C. Lamont Smith, Esq. graduated from Clark College magna cum laude with a BA Degree in Communications. Lamont subsequently received his law degree from Howard University, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for scholastic excellence in the study of contracts.
Currently, Lamont is the president and founder of All Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., one of the most successful sports and entertainment management firms in the country. The New York Times has described Lamont as one of the most powerful agents in the country. In 1992, he became the first and only sports agent to grace the cover of the prestigious business magazine, Black Enterprise. Lamont has been selected twice by Sports Illustrated Magazine as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Minorities in Sports. Black Enterprise Magazine also selected Lamont in 2003 as one of the Top Black Lawyers.
Lamont represented former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, and negotiated a six-year, $42 million contract that made him the highest-paid running back in the NFL. He represented Jerome Bettis with the Pittsburgh Steelers and got him a six-year $30 million contract extension; he represented Trevor Pryce, whose seven-year, $70 million deal with the Denver Broncos made him the highest paid NFL defensive player as of 2000. Smith’s firm has represented Barry Sanders (retired, Detroit Lions), Kevan Barlow (running back, San Francisco 49ers), Willie Roaf (offensive tackle, New Orleans Saints), Derrick Alexander (wide receiver, Kansas City Chiefs), Chad Brown (linebacker, Seattle Seahawks), Jason Gildon (linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers), Pierre Thomas (Star running back/kickoff-returner for the New Orleans Saints) and others.
Smith expressed frustration that although 14 of the 15 players selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft were black, only one selected a black agent to represent him. “What kind of message are we sending to African-American athletes when on the first day of the draft they turn on the TV and all they see are white guys in decision-making roles?” Smith said in an interview with ESPN.
“The mentality of the player and decision-maker has to change,” he said. “It can only change through education—becoming aware that if you get someone competent to do your deals, no matter their skin color, you’ll pretty much be OK. But you have to give African-Americans a chance to come in and compete for the business.”