Sports Agents

• Past SportsAgentBlog.com interviewee, Mark Steinberg, chats with Darren Rovell about representing Tiger Woods [The Man Behind Tiger Woods].
• An interview with the agent of Maurice Jones-Drew and Matt Forte [Meet Sports Agent, Rob London].
• What it’s like to manage Kenyan runners [Kenyan runners' second home: Norristown].
• A UF Law grad making big moves [Lawyer, agent, world traveler].
• The anti-agent agent? [Bridgeton native Andre Buck bringing undervalued talent to light as rising basketball agent]

Baseball

• Moneyball will not be turned into a movie…yet [Sony scraps Soderbergh's 'Moneyball'].
• I guess I am in the minority, because I say no [Does Don Fehr Get An *?].

Basketball

• Time for agents to get creative. How about some type of running royalties deal with a minimum attached instead of the normal large up-front payment? [Bad Year For NBA Draft Pick Shoe Deals]

Much debate has occurred throughout the past week over whether this is a good move [Tiger Woods' fee queried in Australia]. Premier John Brumby believes that Tiger’s presence at the tournament will net an estimated 19 million dollars to the Victorian economy. The tournament may now attract visitors from both interstate and New Zealand to catch a glimpse of Tiger. Ernst and Young have released a report estimating an increase in 10,000-20,000 more visitors, and at 50 bucks a pop that could end up at around 1 million.

Some people argue where this magical number of $19 million came from, as the event does not have a major television or sponsorship deal; if anything these two companies will benefit by snapping up a bargain deal early. The only way the money will be made up is by tourists spending money elsewhere, which is a high possibility.

Some welfare groups have criticized the fact that taxpayers money is being spent on sport when, with the global financial crisis, many families are struggling.

Tiger hasn’t played in Australia since the 90’s, as the prize money is that of some Nationwide events- hardly appealing for most international players. Some fear a similar disaster like that of when Woods was paid $4 million to play the New Zealand Open a few years ago. The event was washed out and the tournament lost millions.

Whether the presence of Woods in the Australian masters attracts international players remains to be seen; as I previously said, the money isn’t that appealing. Also, instead of spending $3 million on one player, would money be better spent across say 8 players? Why not attract a high quality field rather than just a marquee player? I feel this would increase the standard of the tournament.

Either way, Tiger’s got my money and I’ll certainly be attending at least one day. I just hope the rain stays away.

First, the allegations. The NY Post broke the story this past week that “IMG quietly agreed to steer clients looking for investment advice to Stanford Financial Group, potentially exposing them to millions of dollars in losses resulting from the financial firm’s alleged fraud.” Additionally, the story states that Stanford also held talks about a consulting deal with Octagon, during which it inquired about a “financial management deal,” according to a source with knowledge of those discussions. “Basically, they wanted assurances that Octagon would park its clients’ money with them if they did a deal,” this source said. The story continues:

According to three sources with knowledge of the situation, IMG and Stanford have a quid-pro-quo agreement under which Stanford Financial paid IMG a low to mid-seven-figure consulting fee in exchange for IMG advising its clients – which include golfers Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Anthony Kim, Camillo Villegas, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and others – to have their money managed by Stanford. The backroom bargaining has exposed IMG to charges of double-dealing, and is raising questions about where the firm’s allegiances lay: with Stanford Financial or its athlete clients.

It is alleged that in return, IMG advised Stanford on where and how to spend its sponsorship money, especially in regards to golf tournaments.

This scandal is not the first time IMG has made the news for arguably dubious practices. Several years ago, Ernie Els lambasted the firm (he since left) for circulating his name and a corresponding price tag, without his permission, to corporations–some of which were title sponsors to Tour events–that were looking to set up corporate outings with IMG clients during tournament week. The PGA Tour, as is still the case, regulates against players being paid appearance fees to play in specific tournaments (as opposed to Europe, where appearance fees are kosher), though client or corporate outings independent from the event itself are distinguished.

Tiger’s agent, Mark Steinberg, who has been interviewed on SportsAgentBlog.com and is the senior corporate vice president & global managing director of IMG Golf, vehemently denied the charges, stating flatly that “IMG does not give investment advice to our clients…period.”

Yet evidence suggests otherwise. A 2005 Telegraph story on former tennis great and IMG client Virginia Wade, for instance, suggests that in fact the firm is quite integral in the financial decisions made by its clients.

“Since 1974, Ms. Wade has benefited from financial advice from her management company, International Management Group ‘We are in touch regularly, maybe once a month,’” she said.

In the meantime, it’s business as usual for the Cleveland-based firm, widely considered one of the most dominant players in the management of professional golfers and tennis players, as well as its involvement in the two sports’ various tournaments and media related ventures. Prized client Vijay Singh just entered into a major endorsement deal with Stanford that included sponsorship of his bag, visor and left chest on shirts and sweaters. He says that he will continue to wear the logos, relics to a once distinguished name and company that has since found the wayside, mired in deceit and fraud. And both Camilo Villegas and Morgan Pressel have ongoing deals as well. Finally, Tour commissioner Tim Finchem stated that the Stanford St. Jude Championship on June 11-14 in Memphis, Tenn. will be played – with or without its title sponsor (the PGA Tour has a rainy day pot of about $200 million it can dip into for such emergency situations, i.e. if Stanford backs out or cannot continue its sponsorship). However, as one senior Golfweek writer wrote, Stanford also is affiliated with IMG’s prized client, , with a three-year founding sponsorship of AT&T National, a Tiger Woods Foundation event.

Chances are that Camp Tiger is looking none too kindly on this whole sordid affair, and that IMG will get an earful. From IMG’s standpoint, that will hopefully be the end of it. But if more murky details emerge, things could get worse for the mega firm before they get better. And if push comes to shove, more clients could choose to do what Ernie Els did a long time ago and cut their losses. Or at the very least, ask the company precisely whose interests it is serving.

According to a June 2006 Study, approximately 168.5 million residents in the United States, roughly 75% of the population, use some form of vision correction. So chances are you and most of the people you know are wearing glasses or contacts to see properly. With vision being such a critical aspect of every sport, many athletes are considering undergoing the LASIK procedure. Here with us is Cary M. Silverman, M.D., Medical Director of EyeCare 20/20 in New Jersey, to answer some questions about LASIK for us. As a distinguished eye surgeon, Dr. Silverman has been featured in publications such as USA Today, The New York Times, and as a guest ophthalmologist on The Health Network. He has treated a number of professional athletes and is currently correcting the vision of a number of U.S. Winter Olympians prior to the 2010 games in Vancouver.

A Quick Background on the Eye

The cornea is a part of the eye that helps focus light to create an image on the retina. It works in much the same way that the lens of a camera focuses light to create an image on film. The bending and focusing of light is also known as refraction. An imperfection in the focusing power of the eye is called a refractive error.

There are three primary types of refractive errors: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Persons with myopia, or nearsightedness, have more difficulty seeing distant objects as clearly as near objects. Persons with hyperopia, or farsightedness, have more difficulty seeing near objects as clearly as distant objects. Astigmatism is a distortion of the image on the retina caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens of the eye. Combinations of myopia and astigmatism or hyperopia and astigmatism are common.

Glasses or contact lenses are designed to compensate for the eye’s imperfections. In LASIK surgery, precise and controlled removal of corneal tissue by a special laser reshapes the cornea changing its focusing power, ultimately correcting and improving your vision.

Q&A with Dr. Silverman

Can you explain the Lasik procedure to our readers?

LASIK uses a computer-controlled laser to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. An instrument called a microkeratome is used to create a flap in the corneal tissue. This flap is lifted and folded back. The laser is then used to reshape the cornea by removing or ablating tissue beneath the flap. The excimer laser used in LASIK surgery is a cool, ultraviolet beam that severs the bonds that hold the tissue together. As this tissue is removed, the shape of the cornea is altered. The amount of tissue removed depends on the patient’s eyeglass or contact lens prescription, which is essentially etched into the cornea by the laser. Reshaping the cornea allows light to focus more precisely on the retina for improved vision. The corneal flap is then replaced, requiring no stitches. LASIK surgery takes about 10 minutes per eye, and most people are able to enjoy improved vision without the need for corrective lenses.

What advantages does Lasik offer over contact lenses or traditional Horace Grant style Rec-Specs?

LASIK affords the patient/ athlete excellent vision without the need for contacts or glasses. No more getting on your hands and knees looking for a lost contact lens on the court or field, as we have seen many times on national TV. LASIK does not protect the eyes from a direct blow as Rec-Specs can, but are certainly more stylish.

How much can you actually improve a patient’s vision with this procedure? How effective is the procedure?

LASIK is able to correct most patients’ entire prescription. 95% of good candidates are able to see 20/25 or better without glasses or contacts.

As a corrective eye surgery, what are the potential risks and drawbacks of having the procedure done? Are there any potential long term side effects?

In contact sports, one of the main drawbacks is the possibility of getting hit in the eye and moving the flap. If this occurs (it is extremely rare) the flap may need to be repositioned. For athletes participating in at risk sports such as boxing, a treatment called epiLASIK may be a better option. This procedure does not involve a flap as the laser ablation is made on the corneal surface. Return of vision is slower with this procedure, but is the only drawback of epiLASIK.

Is this a “one and done” surgery where once you have it, your vision is corrected for life, or is there a chance that you vision can go bad again, requiring another procedure?

LASIK results generally “stick”. There is a 1 to 10% chance of needing a “fine tuning” or enhancement of the original LASIK, depending on the surgeon’s outcomes.

What is considered a “successful” surgery, and what is the success rate of the procedure?

I define a successful procedure as making my patient “20/happy”. These patients are able to wake up, see the alarm clock, watch TV, drive a car, and perform their sports without the need for contacts or glasses. Over 99% of my patients end up “20/happy”!

What criteria should a person consider when they are thinking about having Lasik done?

Getting LASIK is a lifestyle decision. If someone is sick and tired of being reliant on glasses or contacts for day to day activities, they should consider LASIK.

Who makes a good candidate for Lasik surgery? Who doesn’t?

Many factors go into determining LASIK candidacy including stable prescription, corneal curvature, corneal thickness, pupil size, health of the eye, and patient expectations. Most LASIK surgeons offer free LASIK evaluations to determine if a patient is a good candidate.

How about the cost of the surgery? How affordable is it? Is it covered by most insurance policies?

LASIK costs vary from $1500 to $3500 per eye and is not covered by insurance. Many LASIK practices offer 0% financing for up to 2 years. Generally discount prices are offered by corporate centers where the bulk of care is given by technicians or optometrists. Higher priced procedures are generally done by more experienced surgeons who offer cutting edge technologies and more personalized care.

Seeing as how technology is always changing and advances in medicine happen so quickly, do you see any major changes coming in how the procedure is done? Is there any reason for a candidate to wait a few more years before having it done?

Results of LASIK are excellent now. Technologic advances will continue to expand the treatment parameters of LASIK.

Is there anything else you would like to add on the topic? Anything that you think our readers should know or be aware of while considering this procedure?

Do your research and ask friends and family who have had LASIK and are happy with their results for referrals. Shop experience, not price. We are only given 1 pair of eyes, and should not compromise results to save a few dollars. For more information on how to select a LASIK surgeon, visit our blog post: 10 Things to Consider When Picking a LASIK Surgeon: http://lasikblog.typepad.com/the_lasik_blog/2009/01/10-things-to-consider-when-picking-a-lasik-surgeonhtml

When Tiger Woods returns to the golf course in 2009 there will be a new logo adorning his bag, a coveted spot that Buick has held since 2000.  General Motors, the automobile company that owns Buick, recently announced the end of their 9-year endorsement deal with Woods as part of their cost-cutting strategy in the midst of the current economic crisis.  The deal, which has been cut short by a year, has been speculated to be worth at least $7 million a year.

Woods’ agent at IMG, Mark Steinberg, noted that the decision was mutual as Woods was seeking more personal time as he expects his second child.  The end of the Tiger-Buick era does mean that there is an open spot on what the New York Daily News called a “bag that gets more television time at tournaments than any other golfer.” Steinberg expressed that the bag would not be blank when Woods’ plays next.  With regards to the future status of his client’s accessory, the super-golf agent said “I’ve got a few ideas, and we’re in the process of working through that.”  In this time of economic hardships, who will take on the risk of giving away a huge endorsement deal?  To be sure, a new deal should be for less money as Woods expects to spend less time marketing his new endorser than he did for Buick, but will still most likely cost a new suitor several million dollars.

16. Theodore Forstmann Chairman, CEO, IMG (2007 – #26)

37. Scott Boras President, Boras Corp. (2007 – #12)

43. George Pyne President, IMG Sports and Entertainment (2007 – #59)

46. Casey Wasserman Chairman, CEO, Wasserman Media Group (2007 – #79)

70. Tom Condon NFL Agent, CAA (2007 – #90)

98. Arn Tellem President, WMG Management (2007 – #83)

Not ranked. Gene Upshaw Chairman, NFLPA (2007 – #33)

Not ranked. Mark Steinberg SVP and global managing director of golf, IMG (2007 – #72)

Observations

• Similar to last year, I must say that IMG is getting mucho love from the voters.  Forstmann and Pyne received a boost; however, what the hell happened to Steinberg?  He gets his client, Tiger Woods, #1 for two consecutive years and has his name drop off the list?  Where is the justice in that?
• Gene Upshaw, may he rest in piece, must have been left off the list due to his recent death.  Had he still been living, I would bet my money that he makes the list in 2008.
• Wasserman jumps more than thirty slots but Tellem goes down fifteen?  Tellem absolutely tore it up this year with BJ Armstrong is his more than able wingman.  At least no basketball agent was positioned ahead of Tellem on the list.
• Boras has had his fair share of bad moments in the media this year.  While he is still making a lot of money for his clients, I understand why voters have positioned him lower on the rankings.

Last, here is an interesting opinion from Darren Rovell of CNBC regarding agents in this listing:

The most glaring omission from a sector standpoint is the agents. Most notably, Drew Rosenhaus, who I had as No. 20 on my list, is even not in BW’s top 100. Agents Scott Boras (37), Tom Condon (70) and Arn Tellem (98) appear on the list, but I might have had Aaron and Eric Goodwin on the list this year, particularly because of the shoe deals they structured for Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard and Candace Parker.

I agree.  Rosenhaus above the Goodwins, but all of them deserve to be mentioned.  Next question…

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Defending U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr (pictured) played her practice round at Interlachen Tuesday with Dr. Joseph Parent of Zen Golf in tow. Parent is no stranger to the professional golf world, as you can see by his ever-growing client list. While observing Kerr’s game, he spoke to her about the importance of visualizing her shots and getting herself in the right frame of mind in order to execute properly. Kerr was playing alongside Natalie Gulbis, Kelli Kuehne and (for the first nine holes), Morgan Pressel. Kerr, it should be noted, is considered a strong favorite, if for no other reason that her victory last year came on a very similar Donald Ross layout.

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Matt Egan at FOX Business wrote that Tiger’s injury “will likely have a negative financial impact on the PGA, television networks and even some of the many companies like Nike that sponsor Woods.” In fact, Steve Dennis, the PGA Tour’s senior director of communications, recently told the L.A. Times that when Woods plays in the bigger tournaments and finishes in the top five, Sunday afternoon television ratings average 4.3. Without him, ratings fall 26% to 3.4. And Greg Johnson of the L.A. Times speculated on a “ripple effect” from Tiger’s absence. However, because the Tour has already negotiated deals with the networks, advertisers and tournament corporate sponsors, how much money will the Tour per se really lose? Even a decrease in attendance at certain tournaments Tiger normally plays in cannot be assumed, since presumably the majority of those tickets had already been sold.

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It seems that every sports writer in the world had something to say about this year’s U.S. Open. Pat Forde asked if this was in fact the greatest U.S. Open ever. PTI wondered if it was the greatest of Woods’ career? Jason Sobel argued no, citing the ‘97 Masters. Tim Rosaforte examined the latest chapter in the curious incident of Phil Mickelson (and his no-so-trusty 3-wood) in the U.S. Open. And Ron Sirak reflected on what the epic prime time duel means for the future of golf.

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Many casual golf fans may never have heard of Rocco Mediate prior to Torrey Pines. But Rocco’s always been a favorite with golf fans, as well as one of the more popular players in the Tour locker room. Aside from a few moments of brilliance however, his game has historically lacked the flash or consistency necessary to ever be considered among those of the elite. That said, Rocco showed that in golf, like in all sports, on any given Sunday (or Monday)…

And you can bet that Rocco’s Q rating jumped considerably over the U.S. Open weekend. In fact, Mike Dudurich wrote that Rocco was “riding an emotional high” despite the playoff loss, and that agent Frank Zoracki’s phone was ringing off the hook. Jason Sobel wrote about the newfound demand on Rocco’s time: “[he] granted one-on-one interviews to CNN, Fox News, the BBC, CBS Sports and the Golf Channel. He sat down on the set of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He did every radio interview from Fox Sports (Dan Patrick, Tim Brando) to 2YK Radio in Sydney, Australia. ESPN? Yes, Rocco drove through our “car wash,” appearing on SportsCenter, Pardon the Interruption, First Take, Mike and Mike in the Morning, the Tirico and Van Pelt Show and — coming soon to a Web site near you — ESPN.com, as we placed him on the Hot Seat for a Q&A that will run in advance of this week’s Buick Open coverage. And, yes, there were even potential interviews that Mediate had to turn down, too, including invitations from all three major network morning programs. ‘There have been so any requests,’ said his agent, Zoracki. ‘You just can’t do them all.’” Sobel also noted, however, that “Zoracki intimated that a possible book deal is also currently in the works.” And here’s hoping the 45-year old Mediate–”Rock” as Tiger fondly calls him–finds himself in contention again.

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Nice article in John Huggan’s Guardian blog on Lee Westwood, once ranked 4th in the world way back when, and long since written off by many a golf pundit. Westwood spent the week with close friend and agent Andrew “Chubby” Chandler (founder of International Sports Management), who not only had a personal chef from Merry Ole England flown in (bangers and mash, anyone?), but also had a helicopter on hand, ready to whisk his client away to the airport at tournament’s end. Despite failing to win, Westwood seemed energized by his performance and feels that he has the game to win a major. Chandler was a bit more succinct with his sentiments. “It’s about time he won one of these [majors],” he said. And speaking of Chandler, I found this article on him from two years back in the Telegraph which is worth a read.

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Remember when Vijay Singh’s caddy wore a hat that said “Tiger Who?” on the side? That was silly. But his latest comment on British golfers was just stupid, especially since ‘the Big Fijian’ hasn’t exactly made his presence felt on the course in quite awhile.

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The college season has given way to the summer amateur golf circuit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look ahead to this fall. Ryan Herrington gives a sneak peak at the 2008-2009 campaign over with his Campus Insider blog, and over at Golfweek Ron Baliki reports that “when the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Championship takes place at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, it will feature a new – and suddenly controversial – format.”

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Sal Johnson breaks down this week’s Buick Open. The real question is whether, a la the tree falling in the woods phenomenon, the suddenly Tiger-less tournament still means as much to golf fans and viewers alike.

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Those needing to get caught up with the 2008 Nationwide Tour season can do so with this “near mid-year mark” review over at PGATour.com.

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Ryuji Imada, the 2008 AT&T Classic champion, launches his new website, www.RyujiGolf.com.

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The Wall Street Journal gathered a panel of five sports scientists and exercise physiologist to make a list and rank the worlds top male athletes on a plethora of categories (ladies, the article said they will rank the female athletes in the future, so stay tuned).  The panel graded the athletes based on their individual performances, the difficulty and competitiveness of the sport, along with the athlete’s speed, reflexes, stamina, coordination, as well as power, strength and size.

The article was extremely interesting, as it talked about the abilities and qualities needed to excel in each particular sport by the athletes and how each sport ranked along those qualities.  In order to be put on the list, the athletes had to be not only dominant at their particular sport, but they had to be athletic enough to have the qualities to dominate other sports as well.  A truly great athlete must be in good enough shape and have the ability to dominate in other areas as well.  This is why LeBron James was not only a sick basketball player, but also he was also an amazing wide receiver in high school as well, and with some of the dunks I’ve seen from him in the NBA I bet he could participate in the long jump or high jump and excel easily.

The sports scientists and physiologists seemed to have agreed with me when making some of the decisions on the list.  LeBron James was the number two pick on the list, followed by boxer Floyd Mayweather and Charger great LaDainian Tomlinson.  The surprising number one choice was Czech decathlete Roman Sebrle.  Those of you who know who Roman is might not think he was such a long shot as he can apparently throw a 16-pound ball the length of a 53-foot yacht and leap over a two-lane highway.  The five experts believe Roman has the speed and agility of an NFL player with the leaping ability of an NBA player matched with much much more.

Many of our favorite athletes did not even crack the top ten.  Some sports were too one dimensional like swimming and golf and those athletes would not excel at more physical sports, according to the panelists. To find out who cracked the top ten or to hear what these experts thought about particular sports check out (Who is the greatest Athlete?).

Meanwhile, there’s a bevy of behind the scenes information about the course set-up at Torrey Pines. Pebble Beach may have more history, but in terms of sheer beauty, much if not all of Torrey comes pretty darn close to its more renowned neighbor up north (see hole #3, pictured).

Geoff Shackelford blogs that “not only is the South Course immaculate, [but] it’s much, much more firm than last month when it was pretty swampy, particularly on the bermuda approaches and greens.” That said, Thomas Bonk over at the L.A. Times claims that “inconsistency in the rough is the early word.”

Who would know better than Woods, who finally put his knee to the test by playing a morning practice round earlier this week–his first round at Torrey Pines since winning the Buick earlier in the year (see Shackelford’s linked piece above). Woods’ game plan, according to swing coach Hank Haney, is articulated here. He’s also listed as 7:4, per this sports book. Given his long lay off, I’ll take the field on this one. That said, getting the chance to show up Mickelson may be enough to shake the rust off sooner rather than later and propel him into weekend contention. But I just don’t feel comfortable with picking Tiger given his long absence from competition. A lot of people are worried about his driver, but I think his putting may be the weak link. Tiger is the best putter in the world (by far), but even he is prone to bouts of inconsistency. Had he had a few rounds at the Memorial to work out the kinks in his stroke, I’d pick him in a heartbeat. Because he didn’t, I’ll take the field, and specifically, at 30:1, Justin Rose.

Also, keep an eye out next week for Golfobserver.com’s Sal Johnson’s U.S. Open breakdown, especially if you’re a fantasy or betting rube. No one comes close to breaking down a tournament beforehand like Sal does.

Sal has a more cynical take on Torrey than do I:

“Torrey Pines is very charming, but lets face it, a lot of money has been poured into the course, not because it’s a hidden gem like Bethpage, but because of its location and the fact that the size of the property makes for a financial bonanza for the USGA.” And he too has played the course beforehand: “After playing the course, I can see what [USGA head oc competition Mike] Davis and the USGA are trying to do. They want to be fair with the length of the fairways with three different lengths of rough, a first and a second cut that are manageable along with a third that — assuming the ball is found — all you will be able to do is advance it back into the fairway, which will make par a near impossibility. As for the greens, they will be very quick and even though they were soft for us on a cool, foggy day during media day, I can see the potential of them getting rock hard. Still, with the speed and firmness, the lack of undulation could mean more putts made at this U.S. Open than any other.”

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Interesting story on Greg Nared and the one year anniversary of the infamous Ginn Open “Rule 88″ fiasco involving then client Michelle Wie. Nared, you’ll remember, repped Wie back when he was VP of Golf at William Morris Agency. But last October he became the second agent in as many years to part ways with Wie. He resurfaced later after starting his own company, the Greg Nared Agency, and taking on former USC phenom Nicole Castrale (who ironically won the Ginn event) as his first golf client. Nared, by the way, is looking to expand his golf division (his two other clients are freestyle skiers). I’m only a call or email away, Greg…

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Peter Webb once mentioned that he’s driven to find the next Tiger Woods. Well, that’s easier said than done. But history has shown us that a great professional golfer tends to emerge once every ten years, meaning that since Tiger’s grand entrance back in ‘96-’97, we should have had one by now. Except we don’t. And don’t give me this Adam Scott drivel. I said ‘great golfer,’ not great Burberry spokesman. I’m talking the kind of player whom we can reasonably project will win multiple majors, all while looking the last great one right in the eye while doing it (a la Jack, 1962, or Watson, 1977).

Anthony Kim? Maybe. In fact, SI’s Damon Hack thinks A.K. is “ready for takeoff.” But how about Rickie Fowler? The 19-year old certainly has had a great week so far following a (for him) disappointing finish in the NCAA’s (although his last round was stellar, when everyone else was hacking and limping). Fowler lost in a playoff Monday at sectional qualifying for Torrey Pines, but was named the first alternate and got in the field when former PGA champion Shaun Micheel withdrew. He’s also the favorite at this week’s Sunnehanna (the kickoff to the summer season of elite amateur golf). Fowler was the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American this past season at Oklahoma State. And last month he was awarded the Ben Hogan Award, presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or junior college golfer, taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the last 12 months. Fowler is the first frosh to have won the prestigious award.

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Wake Forest standout Webb Simpson made his pro debut this week at the St. Jude, and also signed with former Demon Deacon-player-turned-agent Thomas Parker of the Players Advisory Group. Parker apparently has known Simpson since he was a child, probably played some golf with him over the years, and helped to show him the ropes at Wake. Naturally their relationship has now blossomed into a professional one as well. Simpson is as a polished a player to have come out of the collegiate ranks in quite awhile. Through sponsors exemptions this fall and summer, he’ll be trying to earn enough money so that he can skip out on the fun time at season’s end known as Q School. Is he ready to take the next step? Meanwhile, Parker, who also manages Tim Clark and Charles Howell III, has a nice little stable of clients going.

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Props to UCLA senior Kevin Chappell for hanging in there down the stretch, getting his Tom Watson on with that chip-in on 17 for bogey, and then sticking a great approach on 18 to help UCLA win its first national title in a couple of decades by one stroke over arch rivals Stanford and by two over USC. Ryan Herrington wrote a nice piece detailing Chappell’s story, and how the miraculous chip was the emotional culmination of a season wracked with personal grief. Chappell, by the way, turns pro after the Palmer Cup this summer.

Herrington also weighed in on the NCAA’s 72-hours later, and talks about the end of the championship’s stroke-play format. Looks like golf can turn to brackets a bit faster than, say, college football.

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If you haven’t been keeping up to date with the LPGA, you’re not alone. That said, now is the time to pay attention, writes Ron Sirak. Beginning with last week’s Ginn, the Tour is in the midst of a nine-tournament stretch that includes three major championships and seven purses of at least $2 million, including the $3.1 million U.S. Women’s Open and the $3 million Evian Masters. Per usual, watch out for world’s number one Lorena Ochoa. The 26-year-old Mexican star withdrew from last week’s Ginn Tribute to visit her ailing uncle in Mexico (who died last Thursday) and has already won $1.8 million this year.

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Here’s my unofficial, official Top 10 list of graduating seniors (with their final year scoring average) ready to turn pro (i.e., in need of an agent). Strike Simpson off that list, as he’s already signed. Anyone who knows of the status of the other nine wins a prize. I will say that the two Euros (Sjoholm, Blixt) may indeed have the most upside, IMHO.

1. Kevin Chappell, UCLA – 70.89
2. Joel Sjoholm, Georgia St. – 70.824
3. Troy Merritt, Boise St. – 69.53
4. Michael Thompson, Alabama – 71.39
5. Webb Simpson, Wake Forest – 70.90
6. Jonas Blixt, Florida St. – 71.33
7. Ryan Spears, Wichita St. – 71.26
8. Aaron Goldberg, San Diego St. – 71.66
9. Rob Grube, Stanford – 72.24
10. Chris Baker, Iowa State – 71.66

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The world’s top strength and conditioning experts for golf will gather from October 16-19, 2008 in Anaheim, Calif. at the 3rd Annual World Golf Fitness Summit, hosted by Titleist Performance Institute cofounders Dave Phillips and Dr. Greg Rose. The three-day seminar will focus on the growing discipline of golf specific fitness, and will include over 50 speakers from 10 different countries. No word yet on whether Camilo Villegas will demonstrate how to do concentration curls, or if Gary Player will lecture on the differences between HGH and creatine monohydrate.

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I’ve never heard of Second Skin, but apparently I should have (it is one of Canada’s top golf apparel and outerwear brands). Moreover, the brand will be well represented at the 2008 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines when play begins June 12. Mike Weir, who wears his own label licensed through Second Skin, and four members of the “Hollas” team (a specific Second Skin collection) including Rory Sabbatini, Dean Wilson, Jon Mills and David Hearn, will all be teeing it up at the Open. Sabbatini, the newest member to the Hollas Team, will be sporting authentic U.S. Military licensed camouflage shirts designed by Hollas especially for the tournament. Wearing the military style shirts is part of Sabbatini’s ongoing effort to bring attention to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and raise much needed money for it’s benefit. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, a non-profit organization, has provided close to $60 million in support of military personnel lost in service to our nation, and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans.

• SBJ loves itself some Octagon [Octagon Named 'Sports Agency of the Year' by Sports Business Journal].
• Busy week for D-Mac…he was out house hunting while his agent secured him $26 million guaranteed [McFadden agrees to six-year, $60 million deal with Raiders].
• Seems like the Cowboys got T.O. at a bargain price [Cowboys give Owens new 4-year, $34 million deal].
• The Bengals locked up a rare diamond in their large rough [Big deal for Big Willie means more than big money].
• WMG’s 2008 NBA roster is starting to look straight-up scary [Augustin hires agent].
• O.J. Mayo expected to sign with Leon Rose next week [Word on the Street: Workouts, Trade Rumors Heat Up].
• Kevin Love is already thinking 401(k)s [The Love of Money].
• Tiger Woods is really, really, really wealthy [SI.com - The Fortunate 50].
• She’s hot, and her wrist is now icy [Ivanovic Signs With Rolex].
• It’s too bad I don’t own Deadspin.com [Top 50 Most Valuable Sports Social Networks According to dnScoop].
• Paul DePodesta has a blog…if you read Moneyball, you know exactly who I am talking about [It Might Be Dangerous... You Go First].