User talk:FCSundae/Black Sports Agents Association

Seattle Times: Orlando Pace, founding

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall?: No

Relevant info:
 * First No. 1 NFL draft pick (Orlando Pace) to be represented by a black agency (unclear whether members of BSAA)
 * 80% NBA/70% NFL black players; 10% black agents (in 1997)
 * BSAA founded by Rainbow Coalition for Fairness in Athletics (director Charles Farrell)
 * Founded to "increase awareness among African American athletes about black agents" (indirect quote)
 * "There are plenty of good black agents out there, but there's a perception among black athletes that a white agent is going to get a better deal for the athlete than a black agent" (Farrell)
 * "We're trying to dispel the notion that black agents can't get the same financial deals as white agents" (Andre Farr = BSAA director)

ESPN: Challenges faced by AA agents

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall?: No

Relevant info:
 * Andre Farr chairman and CEO of BSAA (in 2008)
 * 874 BSAA members
 * "believes self-discrimination on the part of African-American athletes remains the largest obstacle to the success of black agents" (Farr, indirect)
 * "For years, not only in sports, but every area of professional management and business, [blacks] would not do business with African-Americans," he says. "They felt like they might be locked out of the process, or that they wouldn't be able to negotiate a fair and equitable deal. That attitude hasn't vanished. Yet, it's not true. It could not be further from the truth." (Farr)
 * A lot of info about other black agents; not clearly relevant. Common theme: Black athletes firing black agents (after seeming success) and hiring white agents

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: State of black agents, BSAA founding & goals

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall?: No

Relevant info (note: scanned, so can't copy/paste):


 * 17% NFL/NBA have black agents (in 1999), up from 3% a few years ago (according to BSAA)
 * Last year (1998) 46% of first round draft picks had AA agents (Farr, direct but haven't copied yet)
 * In 1998: BSAA represented 2/5/8/11/13/25 draft picks
 * BSAA founded after Jesse Jackson called a 1995 meeting of AA agents
 * BSAA goals:
 * Share resources/information
 * promote ethical practices
 * increasing visibility & credibility of AA agents
 * get numbers proportional to percent of AA players
 * Exchanges information on:
 * Baseball's antitrust exemption
 * franchise & player procurement
 * copyright & trademark rules
 * alcohol & tobacco advertising

Howard Law Journal: Black athletes rejecting black agents

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall: Yes, found through LexisNexis

Relevant info: (Note: long paper; skimmed for BSAA)
 * BSAA "aimed at raising the profile and stature of black sports agents"
 * Andre Farr BSAA chairman
 * Some BSAA quotes & figures that are from other sources
 * Concluded that black athletes have often rejected black agents based on skin color

LA Sentinel: BSAA Draft party, some background info

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall?: Yes, found through ProQuest

Relevant info:
 * Details about BSAA 2002 NFL draft party
 * BSAA founded by Farr in 1996
 * BSAA goals:
 * Promote ethical principles
 * Increase credibility & visibility of AA agents
 * Farr CEO
 * Most AA players don't have AA agents
 * Poorly written: "That said, CEO Andre' Farr and the BSAA have much work to be do, but with the foundation they currently have it will be a work in progress because there's no time for recess."

LA Daily News 1: Black athletes don't choose black clients; some Farr quotes

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall: Yes, found through LexisNexis

Relevant info:
 * In this case, he thought a (white) agent would just naturally be able to get a contract for him because the establishment was much more comfortable with dealing with those type of folks than African-Americans. That was the reason and only reason he was not coming with us. He sincerely believed all of that. (Raymond Anderson = BSAA member)
 * D'Marco Farr is Andre Farr's brother
 * More figures estimates: 70% NBA, 67% NFL, 11% agents (per leagues, 1998)
 * "For years, many African-American athletes believed it was a risk to have someone of their race handling their financial affairs." (author)
 * Farrell is "American University sports researcher"
 * (Blacks) go to a white doctor or a white attorney because we think they are better. It is a terrible stereotype to overcome and many black athletes have grown up with this stereotype. (Farrell)
 * "Kenny Anderson said the coaches and peers of many African-Americans are trying to push them toward black agents." (player)
 * '''"In his second year as chairman of the BSAA, Farr looks to the future. He sees a day when agents will be judged solely on expertise and competence, a day when black agents are more visible in the industry. And at that time, being a white or black sports agent won't matter.""
 * "Basically, I want to level the playing field, Farr said. If we do that, the entire industry will change.'' (Farr)

LA Daily News 2: White athletes & black agents

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall: Yes, found through LexisNexis

Relevant info:
 * "less than one percent of white pro athletes are represented by black agents" (per BSAA) (1998)
 * Andre Farr BSAA chairman, ex-UCLA football player
 * "The overwhelming majority of black agents stick with just the NFL and NBA - both predominantly black leagues - because the two leagues give them the safest route of success."
 * Quotes from Raymond Anderson & his white client Zandofsky
 * Not a ton here, really

Baltimore Business Journal: Founding

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall: Yes, found through ProQuest, but abstract only (full article doesn't seem to be available anywhere)

Relevant info:
 * BSAA first meeting in LA
 * Goal: figure out how to convince AA athletes to hire AA clients
 * Charles Farrell American University sports researcher
 * Important for black athletes to sign with black agents, because black agents more likely to suggest investing in AA community (Farrell)
 * "Farrell said black agents have access to a network of black real estate agents, financial planners, car dealers and other black professionals. The millions that some black athletes make would end up in African-American hands, said Farrell, the director of the Sports Perspectives International Institute."

WaPo 1: State of black agents at founding

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall: Yes, found through LexisNexis

Relevant info:
 * First conference in LA
 * Goals:
 * "set a new tone of camaraderie among black agents" (author)
 * "raising the profile and credibility of black agents"
 * "educating athletes and their families about the role of an agent"
 * "The group is the outgrowth of a meeting of black sports professionals convened in Washington two years ago by Jesse Jackson, the conference's keynote speaker, and Charles Farrell, who now heads an athletic research institute at American University."
 * More facts and figures (1997)
 * "It is difficult to track the number of sports agents -- black or white -- because becoming an agent requires no license or degree" (author)
 * 1997 NFL draft: 6/top 7 with black agents

WaPo 2: Why black agents have trouble; founding of BSAA

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall: Yes, found through LexisNexis

Relevant info:
 * Appears to be front-page story
 * first conference of BSAA
 * A lot of info here; not necessarily relevant to BSAA. Maybe this should be at African-American sports agents?
 * The '97 stats again
 * Farrell American University sports researcher
 * "It's about empowerment," (Farrell)
 * Farrell runs Sports Perspectives International Institute: dedicated to expanding opportunities for minorities in the sports industry.
 * "Black agents, he says, are more likely to steer black athletes to black Realtors, car dealers, charities, financial planners…more likely to put an athlete's millions in black hands, which benefits the larger African American community."
 * "There's a weakness in the African American community where we still think that white doctors, white attorneys, white agents are somehow better just because of the color of their skin," (Farrell)
 * Andre Farr chairman
 * "Unless we work together, we're going to perish." (Farr)

Vibe: Money & agents stats

 * Cite:


 * Behind paywall?: No

Relevant info:
 * 1056 members "from broadcasters to financial planners" (1998)
 * 461 agents (1998)
 * Represented more than a billion dollars in player salaries "last year" (unclear whether '97 or '98)

History

 * Founded by Jesse Jackson & others in 1996
 * Goals:
 * to address imbalance of AA representation vs. AA athletes
 * "the understanding, advancement and ethical practice of sports management and representation."
 * "further increase the presence and opportunities for African-Americans in all facets of sports"

Mission Statement
In full:

Our mission is to develop and strengthen the involvement, credibility, representation, image and cohesiveness of African-Americans in the Sports Industry. Specifically, our goals are five-fold:
 * To enhance the credibility and visibility of African-American player representatives
 * To create and promote a vehicle to articulate the goals and objectives of African-American player representatives
 * To educate and develop African-American player representatives, athletes and the community in general
 * To promote ethical principals and practices among its members
 * To advance the interests of professional athletes from a business, economic, political, and community standpoint

Team
Andre Farr: Chairman/CEO Danielle M. Frost: Director of Operations

Membership

 * Agent: For anyone who is a certified agent or is a professional player representative.
 * Associate: For any persons distinguished in the business, law, medicine, and related communities.
 * Fitness Team: For any coach, trainer or anyone interested in the promotion of health and fitness.
 * Student: For anyone who is actively pursuing a career in the Sports industry and is currently enrolled in an accredited institutions of higher learning (must provide proof of current registration/enrollment).