azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Stoudemire paid as prep senior
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
J
une 10, 2004
Agent John Wolf sued former client Amaré Stoudemire to recoup money Wolf began paying to the Suns star when he was an Orlando high school senior, according to U.S. district court documents.
Wolf's legal complaint alleges that he paid Stoudemire $105,590.39 before Feb. 22, 2002, when they signed a player-agent contract that was submitted in court by Stoudemire's lawyers.
Wolf contends that he gave Stoudemire and his mother, Carrie, $206,069.28 in cash advances between Oct. 1, 2001, and Jan. 3, 2003, two months into his NBA Rookie of the Year season, for flights, car rentals, hotels and other personal expenses. He said there was an agreement the payments were loans that would be repaid, but only has received $10,000 from Stoudemire.
Wolf reportedly resigned as Stoudemire's agent within a month of the final alleged payment but his complaint acknowledges that Stoudemire "discharged" him.
Wolf's lawsuit originated last October, when Stoudemire received a summons a day after the season opener. Wolf won a default judgment in February. Stoudemire's wages began being garnished just before Stoudemire's attorneys asked for relief from the judgment last month.
A judge is considering whether to uphold the default judgment.
In a rebuttal of Wolf's complaint, Stoudemire's attorney said the 21-year-old, second-year player admits receiving payments at his request but denies that it totaled more than $75,000. He also said that third parties, such as Stoudemire's club coach, were paid without his knowledge.
"Stoudemire denies that the parties ever had an agreement regarding repayment," his defense document states. "Stoudemire further alleges that such grants of funds are a common tool utilized by managers or agents for budding professional athletes to establish loyalty and a sense of obligation and commitment on the part of the athlete as the athlete's career progresses. Upon information and belief, such grants of funds were calculated risks by Plaintiffs that would have been indirectly repaid by far greater than tenfold by future commissions on contracts and endorsements."
The contract submitted in court shows that Wolf agreed to not receive a commission on Stoudemire's initial deal, which is guaranteed for nearly $5.7 million over three years and includes a $2.6 million team option for a fourth season. Wolf then would have cashed in on a much larger contract for Stoudemire before the 2006-07 season.
Wolf's relationship with Stoudemire ended over negotiations for his Nike shoe deal.
"I really don't want to be involved in any of it," Wolf said when asked to comment on the case.
Stoudemire's new agent, Bill Duffy, could not be reached for comment Wednesday but has previously stated that "this is a subject Amaré doesn't care to discuss." Stoudemire is working out in California and will train with the U.S. Olympic team in late July.
The National Basketball Players Association's disciplinary committee is investigating Wolf for violating the union's regulations. NBPA regulations prohibit agents from giving "monetary inducements" to players, relatives or any person with ties to the player.
As for why Stoudemire did not respond to the lawsuit for 7 1/2 months, Stoudemire's camp contends that his business manager, Rodney Rice, thought the case was "erroneously filed" and would be withdrawn for arbitration. Stoudemire's side contends that NBPA rules require that such a dispute must go to arbitration before a lawsuit. However, Wolf's side argues that the rule only applies to disagreements over fees.
Stoudemire's high school for his senior year, Orlando's Cypress Creek, does not have much to forfeit if the Florida High School Athletic Association deems Stoudemire ineligible. Cypress Creek went 15-14 and lost a district final.
The first 24 of 38 payments listed by Wolf in court documents came during Stoudemire's senior season. The largest payments of $25,000 and $21,000 came in the span of a week. The latter was two days after his NBA debut.
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
J
une 10, 2004
Agent John Wolf sued former client Amaré Stoudemire to recoup money Wolf began paying to the Suns star when he was an Orlando high school senior, according to U.S. district court documents.
Wolf's legal complaint alleges that he paid Stoudemire $105,590.39 before Feb. 22, 2002, when they signed a player-agent contract that was submitted in court by Stoudemire's lawyers.
Wolf contends that he gave Stoudemire and his mother, Carrie, $206,069.28 in cash advances between Oct. 1, 2001, and Jan. 3, 2003, two months into his NBA Rookie of the Year season, for flights, car rentals, hotels and other personal expenses. He said there was an agreement the payments were loans that would be repaid, but only has received $10,000 from Stoudemire.
Wolf reportedly resigned as Stoudemire's agent within a month of the final alleged payment but his complaint acknowledges that Stoudemire "discharged" him.
Wolf's lawsuit originated last October, when Stoudemire received a summons a day after the season opener. Wolf won a default judgment in February. Stoudemire's wages began being garnished just before Stoudemire's attorneys asked for relief from the judgment last month.
A judge is considering whether to uphold the default judgment.
In a rebuttal of Wolf's complaint, Stoudemire's attorney said the 21-year-old, second-year player admits receiving payments at his request but denies that it totaled more than $75,000. He also said that third parties, such as Stoudemire's club coach, were paid without his knowledge.
"Stoudemire denies that the parties ever had an agreement regarding repayment," his defense document states. "Stoudemire further alleges that such grants of funds are a common tool utilized by managers or agents for budding professional athletes to establish loyalty and a sense of obligation and commitment on the part of the athlete as the athlete's career progresses. Upon information and belief, such grants of funds were calculated risks by Plaintiffs that would have been indirectly repaid by far greater than tenfold by future commissions on contracts and endorsements."
The contract submitted in court shows that Wolf agreed to not receive a commission on Stoudemire's initial deal, which is guaranteed for nearly $5.7 million over three years and includes a $2.6 million team option for a fourth season. Wolf then would have cashed in on a much larger contract for Stoudemire before the 2006-07 season.
Wolf's relationship with Stoudemire ended over negotiations for his Nike shoe deal.
"I really don't want to be involved in any of it," Wolf said when asked to comment on the case.
Stoudemire's new agent, Bill Duffy, could not be reached for comment Wednesday but has previously stated that "this is a subject Amaré doesn't care to discuss." Stoudemire is working out in California and will train with the U.S. Olympic team in late July.
The National Basketball Players Association's disciplinary committee is investigating Wolf for violating the union's regulations. NBPA regulations prohibit agents from giving "monetary inducements" to players, relatives or any person with ties to the player.
As for why Stoudemire did not respond to the lawsuit for 7 1/2 months, Stoudemire's camp contends that his business manager, Rodney Rice, thought the case was "erroneously filed" and would be withdrawn for arbitration. Stoudemire's side contends that NBPA rules require that such a dispute must go to arbitration before a lawsuit. However, Wolf's side argues that the rule only applies to disagreements over fees.
Stoudemire's high school for his senior year, Orlando's Cypress Creek, does not have much to forfeit if the Florida High School Athletic Association deems Stoudemire ineligible. Cypress Creek went 15-14 and lost a district final.
The first 24 of 38 payments listed by Wolf in court documents came during Stoudemire's senior season. The largest payments of $25,000 and $21,000 came in the span of a week. The latter was two days after his NBA debut.
