Occupation: Agent who represents a wide range of clients including: Tennis: India’s #2 tennis player Karan Rastogi. India’s #3 Vishnu Vardhan. Ukraine’s Kichenok Twins. Ukraine’s Ianchuk Sisters. Cande Sedano – Acosta. Perry Gregg, and others. Other sports: Real Betis Balompie, Liga de Quito, Paris Metrolpole Futsal, All American Bowl, Mark Duper, Leonard Marshall, Dave “The Hammer” Schultz. Celebrities: Hollywood Starlet Samantha Lockwood, World Fitness Champion Ava Cowan, Maxim’s Paola Corvea, Maxim’s Tracy Lear, Pop star Nycole Valentina, Country music star Tommy Dalton, etc.
First memory of tennis: “When I was two years old my mom and I would watch the U.S. Open on national TV and she’d roote for Chrissie Evert and I’d roote for Martina Navratilova. It was so much fun. Also, when I was a kid I saw Ken Meyerson doing his daily grind in Miami at the Lipton Tennis Championships where my family has been a box holder since 1988 and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a tennis agent.”
Inspirations: “Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Ken Meyerson, Drew Rosenhaus, Leigh Steinberg, My grandfathers (Chet Paul Lawrence Mezey), my father (Dr. Robert Mezey), My mother (Judy Mezey) Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Jerry Maguire, Ari Emmanuel, Daniel E. Ruttiger, Andre Agassi, Stefi Graf, and too many others to name.”
Favorite movies: “Remember The Titans, Jerry Maguire, Rudy.”
Last book read: “I don’t like to read books. I don’t have the patience. I’d rather see the movie.”
First job: “Bagboy at Acme Supermarket in Malvern, PA while in high school.”
Current car: “Acura TL Type S.”
Greatest career moment: “Helping turn around Tim Hardaway’s post-NBA career after the media said he committed post career suicide for making some very negative comments about a gay NBA player by coming up with the concept and founding the Tim Hardaway Foundation for Tim to do a lot of good and help change the world for the better. I believe everyone deserves a second chance.”
Most painful career moment: “Being let go by Ksenia Pervak this year in 2011 whom, is now #37 ranked player and will probably crack top 10 WTA next year in 2012.”
Favorite tournaments: “Sony Ericsson Open and Wimbeldon.”
Funny tennis career memory: “Meeting Ken Meyerson for the first time in 2007 and really getting to know the best agent at the time in tennis while, developing a friendship with Kenny. We joked around about both of us being Jewish and as Ken said aren’t all top agents Jewish? I said you are correct – Rosenhaus, Meyerson, Steinberg – are all Jewish. Also, in 2010 Kenny telling me he was my biggest fan. That meant the world to me coming from my hero which, was quite funny and odd considering we were competitors.”
Embarrassing career memory: “I don’t really have one.”
Favorite players to watch: “My clients in match play as it makes me proud to know I am helping their careers grow and get them to the top with their deals behind the scenes. Other players include Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal as they are the greatest rivalry other than Sampras and Agassi which, I grew up on.”
Why do you love playing tennis: “It’s a sport of finesse and skill and it’s all up to you and you only, as an individual to shine and make or break.”
Favorite quotation: “‘Maybe its not fashionable to be an optimist in this day and age but to me dreams are everything and the stars just seem that close.” – Jon Bon Jovi.”
“‘Believe in love. Believe in magic. Hell, believe in Santa Claus. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don’t, who will?” – Jon Bon Jovi.”
People qualities most admired: “Kindness, loyalty, love and passion for what you do. Compassion, tolerance, and being a dreamer as dreams are what makes the world go round. Without dreams we have nothing. I hate greed, vain people, and people who, think they know everything and are cocky and or arrogant.”
www.mrbiofile.com
Barry befriended the late · great Ken Meyerson
Steve · December 2, 2011 at 7:29 pm
I was going to post a little joke about basing an entire philosophy of life on Bon Jovi lyrics but I can’t. The guy seems nice. I know an amazing player from Jersey he should look into managing next year.
Dan Markowitz · December 2, 2011 at 11:58 pm
Scoop, I was waiting for the day you’d write a Barry Mezey bio-file and you have finally come through. Bless you, bless you.
Scoop Malinowski · December 3, 2011 at 1:42 am
“You give love a bad name” Steve, who is the player you are speaking of McHale or Robin Anderson? I’ll tell Barry who is one of the best “young gun” agents coming up in the business. They might make a good team and be a sort of “Bad Medicine” for the rest of the WTA Tour. )
Scoop Malinowski · December 3, 2011 at 1:48 am
You’re welcome Dan it turned out to be a very good read. There’s not many well known, recognizable agents around these days outside of Federer’s, Nadal’s, Maria. Remember there were a lot more prominent agents in the player boxes like Forbes, Ross, Tolleson, Blumberg, etc.
Dan Markowitz · December 3, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Yes, but who are these people Mezey represents? Vishnu Vardhan? I mean get a real client before Scoop Malinowski bio-files you. Or represent Scoop, himself, out on the journalistic path or even on the Eastern 35’s. I mean, can’t we get some money for you to model those fedoras you wear?
Steve · December 3, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Scoop,
I’ll have to tell you in private, maybe when I heal up and we hit. He’s a young man on scholarship at a Division 1 school. 90% chance you know him if you reported on high school sports in Jersey. I’d love to see him play Open qualies when he’s out of college.
Barry Mezey · December 7, 2011 at 2:48 am
Dan,
What scoop forgot to mention in the article is that I used to be the agent for Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Lukas Dlouhy, Liga Dekmeijere and Ksenia Pervak. All are top players in doubles and singles. Ksenia is a rising russian star but I lost her to Octagon in march 2011. Paes, Bhupathi, Dlouhy and Dekmijere I worked with the last two years but we parted way in mid 2011 as well. I am focusing on Rising stars. Ianchuk’s are 18 and 16 years old and Olia is top 500 WTA and will be top 200 WTA by end of 2012 at 16 years old in singles, Liza will be top 50 WTA by end of 2012 at 19 years old and the kichenok twins will be top 20 in doubles on WTA by end of 2012. Cande sedano acosta is 24 – 1 record on the year in ITF Juniors in 2011 and will be a top 10 WTA star.
Barry Mezey · December 7, 2011 at 2:48 am
please visit http://www.kichenoktwins.com
Barry Mezey · December 7, 2011 at 2:55 am
Dan,
I also, represent some of the most iconic sports franchises and events as well as athlete’s in other sports in the world. I suggest you go on my website and do your research on our client’s. Also, a good read on me is here: http://gogettersmagazine.com/2011/01/barry-mezey/