The Pros And Cons Of Hiring Jay-Z As A Player Agent
Already a media mogul, Jay-Z is now
building his own athlete representation business, Roc Nation Sports
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
While it may be premature to call Jay-Z’s new sports agency a game changer, his involvement in athlete representation presents both new opportunities and challenges for NBA players.
One area in which Jay-Z may have an immediate leg up on his competition is in terms of building relationships with league owners. As a former part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, Jay-Z is uniquely positioned to understand the bargaining tactics and business goals of team owners. In addition, any relationships that Jay-Z has already built with team owners might help him to facilitate future player negotiations.
At the same time, Jay-Z’s prominence as a recording artist might create marketing synergies for his clients. For example, Jay-Z’s ability to write memorable song lyrics that include athletes’ names (think of “Jackson, Tyson, Jordan, Game Six”) could allow him to build brand recognition for his clients through popular, mainstream music. If Jay-Z can find a way to incorporate his client names into his music, it could enhance these clients’ brand images and increase their endorsement opportunities.
Nevertheless, none of the potential advantages to Jay-Z as a player agent necessarily mean that all NBA players would — or even should — flock to Roc Nation Sports. In other respects, Jay-Z’s past experiences may place him at a disadvantage as compared to other agents. For example, the sports industry is unique based on its iconoclastic, collectively bargained rules about player movement, revenue sharing, and maximum player salaries. Jay-Z has limited, if any, experience negotiating contracts within the confines of these rules.
In addition, the National Basketball Players Association generally mandates that its player agents “have received a degree from an accredited four year college/university.” Yet, Jay-Z was approved as a player agent based on a special exception for those with notable past negotiating experience. Given Jay-Z’s lack of a traditional education, some NBA players might be reluctant to hire his services. This may be especially true for NBA players who have earned their college degrees.
Finally, Jay-Z’s wide range of other business endeavors could theoretically detract from the time he can devote to running a sports agency. With all that is already on Jay-Z’s plate, Roc Nation Sports will need to hire other agents to handle much of the day-to-day. Perhaps these agents could offset Jay-Z’s weaknesses by having more traditional academic credentials and greater experience working with collective bargaining agreements.
Interestingly, according to a post today on Darren Heitner’s Sports Agent Blog, Jay-Z is already in talks to bring onto his team a more traditional player agent, Rob London. Thus, it seems Jay-Z is already finding ways to build a supporting team that minimizes any shortcomings he may have.
Surrounding himself with more established player agents will certainly help Roc Nation Sports to gain credibility.
Perhaps it is just a matter of time before Kevin Durant’s name begins to appear in popular song lyrics.
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Marc Edelman is an incoming Associate Professor of Law at the Zicklin School of Business, and a Summer Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School. In addition, he serves as a legal consultant on sports law, antitrust, gaming law and intellectual property matters. --------------------- Forbes.com
Stanley Cup Game 6 Recap (Series: 4-2 Chicago WIN)
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks, 2013 Stanley Cup Champions!A 4-2 series win was completed last night at TD Garden and Jonathan Toews raised the historic trophy above his head for the second time in his career. Yet so easily we might have been playing again on Wednesday as the Boston held a 2-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. First Bryan Bickell and then Dave Bolland in the space of twenty seconds silenced a home crowd that had been providing the Bruins with deafening support all night long.
Losing it so late will be a bitter pill to swallow for Boston, especially as they dominated large parts of the contest. At first intermission a whopping 32 attempts ad resulted in 12 shots on net but only a lone Chris Kelly tally. One particular opportunity for David Krejci looked an absolutely gimme after a beautiful move and pass by Brad Marchand however an excellent defensive play by Duncan Keith prevented a tap-in. The second was even more cagey and punctuated only by a Hawks equaliser as a penalty to their own Andrew Shaw expired. Straight off a neutral zone draw Michal Roszival jabbed the puck off Zdeno Chara creating a 2 on 1 with Jonathan Toews in possession, he chose to shoot and beat Tuukka Rask through the 5-hole.
Milan Lucic looked to have done enough for the Bruins 12 minutes into the third but as the clock ticked down and Corey Crawford made it to the bench the Blackhawks tied it up. Toews was integral once more feeding a deft pass through the crease to Bickell for his ninth of the playoffs, he’s a guy who really stepped it up on this run. Already stunned, few would have predicted the killer blow coming so soon after. Michael Frolik deflected Johnny Oduya’s shot onto the post and Bolland was there to whack away at the rebound and spark wild celebrations on the Chicago bench, fortunately for them they were able to see it out.
Another piece of business before the Hawks could celebrate with the Cup was awarding the Conn Smythe Trophy to the MVP of the postseason. Although there was no outstanding candidate like Jonathan Quick last year it was still a little surprising to see Patrick Kane scoop the gong. If we’re being insistent on a player from the Champions I’d have gone for Crawford or Patrick Sharp. It’s an award for the entirety of the playoffs and Kane had just two goals in the first 15 games of their campaign. Still No. 88 had some superb moments including two overtime winners and an electrifying effort to lead his team to victory in the vital Game 5.
So I applaud Chicago again, a rare occasion when a President’s Trophy winning club has converted on their regular season successes and few would argue they haven’t been the most deserving side over the course of the entire shortened schedule. Right from picking apart the reigning LA Kings on January 19th and the remarkable 24 game point streak that followed, this group of players has displayed a complete brand of hockey. Plenty of changes were made after the 2010 triumph and there may have to be something similar this offseason to get in line with the shrunken cap but if the core remains intact they will have a chance at the repeat.
Stanley Cup Game 6 Recap (Series: 4-2 Chicago WIN)
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks, 2013 Stanley Cup Champions!A 4-2 series win was completed last night at TD Garden and Jonathan Toews raised the historic trophy above his head for the second time in his career. Yet so easily we might have been playing again on Wednesday as the Boston held a 2-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. First Bryan Bickell and then Dave Bolland in the space of twenty seconds silenced a home crowd that had been providing the Bruins with deafening support all night long.
Losing it so late will be a bitter pill to swallow for Boston, especially as they dominated large parts of the contest. At first intermission a whopping 32 attempts ad resulted in 12 shots on net but only a lone Chris Kelly tally. One particular opportunity for David Krejci looked an absolutely gimme after a beautiful move and pass by Brad Marchand however an excellent defensive play by Duncan Keith prevented a tap-in. The second was even more cagey and punctuated only by a Hawks equaliser as a penalty to their own Andrew Shaw expired. Straight off a neutral zone draw Michal Roszival jabbed the puck off Zdeno Chara creating a 2 on 1 with Jonathan Toews in possession, he chose to shoot and beat Tuukka Rask through the 5-hole.
Milan Lucic looked to have done enough for the Bruins 12 minutes into the third but as the clock ticked down and Corey Crawford made it to the bench the Blackhawks tied it up. Toews was integral once more feeding a deft pass through the crease to Bickell for his ninth of the playoffs, he’s a guy who really stepped it up on this run. Already stunned, few would have predicted the killer blow coming so soon after. Michael Frolik deflected Johnny Oduya’s shot onto the post and Bolland was there to whack away at the rebound and spark wild celebrations on the Chicago bench, fortunately for them they were able to see it out.
Another piece of business before the Hawks could celebrate with the Cup was awarding the Conn Smythe Trophy to the MVP of the postseason. Although there was no outstanding candidate like Jonathan Quick last year it was still a little surprising to see Patrick Kane scoop the gong. If we’re being insistent on a player from the Champions I’d have gone for Crawford or Patrick Sharp. It’s an award for the entirety of the playoffs and Kane had just two goals in the first 15 games of their campaign. Still No. 88 had some superb moments including two overtime winners and an electrifying effort to lead his team to victory in the vital Game 5.
So I applaud Chicago again, a rare occasion when a President’s Trophy winning club has converted on their regular season successes and few would argue they haven’t been the most deserving side over the course of the entire shortened schedule. Right from picking apart the reigning LA Kings on January 19th and the remarkable 24 game point streak that followed, this group of players has displayed a complete brand of hockey. Plenty of changes were made after the 2010 triumph and there may have to be something similar this offseason to get in line with the shrunken cap but if the core remains intact they will have a chance at the repeat.
Stanley Cup Game 6 Recap (Series: 4-2 Chicago WIN)
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks, 2013 Stanley Cup Champions!A 4-2 series win was completed last night at TD Garden and Jonathan Toews raised the historic trophy above his head for the second time in his career. Yet so easily we might have been playing again on Wednesday as the Boston held a 2-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation. First Bryan Bickell and then Dave Bolland in the space of twenty seconds silenced a home crowd that had been providing the Bruins with deafening support all night long.
Losing it so late will be a bitter pill to swallow for Boston, especially as they dominated large parts of the contest. At first intermission a whopping 32 attempts ad resulted in 12 shots on net but only a lone Chris Kelly tally. One particular opportunity for David Krejci looked an absolutely gimme after a beautiful move and pass by Brad Marchand however an excellent defensive play by Duncan Keith prevented a tap-in. The second was even more cagey and punctuated only by a Hawks equaliser as a penalty to their own Andrew Shaw expired. Straight off a neutral zone draw Michal Roszival jabbed the puck off Zdeno Chara creating a 2 on 1 with Jonathan Toews in possession, he chose to shoot and beat Tuukka Rask through the 5-hole.
Milan Lucic looked to have done enough for the Bruins 12 minutes into the third but as the clock ticked down and Corey Crawford made it to the bench the Blackhawks tied it up. Toews was integral once more feeding a deft pass through the crease to Bickell for his ninth of the playoffs, he’s a guy who really stepped it up on this run. Already stunned, few would have predicted the killer blow coming so soon after. Michael Frolik deflected Johnny Oduya’s shot onto the post and Bolland was there to whack away at the rebound and spark wild celebrations on the Chicago bench, fortunately for them they were able to see it out.
Another piece of business before the Hawks could celebrate with the Cup was awarding the Conn Smythe Trophy to the MVP of the postseason. Although there was no outstanding candidate like Jonathan Quick last year it was still a little surprising to see Patrick Kane scoop the gong. If we’re being insistent on a player from the Champions I’d have gone for Crawford or Patrick Sharp. It’s an award for the entirety of the playoffs and Kane had just two goals in the first 15 games of their campaign. Still No. 88 had some superb moments including two overtime winners and an electrifying effort to lead his team to victory in the vital Game 5.
So I applaud Chicago again, a rare occasion when a President’s Trophy winning club has converted on their regular season successes and few would argue they haven’t been the most deserving side over the course of the entire shortened schedule. Right from picking apart the reigning LA Kings on January 19th and the remarkable 24 game point streak that followed, this group of players has displayed a complete brand of hockey. Plenty of changes were made after the 2010 triumph and there may have to be something similar this offseason to get in line with the shrunken cap but if the core remains intact they will have a chance at the repeat.
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