Sampras splits with Manager and Nike
by richard Pagliaro (AP)
January 10, 2002
Pete Sampras continues to make major personnel changes in his career.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion, who recently replaced coach Paul Annacone
with Tom Gullikson, has now parted company with longtime business manager
Jeff Schwartz and management company IMG.
Sampras has hired Irving Azoff, noted manager of the rock group The Eagles,
as his new manager.
Schwartz represented Sampras at IMG before leaving to start his own management
company, Artists Management Group. IMG has represented Sampras since the
early stages of his career.
IMG in Cleveland confirmed the split to Tennis Week.
Tennis Week has also heard that while Sampras is currently wearing Nike
clothes and sneakers in Australia, he did not renew with Nike despite being
offered a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement.
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Sampras Changes Mind, Returns To AMG
by Richard Pagliaro
January 10, 2002
The day after Pete Sampras parted company with longtime business manager
Jeff Schwartz of Artists Management Group, he changed his mind and decided
to remain with Schwartz. However, Sampras has not returned to IMG, which
had been his management agency for eight years.
Schwartz, who formerly worked for IMG, left to start his own company, Artists
Management Group.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion, who recently replaced coach Paul Annacone
with Tom Gullikson, informed Schwartz he was seeking new representation
and reportedly hoped to sign with Irving Azoff, but Azoff apparently declined
Sampras's offer to serve as his manager and Sampras returned to Schwartz.
IMG in Cleveland confirmed Sampras had split to Tennis Week.on Wednesday.
Today, Artists Management Group said not only is Sampras staying, he has
consented to continuing renewal talks with Nike. Sampras' Nike deal expired
on December 31st and he had declined to renew with Nike despite being offered
a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement, but has now had a change of
heart.
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