Posted On: December 7, 2009
When the Sports Agent Criticizes his Own Client
Ask yourself why a sports agent would criticize his own client in a public forum. According to the track site LetsRun, Michael Johnson is the agent for Jeremy Wariner (although the USATF web site says Deon Minor is Wariner's agent). Surely when asked whether Usain Bolt could beat his client in the 400, Johnson demurred, right? Not exactly:
Asked what the triple Olympic and World Championships gold medalist needed to do to beat the American LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner, who have dominated the event over the last five years, Johnson replied: “Well right now, not very much because they’re not running that fast. They didn’t run 43 seconds last year, so I think he (Bolt) could step on the track this year and run 43 seconds, I honestly do,” he said.
It’s always a good thing when agents are honest and do not place unrealistic burdens on the shoulders of their clients. Still, it’s rare for an agent to directly state that his client will likely lose to someone else.
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