Return to Virginia Business - June 2001

Minding Your Business
The Vick-tory tour begins

High-tech stocks take a tumble this winter? Something is still soaring: the marketability of the Hokies’ Michael Vick, the star quarterback who was the first pick in this year’s National Football League draft.

You may have loved watching Vick at Blacksburg. If Octagon, a sports marketing agency in McLean, has its way, you’ll see a lot more of him, even though he’s moving south to join the Atlanta Falcons. Last month, the 20-year-old Newport News native put his name on a contract worth $62 million over six years that guarantees $15.3 million in the first three years.

Already Vick is featured on an ESPN commercial, along with one for The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, one of Vick’s pet projects. And if you haven’t seen a No. 7 Atlanta Falcons jersey yet, you will. "Football is Michael’s No. 1 priority right now," says his Octagon agent, Andre Colona. "Michael is a very humble person and he has asked us to hold back on the marketing until he has a chance to begin proving himself at this level. That’s the kind of person he is, and that’s what will make him so successful, on and off the field."

The potential is certainly there, of course. It’s so powerful that Octagon has put together a 10-person team just to handle Vick-mania. There’s a seven-figure shoe deal with Nike looming this summer and the memorabilia market for Vick rookie cards and tchotchkes will be red hot, fetching as much as $50 a pop for his signature on 500 lots.

Vick signed with Octagon in mid-January after consulting with his cousin, former University of Virginia and current New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks. Not only did Brooks tell Vick that he had a good experience with Octagon, the firm also handles such star athletes as Anna Kournikova, Martina Hingis, David Robinson, David Wells and Tom Kite.

Since announcing that he was leaving Tech and entering the NFL draft, Vick’s life has been a whirlwind. He’s been interviewed by Bob Costas on HBO, followed by sessions with Gentleman’s Quarterly magazine and NFL Commissioner Paul Taglibue. Bryant Gumbel got Vicked on CBS’s morning show while the Falcons report that season ticket sales are at an all-time off-season high.

Looks like Michael Vick’s stock just keeps going up. Now where can I get one of those jerseys?

— Mike Ashley

Return to Virginia Business - June 2001