The End of an Era?
This week the esports community loses one of its greatest defenders. Former NBA Lakers player Rick Fox has decided to step down and leave his esports organization Echo Fox.
Rick Fox, 49, released an email last week to all major shareholders stating his reasons for leaving the organization, citing racial abuse and threats to his family as the reasons to his leave.
“All,
This is an official notification of my intention to exit the Echo Fox organization as a shareholder and participant as soon as I am able to facilitate a transaction to do so. The recent outrageous and abhorrent display of pure racism made by a significant Echo Fox shareholder as well as threats to my family have made it impossible for me to continue to remain associated with the company.
I will not support or be associated with such behaviour and attitudes displayed at the shareholder level. Racism is an anathema to what my personal brand strives for and tolerating any form of discrimination such as this is not acceptable.
This notification serves as the beginning process of exiting the company. I will be contacting all relevant and interested people. My position in the GP and the entity that owns my shares are available. Depending on the proposal there are different ways to structure a deal, acquire my entity, swap positions, etc. Interested parties can contact me. I’m moving on the first deal that sits well.”
Image courtesy of Polygon
History of Echo Fox
Fox started Echo Fox back in 2015 after attending League of Legends events with his son. Fox was looking to improve his relationship with his son and found common ground through gaming. Since then Echo Fox signed players in other games like Shadowverse, Mortal Kombat, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Super Smash Bros. Rick Fox himself has been a major influencer and defender of esports athletes. Fox was one of the first athletes and celebrities to defend the stance that esports athletes are in the same field as traditional athletes.
Number of Players Signed by Echo Fox
The Future?
Since Rick Fox founded the company, Echo Fox has seen success in a multitude of levels, with one of their players being named esports Athlete of the Year in 2018. Echo Fox has a team in League of Legends as well as players in Smash Bros., Street Fighter, Madden, and many more. Many fans are wondering if Fox leaving spells the end of the organization or a rebranding. At the time of writing Echo Fox has made an announcement saying the shareholder in question is to disassociate from the company and is continuing to work to those ends. Echo Fox also says that racial acts are “entirely unacceptable.”
The shareholder responsible has not been named currently, but it is not the first instance from this particular shareholder.
About the Author
Brandon Gonzales
Student - Fall 2019
Brandon is a big fan of anime and video games. Brandon is an avid esports enthusiast and is pursuing an esports career himself.
