The Marquee Group (TMG) has acquired Tony Stephens
Associates, a soccer talent firm in the U.K., and the
company will now form a new division called Marquee U.K.
Tony Stephens Associates brings top soccer stars and clients
Alan Shearer, David Beckham and Michael Owen into the
Marquee U.K. fold. Jon Holmes, who owned the Park
Associates sports firm acquired by TMG earlier in the year,
will serve as Managing Dir of Marquee U.K., Tony Stephens
will serve as Marketing Dir. Patricio Apey, who served as
VP/European Tennis for ProServ, has now been named
VP/Marquee ProServ Tennis, a new division of Marquee U.K.
(TMG). DAILY VARIETY's John Dempsey reports that TMG paid
$3.5M for Tony Stephens Associates (DAILY VARIETY, 9/11).
MARV GETS FINANCE SUPPORT: TMG also negotiated a deal
for the National Finance Corp. (NFC) to title sponsor MSG's
nightly "SportsDesk" TV show, which will be hosted by Marv
Albert beginning Monday night. The program will now be
called "National Finance SportsDesk" and NFC will have its
logo included in show graphics as well as on the set of the
program. In addition, each weeknight a "National Finance
Performer of the Day" will be selected and featured (THE
DAILY). Albert discussed his return with Richard Sandomir
of the N.Y. TIMES. Albert: "I hope people accept me, sure,
but it's not in my control. I certainly hope people judge
what they see." MSG Exec Producer Mike McCarthy, on
Albert's debut: "There'll be a certain audience for Monday
night. It's the folks who continue on Tuesday night that
I'm interested in" (Richard Sandomir, N.Y. TIMES, 9/11).
