Page 21 - Final Inspirational Women Issue

Inspirational Women

to be a piece of cake and there “When one of my babies, Yoan disrespectful. He said he did not
is going to be a lot of sweat and Lopez, a Cuban pitcher, and I want to leave the family. I was
often disappointment for them first met we looked at each other incredibly touched and proud. It
along the way. “Doing this and kind of cross-eyed. He seemed to has now been two offseasons in a
being upfront with my players is not quite get me, and I couldn’t row that he stayed with me at our
why I believe they are so loyal to really figure him out either. At home for the entire offseason. He
me.” Keep in mind that the sports one point I felt, I don’t know if I is also getting along much better
agency business is not one that like your attitude and I’m sure he with his teammates, ‘his broth-
involves players signing contracts was saying the same thing about ers.’”
with their agents. A player is free me. I’m sure he wondered, how Lonnie is tough, and she has
to move from agent to agent if is this lady going to represent me to be in a field dominated by
they choose, so seeing the longev- when we are not even communi- men, but often it is tough love
ity of the players who have signed cating? But our relationship grew that gets her players through
with Lonnie is clear proof that she so strong, two years later he asked those rough times. Disappoint-
is doing it right and is, as such, me to walk him down the aisle ment is often a big part of life for
constantly bombarded by referrals at his wedding, having lost his these young men who sometimes
from her current players.” mother to cancer as a teenager.” put out stellar performances
“If I had to pick something This is only one of the many and yet due to the “Business of
that I am most proud of it would stories Lonnie shares about her Baseball” may be released or kept
be that I have 22 Latin players, Babies. Although she is caring, at the minor league level. Having
the majority of whom don’t she is tough as well. “When one a manager like Lonnie can often
speak English, and I don’t speak of my players is not living up to make the difference for these
Spanish. We communicate using his potential I am the first to go players.
a translator app, or we communi- out on the field and tell him that When Lonnie’s husband Dave
cate through another individual he isn’t doing what he should to Stewart left his position with
who speaks Spanish. We have sat progress his career. One player the Arizona Diamond Backs she
at restaurants, or in the car and and I had many challenges in assumed he would come back
have been texting back and forth, the beginning. He was a tough on as a partner at Sports Man-
so we could utilize the translator cookie and even had some issues agement Partners, but when he
app on our phones. We tell jokes, with other players on the team. realized how much improved and
talk about what’s happening on So, I had to be tough. I basically how much Lonnie had grown the
the field and in their lives, and told him if you don’t get your s**t business he simply said, “This is
what is going on in mine because together I am not going to repre- yours, you’ve got this.”
we are family.” sent you. So it was the last game Thanks to women like Lon-
In an industry dominated by of the season when they were able nie, we are seeing that women
male agents whose primary con- to play on the big league field, can accomplish whatever they set
cern is often the bottom line and and they let their families go out out to accomplish. Sometimes at
finding the one player who may on the field. Of course, I went great odds and with great strug-
one day sign for a multi-million out cause I’m his ‘mom.’ And I gle, but for Lonnie, much of this
dollar contract, it is clear that the said to him; I’m proud of you, came naturally to her, and it is
emotions of the young men they you had a great performance. I easy to see that she loves her job
sign may not be at the forefront wish you nothing but success. and all of the players that she calls
of their concerns. This is not the But I don’t like your attitude, family. As Lonnie admits, “There
case for Lonnie who is definitely I’ve warned you, and now I can is nothing else I would rather be
a breath of fresh air in a tough no longer represent you. Back doing,”
often cutthroat industry. at the team hotel I was standing Thank you, Lonnie, for show-
The language difference does in front with seven other guys ing us what we can accomplish,
at times present a challenge. from the team, and he walked up not in spite of being women, but
Lonnie shared with me a story to me and in front of everyone, often because we are women.
about one of her “babies,” the with the help of one of the other For More Information
affectionate term she uses for players translating, he said he was Contact Sports Management
the young men she represents. sorry, and he never wanted to be Partners at (858) 613-1192

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