Paul Fireman

Their common professional calling consists of cushioning the human foot's contact with the ground. They are cobblers, shoe magnates who might well be content to lace up their hefty profits and let others fret about mankind's moral bunions. But Paul Fireman, Bruce Katz and Sheri Poe are three shoemakers with soul. Beyond their chosen line of endeavor they share little but the geography of New England.

Paul Fireman's two-decade career with Reebok International Ltd., which agreed this month to be acquired by Adidas-Salomon for $3.8 billion began at an industry trade show in Chicago 26 years ago. Fireman spotted an impressive display of running shoes by Reebok, an obscure British brand bearing the name of an African gazelle. Fireman, then 35 and coming off some setbacks in the sporting goods business, bought U.S. distribution rights to the shoes for $65,000.

The clamor over excessive pay for corporate executives grew louder Friday as a major New York pension fund won a key victory in contesting compensation at Reebok International.

Their common professional calling consists of cushioning the human foot's contact with the ground. They are cobblers, shoe magnates who might well be content to lace up their hefty profits and let others fret about mankind's moral bunions. But Paul Fireman, Bruce Katz and Sheri Poe are three shoemakers with soul. Beyond their chosen line of endeavor they share little but the geography of New England.

Paul Fireman's two-decade career with Reebok International Ltd., which agreed this month to be acquired by Adidas-Salomon for $3.8 billion began at an industry trade show in Chicago 26 years ago. Fireman spotted an impressive display of running shoes by Reebok, an obscure British brand bearing the name of an African gazelle. Fireman, then 35 and coming off some setbacks in the sporting goods business, bought U.S. distribution rights to the shoes for $65,000.

National Football League owners voted to increase rosters to 47 players and approved the conditional sale of the New England Patriots to Reebok International Chairman Paul Fireman before adjourning their annual spring meeting Wednesday in Miami Beach. Representatives of the league's 28 teams also authorized NFL officials to renegotiate a five-year contract with the sporting goods company that has supplied the official game ball since 1941.

One of the nation's highest-paid executives--Reebok International Chairman Paul Fireman, who earned $14.6 million last year--might make as little as $1 million under a new compensation package that the footwear company announced Thursday. Other companies--from L.A. Gear to Walt Disney--have also taken steps to alter fat compensation packages for top executives, which have drawn the ire of some employees and stockholders.

For a fellow taking a serious cut in pay, Paul B. Fireman is looking very chipper these days. In part, that's because Fireman--as chairman, president and chief executive of sneaker marketer Reebok International--still figures to earn as much as $2 million this year in salary and bonuses. It's a far cry from the $14.8 million he pocketed last year, but not too shabby. Perhaps more importantly, Fireman's company--after stumbling for a few years and being outpaced by archrival Nike Inc.

The clamor over excessive pay for corporate executives grew louder Friday as a major New York pension fund won a key victory in contesting compensation at Reebok International.

For a fellow taking a serious cut in pay, Paul B. Fireman is looking very chipper these days. In part, that's because Fireman--as chairman, president and chief executive of sneaker marketer Reebok International--still figures to earn as much as $2 million this year in salary and bonuses. It's a far cry from the $14.8 million he pocketed last year, but not too shabby. Perhaps more importantly, Fireman's company--after stumbling for a few years and being outpaced by archrival Nike Inc.

One of the nation's highest-paid executives--Reebok International Chairman Paul Fireman, who earned $14.6 million last year--might make as little as $1 million under a new compensation package that the footwear company announced Thursday. Other companies--from L.A. Gear to Walt Disney--have also taken steps to alter fat compensation packages for top executives, which have drawn the ire of some employees and stockholders.

National Football League owners voted to increase rosters to 47 players and approved the conditional sale of the New England Patriots to Reebok International Chairman Paul Fireman before adjourning their annual spring meeting Wednesday in Miami Beach. Representatives of the league's 28 teams also authorized NFL officials to renegotiate a five-year contract with the sporting goods company that has supplied the official game ball since 1941.

These have been trying times for A. Lee Fentress, a globe-trotting 45-year-old lawyer who co-founded Advantage International Inc., a 3 1/2-year-old Washington-based sports management firm that represents more than 150 athletes from nine offices on four continents.

The gig: Founder and chief executive of Hudson Jeans, one of the nation's hottest premium denim brands. Hudson is best known for its Union Jack logo, hefty sticker price and advertising campaign that features Mick Jagger's daughter. With jeans sold at select boutiques and high-end stores in countries around the world, the company reportedly had annual sales last year of more than $50 million. The image: Kim's goal is to make Hudson Jeans a sought-after item, and he's won over a number of celebrities, including actress Angelina Jolie, soccer star David Beckham and actor Jude Law. He employs an in-house marketing team and uses a public relations company to create buzz on the Web. Hudson's Facebook page includes images of actress Renee Zellweger "rockin' a pair" of Hudson skinny jeans.