If you go to http://www.imsportsservices.com/, you will be hit with a white page that says, “This site is Under Construction.” Who knows how long construction will last now that Andrew “Buddy” Baker has left Ice Miller, which is a huge Indianapolis law firm that had IM Sports Services under its umbrella. Baker basically was IM Sports Services, which means that it is doubtful that Ice Miller ever regains an interest in the world of sports representation. I say that it is doubtful since Baker purchased all of IM Sports Services’s assets, allowing him to continue to manage the careers of the athletes that has represented in the past.
Buddy Baker has transferred over twenty-eight NFL players, twenty professional basketball players (mostly overseas), and three coaches to his new Indianapolis-based agency. Some of his more popular clients include Carl Landry (Houston Rockets), James Singleton (Dallas Mavericks), and Aaron Moorehead (Indianapolis Colts). At thirty-seven years old, Buddy Baker talks like he is ready to take over the world…or atleast the athlete representation industry. Here is a recent quote from the Indianapolis Business Journal:
“We want to be an elite agency…Our goal is to be internationally renowned. We want to have a facility here that reflects that.”
My one question to Buddy is, why call it Exclusive Sports Group? As many of you readers know, my former partner at Dynasty Athlete Representation and one-time contributor on this blog, Matthew Vuckovich, started a similar named firm called Xclusive Sports Management. But more importantly, there is a sports agency that exists with the same exact name! Apparently, there is an Exclusive Sports Group (ESG) registered in Minneapolis. Strike one in the research column.
But I am rooting for you, Buddy. Who wouldn’t be a fan of what SportingNews calls a short, stocky, quick-talking, fast-thinking family man/lawyer who became a full-time agent in 2001 and had his first NFL client drafted in 2003? From what I have read, Buddy is an honest and ethical guy, who has big dreams but wants to make sure that they are achieved the right way. Good luck, Buddy!
2 replies on “Buddy Baker’s Big Move”
The Minneapolis Exclusive Sports Group (ESG) has yet to file for a federal trademark to protect its name. While the original ESG could prove that it was the first company to use the name in commerce and it would have priority over any other application for a federal TM using the same name, the name is still up in the air. If anything, you usually want to pick a name that is unlikely to create a likelihood of confusion.
Good find, Matt. I would think at least change one of the words, but having all three the exact same could cause unfortunate consequences in the future.