One of Roc Nation Sports Owner Jay Z's "greatest strengths as an agent is his willingness to publicly subjugate his celebrity to avoid overshadowing his clients," according to a profile by Joe Lemire in RHAPSODY MAGAZINE. At Mariners 2B Robinson Cano's introductory press conference in December, Jay Z refused to be interviewed, telling the media, "Today isn't about me. It's about him." But another "lure of Jay Z as an agent" is that he is a "celebrity himself, a peer to his clients rather than merely a hired associate." He also "understands the arduousness of traveling from city to city for months on end to perform, as well as the single-mindedness necessary to succeed at one's craft under unceasing public scrutiny." His clients also "seem to consider him even more than a peer," as it has become "a ritual of sorts for players to announce their partnership ... by posing for a photo with Jay Z and posting it to Instagram." But other sports agents are "less than glowing about their new rival," including MLB agent Scott Boras, who has been "quick to discount Jay Z as a formidable foe." Kirmser Ponturo Group Partner Tony Ponturo, who "speaks well of Jay Z's business acumen, emphasizes the role of CAA in Roc Nation Sports." He said, "From my standpoint, he's well-tucked into the CAA umbrella. I don't mean this critically, but he's not doing this on his own. He's a brand inside the CAA machine." Lemire notes two of Roc Nation Sports' nine clients "were signed as amateurs." This, along with the "apparent attempt and failure" of Roc Nation to sign Texans DE Jadeveon Clowney and Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater, would "seem to suggest that Jay Z's appeal lies mainly with established players hoping his clout with a multitude of brands offers a better chance for post-playing career endorsements" (RHAPSODY MAGAZINE, 7/'14 issue).
