- Doug Eldridge
-
Doug Eldridge is a sports agent and founder of the "boutique agency" DLE Sports Management Group, in Washington, D.C. The company was initially formed around endurance athletes[1] and Eldridge's first clients were cyclists, marathoners, triathletes and track and field athletes. Eldridge is a certified contract advisor (agent) with both the National Football League[2] and USA Track & Field.[3]
Eldridge's client roster and industry reputation have many people looking at him as the "next generation" of sports agent and the future of sports representation in Washington, DC—a town that has been home to such industry titans as David Falk, the famous agent to Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. Considered to be articulate and camera-friendly, Eldridge has also been on television, newspapers, magazines, radio shows[4] and online publications.[5] He has been on regional television providing commentary on various topics including: professional athletes, physical fitness, proper training and hydration for marathons.
In 2009, he has appeared in multiple mediums across the country as part of the "10-12-100 Campaign" [6] which he started in January 2009. Eldridge is running 10 marathons in 12 months to raise $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.[7] He has completed marathons in Miami, Pensacola, DC,[8] Charlottesville,[9] Cincinnati,[10] Seattle, San Francisco, Colorado Springs[11] and will finish the remaining two races in DC and Las Vegas, in October and December respectively.
In late 2009, Eldridge appeared on local and national TV networks, providing commentary and analysis on sports-related news issues, such as Tiger Woods[12] and then in January 2010, Gilbert Arenas.[13] Eldridge discussed matters, such as the legal implications of a felony conviction for Arenas,[14] or the real reach of the 'morality clause' of a pro athletes contract.[15] He also appeared several times on what he refers to as 'strategic communications' which, is an Agent's ability to provide immediate and deliberate "...PR and crisis communication counseling when a prominent athlete (or celebrity) has their private misdeeds made public." He identified timelines and methods for "proactively addressing" image issues for athletes and how to navigate both the legal issues surrounding such accusations, as well as what he constantly refers to as "the court of public opinion." Throughout the Spring of 2010, he has appeared more regularly on TV, and seems to be developing into an insightful, unbiased TV analyst.
Before he was a lawyer and a sports agent, Eldridge was an athlete himself. At West Springfield High School (Springfield, VA) he was a member of a Distance Medley Relay team that placed second at the 1996 High School Indoor National Championships in Boston, MA. The team was anchored by mile sensation, Sharif Karie who was the national champion in the mile the following year at Outdoor Nationals.[16] That finish earned Eldridge and his relay mates All-America status. Eldridge was also an accomplished hurdler and competed at the Virginia state meet, where he ran against future NFL star, Plaxico Burress (Green Run High School) in the 300m Hurdles. Eldridge attended James Madison University where he ran the 400m hurdlesthrough his sophomore year. He graduated from JMU in 2000 with a double degree in International Business and Spanish. In 2001, he enrolled at the George Mason University School of Law and was a member of the Moot Court Board and the Honor Council. During law school, he completed two Ironman triathlons.
Upon graduation from GMU Law, he continued in government practice before leaving to form the DLE Sports Management Group, sometime in 2006. Eldridge focused heavily on creative public relations campaigns to build up the profiles of his otherwise unremarkable early clientele and in the process, he managed to attract growing attention to his talents as a sports agent—both for his creative contractual construction as well as his deft use of marketing and public relations to generate buzz for his clients.[17]
Doug Eldridge was born in San Francisco, CA in December 1977. He is the son and only child of Col. Gary W. Eldridge and Donna Eldridge. His father died from a brain tumor on Sept. 8, 2001 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[18]
References
- ^ "DLE Sports Management Group | Welcome". Dlesports.com. http://www.dlesports.com. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "NFL Players Association". Nflplayers.com. http://www.nflplayers.com. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "USA Track & Field". Usatf.org. 2009-10-04. http://www.usatf.org. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "Episode #38- Bridge of Sighs and Doug Eldridge - May 14, 2009 from the You Served podcast". Podfeed.net. http://www.podfeed.net/episode/Episode+38-+Bridge+of+Sighs+and+Doug+Eldridge+-+May+142009/1813940. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ Bravado, Danny (2009-10-08). "Sports Agent Doug Eldridge Is Running the (Ten) Marathons of His Life - BroBible - Every Bro Has a Story". BroBible. http://www.brobible.com/Story/19305. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "DLE Sports Management Group | Clients". Dlesports.com. http://www.dlesports.com/x-1012100.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "triathlon for triathletes who go the distance". xtri.com. 2009-01-06. http://www.xtri.com/reports.aspx?riIDReport=5656&CAT=0&xref=xx. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ http://www.nbcwashington.com/sports/more/Marathon_Man_Runs_to_Raise_Money_for_Wounded_ Vets_Washington_DC.html
- ^ "10-12-100 Campaign: 10 Marathons, 12 Months, $100,000 for Wounded Warriors". Charlottesvillenewsplex.tv. 2009-04-19. http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/home/headlines/43250967.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "Video". Wlwt.com. http://www.wlwt.com/video/19354764/index.html. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "Marathon Man raises money for wounded troops : News : KXRM FOX 21". Coloradoconnection.com. http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/video.aspx?id=346597. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/tiger-woods-makes-first-remarks-021910
- ^ http://www.redlasso.com/
- ^ http://www.redlasso.com/ClipPlayer.aspx?id=c9466321-b9b8-4cf5-ac54-dd9e7278dc38
- ^ http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/locals-react-to-tigers-statement-021910
- ^ "#32, Sharif Karie, West Springfield Track, 1997". Connectionnewspapers.com. 2006-08-16. http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=308744&paper=60&cat=105. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ "Running Times Magazine: Leading Edge: Steve Meinelt". Runningtimes.com. http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=11688. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
- ^ Michael Robert Patterson. "Gary W. Eldridge, Colonel, United States Army". Arlingtoncemetery.net. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/gweldridge.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
Categories:- American sports agents
- Living people
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