Editor’s note: This story is revised from the print edition.
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tealth SME is representing two rookie NBA players with veteran agent Aaron Goodwin after holding talks to acquire his agency, Goodwin Sports Management.
The state of the discussions between Stealth SME and Seattle-based Goodwin Sports is not known. Goodwin did not return phone calls. Stealth executives acknowledged there had been talks but declined to comment on the status.
But two Stealth SME clients, Golden State Warriors rookie forward Kevon Looney, the No. 30 overall pick of this year’s draft, and Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell, a second-round pick, were both listed as clients on Goodwin Sports’ website last week.
Todd Ramasar, a Stealth NBA agent, would only confirm that Looney and Powell are his clients and that he is representing them in partnership with Goodwin.
Rob Ponger, Stealth SME president, said, “As to Aaron Goodwin and other acquisitions, I really can’t comment on acquisitions other than to say we have spoken with various parties. The state of the business is, we are exploring all options and we are committed to growing this business.”
Ponger added that there may be some restructuring of the business but would not elaborate.
Stealth SME (SME stands for Sports Media and Entertainment) was launched in March 2014 through the rollup acquisition of five sports talent representation firms and brand activation company Cenergy.
Ponger said last week that all the agents who were part of Stealth from its inception, with the exception of NBA agent Dwon Clifton, are still employees of the company. Clifton, whose departure was not announced, did not return a phone call.
> HOWARD JOINS VANGUARD: Veteran NFL agent Sean Howard has joined Vanguard Sports Group, a firm founded last year by another veteran NFL agent, Joby Branion.
Howard, who was first certified by the NFL Players Association in 2005, will join as director of football operations. His clients — Detroit Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden, free agent running back Shonn Greene and Houston Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus — have joined him at Vanguard.
Branion, whose clients include Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, founded the agency after working for Athletes First, an agency he helped found, for 13 years.
Howard previously worked at Prime Athletes, Octagon and the Green Bay Packers.
“For over 15 years I have known Joby, both professionally and personally, and I can say that I am very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the team here at Vanguard Sports Group,” Howard said in an email. “Joby and I have discussed working together in the past, and given the amazing depth of talent he has assembled, and the passionate commitment to our respective roles and vision of ‘empowering clients,’ it was an easy decision for me to jump on board.”
> BALDWIN STARTS PRACTICE: Matt Baldwin, who has represented basketball and football coaches and executives in college and in the pros, has joined law firm Silverman Thompson Slutkin White as chair of the sports and entertainment law group.
Baldwin most recently worked for coaches and executives agent Bob LaMonte but started his career working in the coaching and executive representation division at IMG.
Baldwin just started in the job at Baltimore-based STSW and had not signed any clients as of last week. The firm had, in the past, represented Cal Ripken Jr. for off-the-field work. The firm now is representing some former NHL players in concussion litigation against the NHL as well as some former NFL players who have filed suit against the league over the use of painkillers.
> KRAMER JOINS CAA: Matt Kramer, who represented a number of high-profile sportswriters and media personalities at CSE, has joined CAA, working in the television division.
Kramer began work in CAA’s television division last week. The news that he was joining CAA was first reported by Sports Illustrated media writer Richard Deitsch, who noted that he represents Yahoo Sports writer Adrian Wojnarowski. It was not clear whether Wojnarowski or any of the other clients Kramer represented at CSE will join CAA. Wojnarowski declined comment.
“CSE wishes Matt Kramer all the best in this new chapter in his career,” a CSE spokesperson said.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
