Every week, Sportunes would bring to your know; "AGENT 411"; we will be doffing our hats to those who think outside the box to make our favorite athletes the global stars that they are.
Ricky Simms
After failing to lay a mark on the track and field, Ricky was not going to leave the sporting world without leaving his footprints behind. This desire drove Ricky Simms to be a Super Agent and arguably the most powerful Irishman in world sport.
His 'Superagenteism' dint just happen overnight. He had to teach P.E back then, he also worked his brains out to get a Sports and Leisure degree.
He joined KIM Sports Management in 2000, Ricky alongside company founder Late Kim Macdonald helped to bring Kenyan athletes to Europe. Unfortunately for him, Kim passed away and his death sent a rude shock to the athletic community. A year later, Ricky started PACE Sports Management.
PACE Sports Management is one of the world's leading athlete management comapnies as it manages athletes from "sixteen countries around the globe" including world champions -Kemar Bailey-Cole, Usain Bolt, Mo farah, Christina Ohuruogu, Vivian Cheruiyot Et cetera Et cetera. As expected the biggest fish is Usain Bolt.
The strong bond that still exists between Usain bolt and Ricky started way back in 2002,after the world junior championships. Fifteen year old Bolt, had just competed with athletes four years older than him, but still had no effective management to take him to the next level. Ambitious Ricky Simms recognised the fire burning in the teenager and brought him on-board. A host of top agents were also in for him, but it was the Irishman's management style that got the Jamaican's nod and after ten years Sportunes can say the relationship has stood the test of time.
Nothing good comes easy, things were a little bit wobble between the pair at the very beginning with Bolt refusing to move to Europe due to the fact that he dint want to leave his mum, he also complained of extreme cold conditions on foreign soil.
All these made the Jamaican stay back home for a year before becoming a pro. As a professional athlete, Bolt found life very tough as he was always coming up with injuries and unspectacular performances. At the 2004 olympics Bolt finished a distant last at the 200m heat, this made Rick Simms hire a new coach for him, hence bringing a new attitude to the Jamaican as the new coach ceased the sprinter's unprofessional approach to the sport. Usain Bolt's career took off from there and the rest they say is history.
The Jamaican would always remain grateful for making the right decision of joining Ricky Simmon's team. Even when it comes to shopping, what to say to the media, what and what not to eat, health issues.. Ricky has always been there as the Irish man treats Usain Bolt as his prime minister.
Ricky Simms
With Usain Bolt celebrating his birthday today, Sportunes is giving a shout out to the Jamaican and Agent Ricky Simms - The only person that has all the 411 on the man highly regarded as the most dominant athlete any sport has ever seen.
Born in Milford, Dongeal, Ireland.. Ricky Simms was himself an athlete as he competed in the Irish National U-23 athletics championships in both 800m and 1,500m event although he never made it to the Olympics.
Born in Milford, Dongeal, Ireland.. Ricky Simms was himself an athlete as he competed in the Irish National U-23 athletics championships in both 800m and 1,500m event although he never made it to the Olympics.
After failing to lay a mark on the track and field, Ricky was not going to leave the sporting world without leaving his footprints behind. This desire drove Ricky Simms to be a Super Agent and arguably the most powerful Irishman in world sport.
His 'Superagenteism' dint just happen overnight. He had to teach P.E back then, he also worked his brains out to get a Sports and Leisure degree.
He joined KIM Sports Management in 2000, Ricky alongside company founder Late Kim Macdonald helped to bring Kenyan athletes to Europe. Unfortunately for him, Kim passed away and his death sent a rude shock to the athletic community. A year later, Ricky started PACE Sports Management.
PACE Sports Management is one of the world's leading athlete management comapnies as it manages athletes from "sixteen countries around the globe" including world champions -Kemar Bailey-Cole, Usain Bolt, Mo farah, Christina Ohuruogu, Vivian Cheruiyot Et cetera Et cetera. As expected the biggest fish is Usain Bolt.
The strong bond that still exists between Usain bolt and Ricky started way back in 2002,after the world junior championships. Fifteen year old Bolt, had just competed with athletes four years older than him, but still had no effective management to take him to the next level. Ambitious Ricky Simms recognised the fire burning in the teenager and brought him on-board. A host of top agents were also in for him, but it was the Irishman's management style that got the Jamaican's nod and after ten years Sportunes can say the relationship has stood the test of time.
Nothing good comes easy, things were a little bit wobble between the pair at the very beginning with Bolt refusing to move to Europe due to the fact that he dint want to leave his mum, he also complained of extreme cold conditions on foreign soil.
All these made the Jamaican stay back home for a year before becoming a pro. As a professional athlete, Bolt found life very tough as he was always coming up with injuries and unspectacular performances. At the 2004 olympics Bolt finished a distant last at the 200m heat, this made Rick Simms hire a new coach for him, hence bringing a new attitude to the Jamaican as the new coach ceased the sprinter's unprofessional approach to the sport. Usain Bolt's career took off from there and the rest they say is history.
The Jamaican would always remain grateful for making the right decision of joining Ricky Simmon's team. Even when it comes to shopping, what to say to the media, what and what not to eat, health issues.. Ricky has always been there as the Irish man treats Usain Bolt as his prime minister.
"We do a lot of things for Usain and other clients that are not simple business things," says Simms."We always try to prepare him just like a president of a country" Simms says.
"Like buying flights, buying cars, PlayStations, tuxedos, whatever.
"One hour I'll be doing management work for him, one hour I'll be doing agent work for him. Another time I'll be doing big brother work for him."
Fifty - seven athletes are currently under Ricky's management and we can say that with the discipline and strict diet plan that is administered in his agency, these clients will never fall prey of doping or drug bans. Any athlete left under the care of Ricky Simmons can be sure of a career long clean sheet of negative drug tests.
"Like buying flights, buying cars, PlayStations, tuxedos, whatever.
"One hour I'll be doing management work for him, one hour I'll be doing agent work for him. Another time I'll be doing big brother work for him."
Fifty - seven athletes are currently under Ricky's management and we can say that with the discipline and strict diet plan that is administered in his agency, these clients will never fall prey of doping or drug bans. Any athlete left under the care of Ricky Simmons can be sure of a career long clean sheet of negative drug tests.
Doff we doff our hats*
Respect to the birthdae boi and kudos to the man that has all the 411
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