Craig McKenzie

Craig McKenzie (born September 13, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois) is a sports, entertainment and marketing agent.

McKenzie graduated from the prestigious St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. Then he attended Valparaiso University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science in 1992. He went on to graduate from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1995.

McKenzie started his practice in partnership with renown sports agent Eugene E. Parker of Maximum Sports Management. With Parker, McKenzie co-represented Deion Sanders and negotiated commercial contracts that lead Sanders the real-life inspiration for the flamboyant character "Rod Tidwell" in the film Jerry McGuire to become second to Michael Jordan in endorsement earnings in 1996-1997, according to Forbes Magazine.

McKenzie now owns his own marketing firm, Higher Vision Sports AMG (Artist Marketing Group), where some of his clients are three-sport athlete and Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward; Marcus Brown, the once highest paid American player in European basketball history [ [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19880071&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46370&rfi=6 Former Cavs Player Heads to Moscow] ] , and McKenzie has worked with Common (rapper), a hip hop/rap artist who has also transitioned into acting in feature films such as "Smokin' Aces", "American Gangster", "Street Kings", "Wanted" and "Terminator Salvation". As of mid 2000, McKenzie's practice has become known for representing some of the best athletes in European Basketball. McKenzie is also a major Democratic Party supporter, fundraiser, and volunteer for Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. The two met when they once shared the same home-town church on the south side of Chicago, Trinity United Church of Christ.

References

*cite news|title=Agents court Xavier star|url=http://www.enquirer.com/xavier/1999/05/03/xu_agents_court_xavier.html|last=Perry|first=Michael|publisher="The Cincinnati Enquirer"|date=1999-05-03
* [http://www.cuw.edu/AdultEd_Graduate/corporate/cmckenzie.html Concordia University Wisconsin: Craig McKenzie]
*cite news|title=First Goal of Knicks is Signing Of Ward|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E7D61431F931A25752C0A96F958260|last=Roberts|first=Selena|publisher="The New York Times"|date=1999-01-18
* [http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/craig-mckenzie.asp?cycle=08 Campaign Money]
* [http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=Mckenzie&fname=Craig Huffington Post]
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Craig_McKenzie Source Watch]

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