In a three-part series, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Andrew
Gottesman analyzed the "problematic relationship between
professional sports agents and college athletes." In Part I,
Gottesman notes the harassment experienced by Illinois LB Simeon
Rice, who reports having agents offer him everything from $100 in
a sack to a $46,000 truck. Illinois coach Lou Tepper adds that
agents do not limit their recruiting to players like Rice,
projected as a high NFL draft pick. Tepper said he caught an
agent talking to a third-string senior last year (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 8/27). In Part II, Gottesman reports on the deluge of
agents competing for a limited number of pro athletes. The high
number of agents -- estimated by some at 3,000 -- competing with
a limited number of players is "the crux of a major problem in
college sports." Gottesman notes that most agents are not making
huge amounts of money, as ten -- Tom Condon, Brad Blank, Ralph
Cindrich, Frank Bauer, Jim Steiner, Marvin Demoff, Drew
Rosenhaus, Tony Agnone, Jordon Woy and Leigh Steinberg --
represent just under 25% of NFL players (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/28).
The final part examined the difficulty of enforcing NCAA statutes
and local laws prohibiting agents from giving college players
money or goods. Although 24 states have laws on the books
regulating agents activities, only one agent has ever been
imprisoned. Gottesman notes that many universities are setting
up advisory panels to help athletes stay within the rules
(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/29).
