The new agent for very marketable LPGA player and new IMG client Natalie Gulbis has a background in both broadcasting and entertainment, but he is a relative newcomer to the agent business.
John Steele worked as a television producer for CBS News, NBC News and NBC Sports and had his own television production company before he joined IMG about a year ago, originally to develop television and other entertainment projects.
“I started taking on what we call managing nontraditional talent within IMG,” Steele said. “It’s great fun, the best job I ever had.”
In addition to Gulbis, Steele also will head up representation for dog trainer Cesar Millan, star of the “Dog Whisperer” television program, Padma Lakshmi, host of “Top Chef” on Bravo, tennis coach Nick Bollettieri and mountain climber Annabelle Bond. Steele is also representing tennis great Monica Seles in nontennis work.
Gulbis’ move from Octagon to IMG had been rumored for months but was officially announced by IMG in late January.
“I am her point person at IMG,” Steele said. “Obviously, IMG Golf is the best [agency] of its kind in the world with Mark Steinberg [head of IMG Golf and Tiger Woods’ agent] and everybody there.”
Natalie Gulbis is moving to IMG, where she’ll work
with TV veteran John Steele.
“I was brought on … to develop all the other platforms for Natalie, from television to publishing to fashion to endorsements,” he said.
Steele said deals he is working on for his current clients include television and a possible book deal for Gulbis; licensing deals for Lakshmi and Millan; and book deals for Millan and Bollettieri. Additionally, IMG has recently negotiated a deal for Seles to appear on the CBS “Early Show” as a lifestyle and health correspondent, Steele said.
PRIORITY SIGNS PROSPECTS: Priority Sports & Entertainment signed Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall, a projected first-round pick, for representation in the draft.
Priority also signed Arizona State center Mike Pollak and Georgia Tech defensive end Darrell Robertson.
Priority agents Mike McCartney and Rick Smith will represent Mendenhall, and agent Kenny Zuckerman will represent Pollak and Robertson.
PARKER ADDS ELLIS: Veteran agent Eugene Parker has signed USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, expected to go early in the first round.
PROACTIVE RULES MLS DRAFT: It’s unusual for a single sports agency to represent more than one of the top five draft picks in any professional sports league draft. But, in what may be a first not only for soccer but for any professional U.S. sports league, Proactive Sports Management USA represented each of the first five players selected in the MLS draft last month.
Notable NFL prospect signings
Priority Sports & Entertainment
Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
Mike Pollak, Arizona State
Darrell Robertson, Georgia Tech
Maximum Sports Management
(Eugene Parker)
Sedrick Ellis, USC
Athletes First
Adrian Arrington, Michigan
John David Booty, USC
John Carlson, Notre Dame
Chad Henne, Michigan
Sam Keller, Nebraska
Trevor Laws, Notre Dame
Drew Radovich, USC
Keith Rivers, USC
John Sullivan, Notre Dame
DeJuan Tribble, Boston College
Pro Tect Management
(Gary Wichard)
Calais Campbell, Miami
Rashard Mendenhall signed with
Priority Sports & Entertainment.
Proactive represented No. 1 pick Chance Myers, selected by the Kansas City Wizards; No. 2 pick Brek Shea, chosen by FC Dallas; No. 3 pick Tony Beltran, picked by Real Salt Lake; No. 4 pick Sean Franklin, chosen by the Los Angeles Galaxy; and No. 5 pick Ciaran O’Brien, chosen by the Colorado Rapids.
Proactive USA is the sister company of Manchester, England–based Proactive Sports Management UK, which represents many top European and English Premier League players, including Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney and Fulham forward Clint Dempsey. Both the U.S. and British soccer representation firms are owned by the Formation Group, which is traded on the London Stock Exchange.
“With this draft, Proactive shows its strength as a group representing players in MLS as well as Europe,” said Mike Gartlan, director of North America representation. “We are constantly looking to represent the top players in the U.S. and abroad.”
Gartlan represents Myers, Franklin and O’Brien. Proactive agent Craig Sharon represents Shea and Beltran. Proactive acquired Sharon’s MLS player representation practice last year.
RIVERS TO ATHLETES FIRST: Athletes First has signed USC linebacker Keith Rivers, a projected first-rounder.
Newport Beach, Calif.-based Athletes First also signed several quarterbacks, including Michigan’s Chad Henne, USC’s John David Booty and Nebraska’s Sam Keller. The firm had already signed Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm.
Athletes First signed three Notre Dame players — tight end John Carlson, center John Sullivan and defensive tackle Trevor Laws — plus USC guard Drew Radovich, Boston College cornerback DeJuan Tribble and Michigan wide receiver Adrian Arrington.
Athletes First employs four certified agents, Joby Branion, Mark Humenik, Andrew Kessler and Justin Schulman. Athletes First CEO David Dunn is serving an 18-month suspension from representing NFL players in contract negotiations, but that suspension ends in June.
WICHARD SIGNS CAMPBELL: NFL agent Gary Wichard has signed University of Miami defensive end Calais Campbell. Web site NFLDraftBlitz.com ranks Campbell at No. 26.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
