Tampa, FL – August 15, 2011 – Legendary MLB slugger, Gary Sheffield, brings his trademark on-field ferocity to the boardroom as the CEO of a groundbreaking management firm, Sheffield Management and Entertainment Group. Sheffield Management will provide comprehensive advisory services to professional athletes and entertainers. In addition to a staff of legal and financial professionals, Sheffield Management will partner with other former professional athletes and entertainers to facilitate client management. "As a former professional athlete, I know very well the issues that athletes confront both on and off the field," said Sheffield. "The goal of this company is to not only negotiate sports and entertainment contracts but also prepare clients for life during and after their careers."

Sheffield Management is co-founded by veteran sports and entertainment attorney, Xavier D. James, who brings years of contract negotiation experience to the company – including experience working with prominent professional athletes and as in-house legal counsel at several major corporations. "This company is more than just a management agency" said James. "We want to give clients the tools for success and provide them with on-going support."

Sheffield Management currently represents several professional athletes including veteran MLB relief pitcher, Jason Grilli, who was recently signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the assistance of the company. "Grilli is an ideal client for our company as he represents a combination of physical ability, acumen, and character," said James. "We are looking for more clients that we can help reach their playing and business goals," said Sheffield. "Jason and our other initial clients represent the beginning of our long-term strategy."

The management team also includes Grammy award winning artist, DeLeon Sheffield, who oversees the entertainment division of the company, which will specialize in both music and acting management opportunities. "We are looking to represent both established and emerging artists," said DeLeon Sheffield.

The company will seek strategic partnerships with other former professional athletes and artists to solidify its business model of allowing clients to take direct control of their careers and to have those clients benefit from the guidance of other professionals in their respective industries.

"I'm just trying to raise the bar," said Sheffield. "This is an industry that definitely needs change."

About Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield is one of the best players in MLB history. His Hall of Fame caliber baseball credentials include the following: (1) the 25th player in MLB history to reach 500 home runs and the first player to do so as a Met, (2) a 9-time All-Star (1992-93, 1996, 1998-2000, 2003-05), (3) a 5-time Silver Slugger (1992, 1996, 2003-05), (4) member of the 1997 World Series champions, Florida Marlins, (4) the first player to represent five different teams in the MLB All Star Game, (5) the first player to hit at least 25 home runs for 6 different teams, and (6) one of 2 players in MLB history to have 30 or more home runs in one season for 5 different teams.

After a long career on the baseball field, Sheffield has taken his vast knowledge of the business of baseball and launched a sports representation and management agency, Sheffield Management and Entertainment Group, LLC. Further, in addition to his general business experience, he was directly responsible for the negotiations of many of his lucrative MLB contracts (including his agreement with the NY Yankees), and is known for his aggressive style both at the plate and as a business executive. He has a diverse group of successful business interests including interests in real estate, hotels, and health products.

About Xavier D. James
As a lawyer and business consultant, Xavier D. James is the Founder and President of The James Group LLC, which is a company that specializes in general contract negotiations including business matters in the sports and entertainment industry. He has represented several professional athletes including former baseball superstar, Gary Sheffield, and professional boxers such as legendary champion, Bernard Hopkins, and former top heavyweight contender, Chazz Witherspoon. He has also served as Special Advisor of Sports Programming and Strategy for Oscar De La Hoya's promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Gary Sheffield's company, Sheffield Management and Entertainment Group LLC. Prior to founding The James Group, Xavier served as the Senior Vice President (Travel, Sports, and Entertainment) of MasterCard Worldwide.

After graduating with honors with a degree in political science from New York University in 1990 and receiving a law degree from New York University School of Law in 1993, he practiced corporate and securities law in New York at the global law firm, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, he served as in-house counsel for Viacom's publishing unit, Simon & Schuster, and went on to serve as in- house counsel for the Sports and Original Programming Department of HBO from 1998 to 2000. He later served as Vice President of Sports Programming for HBO from 2000 to 2004. He is also currently a visiting member of the faculty at New York University (Tisch Center) where he specializes in teaching sports business courses, and he is scheduled to receive an MBA degree from New York University's Stern School of Business in 2012. Finally, he has been a contributing guest sports business writer for the highly respected weekly publication, Sports Business Journal.

About DeLeon Sheffield
DeLeon Sheffield is a veteran entertainer and respected business executive with career highlights that date back multiple decades. She was the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Grammy award and would later win the GMWA "Excellence Award." She is also the youngest artist ever signed to a major gospel label and has shared the performance stage with award-winning artists including: Patti LaBelle, Shirley Caesar, Lou Rawls, The Winans, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Sandi Patty, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, Al Green, and Joni Eareckson Tada. She has made film and television appearances on a variety of networks including TBN, CBN, NBC, CBS, ABC, WGN and was a regular featured character on ABC's television drama, "Brewster Place," which starred Oprah Winfrey. She has also been featured in multiple national magazines including People, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Ebony, Billboard and USA Today.

In addition to her responsibilities as an executive of Sheffield Management, DeLeon is President of DeMari Publishing and Entertainment, which focuses on the development of music industry projects including the release of her latest CD, Here in Me, and DVD, DeLeon Live. She is a graduate of Lake Forest College and has multiple successful business interests.