Have you heard anything about Casey Close leaving CAA to start up his own company with David Falk?

Apparently, the rumor had been floating around for a month or so, but after doing some research, I had no way to confirm it.  Thus, I never ran the story.  Now, I come to find out that Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal reported yesterday that Casey Close may, in fact, leave juggernaut Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and may be considering either starting up his own practice, or joining David Falk at FAME.

Casey Close used to be the captain of the CAA Baseball ship, but as of roughly nine months ago, five different CAA baseball agents began splitting the responsibilities of division director.  Those agents are: Nez Balelo, Brodie Van Wagenen, Jeff Berry, Joe Urbon and Greg Landry.  I find that interesting, since Casey Close is still with CAA, has not officially announced that he will be leaving, yet CAA changed the structure of the baseball division.

Here are some of the names you have heard of that are currently represented by Casey Close (some are split between Close and another agent): Ben Sheets, Jason Jennings, Aaron Hill, Derrick Lee, Josh Vitters, Connor Jackson, Buster Posey, Jeremy Sowers, Jamey Wright, Ryan Zimmerman, Justin Maxwell, John Lannan, Jeremy Guthrie, Chris Lambert, John Mayberry Jr., Jeff Clement, Jeff Niemann, Gil Meche, Alex Gordon, Josh Fields, Michael Cuddyer, and some guys named Ryan Howard and Derek Jeter.

Talk about a client list.  It will be interesting to see which players stay with CAA and which ones leave with Casey Close, and if any battle ensues between the entities prior to or after Close leaves the agency (if he leaves at the culmination of his current contract).  Time to pull out the employment contracts!

This year’s draft class has seen many non-senior talents withdraw themselves from the draft, which has led many analysts to claim that this year’s pool is mediocre at best.  Writers are already frothing at the mouth in anticipation of next year’s class, which is supposed to be extremely deep.  Don’t forget your life preservers!

The most recent players to bow out of this year’s draft are: Tasmin Mitchell (LSU), Nic Wise (Arizona), and Dwayne Collins (Miami).

Here is the most updated list of agent signings that I have:

• Aaron Goodwin – Terrence Williams, Demar DeRozan
• Aaron Mintz (Priority) – Tyrese Rice, Jeff Adrien
• Andre Buck (CAA) – Dionte Christmas
• Andrew Vye (ASM Sports) – A.D. Vassallo
• Andy Miller (ASM Sports) – B.J. Mullens, Daniel Hackett, Eric Maynor, Alonzo Gee, Rudy Mbemba, Robert Vaden
• Arn Tellem – Wayne Ellington, Gerald Henderson, Tyreke Evans
• Austin Walton (Dynasty) – Terrance Woodbury
• Bernie Lee (Lee Basketball Services) – Patrick Beverly, Dmitris Verginis
• Bill Duffy (BDA Sports) – Brandon Jennings, Hasheem Thabeet, Darren Collison, Jordan Hill, Josh Akognon
• Bill Strickland (BEST) – Kevin Rogers, Curtis Jerrells
• Bob McClaren – Josh Carter
• Brad Ames (Priority) – Ben Woodside, Joe Ingles
• Brian Elfus (Elfus & Siegel Management) – Connor Atchley, Marcus Thornton, BJ Raymond, Kyle Spain
• Charles Grantham (Ceruzzi Sports) - Jeff Pendergraph
• Chris Emens (Octagon) – Lee Cummard
• Chris Luchey (CGL Sports) – Eric Devendorf, Dar Tucker
• Dan Fegan (BEST) – Earl Clark, Ricky Rubio
• Dan Tobin (WMG) – K.C. Rivers, Aaron Jackson, James Johnson
• David Bauman (DB Hoops Management) – Josh Heytvelt
• David Falk – Toney Douglas, Alade Aminu
• Doug Neustadt (The Neustadt Group) – Jerel McNeal
• Eric Fleisher – Chris Johnson
• Happy Walters (Immortal Sports) – DeJuan Blair, Kevin Rogers, Curtis Jerrells, Tasheed Carr, Tyrell Biggs, Robert Dozier
• Herb Rudoy (Interperformances) – Stefon Jackson
• Jamie Knox (Strategic Sports Management) – Courtney Fells
• Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management) – A.J. Price
• Jeffrey Fried (Peake Management Group) – Ty Lawson
• John Hamilton (Performance Sports Management) – Garrett Temple
• Justin Zanik (ASM Sports) – Sergio Llull
• Keith Glass – Luke Nevill, A.J. Abrams
• Kevin Bradbury (BDA Sports) – Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill, Dominic James
• Lance Young (Octagon) – Lester Hudson, Jack McClinton, Wes Matthews, Sam Young, Stephen Curry, Brandon Costner
• Leon Rose (CAA) – Nando De Colo, Paul Harris, Jonny Flynn
• Mark Bartelstein (Priority) – Jeremy Pargo, Micah Downs, Leo Lyons, DeMarre Carroll, A.J. Abrams
• Marc Fleisher – Brandon Ewing
• Merle Scott – Nate Miles
• Michael Hodges (Rice Sports Management) – David Holston, Lawrence Kinnard, Courtney Pigram
• Michael Siegel (Elfus & Siegel Management) – Ahmad Nivins
• Michael Whitaker (REID Entertainment) – Jermaine Taylor
• Mike Naiditch (Naiditch EntertainmenT) – Joe Krabbenhoft
• Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency) – James Harden
• Sam Goldfeder (Excel Sports Management) – Blake Griffin, Taylor Griffin
• Sam Porter (Sportstars, Inc.) – Russell Hicks, Tony Gaffney, Marc Egerson, Chavis Holmes, Travis Holmes
• Thad Foucher (WMG) – DaJuan Summers

Have anything to add or information about a change? Email me.

Have anything to add or information about a change? Email me.

The video above is quite humorous.  The video under this text and before the links is not intended to give you a laugh, but still is pretty damn good in my book.  It has been a relaxing week.  I finished my last finals of my second year of law school, and had a lot of time to work on some new business ideas, have productive meetings with people in South Florida, and work on my tan a little bit!  On Tuesday, I head back up to Gainesville, and on Thursday, I will start taking a couple of Summer classes (Business Organizations and Analysis and Drafting of Intellectual Property Transactions).  Less than a month until the MLB Draft.  We are advising some great players who I hope will be selected high in the beginning of June.  Here is another video and some stories that I missed over the past week:

Baseball

• Information that heads of player personnel or baseball operations and sports agents should know [TRANSACTIONS 101].
• Wash D.C. hurting, Kansas City thriving [Baseball crowds are down, but not at every ballpark].

Football

• “It’s part of living the dream.” [Aussie getting his kicks with Miami Dolphins]
• Big 12 Coach of the Year, and Pepperdine Law graduate [Texas Tech Head Coach: Mike Leach, J.D.].

Basketball

• An integral part of the Rockets almost called it quits [There's no quit in Aaron Brooks].
• “Amateurism lost its virginity a long time ago.” [Basketball adviser Vaccaro squares off against NBA, NCAA]
• A big reason why I cannot disagree with Sonny Vaccaro [Source: Floyd gave cash to Mayo handler].
• Jonathan Givony writes more in his book reviews than I do [Book Review- David Falk: “The Bald Truth”].

This Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up is proudly sponsored by:

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Octagon (unsure of primary agent) – Sam Young, Wes Matthews, Brandon Costner, Jack McClinton

Have anything to add or information about a change? Email me.

Those are some of the most common questions that I receive by email, even though all of those queries have been answered on this blog and its accompanying Forum.  Yesterday, Sports Law Blog further backed my common answer, which is that there really is none at all.

The most successful agents have attended a variety of law schools.  Some are in the top tier, others you may have never heard of before.  A few have decent Sports Law programs while others do not even have a single Sports Law class (like my lovely UF Law).  See this list that I compiled with the help of our extensive database of interviews along with some additional research:

• Ben Dogra (CAA Football) – St. Louis University Law School
• Scott Boras (Boras Corp) – McGeorge School of Law
• Arn Tellem (WMG) – University of Michigan Law School
• Drew Rosenhaus (Rosenhaus Sports) – Duke University School of Law
• Paul Sheehy (Pro Star) - Whittier College School of Law
• Rick Walden (Dishon & Walden) - University of Texas at Austin School of Law
• Steve Kauffman (Kauffman Sports Management) - University of Pennsylvania Law School
• Mark Steinberg (IMG Golf) - University of Illinois College Of Law
• Steve Herz (IF Management) – Vanderbilt University School of Law
• David Canter (DEC Management) - University Of Miami School Of Law
• Kevin Gold (Longsnap.com) - Widener University School of Law
• Scott Casanover (MAC Sports & Entertainment) - Washington University School of Law
• Peter Webb (Gaylord Sports Management) - New York Law School
• Jim Kuzmich (GAAMES) - University of Oklahoma-College of Law
• Max Eppel (MESA) - Court School of Law (England)
• Leigh Steinberg – UC Berkeley Boalt School of Law
• David Falk – George Washington University Law School
• Rob Pelinka - University of Michigan Law School
• Tom Condon (CAA Football) - University of Baltimore Law School
• Eugene Parker (Maximum Sports) – Valparaiso University School of Law

“My agent at the time [Mark Stevens] did not pay attention to the last minute of the opt-out hour and David Falk and all these other agents pulled a fast one. They were so smart to opt out [at] the last minute.

At least Artest provided some good press for Falk after he received a death sentence by the Los Angeles media.  But if there is one thing that you do not do, it is bring Mama Maloof into the equation.  Once Mama Maloof gets involved, you are asking for trouble.  Here is what Artest had to say:

“I was blinded by friendship. Even Mama Maloof [Colleen Maloof, Joe and Gavin's mother] told me she wanted me to stay. I never knew that meant one more year. I thought it meant several. When Mama [Maloof] talks, you listen, and it’s a must you consider and take heed to what she is saying.

Yeah…at least Joe Maloof is pissed…

“He has to balance the way he acts,” Joe Maloof said by phone. “He’s got to control his emotions a little better. You’ve got to try and keep your cool a little bit.

“Take a deep breath and quit flying off the handle with comments that don’t make sense. I hate to say it that way, but that’s how I feel. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

That’s basically a nice way of saying, “Hey Artest, STFU”.  If there is anyone in the world who NEEDS an agent, it is a guy like Artest.  The question is, who would actually represent a guy like that.  Oh wait, who am I kidding?

“The sports agent business has become so corrupt — I would not encourage anyone to try to become an agent right now.” – 4/22/08 [Short and Sweet]

“Instead of evolving, the sports agent business has devolved. We’re talking about reverse evolution. It’s basically unregulated and there’s wholesale cheating going on. I’m not angry about it. It’s just that it’s about buying clients instead of building relationships.” – 5/2/08 [Another Darren Interviews An Agent]

Not knowing anything about the speaker, the quotes would seem to show true concern about the devolving of a profession that was once bound by integrity, but is now being corrupted by newer entrants who have little values and show no concern for others.  In fact, I partially agree with his statements.  I definitely see corruption in the industry and hope that we, as a community, can do something about it.  I would not discourage people from entering the profession, but instead encourage the entry of new professionals with brilliant minds and innovative spirits.  Enough with that…what about Brand?

The Los Angeles Clippers really have done a remarkable job with their offseason signings.  The last piece of the puzzle that would ensure them a chance to at least compete for a playoff spot was Elton Brand.  This is a guy who averaged a double-double last year on a sub-par team.  LA is a hotbed for athletes with extracurricular intentions (TV, movies, nightlife), so if the team had a chance of winning and the Clips were willing to pay Brand, why not stick around for a bit longer?

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports calls David Falk the empowered Bald Eagle.  I won’t go there.  Where I will go is to break down what occurred.  Brand signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for 5-years and $82 million.  Apparently the Clippers and Brand had agreed in the past that both parties would be happy with a 5-year $70 million.  As far as I am concerned, that does not mean crap.  Verbal agreements are just that.  There is a reason that nothing was ever put in writing.  But what about the fact that the Clippers were actually willing to throw Brand more than $70 million…something close to what the 76ers offered?  Was this payback from Falk or are the Clippers now saying that they presented a larger offer when none was actually proposed to Camp Brand?

I honestly do not know what to think.  I believe that the 76ers will be a much better team with Elton Brand and that the Clippers may have lost the piece that would have finally taken the club out of the depths of the Western Conference.  We may never know if Brand would have stayed in Los Angeles had Falk relayed a late Clippers offer to his client (if Wojnarowski’s statements are true).  All we do know is that a lot of people in Los Angeles are upset with the idea that their Clippers may have another disappointing season.

“A guy who has been in the sports business for 40 years, and was basically cryogenically frozen, resurfaced last year, and we both competed for the same player this year. The player eventually went with me, but three days after this player told this agent he selected me, this agent told him, ‘You’ve made a terrible mistake. David is a really bad person. I’m here for you if you change your mind.’”

“The joke is that this was a person I once worked for and later he worked for me. Then I find out from this player that this agent told him that he did Michael Jordan’s first Nike deal. That’s ridiculous. That’s like Pluto saying he invented the Polio vaccine that everyone knows was invented by Jonas Salk. So I told this player, ‘All you have to do is call Michael and he’ll tell you David did the deal.’”

“The truth is that person wasn’t even sitting in the room when we did the deal. He was totally uninvolved. But that’s the state of the business. It’s despicable that this agent would be stupid enough to say he negotiated Michael Jordan’s Nike deal. And it’s unethical and illegal to solicit a client after the kid said he had decided on another agent. He should be decertified for that.”

Dell became the first tennis agent ever in 1970 – approximately 40 years ago. Last year, he picked up Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer…definitely resurfacing. I imagine that the player that selected Dell this year is Gary Forbes. The two have always fought about who should take credit for the Michael Jordan deals. Still want to be an agent, right?

Falk: …I wanted to meet a college player who I really enjoyed watching this year. So I asked a friend of mine, who is a very powerful man in the game, to introduce me to him. And he said, “I’d like to help but I can’t.” And when I asked why. He said, “You are three years and $500,000 short.”

For the past week, everyone has wanted to know who that very powerful man is. Falk talked to Henry Abbott of ESPN about his statement, but did not reveal any real useful information…other than the fact that he has a fascination with Crocodile Dundee. One thing we know is that the very powerful man is not William Wesley, although he is definitely a very powerful man in the world of basketball. The very powerful man cited could be William Wesley. In fact, a lot of people are putting their money on the fact that Worldwide Wes is the contact. However, Falk makes sure to point out that Wes was not the person who paid the player. Sorry for the previous confusion. But back to Crocodile Dundee. Abbott’s gets five stars on his reporting for getting this quote out of Falk:

Have you seen Crocodile Dundee 2? There’s a part where an African-American guy comes up to Paul Hogan and pulls a switchblade on him. Hogan is from the outback, and asks, what’s that? And the guy says that’s a knife. Hogan says that’s not a knife. THIS is a knife, and then he pulls out this huge machete.

Sometimes I think that I’d like to be like Crocodile Dundee. You want to cheat? Let’s really cheat. You want to pay someone $500,000? Let’s pay them $5 million and see what happens. You want to do that?

But … can you get that money back? Of course not. You lose before you even start. If you pay people $500,000 to get to represent them at the draft — the minute you have to pay them is the minute you can no longer advise them as an impartial agent.

Honestly, I see Falk’s point. Using a Crocodile Dundee reference to make it is an interesting tactic. Somewhere Michael Jordan is really confused.