Baseball

• Dan Leatherman – Last night, he picked up the win for the Potomac Nationals.  His final line was: 3.2 IP, 5 hits, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.  This improves him to 2-0 with a 5.32 ERA on the season with the High A Potomac Nationals.  Leatherman has not walked a batter in his last 7 outings, which spans 12.2 innings.
• Pete Parise – Parise threw 2 perfect innings (1 K) in Springfield’s loss last night.  Parise has now thrown 11.1 consecutive scoreless frames over his last 8 outings and has a 0.59 ERA over his last 10 outings.  His season ERA is 2.86 in 34.2 IP (26 K’s).  We showed you a powerpoint slide on him yesterday.  His stat line has only gotten better since.
• Kyle Gunderson – Recently, Hi-A Jupiter placed Kyle on the reserve list.  Kyle is healthy and looking forward to returning back to the active list soon.  The Marlins put him on the reserve list as a precautionary measure to give his back some rest.  Since joining the Jupiter Hammerheads in a trade for Logan Kensing, Gunderson has a WHIP and ERA of 0.90 in 10 IP.
• Kyle McPherson – In his last 4 starts, McPherson has 3 wins and 1 no-decision. In the 22.1 IP over that span, Kyle has racked up 13 K’s and only walked 2 batters.  His overall record on the year with the West Virginia Power is 4-1.
• Ryan Kelly – R.Kelly has provided solid relief for the West Virginia Power thus far.  His ERA is sitting at 3.06.  When A-Rod was making his way back to the majors with rehab assignments, he could not get a hit off of R. Kelly.
• Brendan Murphy – Brendan got off to a scorching hot start with the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League, but has cooled off a bit ever since.  He still has 2 HR in 8 games played, along with 6 RBI.
• The rest of our boys: Tommy Johnson, Nick Czyz, Ben Billingsley, and Zach Rosenbaum are doing very well in Extended Spring Training and will be on their respective teams’ Short Season A teams.

Bowling

• Our latest bowling client is Jason Belmonte.  He is currently in his home of Australia making the rounds with the press, but will be back in the U.S. shortly to bowl in the PBA’s Summer Series.  We have big plans for Belmo.  In the meantime, become a fan on his Facebook page.

Football

• Rulon Davis is doing well with the Denver Broncos.  The team needs all the help it can get on Defense and Rulon is just the type of guy who can give them that edge they so desperately need.
• Andrew Johnson had a very successful mini-camp tryout with the Cleveland Browns, but unfortunately, was not retained by the team.  We are now searching for other options for Drew.
• Kevin Grant is considering various options, but we still believe that he belongs in the NFL.  We continue to find the right fit for the former 4-year Akron LB.

Basketball

• We have recently added a bunch of new clients including, Terrrance Woodbury (leading scorer at UGA for the past 2 years), John Gilchrist (former standout at University of Maryland), and Jamarcus Ellis (University of Indiana – named Honorable Mention All Big-Ten).  All of them are receiving considerable interest in the United States (NBA/NBDL) and overseas.

Coaches

• Been working on a new website.  Jason and I have been given important positions in a particular coaches association.  More information will be posted in the near future.

Entertainment

• Hopefully you know about the new EntertainmentAgentBlog.com.  The new site alone, has allowed us to receive more leads for our clients.  Additionally, we are starting to move away from being “agents” to our clients, to taking on more of a managerial role.

Dynasty Notes – Part 14 from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Alain Poupart, Associate Editor of Scout.com, reported yesterday that according to a league source, Andrew Johnson and Kevin Grant have drawn the interest of the Miami Dolphins.  The Dolphins have two 7th round picks in this year’s draft.  Additionally, Pourpart notes that six teams other than the Dolphins have expressed significant interest in Kevin Grant.

You will need a Scout.com login to view the entire report, which is here.

Seven Teams Express Significant Interest In Kevin Grant from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• Looks like the Bills won’t be looking RB on day 1 of the draft [Rhodes joins Bills with two-year deal].
• A Division II DE hoping for a chance after the draft [Kees hopes to get deal with NFL].
• This was definitely kept from the media for a while [Shockey fires, but may rehire, Drew Rosenhaus].
• The NFL Combine is not only about 40 times and reps on the bench [NFL teams examine minds as well as bodies of potential draft picks].
• Will he be the first Mauian ever drafted into the NFL? [Maiava nears end of waiting game]
• Ian Greengross thinks C.J. Spillman will go 3rd or 4th round [Agent touts Spillman's chances in NFL Draft].

Baseball

• Apparently baseball fans like to shave [MLB and Gillette: Continuing to make sponsorship history].

Basketball

• B.J. Armstrong must love representing this guy [Rose's calm doesn't diminish following huge playoff debut].
• The NY Times seems to think the two are a match made in heaven [Bulls Rookie Has an Agent Who Knows What He’s Going Through].

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

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Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (4/24/09) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Some of my favorites on Wilhide’s list are @NickSwisher, @the_real_shaq, @sj39 (Steven Jackson), and @hhreynolds (sports blog, Hugging Harold Reynolds)

Dynasty NFL Prospect, Kevin Grant is one of three college athletes listed tweeting on the Sports on Twitter List.  You can follow @KGTheMachine for an insight into his life.

But what does this all mean and how is it relevant?  Twitter might be a fad like pogs, but it sure seems to have picked up a lot more followers in a very short amount of time.  Everyone is talking about it, and more people are using the service by the day.  If used correctly, it could be a large benefit to an agency and its clients.  Being able to inform people of news instantly, without any filtration by outsiders is very valuable.  If you pick up the right followers and engage in substantive discourse, you can build a strong reputation that will be invaluable to you and your clients.  If you are not yet on the service, get on Twitter, add @Darren_Heitner, and let’s build our social media reputations together.

Twitter Continues To Gain Strength In The Sports Industry from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Kevin Grant

Kevin Grant, Akron–real big (6’3”, 252), strong, and ultra-competitive. Strictly a between-the-tackles run stuffer who will have to leave the field on passing downs, but he moves well enough and is smart enough to stick as a 3-4 ILB or even a 4-3 LDE in the right situation. UDFA.

Big Day For Kevin Grant from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Kevin Grant on All Access Football Radio from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Kevin Grant and Andrew Johnson entered Akron’s Pro Day with a chip on their shoulders. They went onto Akron’s field with something to prove. Both steller athletes were getting the cold shoulder from many draft analysts, and many believe it is because they played in the MAC Conference.

Kevin showed power in his workout (bench, vert, broad jump) and his other numbers match up with other middle line-backers in this draft (the other 4 are projected to be drafted between 2-7th rounds). Admittedly, Kevin had a lower than we expected in the short shuttle, 40, and 3 cone drills, but Kevin did slightly pull his hamstring on his 40-time (which he has been running faster, as well), and the short shuttle and 3 cone was taken after that pull. Grant’s numbers in those three categories are still similar to other MLB prospects, but we believe he is better than many of them. He will have another opportunity to show his stuff at a Washington Redskins workout next week.

Here is how Kevin Grant matches up against other MLBs expected to be drafted this year (height, weight, 40-time, vertical jump, broad jump, benchpress, short shuttle, 3 cone):

Kevin Grant
6,2″ 240
40-4.82
Vert-32
BJ-9’8″
BP-23
SS-4.52
3 cone-7.3

Franz Joseph
6’1″ 242
40-4.83
vert-27.5
BJ- 9’8″
BP- 19
SS-4.37
3 cone-7.34

Maurice Crum
5,11″ 235
40-4.85
Vert- 28.5
BJ-8’9″
BP- 18
SS- 4.64
3 cone-7.27

Clint Sintim
6’3″ 253
40-4.75
Vert-34.5
BJ-9’11″
SS 4.4
3 cone-7.37

Jasper Brinkley
6’2″ 252
40-4.67
Vert 35.5
BJ-9’6″
SS- 4.32
3 cone- 7.03

And what about Andrew Johnson? He put up an official 40 time of 4.42, which would have been 1st at the 2009 NFL combine for Running Backs. His Verticle Jump (36) would have been tied for 7th at the 2009 NFL combine/Running Backs. His Broad Jump of 10’2″ would have been tied for 4th at the 2009 NFL combine/Running Backs.

Andrew Johnson

5’10.6″
216lbs
40 time- 4.42
verticle jump- 36″
Broad Jump- 10’2″
Bench Press- 16
Short Shuttle- 4.5
3 cone Drill- 6.9

LeSean McCoy
5’11″
204
40- 4.5
VJ-29
BJ-8’11″
BP-17
SS-4.18
3 cone-6.82

James Davis
5’11″
218
40-4.55
VJ-32
BJ-9’1″
BP-17
SS-4.37
3 cone- 7.15

Ian Johnson
5’11″
212
40- 4.42
VJ- 33
BJ- 9’8″
BP- 26
SS- 4.18
3 cone- 6.93

Kahlil Bell
5’11″
212
4.74
VJ- 34.5
BJ 9’6″
BP- 15
SS- 4.2
3 cone- 6.87

Not only did Andrew have a very impressive hand-timed 40, but on the electronic timer, he was clocked at 4.36 (clock stops when the beam is broken). Here is how Andrew Johnson stacks up against the best times clocked by running backs in their respective Pro Days:

1. Antone Smith RB Florida State 4.33
2. Delvin Moore RB Wyoming 4.34
3 Xavier Moreland RB Troy- 4.37
4. Tristan Davis RB Auburn- 4.38
5. Chris Wells RB OSU- 4.38
6. Jamall Lee RB Bishop- 4.39
7 Kory Sheets RB Purdue- 4.39
8 Cedric Peerman RB Virginia- 4.39
9T Ian Johnson RB BSU -4.42
9T Andrew Johnson Akron RB- 4.42

Here is NFLDraftBible’s quick recap of Akron’s Pro Day’s studs.

Akron Pro Day Wrap-Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

On 1/26/09, right before starting his diet and the training regimen at Athletes Advantage:

• weight- 250.9
• lean body mass- 205.66
• body fat weight- 45.14
• body fat %- 18

3/13/09, after sticking to his diet and finishing up the training program:

• weight- 242
• lean body mass- 215.38
• body fat weight- 26.62
• body fat %- 11

Over the last 6 weeks, Kevin has added 9.72lbs of lean body mass (lean muscle) and lost 18.52lbs of body fat.

Yeah, I won’t be sleeping much tonight.

Tomorrow Is Akron Pro Day from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

MMA

• Gary Wimsett expands his online presence and has a great interview with Jens Pulver [No Rest for the Wicked: Jens Pulver Fights for the Little Guy].

Basketball

• Jason Belzer looks at some young college coaches who have tons of talent [Young Guns: 3 Top Under-the-Radar College Assistants].

Golf

• From WMA to IMG [Wie to get ‘fresh start’ with IMG].

Football

• The last of the big-name inside linebacker free agents has been signed [Peterson, Falcons ink deal].
• A $16.6 million pay cut for the former #1 overall pick [Smith reworks last 2 years of deal].
• Nothing that $100 million can’t fix, right? [Haynesworth indicted on traffic charges]
• Do Trace Armstrong’s connections to CAA have you concerned about him being a candidate? [Contentious campaign, critical vote for NFLPA's top job]
• It only keeps getting worse for Alvin Keels.  I cannot imagine the amount of stress he is under [Alabama’s Tubby, Shirtless Wonder, Andre Smith].

Sports Agents

• Bruce Ciskie has doubts about Bus Cook [Is Bus Cook a Troublemaker?]

Baseball

• One of those “great stories” [Lester lands five-year extension with Red Sox].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (3/13/09) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• A big-time Gator is on the market [Taylor, set to make $6M, cut by Jags].
• A lot of talk that Thomas Mills got Hayden a really nice deal [Hayden, Colts strike deal].

Baseball

• The guy is only 26-years-old and averages a strikeout per inning pitched [Santana avoids arbitration with Angels].
• Gotta love the amount of deals that are struck in the final hour [Pirates, McLouth agree to 3-year deal].
• Should we be blaming the MLBPA instead? [Commish doesn't want steroids blame]

Sports Agents

• For our readers overseas [Superagents” reality TV show to launch in UK this week].
• Doug Eldridge of DLE Sports Management Group is trying to raise $100k [Reginald T. Dogan: Racer makes strides for wounded vets].

Basketball

• The story on Anthony Randolph switching agents made the latest Carnival [Carnival of the NBA #63: Stress Relief].
• The Chicago Bulls have been very active lately [Knicks trade for Bulls' Hughes].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (2/20/09) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules