Jay-Z's Roc Nation Plays Ball

ROC NATION PLAYS BALL: Jay-Z’s management/record label Roc Nation is now expanding into the sports agency business. Sources reports the company, which handles Rihanna, Shakira and Timbaland, has launched Roc Nation Sports in partnership with CAA, signing Yankee star second baseman (and looming free agent) Robinson Cano as its first client. Cano was previously represented by baseball uber-agent Scott Boras, so this is a major defection. Jay-Z is said to be interested in attaining his certification as an agent, first for baseball, and eventually for basketball and football. That would mean he’d have to give up his minority ownership in the Brooklyn Nets. CAA already reps such major league stars as Buster Posey, Matt Cain, Ryan Braun and Ryan Zimmerman, who have all signed $100 million-plus deals over the last two years. "Because of my love of sports, it was a natural progression to form a company where we can help top athletes in various sports the same way we have been helping artists in the music industry for years," Jay-Z said in a statement. Wonder if that means Cano will appear on the next Game of Thrones album. (4/2p)