When Terrell Owens of the San Francisco 49ers caught a 37-yard touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 14, strutted into the end zone for the game-winning score and reached into his sock for a pen, only one fan knew what was up: broker Greg Eastman.
Eastman, a Securities America broker in Tempe, Ariz., is Owens' financial advisor. Before the game in Seattle, Owens promised that if he scored a touchdown, he would sign the ball and pass it to Eastman, who was sitting behind the end zone.
Usually, brokers find themselves on CNBC, not ESPN. But the sports network replayed the unusual end-zone celebration many times.
Several Seattle players were annoyed with the gesture, particularly defensive tackle Chad Eaton, who told reporters: “He disrespected us in our own stadium. It goes to show you he has no class.”
That may be true, but Eastman's advice could influence Owens and his finances long after the athlete's verbal battles with opposition players are forgotten. By the way, the player guarding Owens was Seattle cornerback Shawn Springs — also a client of Eastman's.
