Issue No. 9 www.seensportmagazine.com
BLAKE LEEPER “American Blade Runner”
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PORTFOLIO 6. Ice Hockey Retrospective of the NHL. FEATURE
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22. Blake Leeper Paralympic medallist and “American Blade Runner”. 30. Kathy Duva The “First Lady of Boxing”. BUSINESS 42. Stephane Dray Shaping the future of French rugby.
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SPOTLIGHT 52. Eoin Mundow Documenting the creativity, spirit and passion of sport. TRAVEL 68. Germany Bundesliga: The most ‘fan-friendly’ league in the world.
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EDITOR Karen Reid editor@seensportmagazine.com
EDITOR’S LETTER
FEATURES EDITOR Eoin Mundow editorial@seensportmagazine.com DESIGNER Karen Reid Advertising Sales adsales@seensportmagazine.com WORDS Eoin Mundow PHOTOGRAPHY Bernd Feil Ed Mulholland Eoin Mundow Vanilla Fire Productions www.seensportmagazine.com info@seensportmagazine.com +44 (0)203 290 2227
Cover: Blake Leeper Photo by Vanilla Fire Productions
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his issue our cover story features our first Paralympic Athlete, the “American Blade Runner”, otherwise known as Blake Leeper. In a bid to claim gold at the Rio Olympics 2016, the athlete let us in on his world and tells us his unique narrative. It also happens to feature our first female sports businesswoman, Kathy Duva, the head of boxing promotion company Main Events. Charismatic and forthright, she knows her game well and gives us a real insight into the business of boxing promotion, warts and all. You will also notice a new ‘Business’ section in the magazine, which will highlight a professional currently excelling in the business of sport. Our first businessman to feature is French Rugby Agent Stephane Dray, who tells us all about
the day to day dealings of a ‘newschool’ agent. As always, we have a portflio of superb photos showcasing the action from the NHL by Ed Mulholland. Not to mention a selection of photography across different sport disciplines by our in-house Photographer Eoin Mundow. Well, it was only fair to give him the ‘Spotlight’ this time, as our main contributor. To round it off, how about a trip to Germany to follow the highs and lows of the Bundesliga, whilst soaking up some typical German hospitality? Never has it been such a great time to take advantage of low football ticket prices, free transport to venues and enjoy a spirited ambience in the homeland of the world champions. Lastly, a big thank you to all the contributors, athletes and sport professionals who participated in making this issue. Enjoy the magazine and please feel free to send any feedback to me at editor@seensportmagazine.com. Karen Reid Editor
SEEN Sport Magazine has worked with some of the best sporting talent of our era. The launch of our exclusive image archive offers only the best quality of sport photography. To gain access to our archive please contact our picture desk at pictures@seensportmagazine.com
PORTFOLIO
NHL
New Jersey Devils left wing Ryane Clowe (29) and Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic (17) fight during the first period at Prudential Center. Newark, NJ, USA. 18th March 2014.
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he National Hockey League is without doubt one of the most hard fought and passionate franchises in American sport. The 30 clubs that battle it out each season have produced many epic and high octane encounters. Capturing the iconic moments of the NHL is a very challenging task but one that freelance Sports Photographer Ed Mulholland revels in. His admiration and genuine enthusiasm for the sport shines through in a stunning compilation of images shot over a course of seasons in the NHL. “Soccer, American football, basketball or any other field sport.They all require a tremendous skill to play at the highest professional level. Now put them on ice and have them play it on a pair of 3mm wide pieces of metal. When you think about it like that it’s pretty impressive what these athletes can do.� Ed Mulholland.
New York Rangers defenceman Dan Girardi (5) and New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac (19) race for the puck after a face-off during the third period at Yankee Stadium. New York City, NY, USA. 26th January 2014.
Montreal Canadians right wing Brandon Prust (8) throws a right uppercut at New Jersey Devils right wing Cam Janssen (25) during the first period at the Prudential Center. Newark, NJ, USA. 4th December 2014.
Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara (33) hits New Jersey Devils left wing Zach Parise (9) during the second period at the Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, USA. 19th January 2012.
Ottawa Senators center Zack Smith (15) hits New Jersey Devils center Andrei Loktionov (21) while Ottawa Senators defenceman Mike Lundin (10) plays the puck during the second period at the Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, USA. 18th February 2013
Anaheim Ducks right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) scores the game winning goal in overtime on New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) at the Prudential Center. The Ducks defeated the Devils 3-2 in overtime. Newark, NJ, USA. 20th December 2013.
Montreal Canadians goalie Dustin Tokarski (35) is run into by New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) during the second period of game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. New York, NY, USA. 22nd May 2014.
Behind the scenes stills for HBO’s documentary ‘24/7 Flyers v Rangers Road to the Winter Classic’. 26th September 2011.
Fans hold up an American flag prior to the start of the game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center. Newark, NJ, USA. 4th October 2013.
Fireworks go off after the New York Rangers 2-1 win over the New York Islanders at Yankee Stadium. New York City, NY, USA. 29th January 2014.
FEATURE INTERVIEW
BLAKE LEEPER BLAKE LEEPER
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n August 31st 1989 in the heat of a Tennessee summer, a baby was born into this world with the odds stacked against him. Blake Leeper entered this world with both legs missing below the knee. Rather than rest on his laurels and dwell on the misfortune that life had dealt him, Leeper, along with unwavering support and encouragement from his family, embarked on an inspirational journey that has gripped and inspired the American public. Through sport he has found a platform to inspire others. By his own admission he is a novice in the sport, but having managed to win five International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championship medals, in addition to those won in London, Blake Leeper has set himself a new goal; to become the first disabled American athlete to compete at the Olympic games in Rio, two years from now and equal the feat set by Oscar Pistorious. His success and rise through the ranks has not gone unnoticed. Hailed as the “American Blade Runner” by his management and the US media, he has become a regular on popular chat shows and a leading voice in changing attitudes towards people with an impairment. He is determined to redress the balance and educate the masses that competing in the Paralympic Games is about ability, not disability; it is about what people can do, not what they can’t do. He fully embraces the challenge of beating the odds and now as the leading man in his own documentary “Blake Leeper - Road to Rio”, failure is not an option.
Text & interview by Eoin Mundow. Photos by Vanilla Fire Productions
LEAP FAITH of
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ou were born with both legs missing below the knee and you have worn prosthetic limbs since you were nine months of age. Obviously you knew no other way of life, but how difficult was it as a child growing up in Tennessee and dealing with adversity? It was very difficult at times just because I was the only one like my kind. There was nobody in my community like me and I would sometimes question ‘why me?’, but the support from my mother, father, family and community would keep my spirits high when I was feeling down on myself. Your family played a major role in supporting your passion for basketball, baseball and other sports.
I understand that your father in particular acted as a coach to you. Does he still play a major role in your new life as the “American Blade Runner?" Yes, he still plays a huge role in my life. The way he stepped up to the plate to be one of the greatest dad’s ever and proving the world wrong by teaching me how to play sports is what I strive to do, just maybe in a different way. My mission is like his, proving everybody wrong.
person that sparked your passion to become a Paralympic athlete? I was a freshman in college at the University of Tennessee and I watched a 100m race in my division on ESPN for the first time and that was when I knew I wanted to become a Paralympian.
Your mentor in the field of athletics was Oscar Pistorious. He inspired so many and to the world he is known as the original "Blade Runner". What is your view on the Who were your sporting heroes tragedy that engulfs his life at this moment? growing up? Bo Jackson, since he had the prosthetic I think it is extremely sad and that hip and I had a prosthetic leg. I could even though I was one of his top comrelate my story to Bo and since he did petitors on the Paralympic circuit, nobody wins for this. I constantly it, I knew I could do it as well. pray for both sides of the family on Is there one specific moment or a daily basis.
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Blake Leeper with Usain Bolt. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 16th August 2014.
I understand that he used to play pranks on you. You had a good relationship. Have you spoken with him since this tragedy? Yes, he was a funny guy with a great since of humour and that’s why I respected him so much, seeing how ‘famous’ he was but still extremely humble really inspired me. I haven’t talked to him since the incident but he does stay on my mind a lot.
amputee to make the Olympic abled body games and to inspire a whole youth generation, letting them know that regardless of your disability or the challenge that they are facing, with the right mind set and determination they can overcome anything.
I think by surrounding myself with the right people; my family, friends and manager. The people who really know what’s best for me and are not afraid to tell me no.
What improvements are you making in training to ensure you surpass How do you feel about becoming a your bronze and silver medals and win gold in Rio? role model within the sport? I am excited to become a role model I’m making a lot of changes for the in the sport. It takes a lot to be on that good with my prosthetics and each Moving forward, the torch has platform, but the way I was raised to and every day I am training with the now been passed to yourself from always have a humble mind set is mind set to be the best in the world. Even though Rio is two years away, Pistorious. You have become a very something I’m prepared for. I have to keep the mind set as if the marketable commodity. What are the two most important things that How do you think you will han- Olympics are next week. Stay motiyou would like to accomplish on dle the inevitable fame, celebrity vated to give 120%. and possible wealth of becoming You are trained by Joaquim Cruz, your journey? Two things that I want to accomplish a household name in the States one of the greatest 800m runners ever. How did that collaboration is becoming the first double legged should you secure gold in Rio? 26 | SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE
come about and what is your relationship like? I’m actually being coached by Al Joyner now, triple jump gold medallist in 84 and the coach and husband of the late great Flo Jo. I love coach Al. His passion for the sport is truly amazing and he is really teaching the right mechanics and running form to become a champion. What are your weaknesses as an athlete and how have you tried to rectify them and improve? I think I sometimes over analyse the situation too much. As an athlete you have to trust your training, trust your coach and most importantly trust yourself. I have been working on correcting that, by believing in the training program that I am in from the beginning, without a doubt. Knowing that with my coach, talent, and work ethic I will become a gold medallist. What do you think is your major strength as an athlete and your chosen discipline? I think I’m a good listener and I am not afraid to work hard. Growing up with a disability, I realised at an early age that life isn’t fair and to conquer something great you have to really try and work hard. That really helps when I’m competing for the 400m, especially during training. You recently spent time with Usain Bolt and got a chance to train together on the same track. Did he have any words of advice for you?
He didn’t have any advice for me, but being around him and seeing how he carries himself, being labelled the fastest man in the world I learned a lot from that. I was inspired by his presence and his mentality.
this was evident in the 2012 200m T44 final in London. You took a bronze medal and Brazil's Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira came from behind to infamously snatch gold from Oscar Pistorious. What did you make of the furore surWhich athlete do you admire most rounding the special blades worn or enjoy watching the most and by Oliveira? Do you think the criticism was justified? why? I love to watch Bolt and Lebron James Everybody has their opinion, which compete because they are the best in they are entitled to and even though the world, they know it and they own Alan’s blades might seem a little long, he competed fair and square under up to it. the IPC rules and regulations and I What music is on your iPod when think he deserved every right to be a gold medallist. you train? I have all kind’s of music on my iPod, but I mostly listen to hip hop and rap, The debate helped the general puba little RnB and to relax I love to listen lic realise that the athletes are also highly competitive and spurned a to classical music. major rivalry between Pistorious and You have only been competing for Oliveira that compelled more viewfour years. Was the learning process ers to watch the finals (200m and of running on blades very chal- 400m in London). You seem a fun lenging or is it something that you loving guy, do you have any major rivalries with your contemporaries? became accustomed to quickly? It was very challenging at times. I I consider Alan a major rival and my cannot count the number of times I fellow teammate Richard Browne, a have fallen on the track, but since I rival as well. Even though we compete was so active in sport before I started at a high level on the track, we underrunning on the blades, the learning stand that we play a huge role off the process wasn’t that hard. I was just so track in showing the world what you excited to have the blades I didn’t care can do with your life and we do it what it took to learn how to run on together. them. Can you shed any light on the tech"Don't focus on the disability," nical aspects of running on blades? Oscar Pistorius told the world For example is the speed produced before the Paralympic Games. by power, technique or a number of "Focus on the ability." Technology different aspects combined? plays a massive part in the sport and The blades have a lot of factors in
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“To win gold in Rio would mean everything to me. It would mean that I truly beat the odds and a testament that anything is possible.�
them to have to produce the way you want them to. Speed, Power and technique, but I feel that the most important part about the blades is rhythm and control. Is your training and approach very scientific or do you train mainly to increase your core strength, stride, length or overall technique? My approach is very specific and those are a lot of factors that play a part. I cannot focus on just one and dismiss the others. To be a champion with or without a disability you have to focus on everything; your strengths and your weaknesses. Who do you think will be your main rivals in Rio? I think my rival will be Alan Oliveria and Richard Browne. Define your style as a runner? I’m a frequency r unner with endurance. What does an average day’s training consist of for you leading up to a major event like the Paralympics? I’m training six days a week, eight hours a day. To have the ambition and desire to be an Olympic athlete is one thing. To have the resources to train, adapt and excel at running on blades and also important financial backing to achieve your dream must have been very difficult. How did you go about fulfilling your destiny? Firstly, to have the ambition to do it, then Challenged Athletes Foundation
stepped up to the plate to support me, so I could achieve that next level. Also having the support from Ossur Prosthetics and finally my family always motivating me to keep striving for the best.
Renowned Hollywood director Steven Barber is documenting your story and journey towards Olympic glory in Rio. How did you meet and what is it like being filmed day in and day out? Divine intervention. He came to In every sport technology plays a London supporting the Paralympics part, especially racing. You have ready to tell a story to America and worked hard to get to where you through him being in London and are today. Do you think each athlete watching me compete, he saw somecompeting should have exactly the thing in me that nobody else did. He same blades to compete on a level was one of the few people that truly believed in me. playing field? I think it all differs on how much the athlete wants to invest in him or Would you like to compete in the herself. If they are willing to take that Olympics alongside able-bodied extra time to have a better prosthetic athletes? What would it mean to you to line up, even if it was just then they deserve it. one time, in the heats and compete Are there many different manufac- against the great Usain Bolt? turers that produce the blades? And I think it would be amazing to comif so does design play a fundamental pete in the Olympic abled bodied part in giving one athlete the edge games. It would open up so many eyes around over another? I think depending on the situation the world showing the people that I maybe they might, but at the end have overcome my challenge and so of the day to win a gold medal you can you. have to work hard and give a 120% You are studying Medicine at the in practice. University of Tennessee, what is Who gave you your first set of your ambition once you have finished competing? blades? My main goal at the end of the day is Challenged Athletes Foundation. to help and save lives. You claimed a silver medal in the 400m in London and bronze in the What would it mean to you to win 200m. Which event do you prefer? a Gold medal in Rio? I enjoy both. I like the 400m because To win gold in Rio would mean eveyou have to dig deep to finish at rything to me. your best, but I also enjoy the 200m It would mean that I truly beat the because it gives you a chance to show odds and a testament that anything is possible. off your speed. SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE | 29
FEATURE
KATHY DUVA
Text & interview by Eoin Mundow. Photos by Eoin Mundow
BOXING’S FIRST LADY
For 30 years Kathy Duva and Main Events have been showcasing the best talent in boxing and most importantly, delivering compelling, competitive fights that will live long in the annals of pugilistic history. The list of Boxers, who have fought on one of their promotions reads like a who's who of pound for pound champions. Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Thomas Hearns, Pernell Whitaker, Mike Tyson, Alexis Arguello and George Foreman.
Founded in 1978 by Dan Duva, the company is based in Totowa, New Jersey and is widely recognised as one of the leading boxing promotional companies. In the fight game however, as in life, nothing comes easy. It is a testament to the hard work, determination and sheer resilience of one woman, Kathy Duva, that Main Events continues. Following the untimely and tragic death of her beloved husband Dan Duva, who passed away in 1996 after a long battle with cancer, Kathy has taken the bull by the horns and left her indelible mark on the boxing world. Rather than sit back and watch her husband’s peers take complete control of the fight game, she has actively sought out the hottest prospects and stood toe-to-toe with her biggest competitors. Having married into the Duva clan or "the first family of boxing" as they are better known, Kathy Duva has learnt to roll with the punches and protect
herself at all times, even from her own in-laws. In the years that followed her husband’s death a split in the family caused a rift that would take its toll on both sides. Dan’s siblings, Dino Duva, who acted as company president and his sister Donna Duva Brooks, who acted as vice president questioned the manner in which Kathy and attorney Pat English claimed control of the boxing company, Main Events, after Dan's passing. The dispute was highly publicised, but thankfully, order was finally resumed in 1999 when the case was settled out of court in just one day, with a sealed settlement at the Passaic County Courthouse. It proved to be just another bump in the road in this long and rewarding journey for boxing’s first lady. She was happy to put the unfortunate episode behind her and set her main focus on putting on more spectacular fights. SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE | 31
(L) Kathy Duva with her late husband, D
(R) Arturo ‘Thunder’ Gatti in action agai Photo by Ed Mulholland.
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iercely independent, resourceful and a straight shooter, the charismatic Bloomfield native has continued to confound both her rivals and critics. It’s uncanny that the spirit, courage and unrepentant never-say-die attitude that her fighters past and present possess, is mirrored in her determination to give the fans what they deserve; the best fighters fighting the best. She has proven beyond doubt, as did her husband, that you can do business with anyone, irrespective of ego or whether or not you like your nemesis. Without following this same mantra there would have been no Arturo Ward v Mickey Ward trilogy for fight fans to salivate over. Grown men would still be flexing their gargantuan egos and fooling the public into believing that obstacles such as TV network rivalries cannot be overcome in order to make historic bouts such as Mayweather v Pacquiao. Kathy Duva and Main Events already did that with Tyson v Lewis in 2002. Whilst her roster of fighters is not as impressive as boxing Tsar Al Haymon, Oscar De La Hoya's Goldenboy Promotions or Bob Arum's Top Rank, she is determined to battle against the odds like here current superstar, the
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iron-fisted Russian Light Heavyweight, Sergey Kovalev and force her way to the top of the game. Having recently lost out on her network television contract to her rival Haymon, the upcoming light heavyweight unification clash between Sergey 'Krusher” Kovalev and 49-year old future hall of fame fighter, "The Alien" Bernard Hopkins, heralds a new opportunity to retain a foothold on the world boxing scene. It has been a long uncompromising road in which the irrepressible Duva has experienced a lot of joy and pain in equal measure. Having made a huge sacrifice to continue protecting her fighters’ best interests and defend her company’s core values without compromise, one hopes that this represents a positive chapter for boxing's most innovative and resilient promoters to succeed yet again. Much like her courageous gladiators she has promoted, she possesses that same bravado and innate ability to whether the storm and fight back with all her might, despite suffering a knockdown or two along the way. It is this defiant and determined nature that has left her rivals in a state of wonder and is proof if ever it were needed that boxing could do with more women like Kathy Duva.
Dan Duva and their family.
inst Mickey Ward.
“Every woman in business has to work harder to gain the respect of her peers. Interestingly, with a few exceptions, I find that the fighters tend to be more willing to accept me than a lot of the businessmen.”
Kathy Duva holds Sergey Kovalev’s WBO Light Heavyweight belt after his victory against Nathan Cleverly. Cardiff, Wales. 17th August 2013.
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our late husband Dan Duva set the benchmark for modern boxing promotions in his first major promotion, The 1981 “Showdown” between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns for the undisputed Welterweight Championship. The fight was a classic and a resounding Pay-Per-View success. Do you feel that the today’s promoters have benefited from his ingenuity and business model? Actually, the bulk of the business for that fight was done through oldschool closed circuit showings in theatres, arenas and gyms. We did have a couple of small PPV systems that ran the fight as an experiment and they produced buy rates of over 50%! That helped usher in the PPV era in a big way because cable execs got a little carried away and began to project 50% buy rates across the entire potential PPV universe. It is hard to imagine what we could have done with 2014 style PPV back then. Leonard and Hearns were on the cover of just about every sports magazine in the country that week. We did live interviews with “Wide World of Sports” on ABC. Newspapers came to cover the event from all over the world, including just about every major city in the US. Broadcasters came from all over the world to call the fight live at ringside. The fighters did live interviews with GMA and the Today Show. Leading up to the fight they appeared on the evening talk shows that were so much more popular then than they are now. Radio stations from all over
the country broadcast live from the media centre and local TV stations from all over the country sent crews and satellite trucks to Las Vegas to cover the event for the evening news. We were not able to reach out to our “base” of rabid boxing fans the way we do now online, but the fight was one of the year’s biggest sporting events. During that week, Leonard and Hearns were the focus of the sports world. Nothing else mattered quite as much. The Leonard v Hearns fight grossed over $40 million worldwide. It was a fantastic fight and great spectacle. $40m equates to nearly $110m at today’s exchange rate. Bearing in mind that the all time record is Mayweather v Alvarez which recently grossed $150m, do you feel that fight fans got more value for money back in the day when the best faced the best? I think they most certainly did. It is so sad that “the best fighting the best” has become an outdated notion. But, I do not believe that those who have supported the theory that boxers are no longer athletes, but rather businessmen, who should take the least possible risk lest they damage their brand will thrive in the end. People are not as gullible as they think. This is a sport and in sports, the best compete with the best. That is what drives interest in any sport and boxing is no different. For those of us who cling to the outdated notion that boxing is supposed to be competitive, I promise, our day will come again.
What was the first fight you ever attended? Chuck Wepner v. Randy Neumann at Madison Square Garden on March 8th, 1974. As I recall, Dan wanted to impress me. Joe Frazier was there and he stood right in front of me while he greeted someone in the next row. I snapped a black and white photo of him, as I was working for a local newspaper at the time and brought my brand new Minolta camera. The photo still hangs on the wall of my office. Which fighter gave you the most headaches or frustrated you the most? Ha! Fighters being fighters, that’s a long list! But in the interest of diplomacy, I will not name names. They know who they are! As the lone female promoter in a male dominated sport, do/did you feel you have to work harder to gain the respect of your peers or the fighters? Every woman in business has to work harder to gain the respect of her peers. Interestingly, with a few exceptions, I find that the fighters tend to be more willing to accept me than a lot of the businessmen. Are there any promoters that you find impossible to deal with? Yes, but he lost his job recently. Let’s just leave it at that. The cold war is over apparently and Goldenboy Promotions and Top
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Atlantic City again with a fantastic fight Sergey Kovalev v “The Alien”, 49-year-old legend Bernard Hopkins. How do you see that fight playing out? I see an intriguing match-up between a crafty veteran who claims to be an alien and an incredibly strong and intelligent competitor who, I believe, is the best and most electrifying fighter on this particular planet right now. Bernard Hopkins is a legend and a throw-back fighter who has consistently sought to match his skills and his will against the very best in the world. Who is the best fighter or most tal- I have tremendous respect for him for ented that you or Main Events have taking this fight. But, all good things must come to an end and I predict promoted? It is hard to pick a “best” or “most that it will be time for Bernard to pass talented” when we have been blessed the torch on November 8th. to work with so many great fighters over the years. But, if I have to pick I was lucky enough to be ringside someone there is only one answer to when Sergey Kovalev burst on the world stage by stopping Nathan that question, Pernell Whitaker. Cleverly to claim the light How do you think Floyd Mayweather Heavyweight title. You were obviJnr would have fared against your ously over the moon. Do you feel old stars Pernell Whitaker or a like you hit the jackpot in finding and promoting Kovalev? prime Meldrick Taylor? Pete would have run him out of That is a very good way to describe the ring after humiliating him for it. Fighters like Sergey come along 12 rounds, just as he did to Floyd’s once every decade or so. We have Uncle, Roger. In his prime, which been blessed here at Main Events to sadly was very short-lived, Meldrick have worked with some of the very Taylor would have knocked Floyd best, including Whitaker and Evander out. Too fast, too strong. But then Holyfield in the 80’s, Lennox Lewis again, had Mayweather been fighting in the 90’s and Arturo Gatti in the in his prime during the 1980’s, he 2000’s. The moment I saw Sergey would have found excuses to avoid throw his first combination against Darnell Boone, I knew that he was fighting both of them. the next in that very distinguished You are bringing boxing back to line of superstars. Rank are trying to work together. Do you feel that we are going to see more co-promotions pitting the best against the best to the benefit of boxing fans? I sure hope so. I would like to say that Main Events played a part in this by bringing Golden Boy back to HBO in order to make the Hopkins -Kovalev fight. I sincerely hope that November 8th will mark the first of many fan friendly competitive fights that will follow as the direct result of those efforts.
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When TV networks were not picking up your cards and Goldenboy and Top Rank had the stranglehold on dates with HBO and SHOWTIME, did you ever think of stepping away from the game? There was a point in late 2007/early 2008 when I thought we were going to close up shop. Then Tomasz Adamek came along and asked us to promote his fight with Steve Cunningham for the cruiserweight title. Tomasz was the spark that reignited my passion for this business. Without the help of any US TV network we were able to keep Tomasz busy and build him up to a very lucrative world title fight with Vitali Klitschko. Unfortunately, Tomasz did not add a world title in his third weight class when they fought, but he sold out a brand new stadium in Wroclaw, Poland and we were able to introduce the concept of PPV to a new country. I will be forever grateful to Tomasz for believing in Main Events and giving us the opportunity to work with him. I spoke with Sergey on fight night and he appears to have a great fondness for you. You appear to be a matriarch and maternal figure to him and your other fighters. Do you think your relationships are different with your fighters because of this unique chemistry? That’s a good question and the answer is that I really don’t know for sure. Perhaps you have hit upon the reason why the fighters are usually the first ones to accept a woman in my role?
Kathy Duva celebrates Sergey Kovalev’s victory against Nathan Cleverly. Cardiff, Wales. 17th August 2013.
What were your greatest nights in boxing? I know you must have many? Yes, but the first is always the best! Rocky Lockridge KO 1 over Roger Mayweather. Holyfield - Douglas is a close second and I sincerely hope that the third will come on November 8th. What was your saddest night in boxing? 1. July 11, 2009. The night that Arturo Gatti died. Adamek fought Bobby Gunn at Prudential Centre in Newark, NJ, that night, and I was the first to learn of Arturo’s demise
from a reporter who called me while I was on my way to the arena. All I can remember is having to walk around the arena telling so many of his dear friends, the boxing officials, our colleagues and the fighters who were already at the arena that he was dead. 2. Taylor - Chavez. I may never get over that. 3. Whitaker - Chavez. Pete really deserved to win that fight and the robbery turned what should have been his all-time biggest win into one of the most devastating disappointments imaginable. The cover of Sports Illustrated showed a photo of Whitaker and the word “Robbed!” in
giant letters written across the bottom of the photo. I laugh when people get outraged online about one-point decisions that could have gone either way. THAT was a robbery, not a slight difference of opinion. And the S.O.B never, ever gave Pernell a rematch. You were particularly close with the late, great Arturo Gatti. It must have been a roller coaster of a ride. What are your fondest memories of Arturo? Sorry. I can’t repeat that one! 2. Of course, was when he defeated Mickey Ward in Gatti - Ward II.
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H
is death is still somewhat of a mystery, have you laid to rest your emotions surrounding the circumstances in which he died or is it something that still bothers/haunts you? His death is another thing that I will never fully process. I can’t tell you how many times I stop and think about how it would be if he were still here. I could just imagine the ovation he would have received from the fans at Boardwalk Hall, were he to be introduced there on November 8th. We have arranged for Sergey to use the same locker room that Arturo always occupied. It even has a plaque with Arturo’s name on it next to the door, but imagine how great it would have been for Arturo to be there to literally pass the torch to a fighter who shares his intensity and passion for the sport? So sad and so unnecessary. And no, he did not take his own life. He was murdered.
Should Sergey Kovalev win, do you think he has what it takes to become the next superstar of boxing? He most definitely does. I truly believe that today, Sergey Kovalev is the “Baddest Man on the Planet.” I know there are other talented boxers. There are others who are dynamic and appealing, but Sergey is a bad, bad man. Of course, I mean that in the most complimentary way.
challenged, learn and move up in the rankings and we know how to market them. Without sounding too proud, I think that we are better at all of those things than most of our competitors.
You have a strong team of independent women working alongside you in the company. Do you earmark them to follow in your footsteps and carry the company forward in the foreseeable future? As a promoter what is your ethos You never know what will happen in the future and I am not going to make any predictions about my inevitable demise, but my daughter Nicole, who is an attorney with a marketing background and (mentally) her father’s clone, has become indispensable since she joined our staff a few years ago. She has stepped up to take my previous role as the chief marketer here, and I suspect that if Main Events lives on without me, Nicole is well positioned to take the company wherever she wants it to go. We have, by the way, hired a What is your goal for the future few men lately. The company of Main Events? is growing and there is room for I just want to keep making the everyone’s point of view. The men system work for the fighters who have brought a new energy to the wish to place their trust in us. We are a boutique, not a depart- or key to succeeding for so long staff that has been completely positive ment store. We are not trying to be as one of the premier promotional in several different ways. all things to all people, but I hope to companies? play a part in increasing professional I learned from the best. My late hus- Do you feel that the Barclays Center boxing’s appearance to the masses, band would own professional boxing in Brooklyn can become the new because this used to be “America’s were he alive today. My staff and I have home of boxing in New York to rival built upon his legacy. Collectively, Madison Square Garden? Sport.” I don’t know if it will ever that big we have a good “eye” for talent. We Perhaps. In today’s market, it is very again, but it could certainly be bigger know how to match and move fight- difficult to absorb the expenses that ers so that they will continue to be must be paid in big city arenas. than it is now.
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That’s why you don’t see a lot of fights in those settings. Atlantic City won the right to host Hopkins - Kovalev because it offered a much better package than we could get at Barclays. While it is wonderful to see fights happening in places like Brooklyn, I question whether the financial model there is sustainable. Having said that, it is wonderful to go to big fights in New York and at Prudential Center in New Jersey, where Main Events has promoted many shows and we fully intend to pursue those opportunities when they make financial and artistic sense. On a personal level, I grew u p w a t c h i n g Ma i n Eve n t Promotions. My all time favourite fight was Rocky Lockridge v Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, their first encounter. Do you think the fighters from yesteryear had more balls and were willing to fight the best, irrespective of ego or money? I think there are plenty of fighters, even today, who have balls and would be willing to fight the best. In my opinion, the problem lies in the hands of a very few people who happen to be in control of some of the levers of power, right now. Those people, well one in particular, have managed to convince a few fighters that discretion is the better part of valour, by paying them outsized purses for very little risk. As I said, I do not believe that their model is financially sustainable over the long run. They are going to make
some noise in the coming year or two and then they will inevitably fail. The truth is that if the television networks that pay rights fees allow one particular manager or promoter to take control of their programming and thrust non-competitive fights upon the public, in return for the services of one superstar, the audience for boxing will continue to contract as it has during the past ten years. Competition is a good thing and it is essential to the health of any sport. The pendulum
will swing back eventually and when it does, I believe that our sport will be the better for it. Main Events had one of the best rosters of fighters ever when you signed and promoted the 1984 Olympians Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, and Meldrick Taylor and in latter years Lennox
Lewis. Do you ever think with the amateur scene attracting fewer fighters nowadays, that we will see great fighters of this calibre again? I think that there are still many great fighters in the amateurs. They are just not Americans. Amateur boxing is still very lively in other parts of the world and many great fighters still come to America to make their fortunes, just as Lennox Lewis and Arturo Gatti did. At Main Events, we have always worked with fighters from around the world, so the dearth of talent in the US does not affect us as much as our competitors. I sincerely hope that amateur boxing in the US improves in the coming years and I have reason to believe that measures are being taken to make that happen, but in the meantime, I am happy to search the globe for our next superstar. Look at it this way: If I had told you ten years ago that one of the biggest boxing stars in America would be a Filipino flyweight, would you have believed me? Anything is possible. Finally if Sergey Kovalev beats Bernard Hopkins would you be open to offering Carl Froch the chance to become a two-weight champion? He has a very big following in the UK and I’m sure it would make a cracking fight at Wembley Stadium. YES! LET’S DO IT! Please tell Eddie Hearn that Sergey is ready to come back to the UK. That would be an amazing fight.
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Sergey Kovalev lands a left cross on the chin of Nathan Cleverly. Nathan Cleverly (Wales) v Sergey Kovalev (Russia). WBO Light Heavyweight Championship title fight at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, 17th August 2013.
BUSINESS
STEPHANE DRAY - RUGBY AGENT
(L) Stephane Dray. (R) Montpelier Winger, Benjamin Fall and Toulouse Centre, GaĂŤl Fickou.
Text, interview & photos by Eoin Mundow
R
ugby agent Stephane Dray is fast becoming the man of choice to guide the careers of French rugby's top young players. Having worked in the industry for over ten years his roster of stars could forge the backbone of the French national team in the very near future. His open-minded approach and resourceful nature has helped him rise to the top of his profession. In a candid interview he discusses his hopes for his players, the positives and pitfalls facing French rugby and his aspirations to attract big name players to the Top 14.
two or three months we review our progression together to see if we have positive results. We change what we need to change and maybe work on the behaviour of the player. This is very important to me. There is, of course, the sport aspect but behavWhat is your secret? How do you iour to me is very important, because many players did not succeed due to secure your players? No secret, I just explain the way in their bad behaviour. which I work. I use say GaĂŤl as an example of a young player with whom So you are not interested in the bad we have done well. I fix them a clear boys even it means making good objective with targets and then every money? Who are the best young players you have coming through? In Toulouse I have Cyrill Baille, he is a prop and Julien Marchand, a hooker. But they are so young they are only 19.
No, no. But sometimes it is interesting to see if we help bad boys to change (laughs). What is the situation with GaĂŤl Fickou now. Obviously he scored the winning try against England in the Six Nations and has broken through into the national team. I would imagine it is frustrating not being picked again for France? What he wants to do now is concentrate on playing for his club. He wants to have a big season with Toulouse SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE | 45
Benjamin Fall. Stade Toulouse v Montpellier HRC. European Champions Cup. 19th October 2014.
strong position with or against the clubs. You know if Toulon were to say to a player “Are you sure you want to use Stephane?”, my players would say, “I am working with him Is there one club that is more dif- because I think he can do a lot of ficult to work with than any other good for my career”. in the Top 14? No not really, it depends just on the Was it difficult for you to break players you have. In Toulon they were into the industry and who was the not happy to see Gaël Fickou leave first player you worked with? three or four years ago, but now it I don’t remember it was 10 years is done and I have some players they ago (laughs). I think one of the first are interested in. It’ a new chapter. players I worked with was Johann The aim of Mourad Boudjellal (the Authier. He is now the academy Toulon owner) is to have the biggest Coach of Oyannax and we have a very good relationship. The differteam with the best players. So I think we go back to the roots of ence however from the beginning is being a rugby agent. If you secure the that I now have access to top players. best players and the players are com- I cannot have all the top players but fortable with you than you are in a thanks to the success I have with the and his thinking is that if he plays very good rugby there, it will only be a matter of time before he is back in the French national team.
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players I already have, it is better. Do you give your players commission for suggesting you to their friends/team mates? No, never (laughs). They all talk in the changing room? Yes, exactly. It is the best way for me. I do not like to call a player and let him know that I want to come for them. I think respect is important. I will ask my players if they think this guy or that guy would be interested and they will say, “Yes, why not”, then I will call. Do you think there is a changing of the guard in your industry. By that I mean that the older rugby agents,
Julien Marchand stuck in the middle of the pack for Toulouse. A general view of the ruck. Stade Toulouse v Stade Francais, Day 8, Top 14. 14th October 2014.
who did things very differently, are having to step aside for the younger agents ? The younger agents are more aware of how to market a player to new territories, to new corporate clients and new platforms such as social media. Before the young agents arrived they were just used to sharing the cake and not focused on the young players and all the services they could provide. Then I think like you say the old guard is struggling due to the fact that the new generation of players are looking for more than negotiating just a contract or changing clubs. They want more. In England this is the way it works, but in France it has not worked like that until now. I think this is a big
factor and that helps me to continue developing my business and attracting the best new players.
so he just signed him. So that is why behaviour is very important. The things I try to find out before they sign is if it is the best club for them. The best club, the best place, the best situation. I try to avoid conflict but sometimes business is business. You have so many different situations. Perhaps before a player signs they are not with the French national team and then when he signs he is called by the French national team, so he is more attractive. Sometimes it is just a question of money. My aim is to make my player decide to go to this club or that club not just for the money.
The offer of legal advice to your players must be an essential service you offer? You hear of so many players in recent times trying to walk out on contracts. How do you deal with a situation like this when it happens? The main one I had, the only one really, was Mamuka Gorgodze when he decided to stay in Montpellier and then three years later he finally went to Toulon. So that answers what you asked me. Mourad (Boudjellal) is just about business now. He did not say to Mamuka ‘You did not sign three You have a lot of southern hemiyears ago so I don’t want you’. He just sphere players who come to the wants the best player for each position Top 14 just for the money over the SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE | 47
Yes, I did the deal for Jonathan Sexton with Racing. However, I think clubs will be more focused on the risk of signing Celtic players. You have a lot of examples of players who did not play well like Dan Lydiate, Jamie Is this something that is better for Roberts and finally Sexton played well but he decided to go back to Ireland your long term business strategy? Yes. I have some foreign players like after two years. I think clubs will be Jone Qovu at La Rochelle and some more cautious in the future when Georgian players. I am working with signing Celtic players. an Australian agent, so in the future after the World Cup I think it could Do you think this is a fashion that be interesting for me to place some has passed now in the Top 14? French players like Israel Folau or Kurtley clubs are no longer actively looking to sign players from England, Wales, Beale. Ireland and Scotland? Obviously with the World Cup I don’t think the clubs are looking in England coming up in 2015 at these players so much anymore. it is a really important time for Also, with the World Cup coming up your industry. Do you view it as a the English teams are looking more at keeping their players. I think in bonanza time to make big deals? Yes definitely and we see all the clubs England they have decided to keep struggling to recruit (the) right play- one more player outside the salary ers. They must recruit a minimum cap so they are trying to find solutions number of French players, they must to be in competition with France by find good French players, but not attracting the best players. France all of those called up by the French and the Top 14 will have to deal with national team. Therefore it is a dif- that. ficult balance for the clubs to find between French and foreign players. Do you think Steffon Armitage will I think it is now for sure a big recruit- ever play for France? ment period for the clubs ahead of the No, no. World Cup. Are they just playing poker between It was fashionable and caused the two countries (France and controversy between the various England)? rugby unions when English, Welsh, Yes, because the IRB changed the rules Scottish and Irish players started and they tried to say that if he played to arrive en masse to the Top 14. Rugby Sevens with a specific country Did you work with any of these then you would be eligible to play for the national team. But this is on the players? short term. Do these players interest you? No, I am just focused mainly on French players, not just French, but most of my players are French.
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premise that you would have to play three or four Rugby Sevens tournaments and Toulon are never going to release Steffon Armitage four times just for the pleasure of the French national team. What is the future for your agency, you have lots of young rugby players? Yes, but they are starting to become older now so I need to keep searching and find the next Fickou or the next Plisson. I cannot have every player or one hundred players but the key is to keep developing the agency, maybe take on one more agent. At this time my aim is to add at least five top new players and also some good established players. Being an agent is a very competitive industry, do you regularly get calls from your players saying that a rival has been in touch with them? Not really, but when it happens it is usually when a player has failed at a club and he does not know where or which club he will end up at in the future. That is when a lot of agents arrive and say if you work with me... etc etc. Yes, of course I think some of my players are called by other agents, but ultimately if they are happy with what you are doing then they are not going to move. My philosophy is really to be aware that I can lose my players at any time. I still have to work hard with them and I am not naive enough to think they will stay all their life with me. However, I continue to work hard
Fly-half, Jonathan Sexton, playing for Racing Metro. 31st August 2013. Photo by Presse Sports.
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and anticipate when or if this might happen so I can minimise the risk. You never relax? No, never (laughs). In summer sometimes. With money flooding into Rugby, young players have the opportunity to become a great ambassador for commercial brands. Are you wary of what media you put them in and do you give them much advice on how to conduct themselves? Yes I try, but I do not have the pretension to know the truth. I try to advise them on the best way to conduct themselves. However, it is not the same with a 20-year-old guy and a 30-year-old guy. So, I will never
will act and maybe we will start to see players getting salaries that exceed 1 million euros? I think top clubs like Racing or Toulon will be able to offer 1 million, but it The salary cap is quite stringent in depends on what the LNR decide to the Top 14. Obviously you are in the do. The average salary for a rugby business to make money, the players player, however in France is 10,000 also and currently the clubs are paid Euros per month, gross. So, the reality very well with revenues increasing is the salary for players is the excepfor them. Do you think the salary tion to the rule. They are still deemed cap needs to change in the Top 14 to be rich, they are living the dream. so players can earn the same as say What is your main aim as a rugby football players in Ligue 1? I think it is good to keep the salary cap, agent? but I think they should apply maybe I think to consider the career of the what they do in England and allow players more globally, rather than two or three players outside the sal- just negotiating a contract and callary cap. Clubs like Toulouse, Toulon, ing them only ten times a year and Stade Francais, Clermont and Racing being happy when they re-sign an So if you double it then it exceeds the current salary cap in the Top 14? Yes.
“..since people like Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal arrived in the game, it has had a massive impact on the game in France..” extension. Players want more. I try to secure their financial future and to help them outside of the game. Buying a house, working with the many contacts I have made along the way and hopefully building my players profile away from rugby. I have met so many people through rugby that it would not be possible to have met otherwise. This way the players feel that you are there for them on a more personal Dan Carter was the highest paid player in the history of the Top 750,000 Euros a year for a rugby level as well as just trying to get them 14. He earned 750,000 euros players is not that much in the a rugby contract. grand scheme of things when you officially.. Yes what is interesting is this was only take into account what other sport Did the World Cup in 2007 have a stars get paid. Do you think the massive impact on your business? for six months. LNR (Ligue National Du Rugby) Yes and since people like Toulon impose on them to live their life one way or another, but I will suggest what I think the best route is to take, the best way for them to behave. I will advise them the best way to relate to their coach or project themselves in the media, but at the end of the day they are adults and they will do what they want.
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can have much more than what they allowed in the salary cap, so I think it is frustrating. It’s good to keep the attractiveness of the Top 14, but I think French rugby is in a situation where it needs to adapt the rules. The rules are good to keep a kind of balance, but if you want to stay attractive you must allow the clubs to pay and attract the top players.
owner Mourad Boudjellal arrived in the game it has had a massive impact on the game in France and also the salaries of players. This is the main reason that rugby started to develop into a bigger brand, this was a seminal moment in French rugby. I assume you make a good living from rugby. If you had enough money would you ever consider owning a rugby club? No, never!! (laughs) Too many headaches? Yes, too many headaches and too many agents (laughs). The French national team have struggled to find cohesion in recent years. What is the problem with the French national team at the moment? We do not have the next Chabal, the next Michalak. Who is the next big star for our national team? We do not have a Israel Folau like Australia or the next Bryan Habana like South Africa. Who is our Jonny Wilkinson? For how long have we not had the next big impact French player? It was supposed to be Wesley Fofana. GaĂŤl Fickou has the profile to be the next one, Ben Fall and Jules Plisson as well, but they need to play regularly (for the French national team). For many different reasons they have not had this chance so far. For me the problem is there is not enough continuity with the coaching in the French national team.
Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal sits on the bench before the Heineken Cup quarter final match between Perpignan and Toulon at the Olympic Stadium, Barcelona, Spain. April 9th April 2011.
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SPOTLIGHT
EOIN MUNDOW
Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o embrace after Lionel Messi scores (foreground) and Thierry Henry and Iniesta replicate their embrace (rear) during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou stadium, Barcelona, Spain. 8th April 2009.
Interview by Karen Reid. Photos by Eoin Mundow.
DOCUMENTING
SPORT What inspired you to become a sport photographer? I can’t think of one specific incident, but I always loved sport when I was a kid. My dream was to play for Liverpool. I was good, but not good enough. I turned my attention to boxing when I was a teenager and would religiously seek out the latest issue of The Ring, KO or Boxing Monthly. Reading about fighters like Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard gave me a great insight into my idols’ lives, but what intrigued me the most was the stunning action shots that supplemented the articles. Over time I found myself studying the bylines of each photo and came to the conclusion that if I couldn’t make it as a footballer or boxer then photographing the sports I loved was the next best thing. It’s not something that happened straight away. I tried to become a Photographer when I was in my last year of school, but I actually got my first big break by a fellow Liverpool fan and friend, the renowned hip hop DJ, 279. 54 | SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE
My career in photography took off when I got the opportunity to photograph rap’s finest artists in their heyday between 1996 and 2000. I received encouragement and inspiration from many of these artists. One in particular, the late great G.U.R.U. of Gang Starr gave me some very simple words of wisdom. He told me to “never take no for an answer and follow your dreams – you only get one life”. The transition from music to sport was a natural progression and one of my dreams. I followed his advice and have experienced so many wonderful moments in my short career. Which sport do you find the most interesting to shoot? Funnily enough I love boxing, but I never got the opportunity to shoot nearly enough fights from ringside. I do love shooting behind the scene features with fighters, as I think it shows a very different perspective to the one you see in the press on a frequent basis. Football is great, but
from wire agencies at a game or event, that in order to sell my images I needed to capture something different. I always go with my gut instinct at a match. I look at light, the news angle and endeavour not to follow the pack. I find my own isolated spot. I love to shoot from a different perspective, create the illusion of intimacy and hopefully deliver something captivating from a very ordinary situation. The wire agencies will always have the best spot to capture a goal celebration, it is par for the course really, it’s not always a level playing field on those terms. However, Your creative style of photography is very distinctive. I’m more interested in capturing a unique insight into the What is your main focus when capturing a game/match game away from the glare of the other photographers. It might sound a bit weird, but the best images are often or simply shooting an athlete? I suppose I come from a slightly different background and off the ball or away from the action. One of my favourite started out by shooting images that I would like to see in images and a good example of this is an image I shot of a magazine. I must admit I set my standard high and I am former Toulouse Coach Elie Baup reacting to a referee’s poor decision in the final minute of an important Ligue 1 my own biggest critic. I was also aware, due to the large amount of photographers game. The raw emotion on his face is compelling. ever since I travelled around France to cover the 2007 World Cup I have been hooked on covering rugby. Aesthetically you can capture some great images, the variation and options are endless. There are so many different characters available to photograph on a rugby field, they come in all shapes and sizes and the intensity once the players get into it makes for a great spectacle. Brawn, speed, blood and the possibility of shooting in sun, rain, snow, day or night enable one to experiment with different techniques to keep it interesting.
Toulouse Manager Elie Baup reacts to the referee’s poor decision. Toulouse v Valenciennes. Day 38 of Ligue 1, Toulouse, France. 17th May 2008.
Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, before two of his career defining fights against Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
Out of all the athletes you have photographed, who a Premier League licence. It is safe to say that there is an ‘old boy’s club’ mentality in England and to be honest I stood out the most? I think I have to say Ricky Hatton. During his big fights in am and never have been interested in becoming part of the Las Vegas he captivated everyone and helped bring a new establishment. The reason I love photography is that I get fan base to the sport. The pure adrenaline, excitement and an opportunity to work freely on my own and it is a form intrigue surrounding fight week and ultimately his bout of individual expression. with Floyd Mayweather Jnr was like nothing I have ever We need to encourage more young photographers and not be so insecure that we block the youth from establishing experienced before or since. When I was in my early twenties I went to Las Vegas to their own place in the industry. It dragged on for years watch Mike Tyson knock out Frank Bruno and reclaim the and to be honest I lost interest in ‘playing the game’. I Heavyweight title. That was fantastic, but Ricky Hatton moved to France and was embraced by the clubs here and also spent a lot of time shooting Barcelona matches. It’s and his fans taking over Sin City was something else. The sheer magnitude of the event, the drama and tension funny. In England, my birth country, I couldn’t get access that engulfed everyone in the team made for a very inter- to shoot Accrington Stanley! However, I have been lucky esting week. It was a unique and intimate insight into enough to photograph Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, David the excruciating pressure that an athlete at the very top Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovich on a regular basis. So as they say, every cloud has a of his or her game is under silver lining. before their moment of “Suddenly I realised that this might truth. I have many great memories from fight week not end well. I was on my own and How accommodating are the athletes or sport and working with Ricky, faced the wrath of the pound for professionals that you but the pure emotion, belief and vitriolic spirit pound champion’s temper. Better than encounter in your line of work? shared by all of us in the that, his entourage of about 10 burly Most athletes understand people carrier on route to the MGM Grand on fight individuals were on hand to try and that it is an integral part of building their brand night was enough to make incite a good ass whooping.” or profile. It helps them your hair stand on end. become a more attractive With Dropkick Murphy’s “Shipping up to Boston” blasting out of the speakers on and marketable commodity. However, it depends on the repeat it was like we were all going to war! Ricky did every- person and also the situation you find yourself in when one proud, despite his loss and luckily for me the pictures you photograph them. Most athletes are ok and accommodating. Some are more natural and easy to work with did not come out too badly either. when they are being photographed and others are more open to doing something a bit more creative. What obstacles do you face in your industry? Where to start? Well I suppose there is a misguided belief The most uncooperative and probably the most bizarre by football clubs, sports rights holders and other sporting encounter I had was with Floyd Mayweather Jnr. His repbodies that us photographers are all wealthy from selling utation definitely precedes him. I’m told that he is lovely images of their events. There is a lot of protectionism, by some friends that know him, apparently “it’s all an act”. hence the reason access to athletes, events and the restric- However, when I met him in the car park outside his gym tive nature of how one can sell their images has become and asked to take some portraits, he tried to humiliate me so difficult. I had lots of issues when I started out securing by playing piggy in the middle with my press card. As he
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Floyd Mayweather Jnr outside his gym in Las Vegas. 30th April 2009.
and a friend passed my ID between each other I found myself reaching out and grabbing him by the bicep and telling him to cut it out. In an instant the mood switched and the landscape changed. Suddenly I realised that this might not end well. I was on my own and faced the wrath of the pound for pound champion’s temper. Better than that his entourage of about ten burly individuals were on hand to try and incite a good ass whooping. After listening to his profane barbs in which he told me I would “get a cap in my ass if I came to the ghetto” and some other gems, there was a tense stand off. I stood my ground and then gave up the goose, packing away my camera and prepared to head off. As I walked off he hollered “Hey man! You want your picture? Come on then!” I suppose as G.U.R.U. had told me many years before, never take no for an answer. I got the picture in the end.
athlete? Image is everything! What would sport be without photography, or moving image. It’s incomprehensible, they go hand in hand. Look around you and what do you see everywhere? Photography. We capture a moment of history, one that has such a powerful message, one that evokes pure emotion, joy, pain or accomplishment. For an athlete we are responsible for capturing a defining moment in their careers, an image that is frozen in time and lives forever as a record of their achievements in their chosen sport. Name me an athlete that does not love seeing a wonderful image of them claiming glory? Getting them to pay for a picture you have taken of them is another story though (laughs).
What do you think sport photography shows us that watching a live event or televised event doesn’t? How important do you feel photography is for an I think live coverage of a game has become far more 58 | SEEN SPORT MAGAZINE
sophisticated now. With sport being shown in HD there is a greater emphasis on bringing the viewer closer to the action and the variation of unique camera angles available to the TV networks exceeds anything we are allowed or able to do as photographers. That said there is always going to be a difference as the creative mindset of a photographer is different to that of a cameraman and the objective is slightly different. I suppose the main thing with photography and mine for sure is that it’s all about being able to capture something unique from any given event. Using a variety of lenses or different techniques enables one to isolate an athlete and illustrate a unique narrative that is sometimes missed by the spectator at a live event or by a cameraman. What are your words of wisdom to inspire budding sport photographers? If you want to become a millionaire become a banker or trader. If you want to experience something unique and have a love and determination for sport, then it’s a rewarding way to make a living, but far from easy. You will need to be open-minded, hard working, resilient, ever the optimist. Taking the photos is the best part. Learning to cope with late nights, early mornings, lots of travel, compromising weather, long days editing, captioning and wiring images can be a thankless task when you do not get any
images used. Dare to be different, creative and most of all be honest with yourself. If you have the talent you have a better chance of succeeding, however it has been proven that some of the most influential photographers have risen to the top of their game because of their skill in marketing themselves to the masses and picture editors. Overall make sure you have a passion for the sport you shoot, anticipation is a great asset to have in order to get that defining image. Which country or countries do you enjoy travelling to for your profession? I live in the south west of France and still enjoy travelling around the country as there is so much variation in terrain, culture, attitude and cuisine that I have yet to discover. Spain is a favourite, Barcelona of course! The club have been so accommodating to me and I will never forget some of the great nights I have had at the Camp Nou or the honour of being given exclusive access to shoot their academy players at La Masia. I enjoy travelling anywhere really, but I suppose for me France does have it all. Where else would a photographer be treated so well and dine on foie gras, champagne and wonderful pâtisseries in the press area after a big match?
Lionel Messi attacks during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg match between Barcelona and Arsenal at Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain. 6th April 2010.
David Beckham makes his debut. PSG v Marseille, Ligue 1, Parc Des Princes, Paris, France, 24th February 2013.
Edison Cavani of PSG. Toulouse v Paris Saint Germain (1-1). Toulouse, France. 27th September 2014.
A young Theo Walcott lost in the rain. England v Republic of Ireland, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, 5th February 2008, St Marys, Southampton.
Brian Habana scores the first try. Argentina v South Africa, Semi Final, Rugby World Cup 2007, Stade De France, St Denis, 14th October 2007.
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Serge Betsen puts his finger in the eye of Nick Easter. England v France, Semi Final, Rugby World Cup 2007, Stade De France, St Denis. 13th October 2007.
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Former WBA and WBC champion, David Haye jumps in the air before the fight. He went on to knock out WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli in two rounds on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London. 8th March 2008.
TRAVEL
GERMANY - BUNDESLIGA
Allianz Arena football stadium. Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Text by Eoin Mundow. Photos by Bernd Feil.
BUNDESLIGA T
he idea of travelling to Germany to enjoy top drawer football may not seem like such a crazy idea. Home of the world champions and arguably one of Europe’s finest teams, Bayern Munich, is the heartland of everything that is good about football. Disgruntled European supporters are making the voyage to Germany and embracing old-fashioned football values that puts the fans first. Following a disappointing Euro 2000, the development of football on a national level underwent a major overhaul and as a consequence the Bundesliga became more attractive. Much like the country itself and it’s flagging economy, the nation and football have risen to prominence yet again. The country boasts many wonderful tourist attractions and events. More importantly it is easily accessible and affordable to any of it’s European neighbours to explore. Rather than just munching on a Beutelwurst, downing a Bavarian beer at Oktoberfest or taking in the beautiful sights of Ludwig II’s picturesque Neuschwanstein castle, the Bundesliga is fast becoming the number one tourist attraction for sports fanatics around the world. Tickets are reasonably priced and easy to source on online ticket market websites, such as the Viagogo or Eventim.
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An adult season ticket for Bayern Munich or VfL Wolfsburg can be purchased for as little as €80. So, it’s clear that the real winner in German football is the fan. Christian Seifert, the Bundesliga CEO recently claimed that if the exorbitant ticket prices in England were to be charged in Germany, it would be met with “a shit storm” and “would not be accepted.” The Ruhr area is the place to be if you want to engage with really ardent local supporters. Teams such as FC Schalke 04 or Borussia Dortmund attract a passionate crowd, with over 1000 English fans recently flocking to Dortmund to see Die Schwarzgelben ply their trade. Travelling to home games as a fan is free for match ticket holders. The majority of clubs work closely with the local councils and your football ticket will allow you to use the local bus, tram or train services free of charge to and from the stadium on match days. Whilst Bayern Munich is the obvious choice for many football neutrals to watch in action, I would suggest you follow the Deutsche Fußballroute (German Football Route) in North Rhine-Westphalia to discover Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bochum or Dortmund for a memorable footballing vacation. Viel Spaß!
FC Bayern M端nchen v FC Schalke 04. Bundesliga. Leipzig, Germany. 28th July 2007.
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