Samuel Kurtzberg is the publicity agent of tennis star, Tania Likamolova, in The Goldilocks Game.
Kurtzberg is a pushy, fast-talking, cigar-smoking native New Yorker who graduated at the top of his MBA class at the Leonard Stern School of Business at NYU. Although not good enough to play sports himself, Kurtzberg loved watching sports and he did not hesitate to enrol on the Entertainment, Media and Technology program at Stern so he could use the strengths he had (his head for figures, his forceful personality, his keen business sense) to work with the sports stars he idolised.
Kurtzberg always knows what he wants and is never shy about saying exactly what is on his mind. Many people find Kurtzberg's bluntness too abrasive, but he is too busy scouting the next business opportunity or looking for new talent to notice injury to anyone's feelings.
As far as Kurtzberg is concerned, all that matters is that he works hard, plays hard, is exceptionally successful and enjoys what he is doing and is proud of it. He even relishes in the reputation he has gained as being a tough negotiator: everyone knows that he gets results and that their bank balance looks fatter at the end of the financial year.
Kurtzberg is especially self-satisfied to have landed a deal to represent such a big name as Tania. She is an agent's dream: exceptional sporting talent and achievement in a beautiful, model-like package. Kurtzberg takes great pleasure in securing the best, most lucrative sponsorship deals for Tania.
And he also takes great offence when Tania does not seem to appreciate his efforts and misses a number of important public engagements he has arranged for her. He does not know, or care to understand, what dilemmas and difficult decisions she has to make that are taking her away from her tennis. Tania does not like to disappoint her agent, but she feels she just does not have any choice.
Find out why Tania is in such a state of conflict, how it affects her tennis career and what happens to her relationship with Samuel Kurtzberg by clicking here. |
