DLE Media (Doug Eldridge)

Katie Compton dominates in Hoogerheide World Cup

2011-01-23T10:35:00.002-05:00

Katie Compton dominates in Hoogerheide World Cup

[Click on the link above for a Velonation.com article on the race]

Great article chronicling DLE client, Katie Compton's hard-fought win, in what was to be her final tune-up race before the Cyclo-Cross World Championships next weekend in St. Wendel, Germany. In a muddy, cold, course in Hoogerheide, Compton defeated one of the strongest fields of the year and gave what many consider to be a well-placed forecast of the podium positions in Germany, in seven short days.

Great job, Katie. The entire DLE family is proud of you.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

Getting a Pass

2011-01-17T05:55:00.007-05:00

Last night, while doing client emails and watching Patriot receivers drop pass after pass in their disappointing loss to the Jets, I couldn't help but think about a pass I got one year ago today.

On Sunday, January 17, 2010, I was blind-sided by a distracted driver in an SUV, doing approximately 50mph. The driver, who was from Virginia Beach, was not familiar with the DC area and consequently, was looking down in the ashtray to try and recalabrate his GPS. As he stared at the buttons on the tiny display, he didn't realize that he was now driving in excess of 50mph, in an area that is 35, and was gaining speed on what is a sweeping downhill section of road. Distracted by the unresponsive GPS, he had now traveled several football fields in distance without looking up at the road ahead of him, or the long standing red light that he was rapidly approaching.

I did not realize that all of this was happening to my immediate nine o'clock position. It was a humid, ugly, January morning--typical of the DC winter, for those of you in the area--and I had just stopped to pick up a cup of coffee, on my way in to the DLE office to try and get some work done for the coming week. I had just come off a string of stop and go red light intersections and as I approached this particular intersection, I was traveling around 25mph, given the truncated nature of the side street I was on, as I approached one more light before crossing the Key Bridge into Washington, DC.

As I casually pulled up to what had been a long green light in front of me, I noticed a blur in my peripheral vision. It was a Ford SUV, that impacted my slow moving vehicle, at 50+mph. The sound of impact, broken glass, burning rubber and twisting metal filled the air, my nose and my ears. He miraculously missed my legs by a few feet, instead driving the rear section of my vehicle in some 19" before locking our respective frames, pushing me thru the intersection, up onto the sidewalk, and into a large pole holding the stop light. As morning runners dove out of the way of the interlocked vehicles hurling towards them, I couldn't help but think of the lives that were about to be lost. Mine? Theirs? The other driver?

I finally came to a stop, pinned between the other vehicle, and the hanging pole. I sat there. Motionless. In those awkward moments immediately after an accident, your body does a million calculations in a mere second. It assesses any potential damage--broken bones, open gashes, torn cartilage--and reports back to the brain. As I pushed down the deployed airbag, and scratched my head, I felt shards of glass and blood filling my scalp. I pryed open my bent and contorted door and stumbled across to the other vehicle. At the wheel sat a young boy with a befuddled look on his face. More importantly, in the back seat were two little boys, perhaps no older than seven or eight, each with bloody noses and faces from the impact.

Within minutes, the whining, eery sound of ambulances grew closer on the horizon and seemingly seconds thereafter, we were surrounded by EMTs, firefighters, and police.

When I later went to the towing yard to clean out my belongings from what my insurance company would declare a 'total loss vehicle' I was humbled at the way in which my vehicle had literally been bent around me. The front left quarter panel, the rear passenger door and the back left quarter panel were all driven in and destroyed. The only section that was not mangled upon impact was the 28 inches of driver door along my legs and side. The vehicle literally bent around me.

In the 364 days leading up to today, there aren't many mornings or evenings that I do not pass that particular intersection. Each time, I subconsciously catch myself checking the intersection for cars, even as I drive underneath a green light, with full right of way.

Each time, I am reminded of the pass I was given. The opportunity I was given. The extension I was given. I do not believe in luck, I believe in fate. One year ago today, on a morning, much like this, almost down to the minute, I was given a second chance.

In many ways, I have two birthdays: December 3rd, the day I was born, and January 17th, the day I was spared.

Carpe Diem.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

A New Year, A New Path, A Continued Commitment

2011-01-03T18:41:00.004-05:00

The ball has dropped, the confetti has been swept, and as of this very moment the first Monday back at the office in the new year, has officially come to a close for most of you. As I sit here at my desk at the DLE office in Washington, D.C., I am overwhelmed with the sense of new opportunities and potential that is waiting to be seized in the new year.

As the famous line in Dead Poets Society reads, "carpe diem" or seize the day, I have the unshakable feeling that 2011 is going to be a year of seized opportunity and realized potential--both for our clients and for the agency itself.

One of the many resolutions, or commitments, that I made with the turning of the new year, was to be more regular (read: consistent) with my Blog and Vlog postings. People often mention reading our Agency blog--which is going to be reformulated, refined, and ultimately, relaunched in the first quarter of this year to better outline the attributes of the Media Division of the DLE Agency--so I realize that I need to be better about personally contributing to it on a near-daily basis in the new year.

With that, I wish all of you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year...or perhaps, instead of wishing these things upon you, I should simply encourage you to carpe diem--or seize the day--so that the wealth of achievement and accomplishments you derive in the new year, are not a factor of luck or well wishes, but rather a direct result of each of us, standing tall and seizing our potential...or seizing the day.

carpe diem.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

Post-Script

2010-12-15T11:16:00.005-05:00

In my last entry, I took a moment to give a brief historical backdrop on the sport of cyclo-cross. Within that entry, I explained the myth behind it's origin, while forecasting the potential for its continued growth, from a participatory and commercial standpoint. The latter of which, to my great satisfaction, has been met by great enthusiasm amongst a group of cycling readers, I incorrectly presumed would be narrowly-minded cycling traditionalists. That is to say, they would shutter at the tip of my cap towards increased commercial infusion in a sport still fancied for it's selection of wool versus lyra, single gears versus massive cog sets, and beer-stained sidelines with arms-reach fans versus mega-stadiums with 8-figure naming rights and massive satellite distribution deals. While the latter might seem a bit exaggerated, what remains constant is the need for continued economic infusion into this and all sports.

Money is the life-blood to which cycling's heart must beat. The same can be said for any of one America's sporting endeavors outside the mainstream muscle of the big four, namely the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. The oligopoly of large-scale American teams is predicated upon it's billion dollar ownership group and the deliberate corporate sponsorship they proactively seek to keep the proverbial "machine rolling down the tracks." My point is that for cycling, running, swimming, triathlon, gymnastics or any of the 'fringe sports' to deny the very lifeblood necessary for self-sustainment--outside capital--is to effectively pull the plug on your own life expectancy. As such, I applaud those who sent kind emails regarding the irrefutable need for outside investment in the sport of cycling.

Shifting gears...I am proud to say that DLE client, Katie Compton, won an unprecedented seventh consecutive U.S. National Cyclo-Cross Championship last weekend in a very rainy, snowy, muddy, and windy course in Bend, Oregon. With a performance that was nothing short of utter domination, Katie road her competition off her wheel in the second of five laps on the challenging course. While her lead fluxuated between 20 and 40 seconds, what was never in doubt was that she would effectively write her own entry into the record books, becoming the most decorated cyclo-cross rider--male or female--in U.S. history. Her accomplishment was nothing short of extraordinary, and as I stood there with Katie and her husband, Mark, after Katie was rewarded yet another stars & stripes jersey as American champion, I couldn't help but think about the bright commercial future that stands before Katie. With several of her primary sponsorships set to expire in 2011, I am encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive commercial response I have received as her agent, from prospective sponsoring entities--both inside and outside of mainstream cycling.

While mud, wind and snow are certainly some of the cornerstones of cyclo-cross racing, one thing's for sure as it relates to Katie Compton: there are greener pastures ahead.

Congratulations on your 7th National title, Katie. The DLE family of athletes and personalities are all very proud of you.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

Cyclo-Cross: mud, snow, bikes and beers

2010-12-12T09:22:00.014-05:00

In the cycling world, this time of year is marked by three key things:

1) the first team camps held for Pro Tour road teams as a means of team-building, bike fitting, and a little easy base-building endurance rides, or

2) those who aren't in camp are enjoying the last few days of 'holiday' (meaning vacation time off the bike, not events marked on the calendar), or

3) the storming conclusion of the cyclo-cross season.

I'd like to address the third of those three events, as I realize many people outside of the immediate cycling universe are unaware of cyclo-cross (or 'Cross as it's called) and assume that it must be some tangential fringe sport relative to the greater road racing industry, or that it is perhaps one of the few lingering "Extreme sport" derivatives from the late 90s when yellow Xterra's, hair gel, and anything off-road, off-base, or off the beaten path, seemed cool.

To the contrary, 'Cross has a history almost as rich as the Tour de France itself, and carries with it a sub-culture as unique as those in any other sport. The Cameron Crazies at Duke, the hooligans at any English soccer match, the Dog Pound at Browns games, the Hogettes at a Redskins game. These groups are known and beloved sports fans across the globe. Add to that, 'Cross fans. Here's why:

In simplest form, cyclo-cross is an off-road race, performed on modified road bikes (the tires, forks, and braking systems are modified for the mud and terrain) over hills, thru mud and puddles, over ramps (called fly-overs) and over a series of shin-high hurdles (called barriers). All of this, in a multi-lap format, separated from screaming fans, by mere roadside tape. Short of standing next to the drunk, pot-bellied Euro in a speedo on the side of Alp 'd Huez in July, this is the ultimate fan experience.

Though there are differing accounts about the actual origin of cyclo-cross, the common myth is that it was started by European road racers around the turn of the century as a means of both finding a creative way to race from town to town during training--by literally taking a short-cut through farmer's fields to get to the next town--as well as providing an anaerobic alternative to their on-road training regiment. Much like modern-day NASCAR--whose roots are attributed to southern bootleggers in the United States altering their engines so that they could outrun the pursuing police, during various periods of the American Prohibition era--the genesis of cyclo-cross has morphed into a massive sporting empire in its own right.

Every story, however, must have a beginning and for cyclo-cross, the first recorded championship were held in 1902, and it was the French Nationals. They were organized by David Gousseau, considered by many to be the god father of 'Cross, and was promoted by the conceptual creator of the Tour de France, Geo Lefevre. In cycling-mad Europe, the fall/winter concept of continued bike racing, albeit thru mud and over jumps and puddles, allowed the rabid fan an additional three months after the traditional road racing season ended. Gradually, more and more road racers made the transition to cyclo-cross in the off-season and the sport saw explosive growth early in the 20th century, across Western Europe. Belgium held its own national championship for the first time in 1910, with Switzerland following suit two years later. Over the next 20 years, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy would all follow suit and by the 25-year mark from it's inception, cyclo-cross had become a fan-oriented fall endeavor within the cycling world.

The UCI (Union Ciclismo Internacional), which is the international governing body of cycling, first began to regulate the discipline in the late 40s, with the first world championship being held in 1950.

In the last 60 years, the sport has expanded ten fold, both abroad and here in the United States. As I type this, I am in Bend, Oregon attending the U.S. Cyclo-Cross National Championships. As a nation considered 'late to the party' when it comes to cycling--outside of the Tour exploits of Lance and LeMond--the US has continued to chart it's ascendency in the sport. DLE Agency client, Katie Compton, is the reigning six-time National Champ and is considered a heavy favorite for her first world time in St. Wendel, Germany at the end of January.

From a marketing and commercialization stand point, the sport is garnering more legitimacy with each passing year. How do I substantiate this? By observing the continuous expansion of outside investment in the sport. Bike companies are one thing--of which there has been tremendous improvement, from frames, to tires, to wheel, to clothing, all geared toward 'Cross--but the real barometer for a 'fringe sport' is the appeal it holds to investors outside the immediate industry. Put differently, the enduring legitimacy of a sport and the consumer appeal of it's regular fan-base, are a delineated metric measured and heavily considered by outside entities when considering investing in the sport. With the standard unit of measured value being ROI (Return On Investment) more and more companies are starting to see 'Cross and it's targeting fans, as an as-yet untapped gold mine for commercial application.

While the purists would say that's watering down the 'integrity' of the sport and making it too commercial, I take offense to the very premise of the argument. In short, that's the paradoxical argument that: we are going to complain because our sport doesn't have any money, TV coverage, or sustainable, continuous financial backing BUT we are going to complain when outside entities want to invest in this sport, thereby making it more commercial, more popular, better qualified for continued investment, and as a result, a more stable environment for all involved.

To me, that's no different than calling a band a 'sell out' just because a major label signed them and agreed to fund their album. Crabs in a barrel...

Fine, call me Alex P. Keaton, but to me this is simple Market Economics 101. It's Capitalism at it's best. If you don't like the idea of outside corporations investing in your sport, thereby simultaneously guaranteeing it's survival and watering the seeds of its continued growth, then you need to gracefully bow out of the professional sport of Cyclo-Cross. The difference in a job and a hobby is that in a hobby, you don't make any money. For racers like Compton, this is not merely a job, it's a career. I am working hard to influence outside investors to the unique biking blend of obtacles, mud, snow, run-ups, fly-overs, descents, ascents, crashes, and triumphs that is cyclo-cross.

It's hard to imagine that in just over 100 years, the sport that was once nothing more than cutting through baron corn fields en route to the next town, would develop into a billion dollar international sporting experience.

Ahhh. I love the smell of mud, beer, chain lube...and capitalism in the morning.

It's 'Cross time.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

Five Questions

2010-12-11T14:08:00.009-05:00

Earlier this week, I got an email from a University of Maryland student, who requested an interview with me, as part of his studies of the sports industry.

Over the last two years, I've given interviews to undergrad students, who have an interest in the sports industry, and who--as part of their studies--are required to interview someone working within the industry. This time of year is usually tough to squeeze in something like that, as I'm working 20-hour days, trying to finalize client contracts for the upcoming year. My days are full of skipped workouts, missed dates with Hilary, unanswered phone calls from my Mom and what seems like increasingly larger bags under my eyes. They've gone from wallet size, to under the seat in front of you, to overhead storage bin, to check it thru to your final destination...yes, they're getting bigger. 'Tis the season.

Having said that, I still try to always take a moment to help an aspiring student along the way. As such, here's a cut and paste of his questions, and my answers:

Why did you get into sports representation?

I was an All-American in high school. I ran 400m hurdles for the first part of college. I went to law school and started doing Ironmans. I have always been a part of the sports world, albeit as an athlete. As such, I bring a different appreciation and perspective than other agents. It is the perfect combination of my passion, background, education, training, and personality.

So how would you compare yourself to Ari Gold?

I get this a lot. There's a presumption that my job is equal parts Ari Gold and Jerry Maguire. Rest assured, it's not. What is accurate about those composite characters is that the highs are high and the lows can be low; the hours are non-stop, this isn't a 9-5 industry; only the strong survive, and if you have thin skin, an aversion to hearing 'no' or any trouble standing up to a

condescending, disrespectful sponsor then this is not an industry for you. Perhaps, most of all, you must have an unflappable, unwavering commitment to both promoting, and defending your client's interest...sometimes, at your own expense. While my job is to make friends and build bridges, this isn't a popularity contest and inevitably, you'll find or make some adversaries along the way if you're doing a good job for your client. In that sense, I guess Ari's personality is ideal for handling the intensity of the sports and entertainment industry. It's not for the kind, the gentle, or the faint of heart.

What's the best and worst part of your job?

You could ask anyone, in any industry, and their answer would be the same: it depends on the day, the week, and the time of year. Generally speaking, I get great satisfaction either closing a creative deal on behalf of a client, that others doubted could be done. I also love seeing my clients compete and succeed. As an agent, that is a huge rush. The worst part is having to deliver what you know will be disappointing news to a client. As such, a huge part of my job is managing client expectations. A lot of agents will try and 'sell you the moon.' The problem is that eventually, you have to deliver on those promises. The better approach is to reel it in, keep everyone on the same page, and develop a plan where everyone is working toward those goals.

Looking down the road, what's the direction of this industry?

Sports or entertainment? DLE is now in both, although you could make the argument that they are no longer separate pools, but rather one large pool with separate, but overlapping waters. From a thematic viewpoint, I'd say the most important changes will come in the way of: technological developments, drug testing methodologies, increased communication between Unions and 'the establishment' and a more dedicated commitment to protecting the interests of those that came before us. (I'm talking about NFL vets who are now dealing with the crippling after-effects of head injuries received during their playing days.)

Any advice you would give to an aspiring agent?

Sure. Go to law school. Without legal education and post law school work experience, you are not in a position to serve the best interests of your clients. Also, get as much work experience as you can. Ask questions. Don't be afraid of no. See it before you commit to it...meaning don't fall in love with the 'idea of the industry.' Get practical experience--via internships, clerkships, etc--before you go further down that road. Trust me, it is long hours, high stress, and roughly 1% as glamorous as you'd think it to be.

Any chance I have to pay it forward to the future generation of agents, I'm happy to do so. We need to raise the demands, the character, the capacity, and the overall quality of our industry. I'd like to think I have a very small hand in that, one student interview at a time...

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

DLE Vlog #4: Drug Testing and the Rights of the Athlete

2010-10-19T09:53:00.001-04:00

DLE President, Doug Eldridge is back in Washington, DC and picks up in the second of a multi-part Vlog series discussing Contador's failed drug test, the protocols for testing rider urine samples, the inadequacies in the adjudicative process, and the complete lack of protections afforded riders in the absence of the collective bargaining power of a union.

DLE Vlog #3: Contador, Drug Tests, etc.

2010-10-13T11:38:00.001-04:00

DLE Vlog #2: Impact of Agent Violations on College Sports

2010-10-13T11:37:00.001-04:00

The thunder before the Bolt...

2010-08-11T13:55:00.010-04:00

Before Usain Bolt rewrote the record books (and the heretofore known standards for track athlete endorsement and appearance fees) there was a gangly American athlete out of New Jersey who was blazing the track and destroying the sandpit. He would go on to win nine Olympic gold medals and set numerous world records. His name was Carl Lewis.

Earlier this morning, I came across a brief piece on ESPN, commemorating Lewis's four gold medals at the 1984 Olympics. As an Agent--and one whose first clients were in track & field--what Carl Lewis did 26 years ago was, and is, utterly amazing.

In recent years, sports fans have become both spoiled and jaded. There, I said it.

Spoiled, because we have become accustomed to and almost numb, by world-beating performances by our sports idols. Whether by Lance winning seven consecutive Tours de France, or the otherworldly Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals in one Olympic games--neither of which will ever be duplicated in this, or likely any lifetime--we as a nation of sports enthusiasts have become spoiled by such performances and have almost become expectant of their continued replication.

If Armstrong never won another Tour (which he didn't) or Phelps never won another gold medal (which he will...and several at that) would their place be any less secure in the chronology of the American sports landscape? Absolutely not. Each is the best to have ever competed in their respective sport and they did so under the waving banner of the stars and stripes. Year after year, medal after medal, the flag was raised and the anthem was played as an American athlete stood atop the highest step of the podium. We cheered, we clapped, we even cried. To jeer them, or any athlete, for not replicating such a once in a lifetime--or perhaps, once in history--level of performance is the adult equivalent of a child pouting that he doesn't have more Christmas gifts when presents are spilling out from underneath the tree. Maybe it's time we appreciate what we have. These athletes were given a gift and they shared that gift with us, as fans.

I also said American sports fans have become jaded. Why? For two reasons: contract dollars and failed drug tests. I should know, I negotiate athlete salaries and endorsement dollars for a living. Peyton is inking a deal with Panini, Brady will negotiate a massive extension, Miami just inked three max contracts, and just one year ago, Albert Hayneworth became the richest defensive player in NFL history, signing a multi-year deal with Redskins worth up to $100m with $40m guaranteed upfront, in the form of a signing bonus.

I was laughing with another Agent earlier this year, that salaries and endorsement deals are starting to sound like monopoly money to the average sports fan: they are so incredibly high and largely unrelatable (based on the average person's own salary) that the numbers might as well be measured in bijillions, rather than millions. It's almost taken on a currency of its own.

However, despite my faux-admonishment of sports fans, the fact remains that we have become numb to a lot of things. Great performances. Huge contracts. Weakness of paper numbers. Strength of character. Sometimes, it takes a brief blurb like the one ESPN did on Lewis, to reset the balance to zero and in so doing, refresh our outlook on the purity of athletic accomplishment and the awesome physical boundaries of human performance.

In the context of track & field, where the event cross-over is not as prevalent as it is in swimming or gymnastics, Carl's four gold medals over four different events is utterly remarkable. His 1984, four-medal performance, was the first time a T+F athlete accomplished that since the great Jessie Owens did it in 1936...nearly half a century earlier. Moreover, Lewis did it amongst a generation of convicted drug users, all of whom were lining up next to him, in lanes four and six. Lewis never failed a test. (For that matter, neither has Lance.) In the face of Antonio Pettigrew's death yesterday, and Gatlin, Jones, Montgomery, Merritt and a litany of other would-be American track icons all testing positive or admitting their illegal drug use, the fact that a gangly, rangy, athlete like Lewis did it PED-free is all the more incredible.

So, kudos to Carl. If ever there was a worthy topic for a Sally Jenkins ghost-writing project, it's him. He was as odd as he was awesome, and even though other athletes have long-since erased his name in the record books, the mark he made on the global sports landscape will endure forever.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

DLE Video Log #1

2010-07-14T23:20:00.002-04:00

Mailbag: Wednesday July 14, 2010

2010-07-14T14:16:00.006-04:00

Needed an intellectual time-out, so I thought I'd push back from writing a three-part contract I've been hammering on over the last four days to answer a few questions I've gotten in the last week. I apologize in advance for the brevity of the post, but given the time demands of these looming contracts hanging over my head, and in the spirit of Stu Scott, this will be rapid-fire Q+A. Short and sweet.

What's the deal with Lance? Do you think he should've come back again this year?

Lance's legacy is safe. The man won seven times in a row, and nothing he did with Astana last year or Radioshack this year will diminish that feat. Should he have come back? Given his rationale, the answer is yes. Last year, he said the purpose was to broaden the message of his LiveStrong Foundation and it is rumored that he raised some $50m in the process, all while literally racing for free for the Kazakhstan state-sponsored Astana squad. This year, he has an ownership interest in the team (RadioShack), the component sponsor (SRAM), the nutritional supplement (Honey Stinger) and the continued mission of raising cancer awareness on a global level. Further, the multi-year deal with RadioShack was probably contingent upon L.A. racing the Tour at least one more year (2010) under the Shack banner, before presumably switching over to the Ironman and the semi-affluent, six-figure median income demographic of its race participants, all of whom are Armstrong followers. Point being, yes, it was a good decision for him to come back. Good for the sport, good for the sponsors, and good for the millions of people battling the disease worldwide.

What do you think about the expanding scope of the Landis allegations?

I've been called a Lance-lover by some who follow cycling, based upon what they perceived to be a defensive analysis of Lance and George Hincapie from an earlier post (see: May 19, 2010). I think the formation of a grand jury and the federal investigation means that there is enough information, detail, and corroborated statements to justify a federal investigation, spearheaded by Jeff Novitsky, of the FDA. However, the central premise of a GJ investigation is that everything be kept under seal, to preserve the integrity of the investigation, since the GJ stage is merely a fact-finding stage to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence to file charges and take the case to court. When asked what I think about it, I would advise all parties involved to cooperate fully with federal investigators. Obstruction of justice, providing false testimony, lying under oath, these are all serious offenses which bring serious consequences. To do so will exonerate the innocent, while bringing the guilty to justice. Most importantly, it will alleviate the current low-hanging cloud of speculation and innuendo. Chasing unfounded rumors released to the media is like shadow-boxing with yourself: you can fight as hard as you want, but you'll never get a knockout.

Lebron to the Miami Heat? Suprised? What about his announcement?

Short of James going to the Harlem Globetrotters, it's hard to envision any of the reported "final four" scenarios (CLE, MIA, NY, NJ) as a surprise. The balance sheet on each of them would've been more than enough to validate Lebron's decision. As is always the case with sports, some agree, some disagree and that's what makes sports, sports: trivial arguments over equally meaningless statistical comparisons. The obvious counterpoint, however, is that the business hinges on statistics and decimal points. Those are the things that give us as Agents the ammunition we need when going into the battle that is contract negotiation on behalf of our clients. Point being, James had the info and his agents at CAA had the ammo necessary to make a "good" selection and negotiate the painfully predictable max contract, under the current CBA/NBPA structure.

The second part of that remains a mystery and to be truthful, it's something that is wholly subjective and will remain sports bar fodder for years to come: did Lebron make the right decision. I'll address this in the first DLE Media Vlog posting, scheduled to be posted to this site by tomorrow morning. In that Vlog, I will also breakdown the format, wording, and title sponsorship of his prime-time televised statement, from the eyes of someone in the industry. There are a lot of moving parts so you'll have to check out the Vlog.

What are you more excited about: the start of the NFL or the start of college football?

To me that's six of one, half-dozen of the other. I love them both. College football is the purest form of the sport, while pro football is the perfected execution of the sport. I recruit from the former, while operating in the latter. I am excited to see some clients hitting the big field come September and I look forward to seeing the new stadium expansions of my alma mater (JMU) and my life-long team, Michigan, where my cousin, Jason, played a few years ago, as I scout future DLE clients. The Big House now seats a staggering 109,901 and cost just over $225m to finish. The scope of collegiate athletics is staggering.

What do you think about Thierry Henry signing with the New York Red Bulls?

In a word: awesome. Love him or hate him, David Beckham put MLS on the map. That's not a slight to Landon and the others, so much as it is a dollars and cents analysis of the global profile of an erstwhile-anaemic American second-tier sport. To be the unrivaled largest sport in the world, soccer here in the United States was most popular at the youth and college level. The "professional" designation was often seen in title only, with certain developmental players drawing a salary of merely $7,000 a year. For the purists out there who say it's not about the money, I agree. It's not. The money, however, is what differentiates a hobby from a job, and when you're making $7,000 a year, it is far more hobby than job, and because of that, the credibility of the league took a hit. Enter DB into the equation, a few years back and all of the sudden, the critical issues facing MLS--television rights, merchandising, ticket sales, etc--were literally rising 1000%. I had tickets to DB's first MLS game, which was here in DC against the United. That was the first and only time, to my knowledge, that RFK has sold out for a United game. Debate the semantics all you want, but Henry's addition to the Red Bulls and the MLS as a whole is a buoy for the league and for the sport's overall popularity in the U.S., which is coming off an all-time high following the World Cup.

Okay, that's all for now, as I must get back to work on these contracts. I enjoy your questions, comments and criticisms, so please keep them coming. Also, I will be doing a separate post on the passing of legendary owner, George Steinbrenner, which will go up either tonight or tomorrow morning. In the interim, let me reiterate what I posted via twitter (twitter.com/dougeldridge):

"The loss of Stein stretches across the entire sports landscape. Like him or not, the man left an impact like a blast crater. Indelible."

More to follow. Be sure to check out the forthcoming Vlog, all of which are being shot exclusively with a Flipcam.

Thanks,

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

Welcome to DLE Media

2010-07-09T15:57:00.004-04:00

As you noticed, the old DLE blog is getting a massive facelift and more changes...much bigger changes and announcements are on the way.

For the last three years, we have worked tirelessly to affect a new brand of athlete representation. Over the course of those 36+ months, we saw the face and nature of our opportunities changing, growing and expanding. Our client base has grown in size, depth, talent and diversity. From cyclists, to runners, to track, to football, to triathletes, to several new divisions which will be announced by the end of the month. In total, DLE will now represent nine sports across three continents. Our dedication was unwavering, and our continued growth, is almost unparalleled.

Throughout this growth process, DLE has always maintained a close and fruitful relationship with the multilingual media base and in that time, the standard notions of media have been refined and in some cases, nearly redefined all together. Gone are the days of television, paper, and glossy media. At the midpoint of 2010, we are looking at blogs, vlogs, streaming news, podcasts, YouTube news outlets and channels, flip cams, phone cams and a bevy of questionable media creds being given out, in circumstances that would have been downright laughable only a few short years ago.

The media landscape is changing and so too is DLE. Whether our client base, or our areas of representation, or our geographical areas of operation, or the very structure by which this Agency is constructed. Things are evolving. Things are improving.

DLE is growing.

Details will be forthcoming on the reorganization of the DLE brand and sub-sections. In the interim, I'd like to preliminarily introduce a new arm of DLE:

DLE media

You will continue to find DLE blogs and beginning this weekend, Video logs (Vlogs), streaming interviews, old TV appearances, new appearances, and a litany of multimedia sports news and analysis.

Thank you for your continued support of DLE, past, present and future. We have worked very hard and been extremely fortunate to continue to grow, at a time when others are forced to close their doors.

As proud as we are, I assure you, the best is still yet to come.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Agency

Thursday Mailbag: Answering Your Questions

2010-06-10T07:40:00.007-04:00

Given the rapid pace and progression of media-based technology platforms, the concept of a mailbag has become somewhat of an antiquated notion. The mailbag was a simple concept: readers wrote in to a particular publication with comments or questions, and those letters--which made up the mailbag--were acknowledged and addressed in a subsequent edition of the periodical.

When people find out that I'm an Agent, the immediate reaction--following a Jerry Maguire/Ari Gold joke--is to fire off a series of questions (...hey, what do you think about X?) regarding current events, issues, and controversies within the world of professional sports. Whether I'm sitting off camera, at dinner, in church, or at social events, the questions flow like water. Though I'm usually guarded and tactful in my responses, I thought I'd share a few of the questions I've gotten in the last 5 days, in the spirit of the old mailbag concept. Though none of these came in the form of a mailed letter, here are some of the questions I've gotten in person, via email, or Facebook, or text message...

What do you think about the two-year ban for USC? What about the Michigan football violations?

I think it's a shame. To be clear: if you break the rules, the NCAA will punish you. This is true of the player, the school and the Agents who work within the gray areas between amateur athletics and the professional ranks. The unfortunate part is not in the culpability the program now faces, but rather for the students who selected USC over other opportunities--namely for the national exposure and caliber of competition they'd receive--who will have those same chances stifled by not being eligible for post-season play. The alleged violations occurred years before the current members of the team were there, yet they are being required to pay for the sins of their predecessors and of the program on the whole. Most would argue that a more fitting punishment would be a stiff monetary penalty and the loss of a substantial number of scholarships; not to dampen the exposure and subsequent opportunities of a group of young men who had nothing to do with the events that lead them to this unfortunate result.

As it relates to Michigan, the jury is still out. The NCAA has yet to make a formal statement regarding sanctions, but as a Michigan man and one who holds out a lot of hope for Coach Rodriguez, I hope it won't be as severe as the fate delivered today to the kids in SoCal.

What do you think about Landis? Are you saying he's guilty and Lance is innocent?

Yes and Yes. Landis already admitted he was guilty of doping. I am not passing judgment there, I am restating what he shared with the entire world just three short weeks ago. I have no personal judgments on Floyd, and I think his riding speaks for itself: the guy was a stud. So yes, I'm saying Floyd's guilty because Floyd said Floyd was guilty. As for Lance, yes, I am saying he is innocent. Why? Because he has never failed a drug test. Ever. It does not matter the speculation, or subjective innuendo or affiliation that others try to attach to him when it comes to the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The simple fact is that unless and until the man fails a drug test, he simply must be regarded as innocent. That is Jurisprudence 101. Like the old Dragnet line from Joe Friday: just the facts, ma'am. The facts as they currently read are that Floyd Landis admitted to systematic, widespread doping throughout his career while Lance Armstrong has yet to fail a drug test that we know about. Applying that in the most literal sense, Floyd would seem guilty, while Lance remains clean. Draw your own conclusions beyond that...

Leonsis is the new owner of the Wizards. John Wall is the presumptive number one pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Steven Strasburg just fanned 14 batters in a spectacular 7-inning debut for the Nationals. What's next for the future of professional sports in DC?

I said in a recent appearance on Fox 5 regarding the alleged HGH ties between Dr. Gallea and Redskins standout WR Santana Moss that 'the Washington Redskins have long been the heart beat of this city.' When the 'Skins are good, the city has a different energy. In recent years, there has been a low-hanging cloud over the nation's capitol, but things are looking good with the arrival of Coach Shanahan, GM Allen, and long-time Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. Good things are coming back to DC's football faithful and the city's hear beat will start to pound again as pre-season camp draws near.

The Wizards are certainly bound for greener pastures as well. Ted Leonsis is a respected business man and in my opinion, a brilliant owner. He took a broken business model with the Capitals and turned it back to the fans for input. What emerged was a packed arena and a division winning team. With Ovechkin's stick-play and star power, the Verizon is rocking the red and selling out all the seats. With the presumptive arrival of overall number one pick, John Wall, I have no doubt that Mr. Leonsis will find a way to do the same turnaround with the Wiz that he did with the Caps. It's not good luck, it's good businesses practices, and the guy has a proven track record in that regard.

What do you think about the World Cup? What are America's chances compared to say a Brazil or Spain?

American soccer has been on a meteoric arch in the last ten years--from youth registration and involvement, up through the collegiate ranks, to the depth of the MLS, and now to the strength of our national team. Some pundits argue the U.S. have one of the easiest groups (or brackets) from which to emerge, but as we've seen before: anything can happen on the pitch. Nobody can argue about the depth of Spain or the natural ability of the Brazilian squad, but if the U.S. can play like a team then the sky is the limit. [Note: I will be doing a separate blog next week dedicated purely to the World Cup, as a follow-up to this Saturday's highly anticipated match between the U.S. and England.]

What do you think about the NBA Finals? Are the Celtics cooked? Where will LeBron be next year?

First, I'll be doing a blog on LeBron and the NBA free agency process next week, so I'll reserve my analysis for that forthcoming entry. Second, in no way are the Celtics cooked. They are a team of battle-tested veterans, each of whom recognizes that this will likely be their last go-around. While the team won't likely be blown up--the way my beloved Pistons were following the back-to-back titles won by their core of aging veteran--the Big 3 are nearing the end of their respective roads--both contractually and literally--and with that comes a stinging realization that we pass this way but once. I expect the Celtics to come back tonight and even it up at two a piece. Could I be wrong? Absolutely. I'm an agent, not a handicapper. Nonetheless, don't count out the Celtics on their home court.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing the sports world in the coming years?

In broad scope--i.e., beyond where LeBron will be come July 2nd, or what the final numbers will be on Manning and Brady's new contracts--I think there are a series of very serious issues, each of which will dramatically change the face of the American sports landscape. Ironically, I am planning to write an entry on most of these topics, as well as make some exciting announcements regarding the launch of several DLE-based activities related to these topics.

That said, and in no particular order:

-Childhood obesity

-Concussions and brain disorders among NFL athletes

-Screening methodologies for performance-enhancing drugs as well as the relationship between the domestic and international governing bodies regarding arbitration and appeal in the event of sanctions for positive tests

-The collective bargain agreements: first the NFL, then the NBA

-The work/gift restrictions placed on NCAA scholarship athletes

-The dwindling presence of small, medium and large-scale corporate sponsorships among American sports, in the facing of a violently fluctuating economy.

This was only a sampling of the questions I got this week, which just goes to show you that no matter the city, the scene, the sentiment or the season, professional sports are one of the common elements that bind all of us together as Americans.

Whether via mailbag or otherwise, everybody's got a case of hey what do you think about...

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Floyd Landis: A Contemporary Example of Poor Sports PR

2010-05-19T08:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, an all too common tune got a stunning remix when accused and convicted doper, Floyd Landis, finally came forward and admitted to systematic blood-doping throughout his career, despite four years of denying the very allegations that stripped him of the Tour de France crown in 2006. While consistent rumors and allegations of drug use among cyclists has long been the same old song in endurance sports circles, the remix was released yesterday when Landis uncharacteristically copped not only to his own detailed usage, but also explicitly named others in what he alleges to be a "systematic and high-level cover-up" among cycling stars, team managers, NGB executives and World Cycling (UCI) heads for many years.

In recent emails sent to the Wall Street Journal, Landis not only admitted to intravenous blood doping--using the red blood cell booster EPO, which ironically was a drug originally developed for use by cancer patients--but provided a date and location where the drug and its administration were introduced and explained to him by none other than Lance Armstrong, in full view of his then wife, Kristen Armstrong. Landis goes on to claim that team director, Johann Bruyneel--who guided Lance to all seven Tour titles as well two Tour victories for Lance's successor on the cycling team, Spaniard, Alberto Contador--went so far as to meet with the head of the UCI to make sure that the results of several presumably failed drug tests were kept confidential and that large cash payments were made to ensure their silence. He went on to describe various points where other team members all received transfused blood, even going to far as to describe a scenario where the team bus stopped on a deserted alpine pass, while the driver fained engine trouble and the riders inside the bus completed their blood transfusions. The list goes on from there...

While it's not surprising that Landis has finally come forward, or that he tried to implicate oft-targeted Armstrong, what is surprising is that for the first time in this or any drug-related cycling scandal, he pulled American George Hincapie into the story, citing his participation in the blood storage methods when the three of them were members of the U.S. Postal cycling team during the late 90s and early 2000s. For me, that's where the story really starts to fall apart.

I should say a couple things from the outset:

1. As an Agent, I am ALWAYS on the side of the athlete...at least publicly. It is my job to protect, promote and defend my client. At no point does that include proclaiming or proving their innocence; only protecting and preserving their image and reputation. There is a stark difference in those two concepts.

2. I know George Hincapie. As I have said in previous Blog entries that I would be hard-pressed to name another international caliber athlete in any sport, with the same level of grace, humility, or decorum as Hincapie. He is as talented as he is polite, and as dominant as he is dutiful. While nobody is completely above speculation of drug use in cycling, Hincapie has seemingly remained above innuendo, and in my estimation, for good reason.

3. As a lawyer, I uncontrollably flinch whenever I see a story like this. There are so many levels of potential law suits within Floyd's latest claim that it's almost like trying to keep track of the story line in Memento. Suffice it to say, by his own admission--and highlighted by stories from Bonnie D. Ford, Greg Johnson and Ben Delaney--Landis has literally nothing to lose, either in reputation or dollars from suit. He is broke, following a lengthy and very public defense campaign following his 2006 drug test, which ultimately cost him over $2 million and his marriage as well. He is also bankrupt in terms of goodwill. Landis vehemently denied these allegations for nearly four years, started a public contribution fund for his defense (accepting donations from citizens across the country), and hung his hat on the hook of American sympathy and understanding.

So what do these three points boil down to? As an Agent, I am instinctively on the side of the Athlete, regardless of the nature of their indiscretion, whether personal or professional. In that, not only do I have no intrinsic bias against, Landis, I am pre-programmed to come to his defense. Second, I have met Lance and have spent time with George and while I will be the first to say that sometimes where there's smoke, there's fire, I believe that by including Hincapie in his latest admission, Landis is simply trying to cast a broader net around bigger fish in the cycling sea. Finally, as a lawyer, I read through the deliberate language, evasive details, ironic timelines, and transparent motives for this type of 'revelation' all of which come from a man who has lied to the TV cameras, the media, team officials, UCI and USAC officials, his wife, his team, his fans, and even his own Mom. Clearly, credibility is an issue.

As an Agent, who has dealt with this type of allegation on behalf of my clients, I am acutely aware that rarely if ever, does an athlete come forward because their conscience no longer allowed them to keep this secret and they just had to come forward. Draw your own inferences, but the ethical motivation to admit illegal practices--while implicating others in the process--is rarely an altruistic endeavor.

I agreed with Floyd back in 2006, when he pointed to consistent irregularities in the French lab's testing protocol and reliable maintenance of a discernible chain of custody, with various samples taken from international athletes. It was that very same lab, which claimed that a sample from Armstrong--taken seven years prior and stored at that lab only to undergo new testing methodologies believe to expose once-hidden drugs in the bloodstream--had tested positive for EPO. Yet when pressed on the issue, the Laboratoire de Chatenay-Malabry could not provide a stable and reliable chain of custody for the preservation and storage of the samples--without which, anyone at any time could have tainted the sample, thereby inserting the very substance that the test allegedly revealed. At the time, Landis had a valid, and very disconcerting point, but somewhere along the way, his message and his argument became so blurred, so disorganied, and so warped that he lost listeners and he lost his credibility.

Perhaps this brings me to the real point of this entry and it's not about doping in professional sports, or Landis, Lance or George, or what I believe will be a litany of 'silence suits' that are about to be filed in the coming days. It is not about believing or discrediting Landis is his various accounts of his own blood doping or allegations of elicit participation by others. I am NOT weighing in on the merits of these claims or any of those levied before now. No, the real issue is the power and importance of strategic communications among professional athletes. Put differently, the invaluable and increasingly more public side of public relations, in the face of compromising circumstances.

I am always leery to use the word crisis, as I typically associate that with something along the lines of a 9/11 terrorist attack. That is something, which deserves such a descriptive. By contrast, when handled appropriately, even the dirtiest, most devious of celebrity allegations never enter the realm of crisis and if they never go before the court of public opinion, they might never appear before any competent court of record. As the velvet hammer of good sports PR goes, so too does the damning gavel of the American judicial system.

This not my opinion, this is fact. Recent examples among high-profile athletes who have been accused of illegalities, indiscretions, or assorted wrongdoings support my assertion. For instance:

Lance: great PR.

Floyd: terrible PR.

Kobe: great PR.

Gilbert: terrible PR.

Mayweather: great PR.

Tyson: terrible PR.

Brady: great PR.

Vick: terrible PR.

Tiger: jury is still out. Questionable PR at best...

In all those examples mentioned above, the one distinguishing characteristic and central factor is the importance of controlling the message. Those who were great, had a team in place that got out in front of the allegation or innuendo and steered the story, the coverage, and ultimately, the facts as we know them. By contrast, those who did not, were severely penalized, either by their governing body, or by the law. Sadly, Floyd continues to struggle, grasp at straws, point fingers, and lose friends.

I am not casting judgement on his actions, decisions, or his character. That is not my place and I do not do that with any professional athlete. I do feel bad for Floyd in that so much of this could have been prevented if he simply followed the formula laid out by so many before him:

Control the message.

Unfortunately, the one-time winner of the Tour's famous yellow jersey, now simply looks green with envy, and red with rage. Regardless of the various allegations, this is the one thing you DID do to yourself, Floyd.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Rockeed McCarter: A Big Catch for an NFL Team

2010-04-21T18:51:00.009-04:00

For our second interview in a series focusing on new DLE Draft-eligible clients, we sat down and talked with JMU Wide Receiver, Rockeed McCarter to get his thoughts on the completion of his college career, the process of NFL courtship, and what he sees for himself in the weeks, months and years to come.

You were a stand-out WR at JMU, compiling some impressive stats along the way and earning 3rd Team All-CAA honors in your final season with the Dukes. As you bid adieu to JMU, what will you miss most about your collegiate playing experience?

Man, I don't know where to start...probably my teammates. I know you hear a lot of guys say that in interviews, but at JMU, we were each other's keeper. It was a tremendous growing experience for me. We had teams that were contenders and teams that were rebuilding, or hit hard by injuries and graduations. Through all of that, I think we grew stronger as a team and I definitely grew stronger as an individual. All in all, I'd say running out onto that field, or hearing the roar of the crowd when I had a big catch or my teammates made a great play.

DLE: You are originally from Philadelphia and are still a fan of all things Philly. How did you decide on JMU coming out of high school?

Actually, my brother Rodney was the first to come down to JMU and growing up, I really looked up to him. He came down here from Philly and did really well and was actually the starting Safety on JMU's 2004 National Championship team. In a sense it was a no-brainer. He came here, so I came here, and looking back, it was a good decision...but yeah, you're right, I do love Philly and we always enjoy going back to visit. Philly's my heart.

DLE: We asked Sam Daniels, another DLE client--who is also your teammate, roommate and good friend at JMU--how the final weeks and months have been leading up to the Draft and rookie mini camps and he said it had meant a lot of time in the weight room and on the practice field, honing his drill work. Has that been the case for you, or what have you been doing specifically to prepare?

Man, BeastDog is always working hard. That guy has put on like 20lbs of muscle or something crazy like that, since our last game. We called him 'BeastDog' because he was such an animal on the field, and now he really looks like a beast. It's good to see somebody work hard like that because it pushes you to want to get better as well. Obviously we're don't play the same position, we're not on the same side of the ball, and we don't even have the same workout schedule, but that doesn't mean we're not competitive. If he gains an inch or a couple reps, he'll never let me hear the end of it, so I've got to work that much harder to pass him. It's a healthy competition. Really, it's just been a lot of route running, weight-training and plyo's. I've put on 10lbs of muscle since my last game and I'm really pleased. I'm now 230 and I haven't lost a step of speed, so hopefully that'll make me an even more durable WR at the next level.

DLE: That brings me to my next question. You are quite literally THE pro-typical NFL big-body receiver. At 6'3 and 230, you still run a 4.58 and have a 34 inch vertical. Those are are some pretty impressive numbers and have some Scouts comparing you to an Andre Johnson (Texans) or Anquan Boldin (Ravens) in terms of a big frame, capable of making tough catches over the middle, winning jump balls in the red zone, and make game-breaking big plays down the sideline. Who do you most identify with in terms of NFL WRs?

I don't know. Those guys are all at the top of their game and it's certainly an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence. But those guys got there because they worked their butt off coming into the Pro's and have done so everyday since. I will be the same way because like those guys, I know that every year there's a new crop of kids that are coming out of college gunning for their jobs. I hope one day, you're interviewing a new client and you say that some scouts compare him to Rockeed McCarter. That would really tell me that I'm on track.

DLE: I know you're a Philly kid through and through, so does that make you an Eagles fan?

Absolutely! I love Philly and have been a life-long Eagles fan. Me and Rodney got Randall Cunningham jerseys as kids and we near 'bout wore them down to the threads. No matter what, you're always a fan of the team where you grew up. It was surreal when I went up there for a workout earlier this month. That facility is beautiful and seeing Vick, Jackson and the other guys up there working out after my workout was crazy!

DLE: So how does that play out as you're now just a few short days away from knowing which NFL camp, you'll be in come May?

You tell me, you're the Agent. Kidding man...I don't know. I will be ecstatic wherever I go and whatever team believes in me. I will never stop working and I'll never want to get off that field. The NFL has been a dream my entire life, and now I'm on the verge of turning that dream into a reality and it's just crazy.

DLE: Of all the Scouts we've spoken to--and there have been many--everyone seems to highlight your big frame, massive hands, and outstanding athleticism. They say you 'really stand out on the football field' and are viewed to be a real 'difference maker.' If you had the chance to sell yourself to NFL scouts, to highlight your talents, noting things that may or may not have been noticed along the way, what would you like to say?

That's a hard question to answer. I think so many decisions are made purely off of film. At JMU, we didn't have one of those crazy, wide-open passing attacks like Texas Tech or Cincinnati, so I didn't have those absurd numbers coming out of college. At the same time, you can tell from my play that I'm just as good a blocker as I am a down-field receiver. At the next level, I want to play special teams, offense and anything else they'll let me try. I told you, I don't want to ever come off the field. I am committed to doing all the things that are necessary to make me a great football player and a valued and respected member of an NFL club.

DLE: Okay, last question, and it's the same one we asked Sam. So Rock, when we sit down one year, two years, and five years from now to do another interview for the DLE Blog, where will you be in your career? Call it now...

The only thing harder than preparing for the NFL is predicting how that hard work will pan out down the road. Let me say this: I WILL be in the NFL and I will be continuing to improve each and every season. All those guys you mentioned earlier, are all respected because of their stats and their performance. But the reason they got to that level is the hard work they were willing to do to get there--hard work that nobody else ever saw. That's what I am going to do and that's why in a year, or two or five, you'll ask some young client, whether they view themselves as a 'Rockeed McCarter type wide receiver.' Just watch...

As reported by:

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Sam Daniels: Ready to Tackle the NFL

2010-04-21T14:10:00.008-04:00

Earlier this year, DLE Sports was fortunate to sign dominant Defensive Tackle, Sam Daniels from James Madison University. Daniels was a Pre-Season First Team All-American at DT and was as a Second Team All-CAA selection.

Following a stellar career, marked not only by unrelenting athleticism and on-field performance, Daniels anchored a JMU defense that included Arthur Moats and Scottie McGee--two other talented defenders likely to be taken in the late rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft--I had the chance to sit down with Sam and pose a couple pre-Draft questions to the punishing Tackle. Now, with just over 24 hours until the Draft begins, here's a candid Q+A with the big bodied Daniels:

DLE: Sam, how have the final few weeks been playing out for you in terms of workouts and preparation?

It's been good. I have been working hard to improve not only my strength and endurance, but also my football positional skills. These are things that I've been doing for years and years, but you can always get better. I've been working really, really hard. I've put on 17lbs of muscle since the last game of my senior season. I'm now 6'2, 289lbs. All in all, I'd say it's going really well.

DLE: You were the only underclassman to be chosen as a team captain last year as a junior, what did that mean to you then, how did you take that into your senior season, and do you think these leadership characteristics will translate at the next level?

It was an honor to be deemed worthy as a junior to lead my teammates, both on and off the field. Hard play generates stats, but good living and hard work, generate captaincy. It was a great feeling and really motivated me to not only play at a higher level, but to be that leader--on and off the field--that others envisioned me to be. In terms of the next level, I intend to be the very same person that I always have been: a vocal, hard-working, hard-nosed, hungry athlete that is determined to prove himself. I believe I will be an asset to any NFL club and I'm excited to prove myself.

DLE: Most scouts are highlighting your athleticism as your biggest selling point, going into the Draft and rookie mini camps beginning in May. With numbers like a 4.8 (40), 32 inch vertical, 34 reps of 225 on the bench, and rugged durability, proven over five years at JMU. What would you say are your biggest attributes? This is your chance to sell yourself Sam, step to the mic...

That's funny. It's hard to sell yourself. That was my job during my career at JMU and it's now your job [Doug] as my Agent. I worked very hard leading up to my Pro Day. Unfortunately, I tweaked my hammy a little bit that day during my first 40, but I still ran a 4.79 and threw up 34 reps on the bench. At 287lbs, I still have a 32-inch vertical leap and all the Scouts that have viewed my film say I have great lateral mobility. For a DT at the next level, it's that strength and lateral mobility that are key, so I think I'm in a good position, in terms of athleticism.

DLE: This is the first year that the NFL will be splitting the Draft over three consecutive days of prime-time coverage. It all begins Thursday night at 1930hrs with the first round, live from Radio City Music Hall. Friday will bring rounds 2-4 and Saturday will be rounds 5-7. What are your plans for those three days?

Not sure. It's a stressful time, but I have faith in my abilities, my representation, and the impact that I will have as a rookie on any NFL team that's willing to give me a shot. Times like these can be really humbling. You no longer have control over the process; it's up to your representation and the needs of different teams and defensive schemes. There are 32 teams in the NFL, you only need 1 of them to like you.

DLE: You hail from Portsmouth, Virginia--a hot-bed for NFL, NBA and T+F athletes. What is it about that "VA Beach corridor" that produces so many talented athletes?

Yeah man! We grow up playing football and basketball together. Everybody knows everybody and sports are kind of that common bond that connects all the different communities. Parts of the 757 can be pretty gritty and for a lot of us, pro sports are an outlet and a means to a better life. I worked very hard at JMU and I'm proud to say that I'll be graduating on May 8th, which will be a huge accomplishment. After that, I hope to be another name from the 757 to join the ranks of professional football players.

DLE: Okay buddy, last question, when we sit down one year, two years and five years from now and do another Q+A for the DLE Blog, where will you be in your career? Call it now...

Come on now, how am I gonna answer that?! I'll say this, I will definitely be playing in the NFL and if my career at JMU is any indicator, I will get better with each progressive year and by the third year, my ability and leadership will come to the forefront. I'm a hard-worker, and I am determined to be successful at the next level. I look forward to sitting down one, two and five years from now. I think I will have proven A LOT of people wrong. Big names don't always yield big results. You'll see...big things await.

As reported by:

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

DLE TV Appearance: Zero Time for Agent Zero

2010-03-26T19:23:00.007-04:00

This afternoon, around 1400hrs EST, embattled NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas walked out of a D.C. Courtroom as a free man. Arenas beat what many felt was a virtual lock for a likely three month jail sentence, following a guilty plea for felony gun possession stemming from a much-publicized poker dispute with teammate Javaris Crittendon.

The city, the fans, the pundits and the league were all torn regarding Arenas. Battles lines were drawn, with some saying his actions were out of jest, albeit in poor taste, and did not merit jail time. Others, said that Gilbert's actions were indicative of recidivist behavior, citing his prior gun conviction, and said that not only did he violate DC law, he also violated the NBA's strict gun policy, and in so doing, put teammates, personnel and Verizon Center workers in danger by his actions.

Whatever your opinion going into to today's sentencing, the universal agreement among all sides was that:

1) This was a colossal error in judgment by Arenas. Funny, not funny. Dangerous, not dangerous. Whatever your perspective, the common consensus is that it was a stupid move.

2) Whether you felt he merited it or not, Arenas would likely do 90 days in jail, although judicial discretion rested solely in the purview of the presiding judge, who himself had an estimable reputation as a prudent and learned scholar, who takes cases "as they come" and ruled "on the facts, not on passion." That said, Arenas would likely get 90 days, but could get no time at all, or could also walk with the maximum of five years.

In the end, when the gavel struck the dies, Arenas and his four-star, DC-based legal team, defied the odds, the nay-sayers, and his own personal demons in garnering no jail time, 30 days in a half-way house, 400 hours of community service, and $5,000 in fines. This for a man that still has $80 million outstanding on a $110 million contract.

As an agent, I am always on the side of the athlete. On television (as I did this morning, see below for the link to the Fox analysis) I always try to neutrally present both sides, but in the end, my hopes lie in the best interests of the athlete and their families.

Doug Eldridge live in-studio on Fox 5 analyzing Gilbert's NBA future

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=c9466321-b9b8-4cf5-ac54-dd9e7278dc38

Today, Agent Zero rolled a snake eyes.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

4 More DLE Television Appearances/Analysis

2010-02-28T07:55:00.004-05:00

In the month of February, I had the opportunity to go on TV several times to provide sports-based analysis, from an Agent's perspective, on some prevailing issues within the greater sports industry as a whole. Given the time of the year--post Super Bowl, pre-NFL Combine, pre-March Madness--no topic has been more discussed, debated and speculated about than the on-going Tiger Woods situation.

As I said in a January blog, my commentary has never been a personal indictment on Tiger as a man nor have I addressed his moral compass, professional treatment/rehab, or the ongoing private efforts to repair the internal damage done to his family. By contrast, my perspective and analysis was predicated purely on the nature of the sports business, the obligations he'll have to address with fans and sponsors, and the value of a cohesive and comprehensive strategic communications plan. Situations will inevitably arise, but a solid team around the athlete (with a detailed emergency plan in hand) can mitigate some of the stinging damage that a pedestal'd million dollar athlete stands to sustain in the proverbial fall from grace.

In Tiger's prepared, 14-minute statement, we saw contrition, admission, confirmed suspicion, and even admonition. There is no recipe for the perfect delivery, but there is a formula to be followed. While not everyone might agree with me, click on the links below and follow along with my analysis and see what you think.

FEB. 17: Tiger Woods to Make First Public Statement

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/tiger-woods-to-speak-to-reporters-friday-021710

FEB. 19: Anticipated Tiger Woods Statement: What's In, What's Out?

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/tiger-woods-makes-first-remarks-021910

(Click on the third image with Tiger and his caddy, arms crossed)

FEB. 19: Impact of Tiger's Image on Marketability to Sponsors and Role-Models to Children

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/locals-react-to-tigers-statement-021910

FEB. 22: Theoretical Clinical Psychology v. Practical Application in the Sports Industry

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/tiger-woods-statement-analysis-022210

The situation will continue to progress. Two days ago, we saw that Gatorade--who originally said they had already decided to pull the Tiger-specific drink for internal reasons--formally severed ties with the world's best golfer. Now, there's speculation that Proctor and Gamble (maker of Gillette razors and shaving gel, which Woods has endorsed) might be next to pull the trigger.

Whether speculation or ominous foreshadowing, what is certain is that Tiger is not out of the Woods just yet.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Attending Super Bowl XLIV

2010-02-15T11:52:00.008-05:00

Last week, I had the unique opportunity to attend Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, Florida. It was more than a game. It was more than an event. The Super Bowl is truly an experience and one that must be lived, in order to fully appreciate the scope and spectrum of what the 'Big Game' has become. It has grown beyond the normal bounds of a championship game and in so doing, has truly taken on a life of its own.

The setting in Miami could not have been more perfect. Blue skies and temperatures in the high 70s made for a festive and inviting atmosphere for fans and industry insiders who travelled to sunny south Florida, escaping the brutal chill of their own mid-winter purgatory. Here in DC, it snowed some 30" while I was gone and then another 16" in the days immediately following my return. So for everyone, the sunshine provided a welcome embrace and the forecast for the big game called for 70 and clear; a marked improvement from the last time the Big Game was in Miami, when the Colts beat the Bears in the sideways rain that pummeled then-Joe Robbie stadium.

The naturally electric energy that is South Beach was dialed up to an "11" when combined with the events, the dinners, the parties, the guests and the general fervor that is Super Bowl week. South Beach was a continuous log-jam and lines were out the door for every party. The neat thing, however, is that everyone was standing and talking; the Pro Bowlers there with the league bowlers, the neo-pros with the Hall of Famers, the singers and celebs with the politicians, porn stars, pop stars and posers. It was a confluence of industries and personalities the likes of which only occurs one time and on one day of the year: Super Bowl Sunday.

Oh, and the game? Yes, sometimes the game itself can actually get marginalized in the shuffle and commotion of the days leading up to the opening kick-off. That's hard to believe, considering XLIV was the highest-watched television program in U.S. history, toppling the M.A.S.H series finale from 1983. It took 27 years to dethrone that episode and this year's game did so with relative ease. The Saints and Colts lived up to their billing and prior to Manning's unforseeable interception, the game was literally neck and neck. Perhaps it ended appropriately though, with a troubled city's triumphant gunslinger, Drew Brees, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy high above his head as MVP of the newly-crowed World Champion, New Orleans Saints.

For a city rebuilding itself from ruin, to a country reeling from a devastating economy in 2009, to the soldiers watching a live-feed from abroad, to the little boys and girls who at half-time would emulate their favorite stars by running out and diving for passes in their front yard; this was truly a great game, and a great day.

It was a day where Ain'ts became Saints, and Saints became Champions.

I am happy I was able to witness a piece of history.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Recent DLE Television Appearances

2010-01-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe we're already in 2010, much less almost completely through the month of January. Time is literally flying by, and in the spirit of the new year and new opportunity, I will be posting regular blog entries and commentary on prevalent issues within the sports and entertainment industry.

Over the last couple months, two topics have risen above the rest, when it comes to interest, intrigue, and spiraling consequences: 1) Tiger Woods and 2) Gilbert Arenas.

Late last year, Tiger was involved in a single vehicle automobile accident. In the days, weeks and months that followed, it was revealed that the accident was linked to a marital dispute, which was caused by what the whole world later discovered was a string of marital infidelities. Of greater interest, has been the corrollation between Tiger's sagging public image, and the aggressive withdrawal of the sponsors, which made up the bulk of his image-driven billion dollar empire.

To be clear, I make it a point never to comment on the personal decisions or indiscretions of popular athletes and entertainers, within the context of their personal, private lives.

Whatever happened within Tiger's marriage, is purely between him and his wife, Elin. It is none of my business, none of my interest, and was in no way part of any of the commentary and analysis I provided on the topic. By contrast, I provided TV analysis on Tiger's situation in so far as the mechanics of strategic communications and how as an Agent, I deal with image issues, and endorsement obligations within the context of the morality clause of sponsorship agreements. It is an increasingly tricky landscape and requires deft expertise in navigating the choppy waters that flow between personal indiscretions and public/professional obligations and appearances. (Click on the video link for each of the clips included below)

Dec. 3, 2009: Fox 5 DC--Analysis of Tiger Woods Admission and Protocol

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/tiger-woods-apology-120309

Dec. 9, 2009: Australian Broadcasting Channel--Tiger Woods and Sponsorships

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2771596.htm

Secondarily, there has been a growing fervor around Gilbert Arenas's actions following a west coast road swing. Accordingly to court documents, the $111 million star and face of the Washington Wizards got into an altercation with teammate Javaris Crittendon, resulting from a poker debt. Two days later--at the Verizon Center, where the Wizards play, here in Washington, DC--Arenas set out a series of four hand guns in front of Crittendon's locker with a handwritten note indicating he should "Pick One" so as to solve their gambling dispute, vis a vis a duel. The problem is that: 1) DC has strict laws regulating the ownership, registration and possession of handguns, and 2) the NBA absolutely prohibits the presence of firearms on any NBA-related property or in the context of any NBA-related activity. Each of which comes with it's own sense of zero tolerance and escalating consequences.

As was the case with Tiger, I was called and asked to provide on-air commentary and analysis on Arenas's situation, and like with Tiger, I steered clear of providing any personal criticism of the underlying actions or decisions which lead Gilbert up to this point. As such, the crux of my segments were how as an Agent, you deal with the various issues, which weigh into the calculus of crisis management for your clients, such as cooperation with state, local and federal investigators, communication with the team and league office, as well as privately calming the waters with your client's sponsors, each of whom are banking as heavily on the athlete's sellable public image as they are on his on-court performance. Ironically, in this day and age, each of those two components are equally important in the eyes of a sponsor.

Jan. 5, 2010: Fox 5 DC--Analysis of the Gilbert Arenas case

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=6f69a3fb-7bf7-416b-b4cb-e0d80dba941f

Jan. 18, 2010: Fox 5 DC--An Agent's Role within the Arenas case

http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=08603769-f0f6-40d6-9943-2c8436d4d952

While neither of these two topics have come to any definitive resolution, each has and will continue to headline sports pages and reports across the country. Unfortunately, each is a vivid example of the image-driven society in which we live, and the microscopic world in which professional athletes must live on a daily basis. While certainly not "victims" of a million-dollar lifestyle, prominent athletes are under a level of scrutiny that the average fan will never understand or fully appreciate. The dissolution of a marriage, or the very public, press-release driven termination of an endorsement contract, are realities that most will never have to experience.

For Tiger, Gilbert, and their respective families, we hope that the best, is still yet to come.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Empire State of Mind

2009-11-06T11:09:00.000-05:00

In New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of,

there's nothing you can't do.

Now you're in New York, these streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you.

Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York.

-Jay Z feat. Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind" (Blue Print 3)

This has been a hell of a week for New York City, and the millions of sporting faithful that call the Apple, home.

I was up there last weekend for annual meetings with shoe industry reps--securing client contracts for the 2010 calendar year. Once the meetings were finally over and business had concluded, I caught up with some friends and eventually took my usual place atop the boulder in Central Park overlooking mile 26 of the ING New York City Marathon.

You get a certain chill when seeing these spindly, drained warriors digging deep in the last quarter mile as they drove toward personal bests, personal winnings, lifting accomplishments and crushing defeats. All of it was brought to a near fervor when the speaker system blared the new Jay-Z hit 'Empire State of Mind' with it's ringing hook about New York, belted as only Alicia Keys could do.

The fans went crazy and the hunched, hobbled and unhinged runners almost to a man, stood taller, drove harder and finished strong. Music is an amazing motivator and few understand the heartbeat of the City that Never Sleeps better than Sean Carter himself. His lyrics describe triumph over adversity, opportunity over affability. It's deceptively poignant and impossibly catchy.

Flash forward three days: Game 6 of the World Series.

As the Bronx Bombers (also known as the Damn Yankees, Evil Empire, etc) closed out the series with a 7-3 win over the Phillies and stormed the field to claim their 27th Title, the song belted out yet again. The stands were shaking with jumping, bouncing, singing fans. Everyone together. Everyone cheering. Everyone clapping. Everyone singing about a concrete jungle where dreams are made of, where there's nothing you can't do.

Perhaps over the entire week that was NYC sports, no moment was more powerful than seeing men's marathon winner, Meb Keflegzi fall to the ground with tears in his face as he grabbed and kissed the American flag. To appreciate this, you have to understand where Meb has been, and just where the millions of steps brought him from in arriving at this latest feat.

Born in war-torn, Eritrea in 1975, Meb's family fled the country in order to find peace and the possibility for a better life for their children. After reuniting in Italy for a year in the mid-80s, they migrated to San Diego, CA. Meb suffered thru a language barrier. He suffered thru being smaller than the other kids. He suffered thru the distance program at UCLA. He suffered thru low rankings as a neo-pro on the Euro circuit. He suffered in the heat of Athens, yet brought home silver. He suffered thru near career-ending injuries last year. He suffered from the jeers and angry claims that, though a U.S. citizen for many years, his accomplishments were not true American accomplishments, since he was "foreign-born." He suffered the agony of lingering ailments, and the isolation that comes from being called a has-been, by a group of message board never-were's.

He defied the odds. He braved the headwind. He bested Cheryuit. He crushed the course. He crossed the line. He kissed the soil. He shed tears on the flag, he so lovingly calls home. It was the essence of what professional sports are about. Everyone in the assembled international audience had tears in their eyes. It was a victory for all of us, set against the dramatic backdrop of the city's five boroughs.

A new man. A new life. A big win. It was a brand-new story for a city that's seen it all.

Now you're in New York, these streets will make you feel brand new

Big lights will inspire you.

Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Today in Sports...

2009-10-13T15:35:00.001-04:00

I recently read that back in the 90s, the great Leigh Steinberg would routinely read 20+ newspapers from across the country on a daily basis just to get a comprehensive view not only of the sporting universe, but also of the localities in which his clients lived and played. In theory, it was and is an engenius way to stay fluent on all things relevant to your clients, but that many newspapers is unquestionably a drain on an Agent's time. (The more likely scenario is that Steinberg read a few papers himself and had his team of seasonal interns assemble a summary of all the others in bullet point format.) Regardless, the premise is both admirable and invaluable, as the single most important component for an agent is informaiton.

In the last several years, the internet has usurped the need for what must have been a paperboy with a wheelbarrow at Steinberg's office door every morning. Time and technology have certainly changed, but the need to stay current both in and out of the world of sports is of no less importance than it was 15 years ago, when Steinberg was in his prime.

For example, I get up at 0400hrs every morning and start my own morning drudge. After plowing through my inbox--both for emails and the dozens of Google Alerts I get every night--I move on to 16 different news sites, covering sports, politics, business and cultural issues. I typically switch between English and Spanish so as to maintain my bilingual skill-set. This is what keeps me current on any and all issues that might come up when talking to a client, a coach, a player personnel rep, or even a member of the local/regional media.

This is the inglorious, unglamorous work, that others never see, but which takes several hours out of each and every day. But as I recently read (yes, USA Today, Sports section, page 1) University of Florida TE Aaron Hernandez has a great tattoo (one of the many) which simply reads: "Some Do. Some Don't." Contextually the ink refers to the work ethic and drive to do what others are not, in order to be successful. Rather poignant.

At any rate, here are some of the stories that I've read in the last hour, in between NFL calls:

Golfer loses arm to alligator (NOTE: this is neither a joke, nor a typo)...

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4545614

One storied career comes to an end...

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/10211976/Austrian-ski-legend-Maier-says-career-is-over

One gets reborn...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/10/13/seau.ap/index.html

One never got off the ground...

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/10194230/Police:-Southern-Miss-punter-committed-suicide

Lance ponders the jump from two wheels to three sports...

http://www.xtri.com/reports.aspx?riIDReport=5984&CAT=0&xref=xx

Another pilgrimage of suffering concludes in Kona...

http://triathlon.competitor.com/2009/10/news/wellington-breaks-course-record-crowie-earns-second-victory-in-kona_5210

Politics enters sports, with an ever-increasing frequency...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4556315

Of all the mundane things I'm obligated to pour over and comb through during the course of the day, I found those articles to be some of the most interesting.

Okay, back at it. The NFL Free Agent signing deadline is quickly approaching and so with that, I need to get back on the phones. I've got some clients that need a new home.

Happy reading...

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Dude Perfect

2009-10-02T16:42:00.000-04:00

Some things are so insane that you have to see them over and over to believe they're actually true.

With the creation--and subsequent maturation--of YouTube, these types of unbelievable events that are caught on hand-held video often merit multiple passes and slow-motion replays to see if the naked eye can pick out the obvious tampering or inherent invalidity of the act. Guys watch sports-related viral videos like they're breaking down the Zapruder film for clues.

I mean really, how many people thought it was possible to see a guy jump out of a pool; from waist-deep water all the way onto the deck, as Jarron Gilbert did on the now infamous viral video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXDSPbZ_OUw) Sure, Sports Center showed the clip (between the Combine and the Draft, absolutely brilliant!) but aside from that, how did we know it was real? Answer, we tried it. For all the guys out there with new caps, crowns and porselain veneers because of their half-hearted "man, I can do that" boasting to their buddies following the pool jumping, here's another site for you to test your manhood, athleticism, and sheer stupidity. It's done by a group of guys at Texas A&M and the website is www.dudeperfect.com

Dana (Host of ESPN's popular show, "1st + 10") did a great piece with the three founders of the aforementioned website who recently rocketed (or 'shot') into the national spotlight with a seemingly impossible third deck, running one hander, off the backboard, and into the net of a rollaway basketball hoop sitting down on the track far below. The video has sparked comment, controversy and the vocal debate of pro ballers across the country. In fact, just this week, Carmelo Anthony was a guest host on the LA addition of Sports Center and said emphatically that the tape was a hoax and that there was no way that such a shot was possible.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4503339

So what's the point? Why is this "post-worthy?" The answer is even simpler than the question itself: this short video is the most poignant example of the purity of sports. The sheer, unfettered, unadulterated love of the game. The challenges between guys on backyard hoops. The taunting, the dares, the pure fun of playing a game, which became a sport, which became a billion dollar international business.

No contract. No endorsements. No money, fame, jersey sales or Hall of Fame status is riding in the balance or on the outcome of the three dude perfect guys. It's what we were all doing as youngsters and what we all sometimes need to be reminded of along the way.

The love of the game.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

The Complexity of Sports

2009-09-11T16:08:00.000-04:00

I am often asked what it's like to be a sports agent. The short answer is that it's far less glamorous (or Jerry Maguire/Ari Gold-ish) than most people imagine. It's hours of research, writing, calls, meetings, and thankless tasks in order to reach the desired objective on behalf of your client. In this business, it's only the end, not the means, that matter.

And yet every once in a while a story will surface that is so bizarre, so one-off, that it lacks any precedent in sports law, or regulation by the relevant governing bodies of the respective sport. It is an issue that runs outside the scope of contractual addenda, salary cap considerations, proration of LTBE/NLTBE bonuses, and the every day topical work that comprises each and every day in the life of an agent.

I am talking about the case of the hermaphrodite runner Caster Semanya, of South Africa.

Last month, Semanya ran a dominant race in the women's 800 meter final at the World Track and Field Championships in Berlin, Germany. It was a meet that was otherwise dominated by the otherworldly performances of Usain Bolt in breaking the 100 and 200 meter world record. Yet in the weeks that have since passed, the headlines have been dominated by the other-gender allegations surrounding the rather Herculean performance turned in by Semanya as she smashed her competition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwWI7E9IwAs&feature=related

Fortunately, the headlines surrounding these championships--and the speculation surrounding Semanya--did not involve that of performance-enhancing drug use. Ironically, however, it was a different kind of performance enhancement that had her competitors and many pundits questioning the legitimacy and legality of her performance. Simply put, they claimed that she was in fact, a he.

As the rumors gained traction, governing bodies from competing nations demanded that Semanya undergo a thorough physical exam as well as a DNA evaluation to determine whether or not his/her physiology had someone been disguised or otherwise tampered with to create the androgenous appearance and dominant performance. The South African delegation expressed outrage that defeated competitors would levy such allegations against the 19-year old prodigy. They vowed that her sex is not and never has been in question.

Despite such protestations, the IAAF was obligated to carry out it's "due diligence" (for lack of a better descriptive) in determining the "status" of Semanya. That's when things went from absurd to abstract. You see, Semanya, was indeed in question, but for a very different type of concealment.

After due examination, it was discovered that the young woman had inverted testicles within her body. By definition, she possesses a set (though incomplete) of both male and female sexual organs, by which gender is determined in the eyes and bylaws of the IAAF. Any adrogeny or ambiguity in such classification results in disqualification. In this case, the IAAF will likely be forced to disqualify her performance, award her medal to the second place finisher, and ban her from further competition until she has a "corrective procedure" to address the problem.

The legal questions surrounding this case are infinite. Is Semanya--as a hermaphrodite--a protected class? Can she be banned for a condition to which she had no knowledge, no concealment, and therefore, no mens rea for defrauding the system? And the list goes on...

To the casual observer, outside the realm of such discussion, and debate, the matter is simply unbelievable. Late night talk show hosts are lining up to throw punch lines at this. Satirical cartoonists are sketching their wittiest concepts. Critics of the sport point another finger of disapproval and those of us inside the system are scrambling as to how we might rewrite the regulations to include and protect, yet still regulate potential questions of gender ambiguity.

For Semanya, the results are unfortunate, confusing and unquestionably life-altering.

In track and field, the rules are very clear: if an athlete steps out of his lane in a race, he or she is disqualified. After Semanya, IAAF officials are confronted with what to do when an athlete simply straddles the line between two such lanes.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Nice Guys Finish First

2009-08-31T11:18:00.000-04:00

Late yesterday afternoon under a heavy, humid sky in Greenville, South Carolina, one of the nicest guys in professional sports got his just deserves. George Hincapie pulled away from his fellow riders and sprinted to victory at the U.S. Pro Cycling Road Race Championships. In so doing, Hincapie earned the coveted stars and bars jersey awarded each year to the national champion in both the time trial and road race. For George, this could not have come at a better time, a better place, or a better point in his career.

Last August, I had the pleasure of spending some time with George and his extended family in his adopted home of Greenville. From top to bottom, the Hincapie group is one of the most tight-knit, loyal families I have ever had the pleasure to meet. From the warm disposition of his Colombian-born parents, to his savvy business brother Rich, to his beautiful and engaging wife Melanie and their two camera-ready children Julia and Enzo. George Hincapie crossed the line a deserving victor and was almost immediately surrounded by loyal, loving family, teammates and friends.

Though chronologically in the twilight of his career, Hincapie has become an iconic pillar of virtue and hard-work in a sport that has suffered at the hands of young professionals who are constantly experimenting with the latest illicit and illegal substance in an effort to gain an advantage along the steep slopes of France, Italy and Spain's most famous climbs. By contrast, George's victory yesterday was a testament not only to his natural physical endurance, but also to the enduring legacy which he is set to leave behind.

Once introduced as "the only rider to ride in all seven of Lance Armstrong's Tour de France victories" Hincapie has quietly and deservedly stepped out of the shadows of others and onto a very different kind of stage. Though never one for the bright center stage spotlight, Hincapie's roll has become that of mentor, leader, captain and now for the third time, champion. He is adored by fans, revered by rivals, and respected by the younger generation of promising, young American cyclists.

In a sports world full of endzone dances, chest pounding proclamations, fights with fans, pre-competition trash talking (as if they were the heavy weight champ), and a plethora of felonies, frame-ups and assorted misdemeanors, Hincapie is in a class of his own.

My only regret is that I wasn't there in person this year to witness yet another Hincapie triumph.

Here's to you, George. All my respect, applause and admiration.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

2009-08-17T17:24:00.001-04:00

Lightning Strikes...Again

2009-08-17T10:56:00.000-04:00

Last night in Berlin, Germany, Usain Bolt did what everyone in the world wondered was possible last year at the Beijing Olympics: he ran 9.58m and shattered the 100m World Record before a near-packed German crowd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRbuVDyvp5E

Last summer, Bolt electrified the crowd in the Bird Nest, with what was a then earth shattering world record of 9.69, all while pulling up early over the last 30m and providing a little bit of much-needed showmanship in a sport that has been bled dry of sponsorship dollars by repeated drug cheats and bland post-race personas. On so many levels, Bolt was exactly what the sport of track and field had been waiting for: a larger than life athlete with a personality that weighed even more than his other-worldly 6'5 190lb frame.

Skeptics and analysts alike took out their pencils and began doing the math. The skeptics were calculating how much larger, faster, and stronger he was than anyone else before him and why his performances had to be with the help of performance-enhancing drugs. The analysts, on the other hand, were busy figuring just how fast he could actually run the 100m if he were to go all out from the blocks to the tape and not pull up short for any premature celebrations.

Indeed, regardless of perspective, the athletics world was abuzz with all things Usain Bolt. Some said he set that record just to be able to break it this year, while others maintained that it may never be broken. Only Bolt, the gregarious, young 23-year old, from Trelawny, knew what he was capable of running and yesterday, he showed the rest of the world.

9.58

...into a headwind.

That was not a type-o. He literally ran into a headwind. He crushed what was already a devastating world record, and he did so while running into a breeze. Make no mistake, as good as Bolt is--and will likely continue to be in the coming years--he has always been a prodigious talent on the track. At 15 years old, he ran the fastest time ever recorded for that age group in the 200m; a record which still stands. At 16 years old, he ran the fastest time ever recorded for that age group as well. At 17, he ran under 20 seconds for the 200--a feat which most professional sprinters fail to do in the peak of their Olympic-qualifying years. Bolt did it when he was the equivalent of a junior in high school. Last year in Beijing, he broke the immortal Michael Johnson's once unassailable world record in the 200m, in a time of 19.30. Once again, he defied his competitors, the odds-makers, and conventional logic and in so doing left everyone wondering just what he was capable of doing.

Yeah, he really is that good.

Oh, and he broke both world records two hours after eating a 20-piece chicken McNugget meal from McDonald's. No, I'm not kidding, and yes, apparently he swore off Mac's before big races this year in an effort to "get more focused" and really "tap into his potential." If this is any indication of his potential, then I, like the rest of the world, can't wait to see what comes next.

Apparently, the old wive's tale was wrong. Lightning can strike the same spot twice, and when Bolt is concerned, it may just happen again and again.

Run for cover.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Tour de Lance

2009-07-03T15:28:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow morning, the 96th edition of the Tour de France will kick off in picturesque Monaco, a country known as much for it's beauty as it's billionaire residents. Yet tomorrow morning, all eyes will be on the 120+ lycra-clad pro cyclists hailing from all corners of the world, speaking every language imaginable, all with the single ambition of performing well in what is unquestionably the largest event in professional cycling. The Tour de France is the World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the seventh game of the World Series all rolled into one.

Fifteen years ago, road racing in the American sports media was merely an afterthought; something relegated to a blip on the bottom corner of the back page of the sports section. Much like soccer, it was far more popular in Europe than it could ever be here in the United States. Indeed, abroad cycling can draw 500,000 people to line the roadside of a 100 mile race during one of the cobbled spring classics in the rainy months or early spring, just as it can pack an 80,000 seat stadium for a star-studded track and field meet. The concept and appreciation for sports is simply different for our European counterparts; not better, just different, and this difference was highlighted perfectly by the contrasting European fanaticism and American ambivalence when it came to cycling.

All of this changed ten years ago, with the emergence (or rather reemergence) of a young American cyclist by the name of Lance Armstrong. At 21, he was the youngest winner of the World Championships, with a then-hulkish physique of 174lbs. He pumped his fists as he soloed across the finish line in the rain in Oslo to take the rainbow jersey to the delight of his mother and to the confusion of European fans. Touted as a future star of the sprints and the aforementioned one-day classics, Armstrong was fielding offers from endorsers and teams for what would amount to a healthy seven-figure contract. Ultimately, he signed with French outfit, Cofidis. In Lance parlance, he had the world by the balls.

All of this changed, in the blink of an eye and the reading of an MRI. Armstrong's malaise and lethargy was due in fact to cancer which had spread to his brain, abdomen, testicles and which was metastisizing in his lungs. It was a veritable death sentence. As a man who's father got that same sentence and served it accordingly, I have an astute appreciation for the long-odds that Armstrong beat in merely surviving the death grip that cancer had on him.

The story writes itself and it is one that others have written far more eloquently and elaborately than I can convey within the context of a single posting. Armstrong's seven consecutive victories in the Tour de France is a record that may never be broken by a healthy rider in this or any era; much less by a rider who overcame the crippling, unforgiving nature of cancer as Armstrong did.

In a period where words like hope and change have been overused in the United States, Armstrong, was indeed the messenger of hope for millions of men, women and children struggling with this illness worldwide. His decision to come out of retirement last fall (chronicled in a previous DLE Sports blog entry) was predicated upon his desire to spread the message of the Livestrong brand and to apply pressure to foreign leaders to increase their cancer research and development budgets. His campaign has produced mixed results. To the uneducated, there was shock and disappointment that Armstrong didn't come out and win races immediately, despite a four year hiatus from the sport, coupled with the fact that he left as the oldest person to ever win the Tour. Now, he is one of the oldest men in the peloton. Period.

Then again, this is what we expect from our champions. Perfection.

Jordan came out of retirement and had a puzzling stint with my hometown team here in DC, the Wizards. Mohammad Ali hung around too long and many wonder whether his brain trauma might have been mitigated had he retired after the famous Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman. Even now, Brett Favre is mulling a second comeback, possibly with the Minnesota Vikings, to the delight of very few fans.

As an Agent, I understand the marketability of someone like Armstrong. He is in a class all his own. Tiger. Beckham. Federer. Armstrong. But money isn't the question when it comes to Lance's decision to return. He says it's for cancer and was promulgated by watching what he described as a weak field last at last year's Tour. (It's also important to note that he is not drawing a salary and is in fact racing for free...though there have been reports of race appearnce fees, but like a lot of other things surrounding Armstrong, this is unconfirmed.) His detractors say that it's his insatiable ego that simply can't stay away from the limelight and that with four years away from the Tour, it needs another feeding. I tend to disagree with the latter point of view. While it's true that every successful athlete has an air of confidence, often mistakable with ego, this is what gives them their edge and in many ways, it is the psychological key to their performance.

An Airborne Ranger doesn't jump, hoping that his chute is going to open. He knows it will because he packed it himself and they are trained to be the best.

A neurosurgeon doesn't go into a complex 12-hour procedure hoping he can make something work. He knows he can, because he is trained to be the best and that's what he expects.

An MVP doesn't toe the line with a one and one and no time left on the clock, hoping to make one of them to send the game to OT. He knows he will because he shot free throws long after everyone left the gym, since he was in elementary school. Everything he's done has lead him to this point. He will succeed, because that's what he's trained to do.

In the ethos of sports personalities, this is the confidence of champions. Armstrong is no different. Whether he wins the Tour this year or rides in support of a younger, stronger rider like teammate, Alberto Contador; Lance's legacy is secured. He is a champion of champions. The accusations of drug use will persist throughout eternity, but until he fails a test, they are just that: accusations.

So here's hoping that at 37, Armstrong finds the legs he did when he won his first of seven Tours, in 1999 at the age of 27. The more important place, however, is the place that Lance Armstrong will occupy in the minds and hearts of millions of people across the world that are fighting their own private battle with cancer. For those of you who have never seen a small, bald, child holding a chemo tower, too weak too move, too tired to cry, you will never fully appreciate the depth or breadth of Armstrong's impact.

As he says in the closing lines of Nike's newest, brilliant advertisement: he's not doing this for the fans or the detractors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90DwfEGX5-Q

I believe him.

Good luck, Lance. Ride well. Fight hard. Live strong.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

A Brief Word for a Man Long on Class and Accomplishment

2009-05-31T12:46:00.000-04:00

On May 10th, legendary coach Chuck Daly succumbed to his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 78. I write this not only out of respect and acknowledgment for a hall of fame coach, but also with a heavy heart as Daly was the man that guided my beloved Detroit Pistons to their back to back titles in 89 and 90. He was a head coach, a master strategist, a manager of dynamic personalities and a true leader of men.

As Michael Wilbon pointed out in a rather poignant tribute in the Washington Post, "...he was never voted coach of the year in the NBA even though he led the Detroit Pistons to a pair of league championships and three consecutive Finals. But it turned out there was a more distinguished honor awaiting Chuck Daly. He was selected to coach the greatest team ever assembled, probably in any sport: the 1992 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, better known as the Dream Team."

As one of the key members of that Dream Team, Barkley described how he and Jordan and Robinson would practice that summer and then walk 18 holes of golf with Daly. In that, Daly had carved out a niche among professional coaches as a man that treated his players as men. To the oft-pampered pro athlete that went a long way. As Daly put it, "you want to create an environment where they'll let you coach them."

Others have said great words or put together beautiful tributes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4153982

I seek neither to match these tributes nor to eulogize the man I grew up idolizing as the mastermind of my all-time favorite team: the Detroit Bad Boys. I wish only to tip my cap and thank a man who was never short on class, dignity and an unmatched lead-by-example sense of elegance. In a team of Bad Boys, Chuck Daly was truly a good man.

Thanks Coach.

You will be missed.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

10-12-100

2009-02-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the launch of our second company blog, which will track our 12-month charity campaign: 10-12-100

This will be a running commentary on my 2009 campaign to run 10 marathons, in 12 months, to raise $100,000.00 for the Wounded Warrior Project. For a more in-depth explanation of the logistics, underlying reasoning, and how you can help, please visit our new blog:

10-12-100.blogspot.com

To make this a success, I need your support. More than that, I need you to lobby, inform, and encourage your friends, family, classmates and co-workers to get involved as well. In an age of change, some things remain the same: these young soldiers need our help.

As always, you can contact me directly with questions, comments or ideas on how you can contribute to the 10-12-100 campaign. I welcome your inquiries and I thank you in advance for your support.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

(26.2/38,356) = Humanity

2008-11-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, November 2 at 0900hrs, the gun went off for the 38th running of the New York City Marathon--a 26.2 mile race covering all 5 boroughs of the city. A race of that size, covering that distance, across the biggest city in the country gives me a migraine just thinking about the logistics that go into planning and executing such a well-run event. The level of attention to detail overseen by Race Director Mary Wittenberg and the staff and members of the New York Road Runners, the NYPD, the NYFD and the 6,000+ volunteers that show up to help on race day is absolutely staggering. Like the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall, the NYC Marathon is one of those things you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate it's scale and magnitude. So as I stood there with a sponsor at Mile 26, I began to think about just how many moving parts this machine really had.

If the devil is in the details, then the details are in the numbers. It is estimated that last weekend in New York City:

38,356 Started the race

37,899 Finished the race

58% were first time marathoners

105 Countries were represented

50 States and the District of Columbia were represented

105, 000 People applied to run the marathon

6,000 Volunteers assisted on race day

66% of Finishers were Male

34% of Finishers were Female

3,153 were from Italy (which was the highest number of non-US finishers)

3,037 were from Great Britain (second behind Italy)

$814,300.00 USD was the total prize purse

4 American men finished in the Top 10 despite one of the strongest Men's Field ever

3rd Place achieved by Queens native and first-time marathoner, Kara Goucher

30,000 Power Bars

90,000 8-ounce bottles of Poland Spring water

1,800 gallons of Gatorade Endurance Formula before the race (32,040 gallons on the course)

2,250,000 Paper cups used on the course

52,608 Gel packets...at mile 18 alone

11,410 pounds of ice

13,475 adhesive bandages

57,059 salt packets

3:56:06 Finish time of Gold Medal gymnast Kerri Strug (without any help from Bela)

3:50:22 Finish time of actor, Ryan Reynolds

2:23:56 Finish time of Female Winner, Paula Radcliffe, of Great Britain

2:08:43 Finish time of overall winner, Marilson Gomes Dos Santos, of Brazil

$165,000.00 Prize money for overall Male and Female winner

20 Highest number of race victories by a single country, the US (13 men, 7 women)

14 Kenya, in second place (9 and 5, respectively)

$250,000,000.00 total estimated economic impact of the ING NYC Marathon on race weekend

Though revealing, the numbers don't tell the whole story, or perhaps even the real story. That is what is told by the 37,899 finishers who traveled from all over the country and all over the world and along the way overcame daunting obstacles in the face of seemingly impossible odds, only to celebrate such tenacity and perseverance by further testing their already battle-weary mental fortitude by completing a 26.2 mile test of physical ability, mental focus and the outer limits of one's own pain threshold.

Yet despite such a dramatic descriptive, the scene at the finish line was the most diverse cross-section of humanity that one could imagine. There were young and old, hand cyclist and able-bodied, tall and short, thick and thin, veteran and activist, black and white, straight and gay, capitalist and communist.

They were all different, and yet they were all were the same: they were finishers.

Every journey starts with a single step.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

IRONMAN HAWAII: 30 YEARS OF REDEFINING METTLE

2008-10-11T04:57:00.000-04:00

mettle

noun

1. a. vigor and strength of spirit and temperament

Today, October 11, 2008, the famous Ironman World Championships, turns 30 years old. What better way to celebrate the world's toughest one-day endurance event, than to invite 1800 of the fittest, leanest, most Type-A competitors to the party--a veritable fitness fiesta where party guests will swim, bike and run 140.6 miles thru wind-swept lava fields in the height and heat of the Hawaiian day, all for the privilege and honor to call themselves an Ironman...a title that's always earned, never given.

Held every year on the big island during the first full-moon in October, athletes from around the world gather in Kona to battle the elements, the distance and themselves. It is a literal trial by fire, which demands a physical and emotional quitclaim deed from each and every participant as they enter the darkest recesses of their own mind--that place where self-doubt meets self-loathing and where in the midst of the "God just get me through this" inner-bargaining that takes place, competitors can promise the most unthinkable things to themselves and to the higher power if they'll just get out of the race alive.

Such is the landscape of the Hawaii Ironman and the seemingly unthinkable distances that combine to forge this legendary event. It starts at 0700hrs with a cannon blast and a rush of limbs, goggles and numbered swim caps as 1800 international competitors begin the 2.4 mile swim. Some 50-90 minutes later, racers exit the salty Hawaiian waters, run up the ramp and over the timing mats, grabbing their T1 bags (Transition 1) along the way as they dash into the change tents. Inside, competitors are ripping off swim gear and quickly putting on their cycling attire as they sprint out to their bikes--which have been racked sequentially by race number--for the start of the second leg: a 112 mile bike portion over the aforementioned lava fields and 40mph head and cross-winds. With wobbly legs, sunburned shoulders and salt-rings adorning their race suit, competitors complete the bike leg handing off their aerodynamic, carbon-fiber steed to the open arms of a waiting volunteer as they once again run into a change tent, marking T2. And now, perhaps the cruelest of gifts at this 30th birthday party greets them--a 26.2 mile run in the dead middle of the day on a shadeless, rolling run course.

The course is relentless. The competitors are peerless. The sunny, tropical pictures you see on NBC and in magazines are really more like a penal colony planet in a bad sci-fi movie. Yet despite the grueling picture described herein, the Ironman is best defined by the scene at the finish line. A simple white line on the asphalt, where the hardened champion melts, where the 70 year-old completes the unthinkable, where the cancer survivor has never felt more alive, where the everyman has a chance to be an Ironman.

What started as 13 men on the island of Oahu back in 1978, clad in speedos, steel bikes, cotton striped tube socks, mustaches and aviator sunglasses has given way to 1800 men and women in lycra, carbon-fiber, and UV-defying athletic chain-mail, all with the hope of making it through a three-stage, trial by fire. At various points throughout their 140 mile day, they will discover (or perhaps rediscover) much about themselves and in so doing, redefine their own mettle.

Happy Birthday, Ironman. Here's to 30 years of defying the limits of human performance while redefining the strength of the human spirit.

May you have 30 more...

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

RETURN OF THE KING

2008-09-17T15:31:00.000-04:00

It's official.

Lance Armstrong will be making a return to professional cycling in 2009, with the singular goal (I presume, that is) of winning the Tour de France--a feat that would make him not only the winningest rider in Tour history (with 8 victories) but also the oldest (he turns 37 tomorrow) to claim the coveted yellow jersey.

For seven straight years, Armstrong stormed the Pyrenees, owned the Alps, and destroyed the individual time trials en route to amassing a consecutive string of Tour wins that will likely never be matched. What's more is that he did it with the panache and finger-giving spirit that could be displayed only by someone who had stared down the barrel of a locked and loaded, pump-action death sentence and lived to talk about it...and LIVE he did.

In 1997, Armstrong started the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which ultimately gave birth to the Livestrong movement. In the summer of 2004, the last with the U.S. Postal Cycling Team (which became the Discovery Channel team in 2005), nearly the entire peleton wore a small yellow band on their wrist with the simple inscription, "LiveStrong." At $1 a piece, the initial run of 5 million bracelets quickly sold out and then another and another and yet another run after that. To date, more than 90 million LiveStrong bands have reportedly been sold world wide.

True to his word, Armstrong has been an ambassador in the fight against Cancer: a faceless, shapeless, odorless, enemy that kills men, women, infants and elderly with blatant disregard and reckless indifference. He was a one-man wrecking crew on the bike--a veritable Goliath if you will. He was the biggest, baddest thing on two wheels and he was truly a force to be reckoned with. This time, however, in his fight against cancer, Armstrong did not stand alone on the battlefield. Instead he is backed by what can only be described as "Lance's Army": a ground force of more than 100 million foot soldiers, comprised of cancer survivors, their families, supporters, advocates and donors. In so doing, Lance applied the same determination and trademark stubbornness that once defined his athletic career, in a very different kind of battle, but one which might ultimately define the measure of his legacy. Lance Armstrong: father, odds-beater, and the man who put a face on cancer, thereby ensuring its eventual cure. Now THAT is a legacy!

As an Agent, a cyclist, an Ironman, and as a son who buried his father during his first year of law school, I have a special interest in 2009 and the Return of the King. His seven year reign ended in 2005, as Lance freely and willingly abdicated his thrown. He went out on top, and left all the pundits, rivals, and fans wondering whether or not he had one more left in him. In 2009, Armstrong will answer those questions and countless others, and will undoubtedly do so in classic, swashbuckling, Texas style.

When Lance lines up next July to ride the prologue in what could potentially be his eighth Tour victory, he will only have eight teammates on the road with him, but he'll have an Army of over 100 million at his back. We welcome the fight.

Long live the King.

Welcome back, Lance.

Doug Eldridge

President

DLE Sports

Amazing Awaits...

2008-04-11T12:31:00.001-04:00

As I type this, I am sitting on a bench along the Canal in Georgetown, between client phone calls and in desperate need of a breather from the new DLE offices on I St. I grabbed my blackberry, my laptop, a cup of coffee and here I am. Berry's on vibrate, MacBook in my lap and coffee is piping hot. It's a beautiful morning here in D.C.

The C&O Canal stretches from D.C. all the way to Ohio and back in the day, it was one of the primary means of inter-coastal transportation of goods between Washington (and the Potomac River) and some of the land-locked states, using a system of locks and flat bottom boats, the likes of which you'd see in Amsterdam.

One hundred years later, Georgetown is filled with lobbying firms, law firms, multi-million dollar row houses, upscale designer retail and numerous parks and historic landmarks. With the fruit trees in full bloom, the famous D.C. cherry blossoms drawing record crowds this year, and the unseasonably tanned legs of runner passing me by (as my phone starts to vibrate, hang on...) it's safe to say spring has sprung in the nation's capital.

As much as I love this time of year in Washington, I'm looking forward to a big week of travel in support of two stellar DLE clients: Sarah Groff and Susannah Kvasnicka, who over the next 10 days will be competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials in Triathlon and the Marathon, respectively.

Sarah Groff is a member of the U.S. National Triathlon Team and is a dark-horse to take one of the two remaining spots on the three-man Olympic squad bound for Beijing later this summer. The race will take place next Saturday, April 19 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The format is simple: 1500m Swim, 40k Bike, 10k Run. Simple, right? Not hardly. As Sarah will tell you, it's a lifestyle of forbearance, fortitude and unwavering focus, not to mention the aches and pains of training for the three grueling disciplines. Nevertheless, Sarah is a model athlete, a dream client, and a truly good and honest person. I'm confident that her dedication and hard work will come to the fore next weekend under the Alabama sun.

Susannah Kvasnicka will escape the oppressive heat and humidity of the early spring in the deep south, but her task will be no less daunting: 26.2 miles over Boston's most brutal run course. The gun goes off early Sunday morning April 20 on what will be yet another stacked field for the U.S. Marathon Trials. (Sidenote: if you're wondering how I'll make both races, after Sarah's race I'll drive 3 hours from Tuscaloosa to Atlanta, catch a 9pm flight, arrive in Beantown just before 1am, grab a cab, a shower, a coffee and get to the staging area for the start of Susannah's race.) Susannah is a stud in her own right. An accountant by trade, she is a glowing mother of two, the winner for the 2005 Marine Corps Marathon, an exemplary citizen and a loyal DLE client. Her energy level is matched only by her disarming warmth, humility, and quiet charisma. I expect big things from Susannah in Boston.

As I look at my watch, I've got a phone interview in less than 5, so I'd better wrap it up...I'll close on this note:

Now that spring has arrived, summer is soon to follow and the Olympics are looming on the horizon. Media coverage has recently shifted toward Chines human rights issues, environmental concerns, and attacks on the Olympic torch bearers. While I realize that sex and sensationalism sell papers (or internet ad space) I hope that the true focus of the Olympic games will refocus and all of us will be reminded as to why we star our calendars every four years. For a few short weeks, the world comes together in the true spirit of sport. I encourage you to check out the internet trailer for the upcoming Beijing Olympics, simply entitled "Amazing Awaits." It is at once inspiring and humbling, to see the simple beauty of the athletes in these games. If it doesn't give you goose bumps, then check your pulse my friend.

With the Olympic games set to begin on 8.8.08 at 8pm, one thing's for sure...

Amazing Awaits.

For DLE, the road to Beijing starts next week.