LeBron fires agent, friends get job

[sahyder1]

LeBron fires agent, friends get job

Associated Press

5/10/2005 1:53:26 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) - Cavaliers forward LeBron James has dropped agent Aaron Goodwin, who negotiated more than $135 million US in endorsement deals for the 20-year-old in the past two years.

James sent a standard letter to the NBA players' association on Monday saying he had ended his relationship with Goodwin, union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

James' surprising decision to drop his agent comes less than two years after Goodwin got him a $90 million landmark deal from Nike - the richest initial shoe contract offered to an athlete.

Goodwin also helped James secure multimillion deals with Upper Deck, Coca-Cola, Bubbilicous and Juice Batteries.

Goodwin did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

James is expected to turn over some of his management duties to close friend Maverick Carter, a former teammate at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School who currently is employed by Nike. Randy Mihms, who serves as James' personal assistant and road manager, and Rich Paul, another James confidant, also are expected to take on more active roles in his representation.

James and his three longtime friends call themselves the ''Four Horsemen.''

Goodwin's relationship with James dates to the all-star's senior year in high school. Goodwin attended many of James' high school games before adding the young star as one of his clients in 2003.

On the eve of the NBA lottery that year, Goodwin brokered the deal with Nike, which outbid Adidas and Reebok for James.

Goodwin also represents Portland guard Damon Stoudamire, Orlando rookie Dwight Howard, Boston guard Gary Payton and Knicks guard Jamal Crawford.

[Guest Pirate Chasin' Booty]

Whilst I don't watch basketball, I feel I can kinda comment on the situation because it relates to most high profile sports. Usually things happen in the reverse of this, someone hits the big time and feels its their responsibilty to help out their family and friends by appointing them as managers and agents, usually it falls flat on its face due to the said people having no clue, then they hire a professional.

I suppose he's already made this money so now he thinks it'll be easy to make more, which maybe true, but still, lets be realistic.

Reminds me of Nicolas Anelka having his older brother as his agent, what a clueless motherfucker he was.

[sahyder1]

Whilst I don't watch basketball, I feel I can kinda comment on the situation because it relates to most high profile sports. Usually things happen in the reverse of this, someone hits the big time and feels its their responsibilty to help out their family and friends by appointing them as managers and agents, usually it falls flat on its face due to the said people having no clue, then they hire a professional.

I suppose he's already made this money so now he thinks it'll be easy to make more, which maybe true, but still, lets be realistic.

Reminds me of Nicolas Anelka having his older brother as his agent, what a clueless motherfucker he was.

←

[Hajjhowe]

The Morale of the story is, leech off the rich.

[Typical Phenom]

Whilst I don't watch basketball, I feel I can kinda comment on the situation because it relates to most high profile sports. Usually things happen in the reverse of this, someone hits the big time and feels its their responsibilty to help out their family and friends by appointing them as managers and agents, usually it falls flat on its face due to the said people having no clue, then they hire a professional.

I suppose he's already made this money so now he thinks it'll be easy to make more, which maybe true, but still, lets be realistic.

Reminds me of Nicolas Anelka having his older brother as his agent, what a clueless motherfucker he was.

←

Let's not forget that if these friends are like him they aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the box. Honestly....does anyone really believe that the friend had a job at Nike straight out ouf H.S. He was there because LeBron got him there. These people have no qualifications.

←

[Guest Booker T & The MG's]

Reminds me of Nicolas Anelka having his older brother as his agent, what a clueless motherfucker he was.

←