As "part of a plan to become a leader in the football
representation practice," SFX ENTERTAINMENT, "as expected,"
has purchased JIM STEINER's Sports Management Group, which
represents 55 NFL players, according to Liz Mullen of the
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Under the deal, Steiner "will take
over the reins" of SFX's "fledgling" football practice. BEN
DOGRA, Steiner's partner at Sports Management Group, will
become SFX VP, while former SFX football unit head MIKE
GEORGE will "also be" a VP. Steiner's official title is
Senior VP (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 5/15 issue). Meanwhile,
in Boston, Ron Borges wrote to "pity old friend" George, who
"wined and dined" former FL State Univ. and Bengals first-
round draft pick PETER WARRICK and spent about $500,000 on
"preparing him for his draft workouts," before being
replaced by agent NORM NIXON because Nixon's wife DEBBIE
ALLEN -- a choreographer and actress -- "convinced [Warrick]
they could get him a future in entertainment." Borges wrote
that George is on the "hot seat" at SFX, even though he "did
nothing but work his tail off to sign Warrick and then care
for him." A "rival" agent, on George: "I feel for the guy.
I've been through it. The players can get away with this
because the contracts they sign with agents are all one way.
The NFLPA doesn't care if they sign with five different
guys. They go after the agents and couldn't care less what
the player does" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/14).
NFLPA AIMS TO INSTALL PLAYER SUPPORT SYSTEM: BLOOMBERG
NEWS' Curtis Eichelberger reported that the NFLPA "is
creating a certification program" for financial advisers "to
help its members avoid being swindled." The NFLPA is
"trying to protect its membership from unscrupulous agents
and bad financial advisers" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/12).
OH HENRY: In Chicago, Taylor Bell profiles Chicago-
based attorney HENRY THOMAS, who represents Heat G TIM
HARDAWAY and Mavericks F MICHAEL FINLEY and recently signed
former IA State Univ. F MARCUS FIZER, who could be the No. 1
pick in the NBA Draft in June. Thomas said, "I don't want
to be the next DAVID FALK. This is a personal service
business that is as personal as it can be. Kids expect and
deserve to interact with their adviser. I don't want to be
too big and not be personal." Thomas added, "I wondered if
I could continue in a smaller management company. Would I
get gobbled up by a big company? Would players be attracted
to me or bigger companies? But at this stage of my life, I
want to keep building up what I started, not work for
someone else" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/15).
