Seth Meyers is hosting the 19th annual ESPYS on July 13, 2011.  This will be Meyers’ second year in a row hosting the awards show.  Yesterday, I was given the amazing opportunity to interview Meyers as he prepares for the show.  This correspondence is being provided by me (with, ahem, some help from Darren Heitner), exclusively to you, Sports Agent Blog readers.  Here is a bit of a synopsis of what was asked along with Meyers’ answers.

Q:        Who is the funniest celebrity that you’ve worked with?

A:        “Peyton Manning… he is one of the funnier guys I’ve ever met… that being said, Charles Barkley might be more fun to talk to… He is absolutely more outrageous.”

• Meyers continued to state that the reason that Barkley is so outrageous is because he has been so outlandish and crazy in the past that no one is surprised by anything he does anymore, so he can say whatever he wants (and does).

Q:        Will your SNL friends be working with you for round two (of hosting)?

A:        “Absolutely, [I’m] so blessed to work with so many talented people, and we’re good at pulling things together in a week.”

Q:        Do you enjoy working with the athletes?

A:        “The good thing about athletes is that they’re very competitive, so they always want to make people laugh.”

Q:        As a Red Sox fan, are you able to be impartial in the baseball categories?

A:        “I’m fairly impartial now since they’ve won a World Series…”

• Meyers continued on to say that prior to winning a World Series, he was “completely partial to the Red Sox.”  Breaking that “curse” seemed to loosen up fans around the world.

Q:        How are you preparing for the awards show?

A:        “Currently we’re shooting a few short films… But, [if] any athletes want to have a sex scandal in the next few [days], that’d be great.”

Q:        Are you going to be teasing anyone new this year?

A:        “The good news about something like the ESPYS is that you have the entire year to find someone worthy of a joke or two… with that [being] said… LeBron and Tiger aren’t completely out of the news.”

Q:        What’s your opinion on the world hating LeBron James?

A:        “All Americans would like to work where they want and work with the people that they want.  Unfortunately, with [the] few missteps that he made… it made a few people upset.”

• A few may be the understatement of the year… but what do I know… I’m a Lakers fan.

Q:        What’s off limits in the sports world?

A:        “I don’t think anything is off limits.  The trick with us this year is [that] with so many labor strikes, [being able to find] the humor in it… For most people, the lockout [means to them that] their favorite sport isn’t going to happen, they’re not in tune with the intricacy of the labor disputes.”

Q:        Where do you draw the line?

A:        “[You] try not to make a joke that’s so unfair that if you saw the person [on the street] you’d walk to other way… at the heart of them, they’re fun and not mean-spirited.”

Q:        How do you judge mean spirited vs. something that’s not?

A:        “[We have six writers] if one comedy writer thinks it’s mean spirited, it’s probably mean spirited.  [Usually you know by the fact that] when you say to them, in the back of your mind, you’re like ‘That’s probably over the line.’… and to be honest, as a comedy writer, you aim for the line, and you’re going to go over, and later on, you have say with hindsight, ‘[I shouldn’t] have said that.’”

Q:        What is the most nerve-wrecking part of hosting a live show?

A:        “Most of my experience is in live [television].  The weird thing about the ESPYS is that there is no dress rehearsal, so a lot of times you’re telling the jokes for the first time.  So when you tell them and no one laughs, you see the bewilderment of the audience [as to] how you ever thought that was funny.”

Q:        In regards to hosting the Correspondence Dinner versus the ESPYS, who is the harder crowd to deal with, politicians or athletes?

A:        “Politicians are harder as the comedy audience, as they take themselves very seriously.  Athletes take themselves seriously on the field, but off of the field, my experience with them, is that they’re a fun-loving bunch…”

Q:        Who are your sports heroes?

A:        “Mike Greenwall”

• Former left fielder who played his entire MLB career with the Boston Red Sox

A:        “Roger Clemens.  [I] lost track of him once he left the Red Sox, but I’m hoping he’s doing well.”

• Strange wording from Meyers as Clemens’ perjury trial in on deck… so to say

Q:        What was your favorite person sports memory playing in high school?

A:        “If you asked anyone I went to West High School with they probably wouldn’t remember either… I didn’t’ have many great sports moments… I ran track, and… there was at least one time when I finished [a race].”

Q:        What sets the ESPYS apart from other awards shows?

A:        “It’s different than any other awards shows, because in order to be nominated, you have to already have won what you wanted.”

Q:        If you were to be nominated for an ESPY, what would you get?

A:        “Probably baseball, or any other sport where contact is minimized… something where no one can hit you.”

Q:        How are you going to top last year’s show?

A:        “I hate to say this… but… Performing Enhancing Drugs.  That’s my move.”

• Meyers continued on to comment that, “Six days before the ESPYS, a lot can happen, I beg any athletes that [thinking about having] a scandal, to make it happen.”

Q:        Have you lost sight of a career as a pro-athlete?

A:        “I was hoping that hosting the ESPYS would get me into becoming an athlete. … [I would] love to be a baseball player for the Boston Red Sox.  That’d be a dream come true, and not a dream [that] I see unreasonable.”

Q:        Award two of your co-hosts ESPYS.  Who are they and what would they be?

A:        “Jon Hamm – ‘Handsomist Outfielder’”

• Don Draper did actually play baseball (and football, and was a swimmer) at the private John Burroughs School in Laude, Missouri.

A:        “Justin Timberlate – He would be ‘Most Versatile’”

Q:        What was that moment in sports that solidified you as a sports fan?

A:        “1986 World Series solidified my loyalty to sports forever.  Often our passion in defeat solidifies our [dedication to] sports forever.”

• The 1986 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox.  The error by Bill Buckner in Game 6, which allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game, is often cited in the legend of the “Curse of the Bambino.”  Mets beat the Red Sox, four games to three.

Q:        Any athlete you would have liked to play against?

A:        “I wish I hit against Chris Carpenter, because then I would be a much younger man.”

• Meyers is 37… Carpenter is 36.

The ESPYS airs live on Wednesday, July 13 at 9pm EST on ESPN.  Make sure to tune in as it is always a hilarious, great, talent-filled show.  Furthermore, fans can still VOTE for their favorite athletes up to July 12.

Interview With Seth Meyers, Host Of The 2011 ESPYs from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Baseball

• He is now in Michigan’s Hall of Honor [Former Michigan baseball star Casey Close remains true to himself, makes a name as a top agent].
• Gap of $1.5 million and may come down to CAA talking about his durability while the Orioles focus on his lackluster stats [Jeremy Guthrie's Arbitration Case].
• I agree – the #1 case to watch is Josh Hamilton’s [Ten Arbitration Cases To Watch].
• Former GA Tech players Boras has represented includes Mark Teixeira, Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters, Eric Patterson, and Tyler Green [Scott Boras to Speak at Georgia Tech Baseball's Benefit Dinner on Feb. 17].

Basketball

• Bill Duffy and Mark Bartelstein say no, if it means moving it to an earlier date [Should early-entry withdrawal date move?].
• The LeBron James Effect – the Miami Heat’s worth increased 17%, to $425 million [The NBA’s Most Valuable Teams].

Football

• But his agent Ryan Tollner sure has his back [Nothing Big About Ben In The Marketing World].
• Whose hair will you root for in the Super Bowl? [Clay Matthews Signs Hair Endorsement Deal With Suave].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (1/28/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

1. Arn Tellem (Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Brandon Roy)
2. Dan Fegan (Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy)
3. Jeff Schwartz (Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson, Tyson Chandler)
4. Rob Pelinka (Kobe Bryant, Carlos Boozer, Andre Iguodala)
5. Bill Duffy (Tayshaun Prince, Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo)
6. Leon Rose (Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, LeBron James)
7. Mark Bartelstein (Danny Granger, David Lee, Mo Williams)
8. Andy Miller (Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups, Andre Miller)
9. Bob Myers (Brandon Roy, TJ Ford, JJ Reddick)
10. Jim Tanner (Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, Hedo Turkoglu)
11. Henry Thomas (Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Devin Harris)
12. Raymond Brothers (Zach Randolph, Ben Gordon, Caron Butler)

My only comment is that the author might want to change the photo for Andy Miller.  Instead of displaying Miller, the list displays Keith Glass.  Miller can’t be pleased with the error; Miller had to pay Glass $40,000 in damages earlier this year after an arbitrator found that Miller recruited Glass’ client.

A Top 10 Agent List Has A Notable Error from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Here is a summary of what transpired:

• Falk believes that LeBron took a quick hit on his brand equity.  After watching LeBron’s new Nike spot, I have to think that his brand is already in the rebuilding stage.
• Falk doesn’t think that a basketball player should announce something before it actually happens.  He calls it “a little too modern, a little too social media.”  He would have preferred that LeBron signed with Miami and then had his big press conference about his decision.
• On Worldwide Wes: “early on in his career had a lot more influence than people gave him credit for and now probably doesn’t have as much influence as people give him credit for.”
• Falk really does not like the limitations placed on max contracts.  He thinks it limits what the best players deserve and allows much less talented players to earn more than they are worth.
• Falk does not seem to be a big fan of Isiah Thomas or the fact that the current union is not involving agents much in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Falk’s client Evan Turner is the highest draft pick to ever sign with a Chinese shoe company.
• Falk’s first big shoe deal was with New Balance for James Worthy back in 1982.
• Falk thinks players should stay in school longer.
• He has no desire to grow a big agency, and calls his operation an “ultra-boutique.”

David Falk’s Interview With SLAM Magazine from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Team Name: Miami Heat
This Year’s Predicted Record: 64-18
Last Year’s Record: 47-35
Key Losses: Quentin Richardson, Jermaine O’Neal, Michael Beasley, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook
Key Additions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, Mike Miller, Eddie House

1. What significant moves were made during the off-season?

The real question is, what significant moves were NOT made during this past year’s off-season? This summer was hyped up for the past three years, with several teams completely clearing all players from their roster in an attempt to land one of the big three available (Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade). The Heat cleared their roster of every player except one, Mario Chalmers, and succeeded in landing not just one of the big three, but all three. In addition to bringing in LeBron James and Chris Bosh and retaining Dwyane Wade, the Heat were able to bring back Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, James Jones, Carlos Arroyo, and Jamal Magloire. Much to every other team’s chagrin, the mastermind behind the whole operation, Pat Riley, was able to find a way to fill the rest of the roster and turn the Heat’s bench into one of the best benches in the NBA. The remaining roster includes Mike Miller, Eddie House, Juwan Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and draft picks Da’Sean Butler and Dexter Pittman. Pat Riley and the Miami Heat have succeeded in putting together one of the most feared teams ever assembled in the NBA.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

With this team, the answer is always going to be the Big Three, especially on the offensive side. In the past 6 years, each of the Big Three have demanded double teams when handling the ball. The strength isn’t necessarily just the ability for these three to score, but the ability for them to open the floor for spot up shooters in the corners, which is something the Heat, for the first time since Jason Kapono, is not lacking with Mike Miller, James Jones, and Eddie House on the outside. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are going to demand double teams on the perimeter, and many times Chris Bosh is going to demand a double team down low. With Wade and James’ ability to penetrate and dish, the corners are going to be wide open. A man-to-man defense with back-side help is not going to work against this team. This year’s Miami Heat may cause the zone defense to make a major comeback in the NBA, as it may be the only way to put multiple defenders on the Big Three while not taking defenders out of position.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

The Heat’s biggest weaknesses are point guard and center play, but this weakness has been blown out of proportion in recent weeks. Most likely Mario Chalmers will starting at point guard, and while he is not a pure point guard, he is a serviceable guard who can spot up from the outside. His main job is going to be to bring the ball past half court, hand it off to Wade or James, and spot up from the outside, something he can do very well. Also, even though he is a starter, he is going to play role player minutes, as this team is not really in need of a primary ball-handler other than Wade and James. Chalmers is going to share a significant amount of minutes with Mike Miller and Eddie House. The same goes for Joel Anthony as the starting center. He is most likely going to be playing role player minutes as well, with Big Z being the first center off the bench, and Chris Bosh playing significant minutes at center with the warrior, Udonis Haslem, at the power forward position. The one thing that Joel Anthony does provide is great backside help. The Heat do lack overbearing skill at both of these positions, but this weakness is not going to cause the team to lose games. Most likely the Heat’s end of game line-up and the lineup that will play significant minutes throughout the game will be Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, and Chris Bosh, which, as can be seen, does not include a pure point guard or center.

4. What are the goals for this team?

There is only one goal with a team like the Miami Heat…championship or bust! This team is already being labeled as one of the greatest to ever be put together, and it was put together to win championships. Plain and simple…the Heat need to win multiple championships with this team, or they will face a different kind of heat from all angles.

5. Will Eric Spoelstra make it through the entire season?

This is one question that has been on everybody’s mind since the Big Three came together. We all remember 2006, the last time the Heat won the NBA Championship…Stan Van Gundy started the year as the Heat’s head coach, and about a quarter of the way through the season, he “voluntarily” resigned as head coach. With this season approaching, there are speculations as to whether Spoelstra will make it through the entire season. Riley has been quoted saying he will do anything to make sure that this team wins, but does that mean he is returning to the bench? Most likely Spo will finish this season as the head coach of the Miami Heat, but if he does not deliver a championship, do not discount the idea of him returning back to Assistant Coach status, with possibly Doc Rivers at the helm.

The 2010/11 Miami Heat Preview – Championship Or Bust from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Sports Business

• Big power move for Wasserman [Brody leaving MLB to head sales at WMG].

Baseball

• The Dominican Republic has an education problem, a cheating/PED problem, and many other issues to deal with…but at least some teams are enhancing their D.R. facilities  [Struck Out by Béisbol].

Basketball

• Perhaps an unfair advantage for LRMR [LeBron James' basketball camps push the line in regard to recruiting amateurs for sports agency].
• At least now we know that William Wesley carries a BlackBerry [Agency Role Could Limit Basketball Broker’s Power].
• Athletes, wake up! Learn how to use social networking sites to your benefit not your detriment [“ALCOHOL ON US” – 20-Year-Old Cashmere Wright].

Sports Agents

• Paul Doyle is a track & field agent [Marietta sports agent, wife walk away from plane crash].
• Drew Rosenhaus owns Southwest Florida [Agent knows the area well].
• This is really what makes Arn Tellem one of the best in the biz [Nomar, Mia visit Seeds of Peace: 'You see the joy'].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (8/6/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are certainly three basketball players that come to mind when thinking about stars who are able to earn money through marketing based opportunities.  LeBron James’ one-hour ESPN show titled, “The Decision”, officially announced LBJ’s departure from Cleveland to play with Wade and Bosh in Miami.  The show affected not only LeBron’s image, but also what people think about Bosh and Wade – and they had no part in the entire ordeal.

A new nationwide survey from E-Poll Market Research shows that in the wake of “The Decision,” public sentiment towards LeBron James and fellow free agent Chris Bosh is down markedly, while attitudes towards Dwyane Wade are more favorable.

E-Poll’s E-Score® survey measured awareness, appeal and perceptions of the Miami Heat trio along numerous personality attributes. In addition to a plunge in appeal rating from 47 to 29 points, James’ ratings for such attributes as “Confident,” “Exciting,” “Good Energy,” and “Talented” were all down significantly, while negative attributes such as “Cold,” “Insincere” and “Over-Exposed” showed big increases.

In contrast to James, Wade’s appeal score rose from 51 to 55 points, and he saw increases in his attribute scores for “Confident,” “Exciting” and “Talented.” Chris Bosh experienced declines in appeal as well as most of his attribute scores. The survey was conducted July 17 – 29, 2010.

Besides the fact that Bosh and Wade might not have been in control over the change in sentiment, it is also important to point out that LeBron’s own advisors (CAA and LRMR) might not have had much control either.  We now know that Ari Emanuel, co-CEO of William Morris Endeavor, had a large roll in James deciding to go forward with “The Decision.”  That said, James’ right hand man, Maverick Carter, knew about it, and at a minimum gave his consent moving forward with the idea.

LeBron’s brand is not destroyed, but it seems as though it has taken a slight beating.  Meanwhile, D-Wade somehow benefited from LeBron’s poor decision.  Who is to blame for the consequences for a decision on “The Decision”, which was apparently influenced by a variety of individuals?

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh – All Affected By “The Decision” from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• He also doesn’t like what the term “sports agent” implies and he wants to be more of a life-coach [Penn State's Chafie Fields: It's a Happy Valley for Player Turned Agent].
• Chris Duhon earning a larger base salary in 2010 than Tom Brady [In light of mega NBA deals, please don't say football players make too much money].
• For the ladies [The women of the NFL].
• Getting the fluff out of the way [D'Brickashaw's real deal? One year, $5.3225 million].

Baseball

• I always have to recognize young agents who are out there hustling [Eitan the Intern blog entry 3: Ask an Agent].

Basketball

• A state’s income tax can be a very important factor for large contracts [LeBron Can Make More With Heat Than Cavs].

Sports Law

• I would like to see a copy of the contract, as well [Competitive Eating and Uncompetitive Contracts].
• Makes you want to go to law school, no? [Theo Epstein, Juris Doctorate, Best GM in Baseball]

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (7/9/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

It’s July 1st.  Basketball junkies have been waiting for this day for quite some time.  Their favorite teams can start talking to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh…for the past year, we have been doing all the talking for those teams.  Those three players are getting the most hype out of this ridiculous class of free agents, and they are all represented by the same agency, Creative Artists Agency, for negotiations related to their NBA contracts.  The task of representation is split between Leon Rose and Henry Thomas, and we all know about the variety of others who will make their presence known.

But LeBron, Wade, and Bosh are not the only talented free agents available, and the other players are not represented by CAA.  Let’s take a look at some of the other big agencies and who they will be negotiating on behalf of in this exciting offseason.

• Wasserman Media Group – Arn Tellem is the primary agent at WMG, but he will have BJ Armstrong, Bob Meyers, Dan Tobin, et al. to help him with finding Joe Johnson, Jermaine O’Neal, Tracy McGrady, Jermaine O’Neal, and Mike Miller a home.  After LeBron, Wade, and Bosh, Johnson seems to be the name that journalists are focusing on.
• Priority Sports – Mark Bartelstein is to Priority as Tellem is to WMG, but Bartelstein also has very able agents in Brad Ames and Aaron Mintz.  They will be focusing on David Lee and Brad Miller.  I love to see what David Lee has become in the NBA after not really living up to his expectations at the University of Florida.
• Immortal Sports – Happy Walters is the owner of the agency now known as Immortal Sports.  His big client for this free agency period is Amare Stoudemire, who along with Boozer, could be interesting pick-ups for a contending team.
• Landmark Sports Agency – Speaking of Carlos Boozer, he is represented by Rob Pelinka.  Pelinka will also be busy working the phones for Channing Frye.

There are other free agents who will gather interest, including Al Harrington, who is represented by Dan Fegan of Lagardere Unlimited.  And there are also some interesting restricted free agent names.  July should be a fun month.

It’s July 1st, Do You Know Where Your Favorite NBA Free Agent Is? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Meanwhile, LeBron was invited to watch Game 2 of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals in Geffen’s seats, but declined the invitation.  Instead, LeBron’s close friend and partner, Maverick Carter, did attend the game with Geffen.  Although he opted not to attend the game, James spent the weekend in Los Angeles with Carter.  ESPN reported that a source confirmed that Geffen’s interest in purchasing the team is one of the reasons James and Carter were out west.  Teams are not allowed to contact players under contract until free agency begins July 1, and the league has already fined Mark Cuban $100,000, and two other teams for making comments about LeBron.  But Geffen is not an owner of any percentage of the Clippers or any other team, and can discuss LeBron’s potential future as a Los Angeles Clipper as much as he’d like without fear of discipline by Commissioner David Stern.  SportsAgentBlog.com has previously reported on the future of James’ career and the people surrounding his decision-making.  Obviously Leon Rose, Lebron’s agent at CAA, will play a large part in brokering LeBron’s return to Cleveland or move to another city.  Likewise, Darren has mentioned the speculation of the behind-the-scenes role that Worldwide Wes (William Wesley) plays in LeBron’s career.  However, LeBron’s L.A. travel companion, Carter, will likely play one of the most important, if not the largest role in James’ decision on where to play next year.

Rose is LeBron’s registered NBA agent, but only represents James in his player contract negotiations.  LeBron is a self-made businessman in all other respects, and Maverick Carter is James’ partner and CEO of LRMR, the marketing agency started by the two to manage the marketing deals of LeBron and other athletes.  According to Sports Illustrated’s “The Fortunate 50”, two-thirds of his $42 million in earnings in 2009 came from endorsements.  It would be fair to say that Carter’s role as James’ de facto marketing agent puts him in a position of power, as James’ decision will undoubtedly be affected by his endorsers, especially Nike.  I agree with ESPN’s Skip Bayless, who recently commented on an ESPN program that Maverick Carter was the most influential member of LeBron’s team.  Like the possibilities in of James playing in the city that never sleeps, I’m sure that potential for James to play in Tinsel Town has been talked about in the board rooms of his endorsers.

The allure of playing in Los Angeles might be intriguing to LeBron James.  He would be playing in arguably the best sports city in the country, and won’t have to play in the house that Jordan built, or for the Knicks or Nets, neither of whom have even had the chance to lose a playoff game, much less win one in years.  While Kobe Bryant seems to be getting better every year, he is certainly inching closer to the end of his already 14-year career.  LeBron could really bring the Clippers out from under the shadow of the Lakers, and truly reign as the King of Los Angeles.  He would also be surrounded by the likes of Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon, which reads like a Championship-winning caliber team.  If anyone has the wallet to buy the Clippers its Geffen, whose net worth is estimated at $4.6 billion by Forbes, but current Clippers owner Donald Sterling has insisted as he has many times before that he is not interested in selling the team.  In the end, a LeBron-Geffen Clippers may be just another California dream.  Until free agency starts on July 1, it will remain as one of the many rumors surrounding LeBron James and those that influence his decisions.

King James in Hollywood…Not Likely from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules