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Michelle Wie's agent resigns - second in two years to quit

Monday October 15, 2007 | 12:50:22 pm 165 words, 2954 views  

Following Michelle Wie’s 19th-place finish at the Samsung World Championship, her agent has resigned from the William Morris Agency and will no longer represent the 18 year old. Wie’s previous manager, Ross Berlin, a former PGA Tour executive, resigned from the Wie camp in 2006.

According to the Associated Press:

Greg Nared, a former Nike business manager whom the William Morris Agency hired a year ago to manage Wie, resigned as vice president of golf. His announcement came one day after Wie finished 19th in a 20-player field at the Samsung World Championship.

“After careful consideration for my future, I have resigned effective immediately,” Nared said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press. “I’m very grateful to the William Morris Agency for the opportunity to work with world-class athletes. It has been an invaluable experience and I’ll forever cherish (it).”

Nared declined to elaborate when contacted before flying home to Oregon. Jill Smoller, to whom Nared reported at William Morris, did not immediately return a call.

Permalink 9 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Dot,

Bubbles may start going through agents as frequently as she has gone through caddies.
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 14:34
Comment from: ToddCommish [Visitor]
It's only a matter of time (hours likely) that the Wie Warriors pop up and blame the agent for Michelle's recent golf woes.

"It's her agent's fault she had such a crappy year. He was mean and made her actually play in hard tournaments rather than letting her just collect endorsement paychecks."
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 14:52
Comment from: JTW [Visitor]
What bad timing, just as Wie is showing progress!!

She didn't finish last, that has been a long time coming!!!
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 17:14
Comment from: Norman [Visitor]
Hey Alex, old buddy.
How ya keepin mate.

Agents and caddies are like tissues.
They are disposable.

Her agent has moved on. Not a big deal.
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 18:35
Comment from: JR [Visitor]
Sounded like the agent was jumping ship before the final crash. I guess he didn't want to get fired like her caddie did so he left on his own. After all, Michelle Wie appears to be all about excuses. It's never her, it is always something or someone else. I kind of feel sorry for all the fanatical Wie fans... it looks like all of those "youngest to..." records have come to an end now that she's 18. Well, look on the bright side.. she still could be the youngest female "has been" or "never was" although that probably belongs to some tennis player.
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 22:37
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
"After careful consideration for my future" I'ma gettin the hell outta here!!!!
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 23:00
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
“In my mind, I didn’t play bad because I played bad; I played bad because I shouldn’t have played,” she said. “The decision was on my part. But it wasn’t really my fault either, because I really wanted to play.”

Good grief!! this is a Stanford University freshman speaking?!
PermalinkPermalink 10/15/07 @ 23:22
Comment from: Oui Oui Oui [Visitor]
Since when did a sports agent become the good guy?

The matter could be very simple: Wie is not winning enough prize money, nor is she getting new endorsement deals, the agent is simply not making his 10%. He quits so that he can make money off some other athletes.
PermalinkPermalink 10/16/07 @ 06:55
Comment from: Joe Cool [Visitor]
oui oui oui,
Well stated...with agents and caddies it is all about the money. Nared did say "after careful consideration for MY future."
PermalinkPermalink 10/16/07 @ 10:09

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Dot Wong Dot Wong

a WorldGolf.com Blog

WorldGolf.com blogger Dot Wong keeps golf fans up to date on the latest breaking news reports from the PGA, LPGA and European Tours. Each day Dot scans the leading golf media outlets and she brings you the best stories from around the globe.