Scott Boras refuses to take Jay-Z's bait
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Hip-hop artist Jay-Z, freshly licensed as a baseball agent, has declared long-time agent and hotel lobby rapper Scott Boras "over" in the lyrics of his new album.
To which Boras responded: "My music taste? I love jazz. I'm a huge Bernie Williams fan."
Boras refused a head-on confrontation with Jay-Z, whose Roc Nation Sports recently signed away former Boras client Robinson Cano.
On his album, "Magna Carta Holy Grail," Jay-Z reportedly gloats:
"Scott Boras, you over baby,
Robinson Cano, you coming with me."
The most powerful agent in the history of the game, Boras has negotiated about $5 billion in player contracts. Jay-Z, just getting started, has not yet negotiated a contract. Roc Nation's partner, CAA, could be more suited for that end of the business.
Roc Nation's sports client list appears to be five deep: Cano, NBA player Kevin Durant, NFL rookie quarterback Geno Smith, NFL wide receiver Victor Cruz and women's basketball player Skylar Diggins. The company represents many musical artists.
Boras suggested agencies that did not specialize in one area could not provide the same level of service.
"My response to these things is we are baseball players," Boras said. "We are former players. We are people who are 24-7 committed to our game. We do not represent anyone but baseball players.
"These players play 162 games. They play year 'round. We have strength-and-conditioning coaches. We've got psychologists. All we do is study the game. We feel that serves the best interests of our players. Other than that, I have nothing else to say."
Boras, 60, has lost a handful of high-profile players in recent seasons, among them Cano, Carlos Beltran, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. The latter two left after Boras helped secure them $180 million and $275 million deals respectively.
After more than three decades in the business, is he "over"? His current client list includes Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Matt Harvey, Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Gonzalez, Gerrit Cole and dozens of others.
"Exterior approaches are not new to the game," Boras said. "Many in practice have come in and tried to grab the game. … All I can offer the player is, all my time will be spent only on baseball."
Also, one other Boras client: noted jazz guitarist Bernie Williams.
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