After what seemed an eternity, Australian’s superstar Harry Kewell has finally signed for Melbourne Victory. In what is a massive coup for the A-League, the Socceroo has decided, at 32, that the time is right to come back to his home.

But his deal is a lot more complicated than your standard contract, and sets quite the precedent. Whilst no exact terms have been released by either side, several media outlets have reported the following terms:

First and foremost, the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) is paying Kewell $500,000 per year. It is not uncommon for leagues to pay a portion of a player’s salary (See the AFL). However, Kewell had his image rights clause amended. Instead of the A-League holding all rights over the use of his image, it can only use his image in situations where it doesn’t conflict with his sponsors. No doubt the FFA won’t be happy with this, but it still leaves some wiggle room.

In terms of his Melbourne Victory deal, it is understood he will be receiving a base salary with heavy incentive clauses tied into the club’s revenue. Harry will receive 70% of any monies generated from him being at the club. The way this will be distinguished is by using last year’s figures. This includes areas such as memberships, gate receipts and merchandise.

So looking at these figures, one can make some assumptions. The membership figure pre Harry Kewell was hovering just under 10,000. Now that Kewell is at the club, the phone has been ringing off the hook for new memberships, with the entry level for an Adult being $190. It is not out of the question that Harry will bring in between 7000-10000 members, putting his cut at around the 1.1-1.3 million dollar mark.

In terms of attendance, Melbourne Victory averaged a little over 15,000 a game last year. Taking into account that a) 7-10k members won’t need gate tickets and b) most of the games are played at a 32,500 seat stadium, it is possible that the attendance may rise to 25-27k a game, with the bigger games attracting 40k. The bigger games are played at the roughly 53,000 seat Etihad Stadium. There are 14 home games this season. If he plays every one of them, and the gate increases by an average of about 12,000 a game, he could be looking at a figure over $1.5 million.  With more memberships comes more jersey and general merchandise sales, which Harry will receive a percentage of as well.

Adding all these factors up, it is quite possible that Kewell may make over $3 million in the first year, with a slight decline in the following two years. This would still equate to a higher pay packet than what he would receive overseas. However, there is the possibility that this groundbreaking deal could backfire and he ultimately could receive less than what he is worth.

The A-League itself is a pretty big winner too. With the caliber of players such as Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton returning home, it gives them quite a bit of leverage when re-negotiating its TV rights deal, which is due to expire in 3 years.

However, it’s the precedent that has been set which is a concern to some. While there is no one near as marketable as Harry Kewell in the realm of football in Australia, what’s stopping an international star from commanding the same deal? When players can command this sort of revenue sharing deal, it can leave clubs in financial turmoil, struggling to pay for other expenses after the star has taken his cut.

Breaking Down The Harry Kewell Deal from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

As I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, English Premier League team Liverpool Football Club, aka, “The Reds,” were sold to New England Sports Ventures under the ownership of Americans John W. Henry and Tom Werner on 15 October 2010 for £300m.

I know this is tough for all you Liverpool fans to see another foreign owner take charge of your beloved club.  And I’m sure it is more frustrating to see Americans running the show, especially with the different level of play between the two countries.  You’re probably asking yourselves what true experience they have for this beautiful game of soccer and if they know the proper way to create a winning squad.

However fans, I have some news for you.

What do English Premier League Football teams Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Fulham, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and now Liverpool, all have in common?

Super wealthy foreign investors own them all!

Let’s review: Malcolm Glazer owns Manchester United, Randy Lerner owns Aston Villa, Stan Kroenke is a significant shareholder with Arsenal, and all are from The  USA.   Roman Abramovich from Russia owns Chelsea and Alisher Usmanov, another significant shareholder with Arsenal, is from Uzbekistan.  Carson Yeung, a Hong Kong businessman owns Birmingham City and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from the United Arab Emirates, owns Manchester City.  These are just a few.

Now, add two very successful Americans, John W. Henry and Thomas C. Werner to this list. They are the current owners of the Boston Red Sox (and newly acquired Liverpool F.C.), an American Major League Baseball franchise, who transformed this once mediocre team, to being crowned World Champions in 2004 and 2007.

As an American, and someone who works in the soccer industry, I feel it is great to see foreign owners getting involved in the game. Whether it’s for the glory on the field, or for financial gain only, it brings a greater awareness to the game in general. After all, fans only want to see one thing and one thing only on the result sheet every week.  Win.

Here in the USA, we too are being infused with players and coaches with Premiership and International experience. It all lends itself ultimately to a better soccer experience for the fan, a greater level of competitiveness and, a better product.

Back to Liverpool and those fiercely loyal English fans. Let’s not forget they were once the dominant team in England. They won league titles virtually every year between 1973 and 1984 along with three European Cups, three FA Cups and four League Cups.  Since then, success at this level has been hard to come by, and the team has disappointed fans looking to repeat those golden years.  Henry and Werner offer the monetary infusion and management skills necessary to reinvigorate this once dominant team. And that is my very point. Do the loyal fans of these English clubs really care about who owns and manages their beloved team? Is it really about winning and restoring the lost pride and quality of player that it takes to compete for the very top honor at this level?

Just look at what some players are earning these days.  Recently Manchester United secured a 5-year contract with striker Wayne Rooney that will give him roughly £200,000 per week! Look what it takes to put together a top-level competitive team. The game has changed and continues to become even more expensive. Someone must ultimately pay bigger player compensation packages.

Luckily, Henry and Werner bring a new sense of excitement to this aspect of the game.  With their understanding that Liverpool is in need of significant change, this could potentially be the beginning of signing more high-end players.  For them to compete with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, Liverpool needs the funds to do so.  This is where Henry and Werner can be of substantial assistance.

If a fan can watch his team earn 3 points every match and be in the top end of the table why would he care about who owns the club?  As long as his club is producing positive results, the ownership will not be criticized.

So it comes down to who can afford to run and manage these clubs.  The combination of superb management skills and massive amounts of wealth is the key to a dominating club.  The old days of owners seeking pride of ownership alone, is grimly faced with the stark realization of being able to support these teams, all chasing for the top spot.  Let’s face it, success brings glory and financial return.  Every year starts the same way.   Each team begins with zero wins and zero losses but the dream to win it all.

It’s Good For The Game! from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

But Octagon, a sports agency that serves more than 800 clients and personalities from a wide range of sports, is on the ground floor of fan research as it pertains to athlete management. In a recent joint release with Passion Drivers, Octagon announced its findings with regard to Brazilian football fans and the reason that they connect with the sport.

In a Nov. 22 release, the agency announced that Brazilian football fans are made up of four main groups:

1. Club Members comprised 33% of the fan base. Young, single males account for most of this demographic. They “emphasize team devotion, gloating, and intense action” in support of their team.
2. Television bandwagon jumpers claimed another 30% of the findings. The ability to watch Brazil and European clubs brings in a large viewing audience, Octagon’s Lance Hill explains, but these fans tend to be less enthusiastic in their support.
3. Camaraderie motivated an additional 25% of the survey. What drives this demographic is the sense of belonging to like-minded fans. They tend to be less combative than club members, but significantly more involved than the next largest grouping.
4. Tribe fanatics earned just 12% of the pie, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in spirit. These individuals may have a strong allegiance to one team, but they use “multiple touch points” to consume football, which means their fascination with the game itself is not going to begin and end with just one team.

What It Means to Sports Agents

First, it means you should not lose focus with the other end of the business. Marketing your clients is an important part of the job, but keeping your fingers on the pulse of fans can be just as beneficial as knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each individual client.

Secondly, it means that you should not assume one set of results for one region will be true for another sport in another area. Octagon Marketing/South America President Alexandre Leitao said in a release, “The ways in which football sponsors activate in Brazil should be significantly different than the ways they activate in other mature soccer markets.” So, just like with your clients, one size doesn’t fit all.

Finally, it gives you a clear, proven method for approaching fans to better understand their wants and needs. The Brazil study took into account a cross-section of 2,000 fans. Finding ways to adapt this study for your clients’ sports and markets will lead to unique results that can be incorporated into the better management of an athlete’s career.

This post was contributed by Aric Mitchell, a freelance writer for St Bernard Sports, retailer of high-end KJUS jackets. He can be reached at aricmitchell1 at gmail dot com.

Sports Agents Secret Weapon: Know Thy Fans from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

My trip started out hectic as usual when my initial flight from JFK to London was delayed almost four hours. My connection at Heathrow was scheduled to depart only two hours after my original arrival time of 6:00am local time in London, so before I even left the States, I had to do some scrambling. Fortunately, British Airways had another flight to Moscow scheduled to depart at 1:00pm local time. It meant I’d have to sit around Heathrow for a few more hours than I would have liked, but at least there was something leaving that same day. It also meant, though, that I’d have to get in touch with Kuchin and my other Russian friends who planned on meeting me at the Domodedovo airport in Moscow, and let them know I would be arriving at 8:00pm local Moscow time instead of 4:00pm. My iPhone is global-capable, so I sent the boys a text and was able to get Sem on the phone and let him know.

After one more flight delay in London of about an hour, I finally arrived in Moscow at about 9:00pm local time Tuesday night. Overall, I think I was able to sleep maybe three hours during the course of my 24-hour excursion – sleeping on planes is not my specialty and I’ve heard it’s generally frowned upon when you’re behind the wheel as I was all day Sunday. I was completely wiped by the time I cleared customs, but luckily I caught my second (or maybe it was my third) wind when I saw that Kuchin was there waiting for me.

When I arrived at Kuchin’s place, I wasn’t surprised to see that his family had prepared a huge welcome feast. They had chicken, pork, potatoes, salad, vegetables, bread, wraps, caviar, beer, wine, whiskey, and of course vodka. We stayed up until almost 3:00am drinking and talking. To be honest, I impressed myself with my ability to keep up with the Russian conversation. I don’t have too much trouble actually speaking Russian, but since I don’t get any real exposure to the language in the U.S., it’s usually pretty difficult for me to keep up when someone tries to speak to me. By the time I figure out what one sentence means, I’m usually a paragraph behind. And unfortunately, when I ask them to speak more slowly, most Russians only talk louder.

Wednesday morning was a nice day of recovery and relaxation. Kuchin and I went to a local beach with some of his friends, where we swam and played volleyball all day. By this time I could really feel the effects of jet lag. If I’d gained any confidence in my Russian language skills Tuesday night, it was gone within 24 hours. I just felt so tired mentally, that forming sentences seemed to be quite the task. I explained to a few people that it felt as though my brain was broken from all the travel and the nine-hour time difference.

That night Kuch, his girlfriend Lena, their friends Artem and Masha, and I decided to head down to Red Square to walk around for a bit. In case you didn’t catch some of the pictures I posted on Facebook, it was pretty amazing. I’d been to Red Square before a couple times, but I don’t recall ever seeing it lit up at night. The next day was going to be a long one, as Kuchin was beginning to skate with his Russian club, Chekhov Vityaz, and I had a meeting scheduled with Zhamnov after the team’s practice.  When we arrived home, it was a quick shower and time to go to sleep.

Thursday morning, Kuchin received a phone call from his coach letting him know that he’d be skating in Podolsk that day. Podolsk is where Vityaz’ MHL team (the second team) plays, and a few of the guys (mainly the talented younger players like Kuchin) bounce back and forth between there and the Chekhov (KHL) camp.

So we drove out to Podolsk for the day, where I’d get to see Kuchin play for the first time in Russia. It definitely was a fun experience – Kuchin was once again the best player on the ice, and he played much more physical than most of the other guys – you could certainly tell the difference after spending only a year competing in North America.

After his on-ice session, we hopped in Kuchin’s friend Artem’s car and headed over to the Chekhov facility to meet with Zhamnov. Kuch and I went up to Zhamnov’s office and chatted for a bit about the morning skate and his plans for the rest of his time in Moscow. We had to wait for the Vityaz Hockey Director to get out of a meeting, so Kuchin gave me a quick tour of the Chekhov rink, and I have to say, it was pretty impressive. The first time I came to Moscow it was also in the summer, but none of the teams were skating at the time, so this was my first chance to see the inside of any of the KHL rinks. By no means was it NHL-quality, but still it was very cool to see first-hand.

After about an hour of waiting, the Director came down to speak with us and Zhamnov. When Kuchin told him that I was his agent, the Director immediately asked “he’s not Russian?!?” I couldn’t help but laugh. As I think I may have said before, there really aren’t any American agents that work directly with Russian players, so while it might seem odd to a Russian front office official, that’s what helps me stand out from much of my competition.

The Director explained that for us to get his transfer card, we would need Sudbury to send over a letter to the Federation of Hockey in Russia (FHR). From there, the Federation would call Zhamnov to confirm the release for the season, and the Federation would certify the release to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). I quickly sent an email to Sudbury explaining the situation, and by the end of the day I had forwarded the letter from Sudbury to the FHR.

That afternoon, Kuchin would be moving into the Vityaz dormitory near the Chekhov rink, so Artem, Kuchin, and I drove over and Kuch gave us a tour of the place. The building itself was certainly nothing to write home about, but the equipment room and cafeteria were pretty cool with Vityaz logos and pictures all over the place. Kuchin would be staying up at Chekhov for the next few days. We said goodbye and Artem and I headed back to Lubertsy – the suburb of Moscow where Kuchin and Artem live.

When we arrived at Kuchin’s place, Artem and I had a quick lunch with Kuchin’s father, and then I had a few hours to relax before Golikov would be picking me up to stay with his family for a few days.

The Golikov’s are currently re-modeling their home (all Russians live in apartments in huge soviet-era buildings). This summer they are living in their dacha that is located just a few miles outside of Moscow. For an American, it can be nice to stay at the dacha because it’s actually the size of a small American house. But since you’re out in more of a rural area, some of those things we Americans consider necessities are difficult to come by. One prime example – there’s no internet connection like Russians would have in their home. Also, while many dachas have running water (Golikov’s does), it’s not always a sure thing – just yesterday morning the water wasn’t working.

Once again I was greeted with a huge meal that was out and ready upon my arrival. I had stayed with the Golikov’s the last time I came to Moscow; I know the whole family very well. We sat for a few hours over some drinks – catching up and discussing Sem’s plans for his hockey career. Sem just recently switched clubs from the Soviet Wings to Moscow Spartak, and although he’s committed to play in Russia this season, he’s very interested in playing in North America next year. After dinner we finished off the night with a traditional Russia banya (sauna) and it was off to bed.

Saturday morning I went with Sem to make pit-stop number three on my tour of Russian ice rinks, where Spartak had an inter-squad scrimmage scheduled for 10:30am. I hadn’t seen Sem skate in maybe four years, but I was very impressed with what I saw from him. I knew he was one of the better players in the league, leading all forwards on his team with a +27 rating, being near the top of the scoring leader board, and winning Player of the Month twice (November and March), but I don’t think I expected him to dominate the way that he did. I noticed a couple other players that showed some serious potential, and one of them asked to speak with me after the skate. He told me that he’d like an opportunity to play in North America next season, and I told him what I always tell players – I always want to help and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we get him somewhere he’ll be happy and continue to develop his game properly.

That night Sem wanted to show me a little bit of the night life in Moscow. After dinner we stood up from the table to go get ready. Before we could reach the door (we eat all our meals out on the porch), some neighbors of the Golikovs came by. They were having a birthday party for their three-year-old granddaughter and had heard there was an American in town. Naturally they insisted on us coming over for a bit to visit. When Sem and I walked into their backyard, the grandfather immediately pulled out a chair at the head of the table and insisted I sit down. Within seconds I had a plate full of lamb, fish, potatoes, and vegetables. I explained that I had just eaten a large meal with Sem, but the Russian phrase for “I’m full” seems to get ignored. Fifteen minutes after sitting down, I’d shoved half my plate of food down and was already four shots of vodka deep – I’m telling you, the vodka stereotype is one that I can definitely confirm. So time to go right? Wrong – now I needed to have some of the home-made birthday cake.  I will tell you that it was fantastic, but at that point I was ready to explode. Sem’s family joked that I needed to warn Lindsey that I’d be coming back home a little heavier than I was when I left. Although to be honest, I seem to have trouble putting on weight even with all this food and alcohol and with my only exercise being 20-minute swims in the local swimming hole.

Out we went for a long, long night on the town. Sem and I met up with a few of his hockey buddies at a club called “Fresh” and I ended up having a fairly long conversation with a ’90 DOB goaltender who is interested in playing somewhere in North America next season. One of the best recruiting tools for any agent is having happy clients – especially ones you can consider close friends. Sem knows that I’m a good guy who works very hard and gets things done. While I had a few meetings set up with specific people before I even left for Moscow, I also knew that most of the connections I’d be making would probably be unexpected and random. So far I have spoken with three new players about representing them, and since they’re all more worried about next season, it gives me plenty of time to start getting things in place as far as their marketing to the North American teams.

Sunday afternoon, after a nice long nap, Sem and I headed back downtown as his father’s friend had a couple of extra tickets for the much anticipated CSKA vs. Spartak soccer game – a matchup that takes place only twice every year. The cool thing about the sports clubs in Russia is that there are so many teams located within close proximity to downtown Moscow, causing extreme animosity between the fans of each team. Also adding to the rivalries is the connection that most clubs have to a certain facet of Russian society. For example, CSKA is more commonly referred to in America as the Red Army. Dynamo and MVD, which recently merged into a single KHL team, are owned and run by the Russian police force and the special police force, respectively. Spartak, on the other hand, is considered to be the team of the people. Not only are you cheering for a specific group of players or logo, in Russia you’re also often rooting for a branch of Russian life.

I had never been to a professional soccer game, much less a European one, but I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Riding on the Moscow metro, fans of Spartak screamed chants at CSKA fans and Red Army cheers were thrown right back. Before we even left the square in front of the Sports Complex Metro Station we witnessed a fight between fans that was quickly broken up by the MVD. To be honest, I don’t know if I’ve ever been more scared for my life. The fights didn’t bother me, but in Moscow, where Chechen rebels often strike with bomb attacks when they know large crowds are present, the Metro Station and Stadium seemed like obvious targets. I didn’t want to look concerned so I internalized any anxiety I had, but trust me – it was there.

The game itself wasn’t anything too exciting, but the people-watching was amazing – flares going off, chants back and forth, and fans displaying banners so large I couldn’t believe it. One thing I should definitely point out though is how hot it’s been in Moscow since I arrived. Every day the temperature has reached around 100 degrees Fahrenheit and although it’s still not comfortable, I’ve at least accepted the fact that I’m going to be drenched in sweat most of this trip. Fortunately, with air conditioning being a rarity in homes, it’s a look that’s become socially acceptable. And at the soccer game this was certainly on display. The stadium seats were crammed in so tight that you literally were shoulder-to-shoulder and leg-to-leg with the people on each side of you. Not exactly an environment I’d like to revisit anytime in the future, but it’s something I’m glad I got to experience.

My itinerary for the rest of my time in Moscow includes a couple of Spartak MHL games, a Vityaz/Spartak KHL pre-season match, a meeting with hockey journalist and friend, Alessandro Rosso, and who knows what else. I just got word from Kuchin that he got us tickets for something, but for what and when, I have no clue – this was one instance where we couldn’t bridge the “lost in translation” gap.

Anyway, I’m once again not too sure when I’m going to be able to get my next entry posted. I’m set to return to the states next Wednesday afternoon and I should be getting back to Chicago next Thursday evening. Since I’m sure I’m going to once again battle some awful jetlag, and because I’m sure I’ll again have a lot to write about, I’d expect something to be up on Monday the 17^th. I’ll continue to update both the “Rookie Duties” and my personal Facebook page with pictures and videos whenever I can, but unfortunately the only place I’ve found internet lately is at McDonalds. Congrats to all of you who recently finished sitting for your state’s respective Bar Exam and I also want to congratulate Lindsey on starting her new job this Monday after her start date was delayed two weeks. I hope you all have a great week ahead and until next time…it’s time to hit the showers.

Rookie Duties – On Location In Moscow, Russia from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

FIFA reports that more than 450 players were tested, including around 200 match-day checks, and no athletes were positive for any steroids or banned substances. FIFA chief medical officer Jiri Dvorak confirmed that no positive results were found.  That means that for the fourth straight World Cup tournament (1998, 2002 and 2006, 2010), no soccer/ futbol player has ever been caught for doping.

When first hearing this news, I was glad that no athletes turned up positive for this year’s 2010 World Cup. Then after thinking further, I had to question how this could be possible for four straight tournaments. I played club and college soccer at many different levels throughout my career and never really ran across soccer players talking about using steroids, but I know it has to exist out there.  Even if it is not openly used or discussed, it is hard to believe that nobody slipped up and took a supplement or something over the counter that contained a banned substance similar to the StarCaps case currently going on in the NFL with the Minnessota Vikings players testing positive for a banned substance they “unknowingly ingested.” In 2008, two New York Red Bull players were caught for violating the MLS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Policy (SABH). According to Red Bulls manager director Erik Stover, both players said “that they ingested an over-the-counter supplement that unknowingly contained a banned substance.”

Four straight World Cup tournaments means that nobody has “accidentally” ingested a banned substance in sixteen years during tournament play.  Either all the athletes do a great job of hiding this from FIFA officials, or FIFA and the magnitude of the World Cup do a great job of deterring these athletes from doping by suspension and loss of pay.  Could this unblemished record for four straight World Cup tournaments really be possible, or will the next Jose Canseco pop out sometime and start blowing the whistle?

Soccer Players Don’t Use Roids from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The World Cup can be a great platform for players who are looking to switch clubs, and with many of the group matches having already been completed, I have chosen a few standouts who may be targeted by bigger clubs. Some players were previously linked to moves, while others might see their clubs financial resolute tested. Look out for these players to be heavily talked about after the tournament.

Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Position: Striker
Current Club: Athletico Madrid (Spain)

Diego’s highlight of the World Cup so far was his outstanding performance and two goals against South Africa. Coming off a respectable season at Athletico Madrid, Diego has been linked to a host of English Premier League clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City. Rumored to be valued at £20 million, Forlan’s value will surely increase if he keeps this form up.

Shane Smeltz (New Zealand)
Position: Striker
Current Club: Gold Coast United (Australia)

Shane scored that famous goal that put his country in front against Italy, in which NZ managed to hold onto the draw. Being the surprise packets of the tournament has been in no part due to the strong work ethic from this front man. Shane tore apart the A League in his inaugural season for the Gold Coast and had been linked to a move to Asia or Europe throughout the season. After this performance on the world stage, many more clubs will sit up and take notice.

Luís Fabiano (Brazil)
Position: Striker
Current Club: Sevilla FC (Spain)

Luís Fabiano has always been a reliable forward for his club, with a strike rate around 1 goal for every 3 games. However, it’s on the international stage where he really lights up. Luís scored twice in Brazil’s 3-1 win over Ivory Coast. This has sent many of the larger European clubs such as AC Milan and Tottenham circling for his signature. Despite only having a year left on his contract, it is believed he could attract somewhere in the range of £20 million.

Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa)
Position: Midfielder
Current Club: Kaizer Chiefs

Siphiwe was the fortunate player to score the opening goal of the World Cup, and what an amazing goal it was. Currently plying his trade in the local league, Siphiwe was previously linked to clubs in Turkey and France. However after this performance, he’ll sure have many other clubs knocking on his Agent’s door.

Landon Donovan (USA)
Position: Striker
Current Club: LA Galaxy

In my opinion, Landon Donovan has always been a player that hasn’t reached the level he should. After an unsuccessful stint in Germany where he received limited playing time, Landon returned home and set the MLS alight with his goal scoring abilities. This led to a loan to English Premier League side Everton in which he proved he could match it at this level. Despite rumored interest from high profile overseas clubs, Landon signed a four year extension with the LA Galaxy. After fine performances this World Cup, he might just reconsider his options.

Stay tuned for another update during the tournament.

World Cup Update: Players in focus from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Basketball

• More coverage of LeBron’s crew [LeBron gets assist from inner circle].
• If this “summit” did occur, it could make for an interesting collusion argument [NBA “Free Agent Summit” Not Happening].
• The accusations stem from the investigation of former agent, Josh Nochimson’s relationship with Nate Miles [UConn, Calhoun cited for 8 violations].
• I’m most surprised that David and Dana Pump may have been involved [Real Kansas Scandal: Trading Prospects For Profit].

Baseball

• A small taste of what it is like to play pro ball in Korea [Q&A: War, Korea, and Sadowski].

Sports Law

• Before you read this, realize that football = soccer. We Americans have to be different.. [Can lawyers make good football agents?].
• Get ready for fireworks if O’Bannon’s and Keller’s lawsuits are certified as a class action suit [NCAA Facing Its Own Erin Brockovich].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (6/4/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Basketball

• My MUST READ for the week [NBA Labor Negotiations Breakdown].
• I really liked that I saw out of this kid in the NCAA Tournament [BYU basketball: By not hiring agent, guard remains eligible for return to Cougars.].

Football

• Brian Urlacher sure has nice things to say about him [Franklin-based sports agent Bill Johnson enjoys all phases of profession].

Baseball

• Strong interest in preventing an “international draft” [Dominican Prospects Protest Reform].
• It is becoming quite popular for teams to sign young pitchers to long deals [Data On Locking Up Young Pitchers].
• The guys who will finally be making their agents some real money [First Time Arbitration-Eligibles].

Soccer

• The CEO of Athlete Resource Management (ARM) [Rote Jr. elected to US Soccer Hall of Fame].

Sports Business

• Conglomerate discussion may soon have a newcomer in Lagardère [Saddlebrook may partner with French firm Lagardère].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (4/23/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

What a great quote from a great coach who knows all too well the impact and importance of effort and expectations. The voice of C. Vivian Stringer probably resonated in Epiphanny Prince’s head on several times this past summer.

Epiphanny Prince decided to forego her senior year at Rutgers to begin her professional basketball career overseas.  Briefly, she played for Spartak Moscow (the same professional team Diana Taurasi plays for in the offseason) before moving to Botas Spor of Turkey.  The choice to play overseas and forego her senior year at Rutgers was disappointing to some. Many were critical and think Prince lacked judgment.

Before leaving Rutgers, Epiphanny Prince became a top recruit in high school when she broke Cheryl Miller’s national prep record. As a guard at Rutgers, Epiphanny helped to lead the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA Championship against Tennessee in 2007.

Practice makes perfect. Playing overseas should have supported Epiphanny’s development in many of the fundamental skills. Overseas basketball is different from the United States.  Individuals privy to playing with or against Epiphanny during the offseason have stated that they see a difference.

Epiphanny Prince did what she felt was right to catapult her to the next level. The circumstances surrounding her decision are not for anyone to question. It remains to be seen how much development has taken place from playing overseas basketball, but many believe she will not disappoint the WNBA and fans.

Epiphanny Prince and Alysha Clark share two personality traits; both ladies believe in hard work and achieving goals. Alysha Clark has been on the radar in the basketball world for awhile. During high school, Alysha sustained back-to-back injuries. The most serious injury was a cracked hip. After learning of the injuries, most recruiters from national collegiate programs lost interest.

Age and determination do make a difference. Alysha rebounded from injury and continued to play basketball. She selected and signed with Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee even though Vanderbilt was an option. After signing with Belmont, Alysha led her team to the NCAA tournament.

Let’s fast forward. Alysha transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and became a Blue Raider. Presently a graduate student, Alysha is not the only Blue Raider to join the ranks of the WNBA. Some may not think highly of Amber Holt from MTSU (former teammate playing for the Connecticut Sun), but Alysha Clark’s athleticism surpasses Holt’s. Alysha Clark is one of the nation’s leading scorers in Women’s basketball. It will be interesting to see how well she plays with the most infamous players in the WNBA.

2010 WNBA Draft Prospects: Epiphanny Prince and Alysha Clark from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Basketball

• Agreed, now how do we get rid of under-the-table payments to these players? [NCAA Should Admit Its March Madness Players Are Professionals]
• Arn Tellem represents Tiago Splitter now, too? Who doesn’t Tellem rep these days? [Spurs' situation with Splitter reminds of Scola]
• From a Merrill Lynch financial advisor.  See, it’s not only agents and boosters giving these kids money [Oklahoma BB Star Scores Questionable Cash].
• Low 5-figures to get Murray State coach, Billy Kennedy, out of his K [The Smallest Coaching Buyout?].

Soccer

• I hope that the players are unified and committed to taking action [MLS Players Vote to Strike, League Has Some Decisions to Make].
• On the bright side… [Soccer In The States Reaches It’s Tipping Point…].

Baseball

• Guaranteed money and security at the age of 26 [Twins lock up Span for five years].
• No baseball players on the list of Top 10 Funniest Athletes [Why Michael Strahan Is Pitching Baseball Bats].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (3/19/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules