People have been entertained by the spectacular feats and athletic skills of individuals and teams even before gladiators performed in front of thousands in the Colosseum in ancient Rome. In the 20th and 21st centuries, sports have consumed a large share of people's free time. Sports figures, like movie stars, have become internationally recognized celebrities, renowned not only for their athletic prowess, but also for their charismatic personalities. Instead of closing deals with a simple handshake, sports teams now "sign" new athletes to contracts. Like movie stars, athletes began to realize the need to have talented representation—or agents—to protect and promote their interests during contract negotiations. The role of a sports agent has expanded to include many more duties than contract negotiation, although that area remains a crucial responsibility. Today, sports agents handle most, if not all, aspects of a professional athlete's career, from commercial endorsements to financial investments to postretirement career offers.
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