LMM's Tim Norling Denies Giving Oregon Lineman Cash, Meal
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
NFL player representation firm LMM Management employee Tim Norling has strongly denied an allegation that he paid for a meal and gave $100 in cash to Univ. of Oregon OT Fenuki Tupou, causing him to serve a one-game suspension for violating NCAA rules. Tupou sat out of Oregon's season-opener Saturday against the Univ. of Washington after he told Oregon Athletic Department officials that Norling paid for a $10 meal and handed him five $20 bills during a parting handshake. Student athletes may meet with agents but can not accept anything of value from them, under NCAA rules. Norling in a statement said, "This past weekend, I was accused of buying a $10 meal for a University of Oregon football player and handing him five $20 bills at the conclusion of the meal. I strongly deny that this occurred and feel the need to respond because of the embarrassment that this accusation has caused me and my employer." Norling said he did meet with Tupou, but the player's account of what happened was untrue. "I did not give him any money," Norling said.
LMM SURPRISED BY ALLEGATIONS: LMM Management, one of the top NFL player rep practices in the country owned by agents Ethan Lock, Eric Metz and Lance Malinovic, also issued a statement that they were "surprised and appalled" by the allegation and were conducting an investigation of their own of the facts of the matter. LMM said in a statement: "We have been in the representation business for 25 years. We have built our company and pride ourselves on doing things ethically. Hundreds of talented, intelligent players have hired us for our integrity and competence. We do not engage in, nor do we condone any violation of NCAA rules."
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