Listening to Ian Grenier's introduction to the situation, Eric also got up and walked to the corner of the indoor court. Payne Forstmann and others stood there and waited patiently.
Although things happened very suddenly, but Yahoo is not completely unexpected.
After all, the market share of Yahoo browser is too high.
Due to the monopoly on the core patents of graphical interface browsers and the free promotion that took the lead in those years, Yahoo browser has a worldwide market share of nearly 90%, and the remaining 10% of various types of browsers, many of which are also suspected of Violation of Yahoo's technology patents. However, because these non-mainstream browsers do not pose any threat to Yahoo browser at all, and Yahoo does not want to completely occupy the market and leave an excuse for the anti-monopoly departments of various countries, so there is no real action to pursue it.
In fact, during the gathering in Australia some time ago, everyone deliberately discussed similar situations and corresponding countermeasures that they might face in private.
Therefore, although he was very dissatisfied with this small move made by Microsoft, Eric did not feel caught off guard. After discussing with Ian Grenier on the phone for a while, reminding the other party to contact him at any time, Eric hung up the phone.
Turning around and walking back to the position just now, a blond woman in a T-shirt and hot pants was already obediently standing beside Payne Forstmann, it was Anna Kournikova who had just participated in the competition.
When Eric approached, Anna Kournikova enthusiastically stepped forward to say hello: "Mr. Williams, nice to meet you, I am your fan."
"Oh, thank you."
Eric reached out and shook hands with Anna Kournikova, while looking at the girl in front of him.
Anna Kournikova is just eighteen years old this year, at the age of youth and invincibility, with a beautiful face, healthy wheat-colored skin, and a well-fitting figure, although the titles of the sexiest athletes in the media obviously have IMG There are traces of behind-the-scenes operations, but the girl does appear full of charm.
Anna Kournikova let go of Eric's hand, let Eric look at it generously, and said, "Mr. Williams, are you here to watch me play?"
"Yes, but your performance today was not very good."
"I've been too tired recently," the girl explained in a low voice with an embarrassed look. She glanced at Penn Forstmann and another middle-aged man who had just come with her, and suddenly boldly hinted Said: "Mr. Williams, are you going back to Manhattan next?"
Eric nodded with a smile and said, "Do you want to take a ride?"
"If it's not troublesome," the girl said, her eyes flickering, and she took two steps closer, but she had already taken the initiative to hold Eric's arm.
Eric noticed the girl's small movements just now, and realized that she probably wanted to escape by herself, and secretly sighed the boldness of this kitten, but still said to Payne Forstmann: "So, Payne , I’m here today, I should go back.”
Payne Forstmann nodded, and walked out with Eric as he said his farewell, but the middle-aged man who came over with Anna Kournikova just now showed a dissatisfied expression on his face, and wanted to speak, But Penn Forstmann gave him a warning look and had to keep his mouth shut.
Watching Anna Kournikova get into Eric Williams' car and leave together, the middle-aged man complained to Payne Forstmann: "Penn, we must not let Anna go any longer. That's it, and Eric Williams, even if he is the richest man in the world, it has nothing to do with us, we don't need to please her, if we don't strengthen the training of Anna, she will be abolished."
The middle-aged man's name is Max Eisenbud, who is Anna Kournikova's agent and one of the top sports agents under IMG. The reason why Anna Kournikova can have today's business achievements is the result of Max Eisenbud's operation.
Payne Forstmann watched Eric's car disappear at the intersection, and then motioned for Max Eisenbud to return to the stadium with him, saying: "Mike, you should have heard that Mr. McCormack is going to sell What about the IMG Group?"
Max Eisenbud nodded and suddenly understood: "Eric Williams?"
"When Anna was playing, Mr. Williams and Mr. McCormack formalized the trading plan in the stadium. Perhaps within a month, IMG Group will change the owner."
The change of shareholders of IMG Group has not affected the level of Max Eisenbud. He also has enough confidence in his ability to operate a sports star like Anna Kournikova who has made a lot of profits for the company. , the group will only reuse him more if any boss is replaced.
However, thinking about the situation where Eric Williams had just taken Anna Kournikova away, Max Eisenbud was still a little depressed. If IMG changes to such a boss who just makes it easier for him to pick up girls, then the future of the company is not very clear.
"Didn't Mr. McCormack say before that he wanted us to further expand into Hollywood?" After thinking for a moment, Max Eisenbud said: "If the boss is replaced by Eric Williams, according to the restrictions of the Hollywood agency Bill, surely we can no longer go down this road?"
Payne Forstmann shrugged and said, "Mike, you know, this is not something we can decide."
Max Eisenbud sighed softly. Although he was a little unwilling, he also understood that the overall value of the IMG Group exceeded 1 billion US dollars. This money may not be a big deal to Eric Williams. But for their management, it is definitely a huge sum of money that is out of reach.
Penn Forstmann took Max Eisenbud to an office in the training center. After the two sat down, they saw some concerns of Max Eisenbud. Penn Foss Terman said: "Actually, Williams just talked to me about Anna."
Max Eisenbud took a cup of coffee from the secretary in the office, and just about to bring it to his mouth, he put down the cup again and asked, "What did he say?"
"He was not optimistic about Anna's future, he even asked about the term of Anna's contract, and then said that we'd better start training Anna's successor now," Payne Forstmann said, getting up and taking Eric's just picked out The document came back and handed to Max Eisenbud, saying: "Look, Williams picked it himself."
Max Eisenbud just glanced at Sharapova's basic information, couldn't help frowning, and said to Payne Forstmann: "Even... doesn't he think this girl is too young?" Is it a little?"
"Little girls will grow up. In the modeling agency, hasn't Gisele Bundchen become the fastest-rising supermodel in the past two years?"
Max Eisenbud looked a little disdainful, and said: "How can those vases be compared with athletes, tennis players need to rely on strength after all."
Payne Forstmann smiled and said, "You know what, Mike, Williams just said the same thing as you a few hours ago. So, there is no need for you to worry too much. As for this girl , I just wanted to ask if you would be interested in taking her yourself. If you are not interested, I will find someone else. However, if you come and bring her yourself, there are many opportunities to get in touch with Eric Williams Yes, this will definitely be of great benefit to your future promotion. I don’t think you plan to be an agent all the time, right? Even if you can get the appreciation of Williams, it is not impossible to jump out of IMG. The entire Firefly system is much larger than the IMG Group."
Max Eisenbud had an obviously moved expression on his face, but he asked back, "Pain, what about you?"
Payne Forstmann shrugged again, and said: "I am still very self-aware of my strength, and it is enough to be able to manage the IMG Group all the time."
Max Eisenbud hesitated for a moment, lowered his head and hurriedly read the girl's information in his hand again, before raising his head and saying, "So, what should I do next?"
Payne Forstmann understood what Max Eisenbud was asking, and said: "Williams said that this girl should have her teeth fixed, so you must first arrange the best dentist for her, and remember Don't wear invisible braces, Williams doesn't like steel braces."
The corner of Max Eisenbud's mouth twitched, confirming that Penn Forstmann was not joking with him, and then he nodded helplessly.
…
On the other side, Eric's car left the block where the IMG training center is located. Anna Kournikova carefully turned her head and looked back, as if to confirm if someone was chasing her, and then patted herself in relaxation Swollen chest: "Phew, I finally don't have to endure the tyrant Eisenbud anymore."
Eric sat beside him, listening to the girl's straightforward words without concealing her motives, and said with a smile: "So, I was used by you like this?"
Anna Kournikova realized that what she said just now was too straightforward, she immediately showed a flattering smile, approached like a kitten, and said: "Mr. Williams, you definitely don't mind, right? "
Eric shook his head and said, "It's hard to say, I'm actually very cautious."
Anna Kournikova knew that Eric was joking with herself, but she showed a pitiful expression and said, "Why don't I invite you for dinner today?"
Eric smiled indifferently and said, "So, Eisenbud, your coach?"
"My agent is the middle-aged man standing next to Penn Forstmann just now, his name is Max Eisenbud," Anna Kournikova said, as if suddenly recalling His own tragic history of blood and tears, said: "Eisenbud is simply a devil. My every move will be controlled by him. I am completely like a puppet. I am not allowed to do this or that all day long. Even the press release He has to review everything I want to say at the meeting, and sometimes I will be scolded if I accidentally say a wrong sentence.”
Eric listened to the girl's complaints, and said: "Then have you ever thought that your current status may be largely the result of this person's operation?"
"I... Of course I know," Anna Kournikova obviously swallowed back some of the words that she just wanted to blurt out, her eyes rolled, and she carefully asked Eric next to her: "Mr. Williams, do you And, are you familiar with Mr. Payne Forstmann?"
Eric shook his head and said, "I'm not familiar with you, it's the first time we met today."
Anna Kournikova immediately relaxed again, and said: "Mr. Williams, in fact, IMG is simply a group of vampires. From the boss of this company to the lowest-level employees, they are all hateful vampires." .I was just a money maker in their eyes. Last year, last year, I made 12 million dollars, but do you know how much I ended up getting?"
Eric listened to the girl's complaint with a playful expression, and echoed, "How much?"
Anna Kournikova stretched out three long and beautiful fingers, and her expression became even more pitiful: "It's less than 5 million US dollars. 12 million, IMG took 30% directly, but that's not enough, they also withheld My various expenses of $1 million. After paying taxes on the rest of the money, I’m left with less than $5 million.”
"I think everyone else should be similar to you?"
Anna Kournikova nodded and said, "That's why I said that IMG is a vampire. We athletes are just poor people exploited by them."
"If you are unhappy at IMG, why don't you change your agency?"
Anna Kournikova's eyes suddenly lit up, remembering the identity of the man beside her, she took Eric's arm affectionately, and rubbed it lightly, and said, "Mr. Williams, can you help me?" ?”
Eric's smile became more playful: "So, which brokerage company do you want to go to?"
Anna Kournikova calmed down, pondered for a while, and suddenly let go of the man's arm, saying: "I think, maybe, I'd better stay at IMG."
Eric looked at the girl next to him again. Although he was a little outspoken and not very smart, he obviously understood his situation very well.
Although there are many sports star agency companies in the industry, and even the three major Hollywood brokerage companies are more or less involved in the sports star agency business, in the final analysis, none of the agency companies can reach the height of IMG Group in sports star agency.
Leaving IMG, with Anna Kournikova's strength, let alone 12 million US dollars a year, even 2 million US dollars is not so easy to get. You know, many sponsors are willing to donate generously because she is a sports star signed by IMG. Because these sponsors understand that IMG has sufficient resources and channels to maximize the advertising costs they invest in Anna Kournikova, but it is difficult for other agencies of the same type to do this.
Chatting like this, the car passed through Queens and entered Manhattan, and it was already evening.
Eric looked at his watch and asked the girl beside him, "So, where do you want to eat?"
Anna Kournikova was only a little melancholy for a while, and she 'confided' to Eric, her mood obviously improved a lot, and she immediately became interested again when she heard the words, and said, "Is the Bernardine restaurant okay? The one on 51st Street, I heard that the seafood there is very good. Last time I wanted to go there with my friends, but I didn’t get a reservation. It’s really disgusting. Mr. Williams, you must be able to make a reservation, right? ?”
"Well, I'm not sure."
As Eric said, he took out his mobile phone and made a call. After a while, he got a response, so he casually told the driver to go to 51st Street.