Rulon Gardner Named #2 Greatest Individual Sports Upset Ever by Fox Sports

In these tough economic times, wouldn’t it be great to get someone who has done the impossible to motivate your employees? To get them to push past the bleak financial news, the layoffs, the increased workloads and really do something great for your company?

Motivational speaker and Olympic Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner was just named #2 on a Fox Sports list of Top 10 Greatest Individual Sports Upsets Ever–he might be the guy you’re looking for. He was listed behind Buster Douglas and aheah of Yang–who just upset Tiger Woods. Yes, THAT, Tiger Woods.

What makes Gardner’s story so great? Well, for starters, he won a Gold Medal. A pretty amazing achievement in its own right, but when you consider that he won that Gold Medal against 3-time Gold Medalist Alexander Karelin–who had not been defeated in international competition in 13 years, who was nicknamed “the Siberian Tiger,” “the Russian Bear,” “King Kong,” and, my personal favorite, “the Experiment” for his powerfully muscled physique and punishing wrestling style (his signature move was to throw opponents on their head–risking neck and spinal fractures). Still not convinced that this was a David v. Goliath worthy matchup? Gardner grew up on a dairy farm, didn’t win a high school wrestling match in his tiny WY town until his senior year and was shaped like a teddy bear.

Ready to make that booking? Send me an email at DanielleMarquis@marquisathletes.com. Mention you saw this blog post, and I’ll give you a 20% discount.

-Danielle, Owner & Sports Agent, Marquis Athletes, LLC

Do Your Clients Ever Do Free Events?

“Hi, my name is John Doe and I’m calling from XYZ. We’re a non-profit/small corporation/school group and we were wondering, do your clients ever do events for free?”

 I get some variation of this phone call several times per day, and the short answer is, “No.” All of our clients are professional motivational speakers, and they have retired from the professional sport they participated in. Speaking is their job, so they charge for it. We have speakers in a variety of fee ranges and certain speakers offer reduced-fee speeches for schools, community groups, etc. but we do not offer free events. Our speakers are excellent and you won’t be disappointed! They are worth every penny they charge.

Last Minute Specials Calendar

Please visit our online calendar of Last Minute Specials and bookmark the site for future reference. If a client’s name is listed with a green background, it means they are available on that date and we’re ready to negotiate! Contact us, make an offer and let’s make a deal!

This calendar will only show 2 months of specials at a time, so make sure you check back!

Client Info: Jon Turk

A 59-year old Ph.D. in Chemistry who spends his time writing Earth Science textbooks and embarking on amazing adventures, Jon Turk is not your ordinary grandfather. Jon has climbed previously unnamed rock walls and high peaks, mountain biked across the Mongolian Gobi, was one of two mushers to travel along the South and East coasts of Baffin Island, and he sea kayaked around Cape Horn and across the Pacific Ocean (Japan to Alaska). Jon shares with his audience how he uses fear to face obstacles in life and on his journeys and how managing your own fear, not overcoming it, can help you to achieve what others deem impossible.

Speech Topic: “Fear Management”

Categories: Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceover; College Speakers; Commencement Speakers; Conference Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Educational Lectures; Emcees; Event Hosts; Fundraising Events; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; University Speakers; VIP Meet and Greets

Fees: $2,000-$5,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available; Low-fee events for schools and community groups available, please contact us for details

Traveling From: Missoula, MT

Client Info: Shane Hamman

Shane Hamman has competed in weightlifting at the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games. Considered the “Strongest Man in America,” he holds three American records in his weight class, and in 1999 became the first U.S. man to win weightlifting gold at the Pan Am Games. Shane shares with his audience what it takes to be a champion with his inspiring story of how the world’s best powerlifter gave it all up to become an Olympian. He succeeded, and is the first powerlifter in history to ever successfully make the transition to Olympian.

Speech Topic: “What it Takes to be a Champion”

Categories: Agricultural Events; Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceover; Coaches Clinics; College Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Elementary School Assemblies; Emcees; Event Hosts; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Golf Tournaments; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; High School Assemblies; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Middle School Assemblies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Olympic Athletes; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Speakers; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; State Fairs; University Speakers; VIP Meet and Greets; Weightlifting Events

Fees: $5,000-$10,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available; Low-fee events available for schools and community groups, contact us for details

Traveling From: Oklahoma City, OK

Client Info: David Martin

David Martin began his path of personal development thirty years ago when enrolling in the martial art of Taekwondo. This sport would teach him the physical and mental discipline necessary to earn a Gold Medal at the US Olympic Festival and other national and international titles. Upon retiring from competition, David began a career in direct sales. He established himself as a leader by developing organizations throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. David shares with his audience how to develop a mindset for success, how to master sales and how to create an empowering self-image and beliefs.

Speech Topics: “Dynamics of Human Performance,” “Communications Training,” and “Sales Training”

Categories: Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceovers; Conference Speakers; Convention and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Emcees; Event Hosts; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Grand Openings; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Olympic Athletes; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Consulting; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sales Speakers; Sales Training; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; Team Building Speakers; Television Broadcasting; VIP Meet and Greets

Fees: $10,000-$15,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available

Traveling From: Albuquerque, NM

Client Info: Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton went from being an automotive service tech to an NBA All-Star in just a few years, after giving up on basketball at age 18. At 7 foot 4, he became one of the most impressive defensive players in NBA history, playing for the Utah Jazz. Upon retirement from the NBA in 1996, Mark began an impressive broadcasting career, hosting eight seasons of Jazz Tonight, providing color commentary for the University of Utah’s men’s basketball broadcasts, hosting Mark Eaton Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel, hosting Sports Health Today, an internationally syndicated radio show and addressing hundreds of corporate and charitable groups. A seasoned businessman as well, Mark co-owns and operates two popular, award-winning restaurants in Salt Lake City. Let Mark share with you and your organization the lessons he learned on opening up to bigness in spite of yourself and the obstacles around you. To hear Mark tell his story of how he rose from auto mechanic to All-Star will motivate you to say, “I too am ready to stand tall.”

Speech Topics: “Stand Tall and Be Big,” “Team Building,” “Team Empowerment,” “Dealing with Setbacks,” “What Makes Great Customer Service,” “Health and Wellness,” and “Working Within Your Own Power”

Categories: Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercial; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceover; College Speakers; Commencement Speakers; Conference Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Emcees; Event Hosts; Famous Players; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; Health and Wellness Speakers; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentations; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; Team Building Speakers; Television Broadcasting; University Speakers; VIP Meet and Greets

Fees: $10,000-$15,000 plus travel expenses; Multi-event discounts available; Last minute specials available

Traveling From: Salt Lake City, UT

Client Info: Jimmy Shea, Jr.

Olympic Gold medalist Jimmy Shea (Salt Lake City, Skeleton) comes from the most celebrated family of Olympians in U.S. history. The Shea family represents the first three-generations to compete in the Winter Olympic Games for the United States. Although the sport of skeleton was not the sport his father or grandfather competed in, Jimmy still found in his family hard earned advice about being a competitor. Jimmy shares with his audience these lessons, as well as how to welcome success into your life.

Speech Topic: “Don’t Be Afraid to Succeed”

Categories: Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Casino Appearances; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceover; College Speakers; Commencement Speakers; Conference Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Emcees; Event Hosts; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Gold Medal Speakers; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Olympic Athletes; Peak Performance Speakers; Presentation Speakers; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; University Speakers; VIP Meet and Greets

Fees: $12,000-$20,000 plus travel expenses; multi-event discounts available; last minute specials available

Client Info: Rulon Gardner

In the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Rulon Gardner shocked the world when he defeated the previously undefeated Russian, Alexander Karelin. After a devastating accident where he was lost in the Wyoming wilderness overnight in winter, sopping wet, he moved past the amputation of a toe to win Olympic Bronze in Athens, where he ceremoniously retired from Greco-Roman Wrestling. Rulon shares with his audience the sense of determination, the self-confidence, and the spirit that gave him the strength to stand up against seemingly unbeatable odds and win.

Speech Topic: “Never Give Up, Never Stop Trying: 7 Steps to Success”

Categories: Agricultural Events; Athlete Endorsements; Athlete Personal Appearances; Business Meetings; Business Speakers; Celebrity Autograph Signing; Celebrity Infomercials; Celebrity Speakers; Celebrity Spokesperson; Celebrity Voiceovers; Coaches Clinics; College Speakers; Conference Speakers; Conventions and Trade Shows; Corporate Conventions; Corporate Hospitality Functions; Corporate Speakers; Dairy Events; Elementary School Assemblies; Emcees; Famous Speakers; Fundraising Events; Gold Medal Speakers; Graduation Speakers; Grand Openings; High School Assemblies; Incentive Programs; Inspirational Speakers; International Speakers; Keynote Speakers; Master of Ceremonies; Middle School Assemblies; Military Speakers; Motivational Speakers; Office Parties; Olympic Athletes; Peak Performance Speakers; Press Conferences; Private Parties; Product Launches; Professional Athletes; Professional Speakers; Public Awareness Campaigns; Public Speakers; Sales Promotions; Sales Seminars; Sports Fantasy Camps; Sports Marketing; Sports Personalities; Sports Public Relations; Sports Speakers; State Fairs; Television Broadcasting; University Speakers; USO Tours; VIP Meet and Greets; Wrestling Camps; Wrestling Fundraisers

Fees: $15,000-$25,000 plus travel expenses; multi-event discounts available; last minute specials available; low-fee events for schools and community groups available, contact us for details

Traveling From: Salt Lake City, UT