CSE is now representing former baseball player
Mark DeRosa in his second career as a broadcaster, and has signed a few more sports personalities, including TheBigLead.com founder
Jason McIntyre.
Additionally, CSE has signed CNN International Sports “World Sport” anchor Don Riddell and ESPN “Around the Horn” analyst Frank Isola for representation. McIntyre, Riddell and Isola were previously without representation. Mark Carmony, CSE senior vice president of client representation; Matt Kramer, vice president of broadcasters; and agent Kim Garner will represent the clients.
DeRosa, a veteran MLB infielder who announced his retirement from the playing field last fall after 16 major league seasons, previously was represented at CSE by player agent Keith Grunewald for on-the-field work. DeRosa is now a studio analyst with MLB Network.
When DeRosa was preparing to retire, CSE helped him secure postseason appearances on Turner Sports and MLB Network last fall. That got him exposure not only in front of networks but also in front of other broadcast agents at rival agencies, and CSE had to compete to sign him for off-the-field work, Carmony and Kramer said last week.
“He was a hot commodity,” Carmony said.
Kramer noted that DeRosa played for eight teams, which gives him a perspective most analysts don’t have. CSE negotiated DeRosa’s MLB Network deal after signing him.
CSE also negotiated McIntyre’s new deal at TheBigLead.com with USA Today Sports and is engaging with potential television and radio partners about deals with him.
Atlanta-based CSE represents more than 200 clients, including broadcasters and sports personalities, coaches and MLB players.
> MORE NFL PROSPECT AGENT SWITCHES: Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas signed with Athletes First for playing contract and marketing work, one of a handful of players making late agent switches before last week’s NFL draft.
Athletes First agents Brian Murphy and David Dunn will represent Thomas. He was represented by James Bryant of The Cochran Firm. Athletes First is the third agency to represent Thomas; his first was Relativity Sports.
> ATLAS RE-SIGNS WILDER: Florida State running back James Wilder has re-signed with his original agency, Atlas Strategies, and now is co-represented by Mark Magazu of Atlas Strategies and Vinnie Porter of Elevate Sports Management. Wilder left Atlas Strategies to sign with Elevate several weeks ago, but later decided to be represented by both agencies, Magazu said.
> ELEVATE FOOTBALL SIGNS POWELL: Elevate Football, a firm separate from Elevate Sports Management, has signed Florida outside linebacker Ronald Powell. Powell was represented by Atlas Strategies.
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Holly Sonders moves to Headline Media Management.
Photo by: GORT PRODUCTIONS
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> HEADLINE SIGNS SONDERS: Headline Media Management, a New York firm that specializes in representing broadcasters, has signed Golf Channel host
Holly Sonders for representation in all areas.
At Headline, she will be represented by CEO Lou Oppenheim and vice president Mark Zimmerman. She was represented by CSE.
“Holly is an exceptional talent and we’re excited to help steer her during the next phase of her career,” Zimmerman said.
CSE’s Carmony said, “CSE is proud of the work it did for Holly, including moving her from local TV in Arkansas to the Golf Channel, and creating corporate relationships for her with the likes of Aflac, Cobra, EMoney and Humana, just to name a few.”
> TANDEM SIGNS NBA PROSPECTS: Tandem Sports & Entertainment, founded last year by veteran NBA agent Jim Tanner, has signed University of Tennessee guard Jordan McRae and University of New Mexico center Alex Kirk for representation.
Tanner and agents Derrick Powell and Graham Boone will represent the players.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
