Braves Threaten To Boycott WMG After Losing Out On Furcal
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Furcal's (l) Decision To Remain With Dodgers
Causing Strife Between Braves, WMG |
Braves President John Schuerholz said that the club will "no longer entertain signing players represented" by Wasserman Media Group (WMG) after free agent SS Rafael Furcal, who is repped by WMG, reached a deal to remain with the Dodgers after reportedly agreeing to a deal with the Braves Monday night, according to Jeff Schultz of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. Schuerholz : "The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company -- ever. I told [WMG agent] Arn Tellem that we can't trust them to be honest and forthright. I told him that in all my years, I've never seen any (agency) act in such a despicable manner. It was disgusting and unprofessional. We're a proud organization, and we won't allow ourselves to be treated that way. I advised Arn Tellem that whatever players he represents, just scratch us off the list." Tellem Thursday night in an e-mail statement said of Schuerholz' comments, "It does not change in any way the fact that we conducted ourselves with integrity and complied with all rules of [MLB] throughout this process." Schultz notes the Braves "believed they had reached an agreement with Furcal on a three-year, $30[M] contract with a fourth year vesting option," and at WMG agent Paul Kinzer's request, the team Tuesday morning faxed a term sheet for Furcal's signature. But Kinzer "took the offer back to Los Angeles and used it as leverage" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/19). Braves GM Frank Wren Thursday said of WMG, "We don't have any intention of doing business with them, and they've been notified of that. ... When you can't trust who you're doing business with, you can't do business with them. It's plain and simple" (SI.com, 12/18).
BROKEN PROMISE? YAHOO SPORTS' Tim Brown cited several MLB GMs and agents Thursday as saying that a term sheet "constitutes a handshake agreement, and they couldn't recall a situation when such an agreement was broken." But Tellem Thursday night "dared the jilted Atlanta Braves to boycott his players, a heading he said would defy baseball policies as well as national labor laws." Tellem said that he will "continue to engage the Braves regarding his clients, and he expected the Braves to be receptive" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/18).
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