The history behind Sports Link
President: Mike Ornstein
Widely considered the Godfather of Sports Marketing. Michael began his career in 1976 w/ the LA Raiders. Over the course of 13 years Michael developed and established the Raider marketing campaign through three (3) Super Bowl victories. Michael spent eight (8) years as Vice President of Club Relations and Player Development for the National Football League. Since that time, Ornstein and his partners have continued to lead the way in developing marketing and brand strategies for athletes and corporate entities. Ornstein now adds corporate licensing and endorsement opportunities for MOVES Magazine and Professional Publications to his already prestigious role as a consultant to coaches, players, and Reebok.
Vice President: James Fritz
Jamie Fritz began his sports career in 1999 with CWC Sports Publishing and Promotions where he sold advertising, managed celebrity endorsements, appearances and speaking engagements. As Vice President of National Sales and Distribution Jamie oversaw printing and freight logistics for the NFL publications which increased it’s sales revenue by 400% and was sold in 2003.
Over the years Jamie found himself not only selling advertising and procuring athletes for endorsement opportunities, but developing unique promotions to enhance the advertising and branding.
In 2005 Jamie started The Sports Link with long time Sports Marketing executive Michael Ornstein. The Sports Link is just that, the LINK between athletes, teams, logos and marks with corporate brands and services. In today’s economy creating unique experiences and promotions to expand brands to target consumers is exactly Jamie’s focus.
In 2006 Reggie Bush was added to The Sports Link roster along side legendary clientele Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, Tony Gonzalez and Shannon Sharpe. Jamie and Mike’s marketing and branding initiatives partnered w/ Reggie’s highly anticipated NFL debut broke multiple records for endorsements by and NFL Athlete giving Reggie as many as five national commercials at one point. Coupled with Hurricane Katrina relief the Sports Link activated branding initiatives w/ Adidas, Hummer, Diet Pepsi, Subway and EA Sports. This strategy not only brought relief and awareness to New Orleans but gained superior media exposure for these brands.
As Vice President Jamie oversees and manages the Sports Link staff, finances, operating budget, business development, contracts and negotiations. Jamie works directly with several professional athletes on PR, marketing and branding initiatives from logo design and development to charitable foundations and corporate formation.
Jamie works with several corporate partners in identifying unique sponsorship and entitlement opportunities that better expose their products and services to focused demographics. Current clients include Title Sports Drink, The Isaac Daniel Group, Identity Mine, Pure Power Makkar, eLayaway, Mogreet and Professional Sports Publications.
Since 1999 Jamie Fritz has experienced the good, the bad and the ugly. He is well rehearsed in effective management of professional athletes and corporate branding. Jamie’s experience and relationships have allowed him to form an all star cast of service providers from financial advisors, publicists, entertainment legal services, event management, production, web development and designers to state of the art medical treatment / physical therapy.
Jamie resides in New York City. For more information on how The Sports Link can expose your brand email: tana@thesportslink.net
