SMAC Entertainment, the management company co-owned by
Michael Strahan, has signed broadcasters
Erin Andrews and
Curt Menefee as clients.
Partner Constance Schwartz will represent both Andrews and Menefee and work with them to cross over from the sports world into entertainment projects.
Schwartz will act as a manager for Andrews and Menefee. Neither formerly had a manager, but both are represented by agents at WME-IMG.
In the entertainment industry, actors and other talent commonly have a manager and an agent. In the sports world, athletes increasingly are hiring managers in addition to agents. While agents typically concentrate on specific deals, managers focus on a career path for the talent they represent.
SMAC, which is co-owned by Strahan and Schwartz, counts Deion Sanders and Tony Gonzalez as sports clients who have crossed over into entertainment.
Menefee and Andrews are both NFL broadcasters for Fox Sports, where Strahan has long been a mainstay of the network’s NFL coverage.
“Curt came to me for some advice, and I know him, through Michael, obviously,” Schwartz said last week. “He said, ‘I want to learn more about crossing over. I love what I am doing at Fox, but I want to branch out and do more stuff both on camera and off, as a producer. And, do more outside the sports world.”
Menefee has a love of travel, and SMAC and WME have negotiated a nonsports show involving that for him. “Curt is one of the few people I know who has been to every continent in the world,” Schwartz said. She said the show will be announced soon but could not provide further details.
As for Andrews, SMAC will work with WME-IMG on securing endorsements for her, as well as finding work involving nonscripted entertainment projects. Andrews has endorsement deals with TruBiotics and Florida Orange Juice.
Strahan is the co-host of the syndicated morning show “Live! With Kelly and Michael,” and Andrews has filled in recently for Kelly Ripa.
“I met her through Michael,” Schwartz said, “and she said, ‘I want to be the female Michael. I want to cross over.’”
> MAXX SIGNS THREE: Maxx Sports & Entertainment has signed Olympic freeskier Nick Goepper, former MLB player Raúl Ibañez and former NFL cornerback Cortland Finnegan as clients for broadcasting representation.
Maxx’s president, Mark Lepselter, and vice president Michael Klein will represent the three. Last week they negotiated a deal for Ibañez to be a baseball analyst at Fox.
Maxx is talking to networks about a broadcasting role for Finnegan, who announced his retirement last month after nine seasons in the NFL.
Goepper, 21, is still competing and is represented by Olympic agent Sheryl Shade for skiing and endorsements. Maxx will look for work for Goepper as a correspondent on Olympic sports as well as nonsports coverage as he continues to pursue his skiing career. He won a bronze medal last year at the Sochi Olympic Games.
> CAA SIGNS LEONARD: CAA Sports has signed Portland Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard. Aaron Mintz will lead his representation. He was represented by Excel Sports Management.
> SPORTSTARS SIGNS SCHOFIELD: Sportstars has signed Denver Broncos offensive lineman Michael Schofield. James Ivler and Brian Mackler will represent him.
Schofield was represented by Vinnie Porter, suspended from representing players by the NFL Players Association in February after the union learned Porter had been charged with wire fraud by federal law enforcement authorities.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
