Messenger - Vol. 2, No. 1, Page 23 Fall 1992 Seeing stars; What do all these people have in common? What does Peter Johnson, Delaware '72, have in common with superstars Joe Montana, Martina Navratilova, Herschel Walker, Ivan Lendl and Nancy Lopez? This former Delaware football player negotiates contracts for these athletic mega stars who've tossed touchdown passes to win Super Bowls and won millions of dollars in tennis and golf championships. He also lines up product endorsements for his clients who speak for everything from soft drinks to credit cards. Johnson's role as agent for his sports celebrities varies from one day to the other, he says. Some days he's their personal adviser, the next he may be their business manager or friend or psychologist. One of Johnson's favorite deals was in 1987, when he orchestrated the National Football League trade of former Blue Hen quarterback Rich Gannon from New England to Minnesota. Johnson stepped in when New England wanted to switch the speedy Gannon to running back. (The Vikings have kept the Delaware legend at quarterback, where he is now a starter in his sixth pro season.) A wide receiver and tight end on Delaware's championship teams of the late '60s and early '70s, the 6-3, 230-pound Johnson was both big enough and good enough to try out for the NFL in 1972. After being cut just before the season started, he went home to suburban Philadelphia. He had elected not to have an agent during his brief pro career. "Trying to figure out what to do," Johnson bought some time by working on an MBA at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Just before graduating in 1976, Johnson was "fascinated" by an article in Sports Illustrated about entrepreneur Mark McCormack, founder of International Management Group (IMG). Johnson decided that working for McCormack was his dream job. Johnson sent a blind inquiry. Two interviews later, Johnson had struck a deal at IMG, which then employed about 60 people. Today, the Cleveland-based Johnson is senior corporate vice president of IMG, which has grown to 1,300 employees. Johnson's clout in the sports world has grown right along with IMG. In January, The Sporting News named him the 35th most powerful person in sports. By comparison, Michael Jordan was ranked 50th. Downplaying the notoriety, Johnson says, "I'm lucky to be the 35th most powerful person at IMG." Johnson admires athletes whose fame has not gone to their heads. Football's Montana is one, he says. "He'll talk to you whether you're an 8-year-old kid or a 50-year-old CEO," says Johnson, who adds that golf's Lopez is the same way. "I've managed Nancy since she entered the LPGA tour and she hasn't changed one iota since that time." Have sports stars become too glamorized in American society? "Yes, I think it's really gone overboard," Johnson replies. "Let's face it, we're just talking about a game here. I think there's way too much emphasis on athletes and sports in this country. It also becomes pretty difficult on the athletes themselves because 24 hours a day they're under a microscope." Johnson doesn't blame his profession for contributing to American's obsession with celebrity athletes. "If you wanted to fault someone, you can fault the media. They're the ones who seemingly are interested in everything an athlete does-where they go to dinner, where they go on vacation." Johnson married fellow IMG agent Stephanie Tolleson in 1991. Among Tolleson's clients are Navratilova rivals Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. "It becomes interesting when Monica or Arantxa plays Martina," Johnson says. "We sit at the opposite ends of the stadium and root for our respective clients." -Bill Clark, Delaware '82