Jeff Moorad
Encyclopedia
Jeff Moorad is a former sports agent
and is currently lead owner of the San Diego Padres
and part-owner (12%) of the Arizona Diamondbacks
baseball team.
He is an Assyrian American. He also owns the Hall of Fame Racing
NASCAR
team.
at 'Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn' ("SMD") and represented many baseball
, football
, and basketball players. They sold SMD in October 1999 to Assante Sports Management Group, a Canadian financial-management firm, for a reported $120 million. Assante acquired several other sports agencies. In February 2002, David Dunn left SMD to open Athletes First, taking about 50 N.F.L. players with him and opening offices about a mile from Steinberg's in Newport Beach, Calif. Extensive litigation ensued involving Dunn and Assante. Steinberg later reacquired some pieces of the agency he had sold to Assante.
When Steinberg left, Moorad renamed the firm as Moorad Sports Management. One of the most prominent players managed by Moorad during his tenure as an agent was left-fielder Manny Ramirez
. In December 2000, Moorad and then-Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette
famously brokered the $160 million deal which brought the enigmatic Ramirez to Boston. Ramirez subsequently switched to another agent, Scott Boras
, who represented him in the deal where he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers
in 2008.
Over his career, Moorad has also represented Will Clark
, Steve Young, Warren Moon
, Shawn Green
among others.
, succeeding Jerry Colangelo
who had brought the team to Arizona. Moorad would be in partnership with Ken Kendrick
the lead investor among the owners of the Diamondbacks. When joining the Diamondbacks, Moorad ceded control of his sports management business to another sports agent, Greg Genske
.
from John Moores
. Moores was selling the team because he was going through a divorce. Moorad and his group of 12 investors (including former Dallas Cowboys
QB Troy Aikman
, Rancho Santa Fe businessman Wayne Seltzer, entrepreneur John McAvoy, local home builder Al Baldwin, Phoenix, AZ businessman/real estate developer Jay D.. Stein, NoCal money manager Rick Barry, CEO of Save Mart Supermarkets
Bob Piccinini, cell-phone honcho John McEvoy, and Panda Restaurant
CEO Tom Davin
) would own 30% of the team with Moorad serving as club CEO. Moorad's group is expected to gain full control of the Padres from Chairman John Moores
incrementally over 5 years. However, Moorad also still owns a 12% share of the Diamondbacks, whose principal owner Ken Kendrick
was reportedly not happy with the circumstances of Moorad's departure.
. He earned an Associate in Arts degree from Modesto Junior College
(1976); a degree in Political Science (B.A. 1978) from UCLA. He received a law degree from Villanova University
School of Law (J.D.) in 1981.
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
and is currently lead owner of the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and part-owner (12%) of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
baseball team.
He is an Assyrian American. He also owns the Hall of Fame Racing
Hall of Fame Racing
Hall of Fame Racing was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing team principally owned by Jeff Moorad, Tom Garfinkel, and Tom Davin. The team was created as a joint venture between former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman...
NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team.
Biography
For many years, Moorad was a player agent partnered with Leigh SteinbergLeigh Steinberg
Leigh William Steinberg is an American sports agent and sports lawyer. His client list has included Steve Bartkowski, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Ben Roethlisberger, Myron Rolle, Matt Leinart, Mark Brunell, Ricky Williams,...
at 'Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn' ("SMD") and represented many baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, and basketball players. They sold SMD in October 1999 to Assante Sports Management Group, a Canadian financial-management firm, for a reported $120 million. Assante acquired several other sports agencies. In February 2002, David Dunn left SMD to open Athletes First, taking about 50 N.F.L. players with him and opening offices about a mile from Steinberg's in Newport Beach, Calif. Extensive litigation ensued involving Dunn and Assante. Steinberg later reacquired some pieces of the agency he had sold to Assante.
When Steinberg left, Moorad renamed the firm as Moorad Sports Management. One of the most prominent players managed by Moorad during his tenure as an agent was left-fielder Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
. In December 2000, Moorad and then-Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette
Dan Duquette
Daniel F. Duquette is the Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the General Manager of the Montreal Expos from September through January and for the Boston Red Sox from through March...
famously brokered the $160 million deal which brought the enigmatic Ramirez to Boston. Ramirez subsequently switched to another agent, Scott Boras
Scott Boras
Scott Boras is an American sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder, owner and president of the Boras Corporation, a sports agency based in Newport Beach, Calif. that represents roughly 175 professional baseball clients, including many of the game's highest-profile players...
, who represented him in the deal where he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 2008.
Over his career, Moorad has also represented Will Clark
Will Clark
William Nuschler Clark, Jr. is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants from to .Will was known by the nickname of "Will the Thrill"...
, Steve Young, Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
, Shawn Green
Shawn Green
Shawn David Green is a former Major League Baseball player.Green was a 1st round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star...
among others.
Arizona Diamondbacks
In 2005, Moorad agreed to a proposal to become a partial owner and executive of the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, succeeding Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo
Jerry Colangelo , is an American businessman and sports executive.He formerly owned the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, the Arizona Sandsharks of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League and the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major...
who had brought the team to Arizona. Moorad would be in partnership with Ken Kendrick
Ken Kendrick
Earl G. "Ken" Kendrick Jr. is a baseball executive with the National League Arizona Diamondbacks. He became part-owner with the team's inception in 1995 and Managing General Partner in 2004, replacing Jerry Colangelo after a lengthy disagreement over Colangelo's role with the franchise he founded;...
the lead investor among the owners of the Diamondbacks. When joining the Diamondbacks, Moorad ceded control of his sports management business to another sports agent, Greg Genske
Greg Genske
Gregory B. Genske is a sports agent who became the lead agent of LS Legacy Sports Group after Jeff Moorad departed from the agency in 2004. Moorad elected to depart from the agency business so that he could become the CEO and part owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks...
.
San Diego Padres
In 2009, Moorad agreed to become the lead partner in a group that would buy the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
from John Moores
John Moores (baseball)
John Jay Moores is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the owner of the San Diego Padres.-Early years:...
. Moores was selling the team because he was going through a divorce. Moorad and his group of 12 investors (including former Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
QB Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
, Rancho Santa Fe businessman Wayne Seltzer, entrepreneur John McAvoy, local home builder Al Baldwin, Phoenix, AZ businessman/real estate developer Jay D.. Stein, NoCal money manager Rick Barry, CEO of Save Mart Supermarkets
Save Mart Supermarkets
Save Mart Supermarkets owns and operates supermarkets operating under the names of Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky, and FoodMaxx located in Northern California and Northern Nevada.-Background:...
Bob Piccinini, cell-phone honcho John McEvoy, and Panda Restaurant
Panda Restaurant Group
The Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Inn, Panda Express & Hibachi-San, was founded by Andrew and Peggy Cherng and Andrew's father, Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng, all of whom used to live in the Yangzhou region of China's Jiangsu province. They started their first Panda Inn restaurant...
CEO Tom Davin
Tom Davin
-Career:Davin is a former U.S. Marine Corps Captain. His four years of infantry command assignments included roles as a company commander in 1st Recon Battalion and 3rd Recon Battalion, followed by selection to become an infantry tactics instructor at the USMC officer course, The Basic School, in...
) would own 30% of the team with Moorad serving as club CEO. Moorad's group is expected to gain full control of the Padres from Chairman John Moores
John Moores (baseball)
John Jay Moores is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the owner of the San Diego Padres.-Early years:...
incrementally over 5 years. However, Moorad also still owns a 12% share of the Diamondbacks, whose principal owner Ken Kendrick
Ken Kendrick
Earl G. "Ken" Kendrick Jr. is a baseball executive with the National League Arizona Diamondbacks. He became part-owner with the team's inception in 1995 and Managing General Partner in 2004, replacing Jerry Colangelo after a lengthy disagreement over Colangelo's role with the franchise he founded;...
was reportedly not happy with the circumstances of Moorad's departure.
Education
Moorad is a native of Modesto, CaliforniaModesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
. He earned an Associate in Arts degree from Modesto Junior College
Modesto Junior College
The Modesto Junior College is a community college located in Central Valley's Modesto, California.-Accreditation:Modesto Junior College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In January 2008, the Western Association Colleges and Schools notified the college that it had...
(1976); a degree in Political Science (B.A. 1978) from UCLA. He received a law degree from Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
School of Law (J.D.) in 1981.
See also
- Sports agentSports agentA sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
- information on prominent sports agents in a variety of fields. - Leigh SteinbergLeigh SteinbergLeigh William Steinberg is an American sports agent and sports lawyer. His client list has included Steve Bartkowski, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Ben Roethlisberger, Myron Rolle, Matt Leinart, Mark Brunell, Ricky Williams,...
- Moorad's former partner, sports agent with football speciality