The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES began a three-part profile of NFL
agents in a special report titled, "The NFL's Real Players." The
SUN-TIMES lists the Top 12 football agents: 1) LEIGH STEINBERG,
TOM CONDON (tie); 3) MARVIN DEMOFF; 4) RALPH CINDRICH; 5) JIM
STEINER; 6) DREW ROSENHAUS; 7) EUGENE PARKER; 8) FRANK BAUER; 9)
LAMONT SMITH; 10) TONY AGNONE; 11) JIMMY SEXTON; and 12) BRAD
BLANK (Dan Pompei, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/16). In Part II, "Black
Agents On Rise," EUGENE PARKER addresses the challenges facing
African-American agents (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/17). In Part III,
"The Best in the Business," Pompei profiles Steinberg.
Steinberg: "Sports is entertainment. The reason pro sports are
popular is the public is exposed to them through newspapers and
television. I tell my clients if they don't want to talk with
the press and they disdain writers, they ought to play in a
sandlot" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/18).
MORE AGENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: BET's "Sports Report"
featured BILL STRICKLAND, President of IMG Basketball, and LEN
ELMORE, Founder/Pres. Precept Sports & Entertainment. Strickland,
on criticism that he doesn't further the interests of African-
American agents by working for IMG: "The opportunity presented
itself to do what I wanted to do with a great deal of autonomy
with a support of a number one company in the industry. Where I
draw the line is how well do I do by my clients and I don't care
who is supporting me in terms of resources." Elmore: "We see
ourselves, particularly with African American athletes, as
mentors who can provide counsel not only in the professional
life, but in their life outside of professional sports" (BET,
4/15).
