John was always the smartest guy in the room , regardless of the subject , he could tell the plumber a better way to fix the pipes , but with absolutely no arrogance . And it also was remarkable how unimportant taking credit for anything was to him .” — Bud Martin
Daly , who spent part of his youth in Locust Grove , Va ., added a British Open title at St . Andrews in 1995 to his resume , and over the years had plenty of opportunities to sign with agents from far larger and wellknown companies . Yet , he stuck with Mascatello , Martin and another partner , Terry Reilly , and they , in turn , always stayed loyal to him , despite his on-and-off-the-course transgressions .
Daly and many of Mascatello ’ s clients , as well as family and countless other friends gathered on July 19 in Upperville , Va ., where a celebration of Mascatello ’ s life was conducted at the Trinity Episcopal Church .
Three weeks earlier , on June 27 , he had passed away at his home in St . Simons , Ga ., after battling stomach cancer the last year . The proud father of three and a widely respected agent and executive with a client list that included some of the world ’ s top players and major championship winners , was only 61 .
THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM
Until he moved to St . Simons last year , Mascatello was a long-time Middleburg resident . He was known in his often cutthroat , show-me-the-money business as a low-key but immensely diligent , creative and persuasive recruiter of talented young players , then helping to guide their careers both on and off the course , signing them to lucrative endorsement deals along the way .
“ John was always the smartest guy in the room , regardless of the subject ,” said Martin . “ He could tell the plumber a better way to fix the pipes , but with absolutely no arrogance . And it also was remarkable how unimportant taking credit for anything was to him .”
Mascatello ’ s prowess in procuring sponsorships included once negotiating two deals for Daly at the same time , one for weight-loss specialist TrimSpa , the other for Dunkin ’ Donuts . A day after Daly used super glue to close up a wound in his right hand , Mascatello began pitching the company that made the glue for a possible endorsement opportunity .
Brooklyn born and raised , Mascatello was a 1982 graduate of the University of Vermont , earning a B . A . in political science with a focus on international relations and nuclear warfare . In 1985 , he earned a law degree and an MBA from the American University Washington College of Law .
Mascatello began his career in 1985 at ProServ , a Washington , D . C . -based sports management firm that represented pro tennis players . Mascatello headed its fledgling golf department and , in 1991 , he and Martin , a fellow ProServ alum , launched their own representation business , Cambridge Sports International .
JOHN ’ S JOURNEY
A snapshot of John Mascatello ’ s professional career .
1982 : Graduated from the University of Vermont with a B . A . in political science with a focus on international relations and nuclear warfare .
1985 : Earned law degree and an MBA from the American University Washington College of Law .
1985 : Began career at ProServ in Washington , D . C . as head of its struggling golf department ; signed rising star Scott Verplank .
1991 : Launched Cambridge Sports International ; signed legendary golfer John Daly .
1998 : Sold Cambridge Sports International to SFX Sports Group where he became CEO .
2011 : Joined Wasserman as Executive Vice President and Managing Executive .
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