The $120 million-plus movie 'Jerry Maguire' only won one Oscar last week, but it's garnered the National Sports Lawyers Association more free publicity than any Major League Baseball contract negotiation.
'We get a lot of phone calls every week. . . . There's a lot of interest from law students wanting to become sports agents,' said Bill Drohan, the executive director of the Reston-based professional society.
As a result, the group is updating its World Wide Web site with a special section dedicated to explaining the process to aspiring Jerry Maguires. And Mr. Drohan said he's preparing for an influx of newcomers at the annual NSLA convention in Orlando, Fla., in June.
The NSLA has more than 1,000 members who collectively manage billions of dollars in sports talent, Mr. Drohan said.
PERSISTENT LOBBY
A Maryland business lobby vows it will keep resurrecting its open-shop legislation until it's passed.
'Of course we'll come back next year,' said Chuck Serio, the president of the Maryland Right to Work Coalition. He said legislation proposed by his group, made up primarily of businesses, would help draw businesses to the state. 'The economy has gotten so bad that the people on the economic development side are starting to listen to me.'
The right-to-work legislation, which has been defeated dozens of times since its first introduction in the 1950s, hasn't even made it out of committee this session. The bill Mr. Serio's group is backing would eliminate union membership as a condition of employment in Maryland workplaces.
'Even if it had passed, the governor said he would veto it anyway,' said Margareta Crampton, political director for the Maryland and District of Columbia AFL-CIO.
A related bill, right-to-know legislation, which was introduced for the first time by Delegate Nancy Jacobs of Harford County and had nearly 30 co-sponsors, would require unions to tell members what portion of their dues goes to support political activity in Maryland.
Both bills are alive in the Senate. But with less than a week left in Maryland's 90-day legislative session, union leaders are optimistic that the bills will die.
UNUSUAL DINING
One Santa Rosa, Calif., association has 'outed' several national political leaders and entertainers and plans more of the same to gain respect and influence for its members.
'We tried to impart some sort of dignity for people . . . and to let people know that they're not alone,' said Norm Hankoff, founder of the International Association of People Who Dine Over the Kitchen Sink.
The association claims some 1,000 members, including closet 'sinkies' such as House Speaker Newt Gingrich and radio personality Rush Limbaugh. Decorating doyenne Martha Stewart, psychic friend Dionne Warwick and Miss Manners are also closet sinkies.
'We have no proof, no photos or witnesses. But when nobody's around and the shades are down, we think they stand and eat over the kitchen sink,' said Mr. Hankoff, author of 'The Official Sinkies Don't Cook Book.'
The semiretired Mr. Hankoff said he started the group in 1991 as a way to 'get people in touch with their inner `sinkies.' ' And, he added sarcastically, 'to cause my children and grandchildren as little embarrassment as possible.'
Membership costs $5.89 and includes a special certificate stating, 'Everybody does it, Sinkies proudly admit it.'
ISO MENTORS
The American Society of Association Executives has promised to add 1,000 associations or businesses to the list of the 70 corporate or nonprofit entities that are committed to the President's Summit for America's Future.
The purpose of the summit, to be held April 27 to 29 in Philadelphia, is to get private and public industry executives to volunteer time and resources to mentor young people. Summit organizers also hope states will institute their own plans.
The ASAE, which represents more than 23,000 association executives, outlined some suggestions for executives wanting to join the education push: mentoring, after-school activities, child health care and teaching skills that can lead to a job.
Among the groups already helping, the Washington-based National Football League Players Association has committed to working with the Johns Hopkins Center for Indian Health in launching a pro athlete mentoring program for American Indian teens. Retired and active NFL players will also help set up a summer camp.
The National Council of Negro Women, also based in the District, has pledged 1,000 volunteers to tutor or mentor children and provide internships in mathematics and sciences.
Led by retired Gen. Colin Powell, the summit is being organized by the Corporation for National Service and the Points of Light Foundation.
* Dawn Kopecki can be reached at 202/636-3264.
