis?
14. Patrick Patterson (Houston Rockets) – Odell McCants – This is McCants’ coming out party.  Patterson is the 3rd UK player selected thus far.
15. Larry Sanders (Milwaukee Bucks) – Happy Walters – Here is our Agent Spotlight on Walters.
16. Luke Babbitt (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports) – BDA Sports represents stars like Steve Nash and Rajon Rondo.
17. Kevin Seraphin (Chicago Bulls) – Bouna Ndiaye (Comsport) – An agency that seems to strictly represent players born overseas.
18. Eric Bledsoe (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Leon Rose (CAA) – Definitely something to celebrate, although the real celebration will come once CAA finishes deals for Wade, Bosh, and LeBron this offseason.
19. Avery Bradley (Boston Celtics) – Mitchell Butler (Lagardère) – I have never heard of Mitchell Butler, but word is that he is working close with Dan Fegan for Bradley.
20. James Anderson (San Antonio Spurs) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
21. Craig Brackins (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
22. Elliot Williams (Portland Trail Blazers) – Thad Foucher  (Wasserman Media Group)
23. Trevor Booker (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
24. Damion James (Atlanta Hawks) – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports)
25. Dominique Jones (Memphis Grizzlies) – Mike Hodges – Name you may not know. Also represents Kyle Weaver.
26. Quincy Pondexter (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
27. Jordan Crawford (New Jersey Nets) – Aaron Mintz (Priority Sports)
28. Greivis Vasquez (Memphis Grizzlies) – Herb Rudoy (Interperformances)
29. Daniel Orton (Orlando Magic) – Raymond Brothers
30. Lazar Hayward (Washington Wizards) – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management)

Second Round

1. Tibor Pleiss (New Jersey Nets) – Rade Filipovich (BDA Sports)
2. Dexter Pittman (Miami Heat) – Reggie Brown (Priority Sports)
3. Hassan Whiteside (Sacramento Kings) – Andre Buck
4. Armon Johnson (Portland Trail Blazers) – Michael Lindeman (Excel Sports Management)
5. Nemanja Bjelica (Washington Wizards) – Herb Rudoy (Interperformances)
6. Terrico White (Detroit Pistons) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
7. Darington Hobson (Milwaukee Bucks) – Mike Hodges
8. Andy Rautins (New York Knicks) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
9. Landry Fields (New York Knicks) – Chris Emens (Octagon)
10. Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers) – Alberto Ebanks – Dug this up.
11. Jarvis Varnado (Miami Heat) – Kevin Bradbury (BDA Sports)
12. Da’Sean Butler (Miami Heat) – Richard Katz
13. Devin Ebanks (Los Angeles Lakers) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
14. Jerome Jordan (Milwaukee Bucks) – Todd Ramasar (BDA Sports)
15. Paulao Prestes (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Unknown
16. Gani Lawal (Phoenix Suns) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
17. Tiny Gallon (Milwaukee Bucks) – Marc Cornstein (Pinnacle Management)
18. Latavious Williams (Miami Heat) – Tony Dutt
19. Ryan Richards (San Antonio) – Herb Rudoy (Interperformances)
20. Solomon Alabi (Dallas Mavericks) – Bill Duffy (BDA Sports)
21. Magnum Rolle (Oklahoma City Thunder) – Fletcher Cockrell – Served a 2 year NCAA probation? Wrote a book.
22. Luke Harangody (Boston Celtics) – Mark Bartelstein (Priority Sports)
23. Pape Sy (Atlanta Hawks) – Levy Pascal
24. Willie Warren (Los Angeles Clippers) – Kim Grillier
25. Jeremy Evans (Utah Jazz) – Mike Naiditch (Naiditch EntertainmenT)
26. Hamady Ndiaye (Minnesota Timberwolves) – Keith Glass
27. Ryan Reid (Indiana Pacers) – Unknown
28. Derrick Caracter (Los Angeles Lakers) – Happy Walters
29. Stanley Robinson (Orlando Magic) – Andy Miller (ASM Sports)
30. Dwayne Collins (Phoenix Suns) – Mitch Frankel – Known as a football agent with Impact Sports.

Breaking Down The 2010 NBA Draft from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

It is noted that operating a sports agency the likes of what CAA maintains along with paying its heavyweight agents costs a lot of money, but the investment is supposedly about an exit strategy for CAA’s current owners.

Lourd has always said he wanted to move to NYC as soon as his daughter with Carrie Fisher turns age 18, which she does this year, and to leave the agency biz for the corporate world. Huvane has always talked about wanting to put his own life before his clients’ in the not-so-distant future, and the ever-partying agent thinks that time is near. O’Connor has been complaining about how tired he is of the agency business and its constant demands. Lovett, whom many have thought might be a lifer in the tenpercent biz, has pressing financial needs because of his still-not-final divorce and is blamed by his partners for over-spending and thus over-extending CAA’s financial resources. (Expanding into the sports biz was his idea because he hero-worshipped IMG founder Mark McCormack.)

Not too long ago, I reported that big time CAA baseball agent, Casey Close, might be leaving CAA at the end of his current contract with the company in order to start his own practice or work alongside NBA agent, David Falk.  If the major owners end up leaving the company, how will it affect the rest of the CAA landscape?  Will there be a vacuum for power?  Will Casey Close leave?  May other big name agents leave?

$200 Million Investment In Creative Artists Agency? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

IMG is not alone in this area.  In fact, Blue Entertainment Sports Television (the company that was recently sold to Lagardere) also does a lot of business outside of the representation of professional athletes.  Blue Entertainment Sports Television, also known as BEST, was owned by a private investment firm, Blue Equity.  The chairman and managing partner of that company is Jonathan Blue.  And one thing Blue wants the world to know is that he is not a sports agent.

In a presentation given to the Association for Corporate Growth in Kentucky, Blue opened with the following statement:

“I’m not a sports agent. I never was.”

It is not just Blue that is trying to shed that limiting phrase from what is associated with his name.  When I talk to executives at some of the largest “agencies”, a majority of them want to emphasize to me that when I report on their companies, I should talk about not only what they do in the athlete representation world, but their other areas of business as well.  And then there are those who also can’t stand the “sports agent” phrase to begin with.  As you may already know, I am one of those people.

But did you know that before BEST was sold, only one-third of its revenues came from the representation of athletes?  The majority of its revenues come from a combination of selling rights to events, managing events, and marketing opportunities.  And that makes sense.  Think about the small percentages that agents take on the contracts negotiated for their clients.  Some leagues limit the commission (NFL, NBA), but others like the MLB and NHL will force you out of being competitive if you charge any more than 5%.  If you don’t have a very successful client, the small percentage on their contracts won’t allow you to stay alive.  So many agencies generate revenues in other fashions.

Agencies Not Only Representing Athletes from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

In reality, many athlete and agency profiles across various social media platforms are not run by the athletes or top executives themselves.  What too often is the case is that an intern will be given the responsibility of updating Twitter, Facebook, and blog accounts to make it seem like the words are coming straight from the mouth of the athlete or the company CEO, when it could not be further from the truth.  Does this make sense?  In my opinion, no, and if fans/followers/friends catch on (which should not be a hard task), it could be damaging.  Athletes and CEOs, with proper training, can handle the “chore” of posting regularly on these networks, and may even enjoy it.  The one exception for me, is that I will often post updates on my clients’ Facebook Fan Pages just to keep fans updated on achievements of the players and their stats.

It will be much tougher to convince an agency’s CEO to be a regular on social networks than convincing athlete clients (they will probably be on there whether you teach them best practices or not).  After all, why should a CEO bother with the mundane task of sending Tweets containing 140 characters or less, writing lengthy blog posts, or posting updates on Facebook, a site originally created for college students to hookup with and poke each other?

Mashable.com recently talked with Forrester Research CEO George Colony in an effort to understand why so few CEOs are personally using social media and whether or not they should be involved, anyway.

• Fears and issues preventing adoption: Age (most are still trying to switch from the typewriter to the computer), possible regulatory restraints (especially for public companies), risks (of offending customers, partners, BoD and of increased litigation), time.

Casey Wasserman of WMG is tweeting, but he is a young CEO.  Ted Forstmann of IMG and Jonathan Blue of BEST have no Twitter presence.

• Reasons to tweet: Desire (to communicate and to take risks) and audience (will employees and targeted customers listen, participate, comment, criticize?).

If a CEO has absolutely no interest in Tweeting or posting updates to his Facebook page, then there is no reason that the CEO should be forced or encouraged to do so by anybody.  And the CEO also may be someone who is very risk averse.  More importantly, who is the audience for a sports agency CEO?  Is it only the players?  If so, it will be hard to use updates on social media sites to reach those players.  If current clients follow the CEO, they may enjoy reading the updates.  Potential clients will most likely never read them.  But beyond athlete clients, a CEO’s partners, business acquaintances, friends in the media, employees, etc. may appreciate receiving updates, and this granted information may open up doors for opportunities for the CEO’s business.

There is no mandatory number of Tweets or updates for the CEO.  I know that time is a concern, but how often will a CEO be stuck at an airport staring at his Blackberry waiting for the next incoming email to appear?  In that time, why not send out a Tweet updating the world on something that is going on in your or your company’s life?  It makes the CEO seem more like a human being (isn’t that what he is?), which is something employees and clients appreciate.

And it’s not only about posting content.  CEO’s should be keeping up with what is written about them and their companies, and also what others are writing about other companies (including material written by the competition, themselves).  Truthfully, this site should be a bookmark, and CEO’s should also be watching The Master Twitter list of sports agents/agencies.

Should A Sports Agency CEO Be Social Networking? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Odell McCants is representing Cousins’ former teammate at Kentucky, Patrick Patterson.  While Odell doesn’t have a huge Twitter presence, at least he is following myself and SportsAgentBlog.com (the small things that put a smile on my face).  McCants also doesn’t have much of a website.  McCants Sports Management looks like it will be powered by WordPress, but thats all I can gather from the blank page.  Patterson is McCants’ first NBA client – it’s not bad when your first professional client is a projected lottery pick.  McCants has Patterson working out at St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis.  Hopefully, for McCants’ sake, he keeps Patterson as far away from other hawking agents as possible.  I find it very interesting how Coach Cal’s boys have all gone in different directions with agents, and that none of them signed with Leon Rose (Daniel Orton signed with Raymond Brothers).

Kim Grillier works for a large company in Blue Equity Sports Television.  It’s easy to find yourself hidden when you are working with Dan Fegan, Donald Dell, and Bill Strickland.  That said, Grillier is about to make a name for himself.  Along with serving as the secondary agent for Corey Brewer, Grillier will now be the primary agent for Willie Warren, who is a player that would have been a sure-fire lottery pick had he left Oklahoma last year, after his freshman season.  I still believe that Willie will be a first round pick, but probably not in the lottery selections.  Jonathan Blue (Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Equity) has been quoted in the past saying that Kim Grillier is one of the great young up-and-coming agents.  Prior to joining BEST, Grillier had plenty of experience working for Fred Slaughter Management Group and the former powerhouse named CSMG Sports.  With Henry Thomas (who is now at CAA) at CSMG, Grillier was instrumental in recruiting decent players named Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.  Grillier did not easily part ways with Thomas, however.  In 2008, Grillier  filed a lawsuit against Henry Thomas, claiming that he was never paid commissions for helping Thomas recruit players like Wade and Bosh.  In June 2009, the judge in the case ordered that the case go to arbitration.  That order, which is an interesting read in itself, is embedded below.

Grillier v. CSMG Sports

NBA Draft Virgins: Odell McCants & Kim Grillier from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

At one point in Myron Rolle‘s college football campaign, he might have thought that he would be hearing his name tonight as a first round pick in the NFL Draft.  At the end of 2008, when many were wondering if Rolle would go pro or take up an offer to attend Oxford University, a lot of analysts had Rolle as the #1 strong safety available.  After Rolle chose to attend Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, I believed that Rolle would be an agent’s dream client.  When I found out that Leigh Steinberg sits on the board of directors for Myron Rolle’s nonprofit foundation, I figured Steinberg would be representing the Rhodes Scholar.  Rolle went ahead and signed with Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, and his primary agent became Jeremiah Donati.

A couple of weeks ago, Rolle dropped Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment for Joel Segal of BEST.  Rolle understood that it was his decision to attend Oxford and that if NFL scouts had a problem with that, he was the only person to blame for it.  However, Rolle didn’t think that only one team would attend his pre-Draft workout.  He also did not like the way that Steinberg & Co. were branding him.  Rolle was quoted as saying,

“They [Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment] tried to market me as the athletic (President) Obama, which was fine.  I feel that people who pick up on my story — teachers, children, peers, parents — they recognize that this young man’s a true student-athlete.”

Again, the problem was branding.  Rolle wants to be seen as a football player, not someone who is going to change the world outside of the football field (at least for now).  He is hoping that the switch to BEST will help people realize that all he cares about, right now, is adding value to a professional football team.

On To The Next One: Myron Rolle from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules