Why Are The Dallas Cowboys So Popular?

September 3, 2009 By

I’m always amazed at the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys and their players. I book sports celebrities across the country and no team except maybe baseball’s New York Yankees even come close to matching the popularity of the Cowboys.

The Cowboys popularity isn’t just confined to Texas. It’s true they are the most popular team in every corner of the state, but their popularity extends across the country. They earned the nickname “America’s Team” for good reason. Ask football fans in Richmond, VA who their favorite team is and they’re just as likely to say the Cowboys as the Redskins. ... Read More

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Bart Starr, Archie Manning, Dan Fouts, Roger Staubach Where Are They Now

August 27, 2009 By

It’s always interesting for me to hear what athletes are up to after their playing careers have ended. Today I’ll take a look at four quarterback greats.

Bart Starr

Then…Bart Starr was quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956-71, winning five NFL Championships and named MVP of the first two Super Bowls. He earned four Pro Bowl selections and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. After his playing career, Starr was the head coach of the Packers for nine seasons from 1975–83 and compiled a 52–76–3 record.

Now…Today, Starr resides in Alabama and runs Healthcare Realty Management. He is co-founder of the Rawhide Boys Ranch, a place which assists boys in trouble. He’s also a popular sports motivational speaker.

Archie Manning

Then…Archie Manning played for the New Orleans Saints from  1971 – 82. In 1972 he led the league in pass attempts and completions, and in 1978, he was named the NFC Player Of The Year by UPI. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1978 and 1979. He went on to conclude his career with the Houston Oilers (1982-1983). He ended his 13-year career having completed 2,011 of 3,642 passes for 23,911 yards and 125 touchdowns. His 2,011 completions ranked 17th in NFL history upon his retirement.

Now…Today, Manning is best known as the father of NFL stars Payton and Eli. He resides in New Orleans and travels around the country as a sports motivational speaker. He’s also served as a spokesperson for numerous companies, including UPS and Mastercard.

Dan  Fouts

Then…One of the most prolific passers in NFL history, Dan Fouts led the NFL in passing yards four times and ended his career with 40,000 yards, the third player to surpass that mark. He led the Chargers to the playoffs from 1979 – 82 and twice to the AFC Championship. His career high of 4,802 passing yards during the 1981 season was an NFL record at the time. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Now…Fouts lives in Oregon and has enjoyed a successful college and NFL broadcasting career with CBS, ABC and ESPN. He was an analyst on Monday Night Football alongside Al Michaels and Dennis Miller for two seasons beginning in 2000.

Roger Staubach

Then…After an illustrious career at Navy in which he won the 1963 Heisman Trophy, Roger Staubach helped the Cowboys become “America’s Team”. He led the Cowboys to four Super Bowl appearances, its first title in 1972 and a second one in 1978. He was named MVP of the 1972 Super Bowl and became the first of four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. When he retired in 1980, Staubach was the highest rated passer of all time at 83.4. The six-time Pro Bowler was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Now…Staubach has enjoyed as much success off the field as he did on it. Residing in Dallas, he started The Staubach Company, one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the country. He served as CEO of the multi-billion dollar company until he stepped down in 2007. The next year, the company was sold to Jones Lang LaSalle for $613 million.

PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency is a speakers bureau and top booking agent for football speakers, athlete appearances and endorsements.

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Baseball: Why Do Old Timers Hate On Current Players?

August 25, 2009 By

When newly-inducted Hall of Famer Jim Rice stated last week at the Little League World Series that today’s players aren’t role models, he created front page news.

Said Rice, “”You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod, you see Jeter….Guys that I played against and with, these guys you’re talking about cannot compare.”

Rice later claimed that he was misquoted, but the truth is that many former players don’t relate to today’s players. Why is that? ... Read More

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Brett Favre Vikings Deal Done Childress Says

August 18, 2009 By

Looks like Brett Favre is heading back to the Minnesota Vikings according to FoxSports. Although Favre turned the Vikings down several weeks ago, that didn’t stop Favre and Childress from continuing to talk.

One player had previously told FOXSports.com: “I’m telling you it’s already done … I don’t think anyone here doesn’t think that.” It now seems that the player could be right on the money.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress began informing the team of Favre’s imminent arrival on Tuesday morning, saying, “It’s a done deal,” one source told FOXSports.com’s Alex Marvez. ... Read More

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NFL Player Careers Take Off After Retirement

August 17, 2009 By

In the past for many football players, once their playing careers ended, they no longer had a way to stay involved with the game. Sure, some would go onto coaching or front-office positions, but the majority would have to get a “real” job and start a new career.

With the explosion of the NFL’s popularity and the continued growth of cable tv, many players are starting to pursuit broadcasting careers. There have always been broadcasting opportunities for a small number of former players such as Don Meredith and Frank Gifford, but the number of opportunities today is what makes a second career in broadcasting a viable option. ... Read More

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Ben Roethlisberger Denies Sexual Assault on Andrea McNulty (Video)

July 23, 2009 By

Ben Roethlisberger,  Pittsburgh Steeler’s quarterback recently accused of sexual assault by Andrea McNulty, issued a 20-second long statement to the media, denying the sexual assault allegations against him.

Roethlisberger said, “I did not sexually assault Andrea McNulty.”

He went on to say that “Saturday was the first that I learned of her accusations. Her false and vicious accusations are an attack on my family and on me”

“I would never, ever force myself on a woman.”

“I will fight to protect my family and my reputation.”

“I’m not going to discuss my private life or this civil case in the media.”

“I’ll respond to her outrageous allegations in the appropriate forum.”

“I have an obligation to our fans, my teammates to my coaches and everyone in the organization to remain focused on the Pittsburgh Steelers and I will do that.”

“The allegations against me are reckless and false.”

“As much as I would like to answer everyone’s questions, I will respect the legal process and I am confident that the truth will prevail”

Ben Roethlisberger Press Conference Sexual Assault Charges. Watch video

PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency is a speakers bureau and top booking agent for sports stars, athlete appearances, football speakers, endorsements and celebrities. For more information on how to contact Ben Roethlisberger booking agent, call 800.966.1380

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Baseball All Star Games Favorite Moments

July 14, 2009 By

Of all the All-Star games, I enjoy watching baseball’s version the best. I’ve been fortunate to attend eight of the Mid-Summer Classics. It’s very exciting to see all of the current stars on the field at once.

Nothing will compare to last year’s All Star game in New York, which will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. First of all, anytime you have a big event in New York, it’s going to be special. Secondly, the night was filled with tributes to Yankee Stadium, which was being closed at season’s end to make room for the new ballpark next door. Lastly, the game was an absolute classic with the American League defeating the National League, 4-3, in 15 innings. The game took 4 hours, 50 minutes and was the longest All-Star Game in history.

Commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball have attempted to make the game relevant by giving home-field advantage during the World Series to the winning league. Back in the day, the game was full of intensity and it really meant something to the winning players. Over time, the game’s importance diminished as it became more of a show than a game. You hear a lot of debate as to whether this is good or not. Personally, I think it would be more fair to give the team with the best record home-field advantage but I don’t have much of an issue since it’s brought a bit of intensity back to the game.

A few of my favorite moments from previous All-Star games…

1) In 1970, Pete Rose, playing at home in Cincinnati, attempted to score but had to get past catcher Ray Fosse. The ensuing collision not only helped solidify Rose’s reputation as “Charlie Hustle”, it had the unfortunate consequence of injuring Fosse’s shoulder. Rose was called safe at home and the National League won the thriller, 5 -4. Fosse went onto play nine more seasons but was never the same.

2) In 2001, Cal Ripken Jr. played in the last of his 19 All-Star games. The game was basically a Cal Ripken lovefest. In the third inning, Ripken made his first plate appearance and was greeted with a standing ovation. Ripken then homered off the first pitch from Chan Ho Park and ended up with All Star MVP honors.

3)  In 1999, baseball honored the All-Century Team prior to the game at Fenway Park, with such greats on-hand as Mike Schmidt, Brooks Robinson, Bob Gibson and Johnny Bench. However, the highlight of the evening occurred when the great Ted Williams was driven out to home plate and threw out the first pitch with the help of Tony Gwynn.

Will this year’s game produce any classic moments? I can’t guarantee that. However, St. Louis is rolling out the red carpet and, at the very least, I’m sure the pre-game ceremony will produce a goose-bump moment or two. Plus, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is having one of the greatest years in the history of baseball, so I assume he’s going to be a big part of the game and broadcast.

PFP Sports and Celebrity Booking Agency is a speakers bureau and top booking agent for sports stars, athlete appearances, endorsements and celebrities. For more information call 800.966.1380

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Wimbledon 2008 – The Greatest Tennis Match of All Time (Video)

June 30, 2009 By

My favorite tennis tournament is Wimbledon, held each year on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England.

I don’t claim to be a big tennis fan. In fact, I haven’t paid a lot of attention to the sport since the Jimmy Connors – John McEnroe – Bjorn Borg era. However, I always follow Wimbledon with at least a casual glance because of its storied history. This year marks the tournament’s 123rd year of competition.

It’s going to be hard for this year to surpass last year’s classic, which featured one of the all-time great men’s finals in which Rafael Nadal won his first Wimbledon title by defeating top-seeded Roger Federer. The final was a fragmented affair due to two rain delays, which stretched the event to over seven hours. The playing time itself made it the longest final in Wimbledon history at 4 hours and 48 minutes.

Best Match Ever – Federer Vs. Nadal 2008 Highlights

... Read More

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Deion Sanders Scores High Marks As Motivational Speaker

June 19, 2009 By

Professional athletes all have a special talent that very few people possess. Still others have a talent that can just be described as a freak of nature. A few athletes come to mind – two-sport stars Bo Jackson and Brian Jordan and baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, who was drafted by all three major sports out of college. But one of the best was without a doubt Deion Sanders.

Nicknamed “Prime Time” during his All-America football days at Florida State, Deion  is the only athlete to have ever played in both a Super Bowl and World Series. He is considered one of the greatest cover cornerbacks ever. He played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, winning the Super Bowl with the 49ers and Cowboys. He was a nine-time All-Pro and was named to the 1990’s NFL All-Decade Team.

In Major League Baseball, he played a nine-year, part-time career, participating in 641 games with four teams – the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. During the 1989 season, he became the first player in history to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week.

Deion was considered a better football player than baseball player. His reputation was so great that opposing offensive coordinators almost always specifically accounted for him in their game plan.[He was widely known to shut down “his” half of the field, causing most quarterbacks to essentially ignore the receiver he was covering. He allegedly ran a 4.16 in the 40-yard dash, making him the second fastest in the NFL to Darrell Green.

Deion also occasionally played offense. He and Bill Dudley are the only players in NFL history to score a touchdown six different ways – interception return, punt return, kickoff return, receiving, rushing and a fumble recovery.

Deion will mostly be remembered by his “Prime Time” persona and for “high-stepping” it into the end zone followed by his touchdown dance celebrations. The interesting thing about “Prime Time” was that it was just a marketing ploy. He used it to become not only a fan favorite but also one of the highest-paid athletes of his time.

Deion had some difficult times in the late 1990’s that led to him becoming born-again and an ordained minister. He also wrote an interesting book published in 1998  entitled “Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life.”

Today, Deion is a analyst for the NFL Network. He’s also an a highly-acclaimed Christian Speaker and motivational sports speaker. I recently hired him to speak at a client’s sales meeting and he received higher ratings for his speech than any other speaker.

If you would like to find out how to hire Deion Sanders for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Deion Sanders booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top sports and celebrity booking agent for athletes, entertainers, sports stars and celebrities.

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Will Tiger Woods Win The 2009 US Open?

June 17, 2009 By

The 2009 U.S. Open is set to tee off on Thursday, June 18. I hope this year’s U.S. Open can come close to matching the excitement of last year’s classic.

In case you forgot, the 2008 U.S. Open featured a 45-year old named Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods, the world’s top-ranked golfer, who had missed the previous two months due to knee surgery.

The affable, always-smiling Mediate was in the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead as Tiger stood over a 15-foot putt on the final hole that he had to make to force an 18-hole playoff the next day. And as only Tiger could do, he sank the putt.

On Monday, Rocco and Tiger provided one of the most exciting days in golf history, which was made even more dramatic by Tiger’s knee problems, which left him grimacing after many tee shots. It first appeared as though Tiger’s experience would be too much for Mediate as he built a three shot lead with eight holes to play. However, the gritty Mediate refused to quit and actually led by one four holes later. And as he had done on Sunday, Tiger had to make another putt on 18 to tie, which, of course, he did. Tiger went onto win on the next hole, the 91st hole of the tournament.

It was his 65th career victory, passing Ben Hogan for third all-time, and 14th major. Tiger raised his playoff record to 15-2 and made it 14-of-14 in majors when he had at least a share of the lead going into the final round. For Mediate, I’m sure there was disappointment, but you would have never known it. He won over a legion of fans and quickly became one of the most popular golfers on tour. His affable personality has opened up a world of opportunities, from endorsements to appearances to motivational sports speaking.

This year’s event starts on Thursday at Bethpage Black in New York. The initial weather forecast calls for rain off and on throughout the week, and if that holds true, it’s going to keep the scores low and reward those players who keep the ball in the fairway and out of the notoriously-thick rough. So who am I picking to win this year’s event?

Tiger won Jack Nicklaus’s event a couple of weeks ago at Muirfield and drove the ball better than he has all year. If he plays the same this week, he could be tough to beat. I also like a few international golfers, including Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 Open winner, and Retief Goosen, a two-time Open champion . My darkhorse…Brian Gay, who won the event in Memphis last week after leading wire-to-wire. A two-time winner this year, Brian is a tough competitor when he’s on top of his game.

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