Edge star has incorporated some big plans into his future

Carl English is all business on the court.

The star shooting guard of the St. John’s Edge is determined to be the same way off it.

English has, simply put, incorporated himself.

His company, R.K.K. Sports Management Inc., was registered last month, with English as the director. The name of the company comes from the initials of the names of his children, Ryder, Kirsten and Kylie.

As for the Sports Management part, it should be noted that’s what English studied at the University of Hawaii, but the company was not established to represent other athletes as a player agent.

“My agents have always said that it’s something I should look into doing some day, but that’s not what this about, at least not now,” said English.

The incorporation is not unexpected. When English signed with the Edge last month, it was widely understood his deal with the expansion team involved more than simply his being paid as a player, especially given the restrictions of the National Basketball League of Canada’s salary cap.

His employment involves more that his role on the playing surface. English has very much become the face of the franchise and although those extracurricular duties have never been specified, it’s expected he will have a prominent role with regards to the Edge’s public relations and community service efforts, and further down the road, with team management and/or coaching.

However, English says the incorporation was necessary for him to properly operate basketball camps, which are also part of his future plans.

“If you are moving forward into running camps and those sorts of things, (incorporation) is something you have to do,” he said. “For instance, there is always the issue of liability and the need for protection there.

“But really, this is something that is very common among pro athletes looking to do other things.”

English hopes those other things will one day include his overseeing establishment of a “megaplex,” which he describes as “a one-stop shopping, multisports facility,” for the metro St. John’s area.

“Basketball, volleyball, soccer … and many other different sports. We need a place that can handle them all and at the same time, provide all the support services that athletes need these days. There’s nothing official with it, but we could use one right now,” said English, noting how Newfoundland and Labrador’s spot in the Canada Games rotation has been pushed forward to 2025 because of the lack of existing sports infrastructure in the St. John’s area.

“We need to catch up with the rest of the country and we need to do it sooner than later.”