Tennis agent Jeff Schwartz's abrupt departure from IMG has turned ugly.
Schwartz left IMG without any notice two weeks ago to start his own law firm. Shortly after, tennis star Pete Sampras, whose account was handled by Schwartz, fired IMG.
Last Monday, IMG issued a statement announcing it was pursuing legal action against Schwartz and charged him with contriving a "scheme intended to defraud and deceive IMG." IMG also accused Schwartz of copying internal IMG documents before he left the company "in furtherance of his scheme to defraud IMG and to misappropriate its trade secrets and proprietary information."
In its statement, IMG also charged Schwartz with violating his two-year noncompete agreement by attempting to take clients, including Sampras and Martina Hingis, with him.
IMG's statement was followed later on Monday by separate statements from Schwartz and Sampras. Schwartz denied IMG's claims and said he has hired the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom to take on IMG. Sampras said he plans to keep Schwartz as his "legal counsel."
National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Billy Hunter and WNBA President Val Ackerman met for another collective-bargaining session last Monday. Also at the meeting were players Rebecca Lobo, Tamecka Dixon and Coquese Washington.
Specific proposals weren't exchanged, but the players outlined some of their desires, which include year-round health care, higher salaries (last year's average was $26,500) and guaranteed contracts.
The players also want assurances they won't lose their jobs to players from the recently folded ABL. Ways to protect the WNBA players might include limiting roster spots for ABL players, increasing roster sizes and promising leaguewide expansion.
The two sides are tentatively scheduled to meet this week.
Octagon, the parent company of Advantage International, bought golf representation firm Pros Inc., whose clients include Davis Love III, Justin Leonard, Tom Kite and Lanny Wadkins. Under the deal, Pros, which had been owned by founders Marvin "Vinny" Giles III and C. Vernon Spratley III, will essentially become Advantage's golf division.
Despite the recent slump in the signature shoe market, a company called ZI Sport is taking a chance on New Jersey Nets forward Kendall Gill. ZI Sport is offering a new shoe called the KG1, named after and endorsed by Gill, which will be available only through the company's catalog.
Rafer Alston, the Milwaukee Bucks' second-round pick in last year's draft, has signed with Keith Kreiter of Edge Sports International. He had been represented by Gerald Duncan.
Alston is considered one of the best players to come out of New York City in recent years, but he has had legal troubles. He plays for the CBA's Idaho Stampede and is expected to be in the Bucks' camp to start the next NBA season.
