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Steve Stein
I Contributing Writer
S
torm Kirschenbaum's
Birmingham-based Metis Sports
Management firm represents 75
professional baseball players who play
across the world.
Clients are advised about everything
from personal matters to legal questions
to how to interact with teammates and
management.
So, from a sports agent's perspec-
tive, what's Kirschenbaum's reaction to
University of Missouri defensive end
Michael Sam's decision earlier this month
to reveal to the world that he's gay?
Sam could become the first openly
gay football player to be drafted and play
in the NFL.
"First, I'm very impressed with how
intelligently he made the announcement
and how confident he is about his abili-
ties as a football player:' Kirschenbaum
said. "This is something that's needed to
happen for a long time.
"I don't think the reaction to his com-
ing out is going to affect him on the field"
While Sam's inclusion in the NFL
is going to cause a plethora of issues,
Kirschenbaum said, he feels it may have
the biggest impact on other members of
the incoming draft class.
"When these guys participate in the
NFL combine (Feb. 22-25), they're going
to be asked by teams how they would
feel about a having a gay player on their
team," he said. "I'm sure agents are pre-
paring their clients for this question"
What would Kirschenbaum advise his
clients to do?
"Be honest, but think first about say-
ing you're anti-gay because that could
cause you problems:' he said.
Kirschenbaum said he doubts Sam's
announcement will hurt his draft poten-
tial, but he thinks some teams will think
twice about selecting him because of the
publicity that will be generated.
"It might not be the kind of publicity
some teams want:' he said.
Another incident involving a college
athlete grabbed headlines recently.
Oklahoma State basketball star
Marcus Smart shoved a Texas Tech fan
during a game and was suspended for
three games by the Big 12 Conference.
Again, from a sports agent's perspec-
tive, what would Kirschenbaum advise
Smart to do as he meets with possible
NBA employers after the season?
"Assure them that the incident was a
spur-of-the-moment thing and it will
never happen again:' he said. "He should
say he never should have touched the
Animal Meet and Greets are held Saturdays from noon to 4pm.
Locations alternate between Petco Troy on Coolidge Hwy and
Premier Pet Supply on Southfield Rd in Beverly Hills.
Check our website for a full listing.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Storm Kirschenbaum
guy, just given him a stern look because
he thought he heard a racial slur yelled
at him.
"And he should emphasize that he
doesn't have a history of this kind of
behavior."
Kirschenbaum, an attorney, founded
his company in 2007. He serves as presi-
dent.
An outstanding baseball player at
Birmingham Groves High School and in
college at the University of Florida and
Long Island University, he was elected to
the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 2012.
Among his firm's clients are Toronto
Blue Jays catcher Eric Kratz and Los
Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Jose
Dominguez.
• Walking dogs at events
• Event set up/tear down
• Screening potential adopters
'OSTER
Provide a temporary home to an
animal in need.
)ONATE
Sponsor an animal's care. Food, gift cards,
cash or check. Become a monthly donor.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP!
Web: www.safarianimalrescue.org
E-mail: info@safarianimalrescue.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/safarianimalrescue Amazon.com -search wish list for Safari Rescue
P.O. Box 532353, Livonia, Ml 48153
Donations may be dropped off at our adoption events or Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm at:
State Farm Insurance - Care of Denise
724 W 11 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48067
(734) 666-0116
Sign Up Online
Athletes, ArtsFest participants, vol-
unteers and host families can sign up
online for the 2014 JCC Maccabi Games
and ArtsFest that will be held Aug.
17-22 in the Detroit area.
Go to http://www.jccmaccabigames.
org/registration. You'll find registration
forms and other information.
Athletes must be ages 12-16; ArtsFest
participants must be ages 12-17.
Questions? Call (248) 432-5500 or
send an email to jccmaccabi2014@
jccdet.org.
Eight Years Ago
Ben Agosto made history Feb. 20, 2006.
The Birmingham Groves High School
graduate and partner Tanith Belbin
became the first Americans to win a
medal in ice dancing at the Winter
Olympics when they won a silver at the
Turin Games.
Ice dancing had been contested at
the Olympics since 1976, so the medal
ended a 20-year U.S. drought.
Agosto and Belbin retired from com-
petition in 2010. Besides the Olympic
medal, they won five consecutive nation-
al championships from 2004-2008.
What is Agosto, 32, doing these days?
He lives in Lacey, Wash., and, not
surprisingly, is a coach and consultant to
figure skaters.
Specializing in Off-leash Obedience Training for the Family Dog
No time to train your dog? No problem!
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❑
Send sports news to sports@thejewishnews.
COM.
Not Everyone Likes Dogs... But Everyone LOVES a Well Trained Dog!
248.236.0287 WWW.GREATDOGS.ORG
February 20 • 2014
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