This is one of
the craziest times of the year for sports agents. Christmas was not a vacation
nor was there a new year. To a college player’s agent, this time period is
absorbed by putting together highlight reels and making sure that teams know
their player is the best.
Kelli Masters, a sports agent from Oklahoma details her preparation in an article. She
is self-made agent starting from scratch and making her way up in the business.
She started with players who were under the radar and soon was able to acquire
a few high profile college athletes who were drafted in the first round. Her
story is one of the more interesting ones out there. Not only did she change
careers and delve into a world she hardly knew, she did it as a woman. In the
sports agency world, women are still trying to make their mark. Kelli Masters is
on the forefront and one of my agent idols.
Let us go back to
agents having to prep their clients this time of year. This past week, a top
prospect player from Norte Dame named Manti Te'o was given a lot of scrutiny by
the media. It would seem he made up a fake girlfriend. Spoke about how her
fight and eventual death with cancer inspired him. It would seem none of it was
true.
As an agent, I
would assume you have to be concerned with how teams will perceive this
behavior. Te'o claims that a woman entered his life and played a cruel long
trick on his entire family including faking her own death. I couldn't believe
an agent would allow a player to go to such extreme possibilities to protect
their 'product.'
So I went to
my current idol on twitter. I tweeted Kelli Masters! I asked her how an agent
handles such a situation. She responded.
@Mizrac Truth
always prevails. He needs to state the real facts, then focus on moving
forward.
Smooth
words from an agent, I was not sure if she was criticizing Te’o, his agent, or
just being honest. I guess you read what you want to read. Is Te'o telling the
truth? Was he really duped by some charlatan? What was her motive to do such a
thing? These are questions teams will be asking him.
Here
is another interesting story about sports agents I recently read, that could
help those aspiring to be the very best.
While this
time of year can be considered Christmas for agents landing big name players,
it does not come without its costs. Former agent Josh Luchs sat down and told his tale of
hardships breaking into the business and how sometimes you had to
walk a fine line.
This is not an
easy business to get into. Some people like to do it, because they enjoy
watching the sports and the techniques involved. Some do it so they can be
closer to the game they love. No one goes into this for the money. While the
money maybe good, it is not just a career you are choosing, it’s a life style.
