By Scary Barry Rodriguez October 17, 2013
While the Nation was experiencing a temporary Government shutdown and commuters in the San Francisco Bay area are fearful of a Bart strike, the great Scary Barry has more weighty matters on his mind. It has been reported on the internet and in the print media that Rap mogul JAY Z is recognized by the NBA and MLB as a certified Sports agent or Player's representative via the firm he founded ROC NATION SPORTS AGENCY.
What caught my attention was references to an article in the November 2013 issue of Vanity Fair. Their were quotes on the internet about JAY Z, otherwise known as Shawn Corey Carter stating that in his previous life he was a drug dealer and information about a criminal conviction for Assault .
After I did some research about the legal requirements for a certified Player's representative by both the Major league Baseball Players Association and the NBA's counterpart the NBPA , the next order of business was to go out and purchase the November 2013 issue of Vanity Fair.
The article titled " JAY Z HAS THE ROOM ' is written by Lisa Robinson. The Scary one is an impatient person but I wanted to be thorough, so reading every word was important. Lisa Robinson indulged in gratuitous written butt kissing , painting a picture of JAY Z as a cross between Albert Einstein and Jesus Christ. His altruism . Rising above his Marcy projects beginnings in the hood and his desire to help his fellow man. I was moved to tears ! Not !
All that aside, the meat in the article was about how he was a drug dealer in the past and how it contributes to his role as a Sports Agent. To quote the article and Jay Z himself on page 212 , " I asked about his earlier remark : that he had to know about budgets to make drug deals. " To be in a drug deal , " he said , " you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up . " The article touts his business acumen. I applaud his honesty about his prior criminal assault conviction but I question his qualifications as Player's representative.
In the document NBPA REGULATION GOVERNING PLAYER AGENTS ,A section 2 , second paragraph , " To be eligible for certification the applicant must have received a degree from an accredited four year college/university. The Committee shall have the authority to determine whether relevant negotiating experience can substitute for any years of education ."
In section 5 of the same document C. " Grounds for Denial of Certification " the 4th paragraph states " Upon the Committee determining that the applicant has engaged in any other conduct that significantly impacts adversely on his credibility, integrity or competency to serve in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of players. " Also Jay Z still has part ownership interest in the Brooklyn Nets ! That is also a no no.
Just on the face of it Shawn Corey Carter is not a qualified applicant as provided for in the documents provided by NBPA. Chris Paul is the President of the Executive Committee. In the recent years there have been many scandals involving players and their agents. Ex pro football great Terrell Owens is suing his former agent for introducing him and other players to a shaky person involved in a casino deal that didn't pan out ! This case involves thirty two million dollars lost by multiple player investors.
It is understood that in the Rap music business that having " street cred " is essential in being considered legitimate. If 50 Cent hadn't been shot nine times where would career have been ! Criminal records , nightclub fights , talking smack, is part and parcel of the Rap music business. Does that experience lend itself to the legal representation of pro ball players ?
If I didn't cover sports and entertainment I would be asking the same questions about certain government officials who were CEO's of major corporations and then go into high positions suposedly representing citizens interests for the U.S. government. I have no problem with Jay Z and Diddy trying to emulate Frank Sinatra. I love the Al Pacino movie " Scarface " but I don't think its a good business model !
Actually I think the Vanity Fair article was funny ! Comparing so called " sophisticated " rapping to Cole Porter and jazz musicians just cracks me up . Jay Z has really got it going ! He is into producing music , his own clothing line , investments in everything under the sun and estimated to be worth five hundred million dollars. Don't forget Beyonce is his wife ! Call me stubborn but I don't think he is qualified to be a Sports agent.
The Scary one has a four year University degree , a certificate in Paralegal studies from UC extension and Union experience with negotiating, yet I wouldn't feel comfortable being responsible for other people's millions of dollars. Maybe I got it all wrong. What if I had been a drug dealer in my past life , stabbed someone and didn't finish high school or never went to college ? If that was the case I'd have a shot at being a certified Sports agent in the MLB and NBA. Ride on !
WARNING:
THESE ARTICLES ARE INTENDED TO ENTERTAIN/EDUCATE AND PROVIDE THE AUTHOR WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HIS MOJO ON!
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