Latest news with #TonyClark
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MLB, NFL players contacted by federal agents in stunning licensing firm investigation
MLB and NFL pros have been contacted by federal agents as part of an investigation regarding a licensing firm owned by the league's unions, according to reports. Agents are looking into financial dealings regarding OneTeam Partners, created by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and private-equity firm RedBird Capitals in 2019, per ESPN. Players are not being targeted by the agents, according to ESPN, and at least three MLBers who are involved with 'union leadership' have been contacted. The FBI and Department of Labor (DOL) are partaking in the investigation, per The Athletic. '(OneTeam) is aware of an ongoing investigation of allegations concerning our partners,' it told ESPN in a statement. 'We want to emphasize that OneTeam is not the subject of the investigation and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in any way. OneTeam is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation.' OneTeam Partners' website claims 'we united Players Associations and elite athletes by giving them the platforms, resources and expertise necessary to maximize their collective value.' Both NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell and MLBPA boss Tony Clark are listed on the board of directors, and former NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith helped found it. OneTeam Partners paid the MLBPA $44.5 million in 2024 and the NFLPA received $422.8 million over the past five years, per ESPN. ESPN described the partnership as a 'major financial boon' for both unions. Union executives told ESPN they had not been contacted, and the investigation is being run by the Brooklyn-based Eastern District of New York. 'We are aware of the investigation and fully prepared to cooperate if the NFLPA is contacted,' an NFLPA spokesperson told The Athletic. The MLBPA also said to the outlet: 'If the MLBPA is contacted by the government, we intend to cooperate fully with any investigation.' OneTeam has faced questions before regarding its operations with the NFL and MLB unions. An anonymous unfair labor practices complaint was filed in 2024 with the National Labor Relations board that alleged 'nepotism, corruption and mismanagement' within the MLBPA, per ESPN. The complaint alleges Clark 'improperly gave himself & other executives equity' in OneTeam, along with 'inadequate disclosures' about the alliance in the yearly union updates. The MLBPA denied those allegations, per ESPN. This past December, Richard Smith, the NFL's outside counsel, reportedly ran an audit to see whether the company has afforded equity options to executive directors of its union partners, including the MLBPA. The NFLPA audit revealed the union's involvement with OneTeam was 'in compliance with best governance practices,' a source told ESPN. '(OneTeam) remains steadfast in our commitment to following the best business practices, as has already been determined by the independent audit conducted earlier this year,' it told ESPN. 'We remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency in all that we do.'
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
MLB, NFL players contacted by federal agents in stunning licensing firm investigation
MLB and NFL pros have been contacted by federal agents as part of an investigation regarding a licensing firm owned by the league's unions, according to reports. Agents are looking into financial dealings regarding OneTeam Partners, created by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) and private-equity firm RedBird Capitals in 2019, per ESPN. 4 MLBPA executive director Tony Clark in 2017. AP Players are not being targeted by the agents, according to ESPN, and at least three MLBers who are involved with 'union leadership' have been contacted. The FBI and Department of Labor (DOL) are partaking in the investigation, per The Athletic. '(OneTeam) is aware of an ongoing investigation of allegations concerning our partners,' it told ESPN in a statement. 'We want to emphasize that OneTeam is not the subject of the investigation and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in any way. OneTeam is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation.' OneTeam Partners' website claims 'we united Players Associations and elite athletes by giving them the platforms, resources and expertise necessary to maximize their collective value.' Both NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell and MLBPA boss Tony Clark are listed on the board of directors, and former NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith helped found it. 4 Executive Director NFL players Association Lloyd Howell speaks as striking members of Writers Guild of America picketing in front of CBS Broadcast Center on theme Sport Writers Picket in New York in 2023. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock OneTeam Partners paid the MLBPA $44.5 million in 2024 and the NFLPA received $422.8 million over the past five years, per ESPN. ESPN described the partnership as a 'major financial boon' for both unions. Union executives told ESPN they had not been contacted, and the investigation is being run by the Brooklyn-based Eastern District of New York. 'We are aware of the investigation and fully prepared to cooperate if the NFLPA is contacted,' an NFLPA spokesperson told The Athletic. 4 The OneTeam Partners website. The MLBPA also said to the outlet: 'If the MLBPA is contacted by the government, we intend to cooperate fully with any investigation.' OneTeam has faced questions before regarding its operations with the NFL and MLB unions. An anonymous unfair labor practices complaint was filed in 2024 with the National Labor Relations board that alleged 'nepotism, corruption and mismanagement' within the MLBPA, per ESPN. 4 Former NFLPA boss DeMaurice Smith helped found OneTeam. AP The complaint alleges Clark 'improperly gave himself & other executives equity' in OneTeam, along with 'inadequate disclosures' about the alliance in the yearly union updates. The MLBPA denied those allegations, per ESPN. This past December, Richard Smith, the NFL's outside counsel, reportedly ran an audit to see whether the company has afforded equity options to executive directors of its union partners, including the MLBPA. The NFLPA audit revealed the union's involvement with OneTeam was 'in compliance with best governance practices,' a source told ESPN. '(OneTeam) remains steadfast in our commitment to following the best business practices, as has already been determined by the independent audit conducted earlier this year,' it told ESPN. 'We remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency in all that we do.'
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Federal agents contacting NFL, MLB players as part of investigation related to licensing firm
Federal agents have contacted Major League Baseball and National Football League players as part of an investigation into financial dealings related to a group licensing firm, OneTeam Partners, that was created by both leagues' unions and other backers, people briefed on the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly said. ESPN first reported the inquiry and that baseball players had been interviewed. Advertisement The players involved are not targets of the investigation, sources said. The FBI and the Department of Labor are both involved in the inquiries, which concern the financial structure and dealings of OneTeam. OneTeam secures media deals and leverages the name, image and licensing rights of players in the NFL and MLB and in several other sports, and makes payments to the respective unions. OneTeam paid the MLBPA $44.5 million in 2024, the MLBPA reported to the Department of Labor. MLBPA head Tony Clark is on the OneTeam Players Association Board of Directors, as is NFLPA leader Lloyd Howell. Clark and former NFLPA leader DeMaurice Smith co-founded OneTeam in 2019 in partnership with the private equity firm Redbird Capital, and it has since grown into a multibillion-dollar entity. Smith left the NFLPA in 2023; RedBird sold its stake in OneTeam in 2022. In a statement to ESPN, OneTeam said it is 'aware of an ongoing investigation of allegations concerning our partners. We want to emphasize that OneTeam is not the subject of the investigation and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in any way. OneTeam is fully committed to cooperating with the investigation.' NFL players received a communication from someone within the NFLPA on Friday with information about the investigation, though a person with knowledge of the NFLPA's actions who was granted anonymity to speak freely said that the communication did not actually come from NFLPA leadership. 'We are aware of the investigation and fully prepared to cooperate if the NFLPA is contacted,' an NFLPA spokesperson said. Said the MLBPA in a similar statement: 'If the MLBPA is contacted by the government, we intend to cooperate fully with any investigation.' ESPN reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is running the investigation. The Eastern District did not immediately return a request for comment. (Photo of Clark: AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana, File)
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Barnyard shenanigans! Three alpacas escape from Cedar Point petting zoo
There's been another great escape from Cedar Point's Barnyard. Last summer, camels and then goats took a stroll along the Sandusky amusement park's Frontier Trail. This time alpacas − three of them − escaped from the petting zoo area and strolled through the park. Unlike last year's incident where park guests opened gates for the critters to escape, Cedar Point spokesman Tony Clark said the incident May 9 happened while a third-party worker was cleaning an area of the petting zoo and left a gate unattended. Clark said the alpacas then began walking along the park's railroad tracks in the Frontier Trail area behind the Millennium roller coaster. Park guest Laura Steuk-Mastropaola was on the Cedar Point & Lake Erie train when the alpacas came waltzing up to the station where passengers were boarding. "I am used to herds of animals but not alpacas," said the Berlin Heights resident. "Ironically, we run a therapeutic horsemanship program near Sandusky (the Boots to Grasses Therapeutic Horsemanship Program) so seeing animals that were not horses come cantering toward us was even funnier." She caught the caper on video before park workers were able to wrangle the alpacas and return them to The Barnyard. After last year's two escapes, Cedar Point said it had implemented additional measures to ensure there would not be any further escapes. The Barnyard is home to a variety of animals, including cows, sheep, piglets, turtles, ducks and donkeys. Clark said none of the alpacas or park guests were injured in the mishap on May 9. Honey Hill Farms in Kentucky provides the animals and workers at the Barnyard at Cedar Point. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cedar Point has to corral three alpacas that escaped from petting zoo
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Riders wanted for new Cedar Point promotional video and pics
[WATCH: In the video player above, Kenny Crumpton rides the Top Thrill 2 live on air!] SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) – Cedar Point is looking for extras to help promote the world's tallest and fastest triple-launch coaster. Last spring, Top Thrill 2 made a very brief debut before it was shut down for mechanical modifications. This year, the coaster has reopened, and according to Cedar Point's website, they're looking for extra riders to help promote it. Little dog captured after 18 months on remote island Courtesy: Cedar Point 'On Tuesday, May 13, we're working with a production company to grab new photos and video of the record-breaking Top Thrill 2, and we're looking for extras!' wrote the park's Director of Communications Tony Clark. Hard plastic found in Johnsonville brats: USDA Those interested need to apply and provide a current head shot. The park notes that those selected might ride multiple times, or they might just sit and wait. 'It just depends on the shots the crew needs,' reads the post. For more details and to apply, CLICK HERE. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
