🏀 Zion Williamson’s former marketing agent requests for admission in their lawsuit asking him to admit that he received “money, benefits, favors ...
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JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
BamaFan334
Member
Agree with above, just let them make the same dumbass decisions to bypass college, feel good by the words of an agent for a little bit,and sell your future for some quick cash. A few guys have the talent, but 98% cannot make the jump. Kobe, Garnett, Lebron, and Amare Stodemire are the big ones I can recall. The beat players of all time went to college and needed that time.
I wish idiot kids would allow educators to help them by giving them some schooling on the side, but they would rather gamble and lose rather than beat the house by playing it safe by going to school, getting educated, play and develop for three years. But yes, just let them go pro so stupid stuff like this isn't in the news. We know Zion took money, just like all the others. He seems like a great guy, but his parents shopped him like most other underpriviledged parents.
I wish idiot kids would allow educators to help them by giving them some schooling on the side, but they would rather gamble and lose rather than beat the house by playing it safe by going to school, getting educated, play and develop for three years. But yes, just let them go pro so stupid stuff like this isn't in the news. We know Zion took money, just like all the others. He seems like a great guy, but his parents shopped him like most other underpriviledged parents.
planomateo
Member
She has her point, doesn't she? A five year contract broken without cause is her point. It's his "defense" that gets me.
I understand the "should have been written in the contract" stance but it goes against what everyone knows about collegiate basketball: if you sign, you sign your eligibility away.
planomateo
Member
A more interesting thing from her bio? Being married to Tommy Ford...
18Champs
Member
Lawyers for a marketing agent embroiled in a lawsuit with former Duke star Zion Williamson filed a document in Miami circuit court last week that asks Williamson to answer a host of questions, some of which pertain to his eligibility during his single season with the Blue Devils.
The document is a prelude to depositions that could occur as soon as later this month and could, according to lawyers for marketing agent Gina Ford, include Williamson as well as Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
In the Plaintiff’s Notice of Propounding First Set of Interrogatories, attorneys for Ford, a Miami-based commercial agent, ask the New Orleans Pelicans star:
• Who owned the house at which Sharonda Sampson and Lee Anderson (your mother and step-father, respectively) lived during the time that you attended Duke?
• Fully state all facts that show how Sharonda Sampson and Lee Anderson … found and paid for the house in which they lived during the time that you attended Duke.
• Identify by landlord name, address, telephone number, and monthly rental rate, the property that you and your family lived in during your attendance of Duke University.
• Before attending Duke University did you, or anyone acting on your behalf, including, but not limited to, Sharonda Sampson, Lee Anderson, Sharonda Sampson Consulting, or any other person or intermediary) directly or indirectly (through persons on your behalf) accept money, benefits, favors or other things of value to induce or incentivize you to select Duke University as your college for undergraduate study?
• Before attending Duke University did you, or anyone acting on your behalf, including, but not limited to, Sharonda Sampson, Lee Anderson, Sharonda Sampson Consulting, or any other person or intermediary) directly or indirectly (through persons on your behalf) accept money, benefits, favors or other things of value to induce or incentivize you to use and/or wear Nike tennis shoes and other products?
• Before attending Duke University did you, or anyone acting on your behalf, including, but not limited to, Sharonda Sampson, Lee Anderson, Sharonda Sampson Consulting, or any other person or intermediary) directly or indirectly (through persons on your behalf) accept money, benefits, favors or other things of value to induce or incentivize you to use and/or wear Adidas tennis shoes and other products?
The questions are eye-popping but what exactly do they mean? Contacted by phone, Ford referred questions to her attorneys. When asked if she was involved in any illegal payments or benefits to Williamson, she replied. “No, no, no. Definitely not me, 100 percent.’’
What is the basis of the lawsuit?
Just after declaring for the draft, Williamson signed a contract with Ford, the president of Prime Sports Marketing, to handle his endorsement deals. No one argues that. There is a signed contract, as well as pictures of Ford with Williamson and Krzyzewski during a photoshoot for Slam magazine.
But Williamson later broke that contract and signed with CAA. Ford contacted the agency, asking for mediation or threatening a lawsuit. Instead, Williamson sued Prime Sports and Ford, contending that the contract with Prime Sports was never enforceable because Prime Sports did not follow the guidelines of the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agent Act, and warn Williamson of potential eligibility issues.
The following week, Ford countersued, filing in Florida and arguing that Williamson breached his contract when he signed with CAA agents. Her lawyers are arguing that he willfully and knowingly signed the document and that the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agent Act doesn’t apply because Williamson already had declared for the NBA Draft with no intention of returning to Duke.
These rather explosive questions factor in because the lawyers argue that if they can prove Williamson was paid before or during his tenure at Duke, he would be ineligible and thereby no longer a student-athlete. “It doesn’t matter when the contract is entered into. If you’re no longer a student-athlete, the rules of the NCAA no longer apply,’’ Ford’s attorney Larry Strauss said. “The nuance is that this does not just apply to him. Any third party that acted as an agent, his parent or handlers, all of their actions can also affect eligibility.’’
Both parties have sought dismissal of the other’s case, but each has been denied.
So what exactly are these questions then?
These are what are called interrogatories, the very beginning of discovery. Williamson merely needs to affirm or deny each question.
As explosive as they are, they do not necessarily mean Ford’s attorneys have proof of any wrongdoing.
The Athletic spoke to Ford’s lead attorney Willie Gary, of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, and when asked if he had such evidence, he did not answer directly. ”We have ideas, opinions and some leads of our own,’’ he said. “We are looking for information to support our case. This is what we want to know.’’ Gary added that some of their information is from “public hearing.’’ When asked if that included the federal investigation into basketball, he confirmed it was. Williamson’s name came up at one trial, when during a taped conversation with Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, Adidas rep Merl Code alleged Williamson’s family was looking for money and housing in exchange for a commitment.
Lawyer Michael Avenatti later alleged Nike paid Williamson. Duke said it investigated those claims but found no proof. Avenatti later was convicted of attempting to extort Nike.
A spokesman for Jeffrey Klein, Williamson’s lawyer, pointed to the same Duke statement from September.
What’s next?
Strauss said his side hopes to begin deposing witnesses as soon as the end of the month or early June, though the coronavirus pandemic could prolong the timeline.
Who could be deposed?
Certainly Williamson and his mother, Sharonda Sampson, and his stepfather, Lee Anderson. When asked if Krzyzewski, who is mentioned in Ford’s claim, could be deposed, Gary said, “We will leave no stone unturned for our case. We’re not going to waste our time on deposing people that aren’t relevant, but where it is relevant, we will leave no stone unturned.”
Williamson had several lucrative endorsement deals lined up during his rookie season, including with Jordan Brand. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Who exactly is Gina Ford?
Ford is the ex-wife of the late comedian Tommy Ford. She counts Usain Bolt as her most famous client and served as co-executive producer of a Lifetime movie about the life of Wanda Pratt, Kevin Durant’s mother.
Documents show that Ford has formed and reformed her business several times, with various partners. Among the reiterations: In August 2018 she created MAG Sports & Entertainment with two partners, Akin Ayodele, a former NFL player, and Munish Sood, a name that should be familiar. He was among the key players in the federal investigation into college basketball. In fact, 25 days after MAG was created, Sood pleaded guilty to federal bribery crimes and wire fraud conspiracy. (MAG was dissolved “with no business transacted,” according to Sood’s filing.)
How did Ford meet Williamson?
This is where it gets even more layered. Ford is facing yet another lawsuit, this one from former Louisiana-Monroe basketball player Cedriquze Johnson. He contends that he facilitated a relationship between Ford and Williamson, with a promise of a 5 percent cut in return for his work. Johnson’s lawyer, Josh Alper, told The Athletic, “We have nothing against Zion Williamson, and this is not a personal vendetta against him or anything like that. My client did his job and helped Ms. Ford land a once-in-a-lifetime client and wants to be compensated. And we believe Ms. Ford should be compensated for her work too.’’
Alper added that Johnson and Ford “acted in compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations at all times.’’
Alper said Johnson and Ford are scheduled for mediation later this week.
Johnson, a Louisiana native, said he has known Williamson since Williamson was a junior in high school. How they met is unclear, but Johnson said he followed Williamson throughout his grassroots career and regularly attended Duke games. He also attended the NBA Summer League in 2019, wearing an agent/scout credential.
Did Ford negotiate any deals for Williamson?
Ford said she was in negotiations with Puma for a deal with Williamson that would have “revolutionized” the professional sports shoe industry and claimed she met with Williamson’s stepfather in California in May 2019 about the deal. In July of that year, after Williamson had dumped Ford but before CAA announced his deal with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Williamson wore Pumas during Summer League.
theathletic.com
The document is a prelude to depositions that could occur as soon as later this month and could, according to lawyers for marketing agent Gina Ford, include Williamson as well as Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
In the Plaintiff’s Notice of Propounding First Set of Interrogatories, attorneys for Ford, a Miami-based commercial agent, ask the New Orleans Pelicans star:
• Who owned the house at which Sharonda Sampson and Lee Anderson (your mother and step-father, respectively) lived during the time that you attended Duke?
• Fully state all facts that show how Sharonda Sampson and Lee Anderson … found and paid for the house in which they lived during the time that you attended Duke.
• Identify by landlord name, address, telephone number, and monthly rental rate, the property that you and your family lived in during your attendance of Duke University.
• Before attending Duke University did you, or anyone acting on your behalf, including, but not limited to, Sharonda Sampson, Lee Anderson, Sharonda Sampson Consulting, or any other person or intermediary) directly or indirectly (through persons on your behalf) accept money, benefits, favors or other things of value to induce or incentivize you to select Duke University as your college for undergraduate study?
• Before attending Duke University did you, or anyone acting on your behalf, including, but not limited to, Sharonda Sampson, Lee Anderson, Sharonda Sampson Consulting, or any other person or intermediary) directly or indirectly (through persons on your behalf) accept money, benefits, favors or other things of value to induce or incentivize you to use and/or wear Nike tennis shoes and other products?
• Before attending Duke University did you, or anyone acting on your behalf, including, but not limited to, Sharonda Sampson, Lee Anderson, Sharonda Sampson Consulting, or any other person or intermediary) directly or indirectly (through persons on your behalf) accept money, benefits, favors or other things of value to induce or incentivize you to use and/or wear Adidas tennis shoes and other products?
The questions are eye-popping but what exactly do they mean? Contacted by phone, Ford referred questions to her attorneys. When asked if she was involved in any illegal payments or benefits to Williamson, she replied. “No, no, no. Definitely not me, 100 percent.’’
What is the basis of the lawsuit?
Just after declaring for the draft, Williamson signed a contract with Ford, the president of Prime Sports Marketing, to handle his endorsement deals. No one argues that. There is a signed contract, as well as pictures of Ford with Williamson and Krzyzewski during a photoshoot for Slam magazine.
But Williamson later broke that contract and signed with CAA. Ford contacted the agency, asking for mediation or threatening a lawsuit. Instead, Williamson sued Prime Sports and Ford, contending that the contract with Prime Sports was never enforceable because Prime Sports did not follow the guidelines of the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agent Act, and warn Williamson of potential eligibility issues.
The following week, Ford countersued, filing in Florida and arguing that Williamson breached his contract when he signed with CAA agents. Her lawyers are arguing that he willfully and knowingly signed the document and that the North Carolina Uniform Athlete Agent Act doesn’t apply because Williamson already had declared for the NBA Draft with no intention of returning to Duke.
These rather explosive questions factor in because the lawyers argue that if they can prove Williamson was paid before or during his tenure at Duke, he would be ineligible and thereby no longer a student-athlete. “It doesn’t matter when the contract is entered into. If you’re no longer a student-athlete, the rules of the NCAA no longer apply,’’ Ford’s attorney Larry Strauss said. “The nuance is that this does not just apply to him. Any third party that acted as an agent, his parent or handlers, all of their actions can also affect eligibility.’’
Both parties have sought dismissal of the other’s case, but each has been denied.
So what exactly are these questions then?
These are what are called interrogatories, the very beginning of discovery. Williamson merely needs to affirm or deny each question.
As explosive as they are, they do not necessarily mean Ford’s attorneys have proof of any wrongdoing.
The Athletic spoke to Ford’s lead attorney Willie Gary, of Gary, Williams, Parenti, Watson & Gary, and when asked if he had such evidence, he did not answer directly. ”We have ideas, opinions and some leads of our own,’’ he said. “We are looking for information to support our case. This is what we want to know.’’ Gary added that some of their information is from “public hearing.’’ When asked if that included the federal investigation into basketball, he confirmed it was. Williamson’s name came up at one trial, when during a taped conversation with Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, Adidas rep Merl Code alleged Williamson’s family was looking for money and housing in exchange for a commitment.
Lawyer Michael Avenatti later alleged Nike paid Williamson. Duke said it investigated those claims but found no proof. Avenatti later was convicted of attempting to extort Nike.
A spokesman for Jeffrey Klein, Williamson’s lawyer, pointed to the same Duke statement from September.
What’s next?
Strauss said his side hopes to begin deposing witnesses as soon as the end of the month or early June, though the coronavirus pandemic could prolong the timeline.
Who could be deposed?
Certainly Williamson and his mother, Sharonda Sampson, and his stepfather, Lee Anderson. When asked if Krzyzewski, who is mentioned in Ford’s claim, could be deposed, Gary said, “We will leave no stone unturned for our case. We’re not going to waste our time on deposing people that aren’t relevant, but where it is relevant, we will leave no stone unturned.”
Williamson had several lucrative endorsement deals lined up during his rookie season, including with Jordan Brand. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Who exactly is Gina Ford?
Ford is the ex-wife of the late comedian Tommy Ford. She counts Usain Bolt as her most famous client and served as co-executive producer of a Lifetime movie about the life of Wanda Pratt, Kevin Durant’s mother.
Documents show that Ford has formed and reformed her business several times, with various partners. Among the reiterations: In August 2018 she created MAG Sports & Entertainment with two partners, Akin Ayodele, a former NFL player, and Munish Sood, a name that should be familiar. He was among the key players in the federal investigation into college basketball. In fact, 25 days after MAG was created, Sood pleaded guilty to federal bribery crimes and wire fraud conspiracy. (MAG was dissolved “with no business transacted,” according to Sood’s filing.)
How did Ford meet Williamson?
This is where it gets even more layered. Ford is facing yet another lawsuit, this one from former Louisiana-Monroe basketball player Cedriquze Johnson. He contends that he facilitated a relationship between Ford and Williamson, with a promise of a 5 percent cut in return for his work. Johnson’s lawyer, Josh Alper, told The Athletic, “We have nothing against Zion Williamson, and this is not a personal vendetta against him or anything like that. My client did his job and helped Ms. Ford land a once-in-a-lifetime client and wants to be compensated. And we believe Ms. Ford should be compensated for her work too.’’
Alper added that Johnson and Ford “acted in compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations at all times.’’
Alper said Johnson and Ford are scheduled for mediation later this week.
Johnson, a Louisiana native, said he has known Williamson since Williamson was a junior in high school. How they met is unclear, but Johnson said he followed Williamson throughout his grassroots career and regularly attended Duke games. He also attended the NBA Summer League in 2019, wearing an agent/scout credential.
Did Ford negotiate any deals for Williamson?
Ford said she was in negotiations with Puma for a deal with Williamson that would have “revolutionized” the professional sports shoe industry and claimed she met with Williamson’s stepfather in California in May 2019 about the deal. In July of that year, after Williamson had dumped Ford but before CAA announced his deal with Nike’s Jordan Brand, Williamson wore Pumas during Summer League.
What’s behind the lawsuit probing Zion Williamson’s eligibility at Duke
Agent Gina Ford's lawyer are seeking to depose Williamson and question whether he received benefits against NCAA rules.
theathletic.com
planomateo
Member
JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
John Thompson had a deflated basketball on his desk at Georgetown. Told recruits the ball wasn't always gonna bounce and they had better get an education and be able to do something else when it stopped bouncing.
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