Courier Clinches Year-End No. 1 Ranking In Stanford Champions Rankings

NEW YORK, November 18 – With three tournament victories in 2008, as well as a finalist appearance in Newport, R.I., Jim Courier will finish in first place in the 2008 Stanford Champions Rankings, making him the top-performing player for the year on the Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.
Stanford Financial Group, the official rankings sponsor of the Outback Champions Series, will present Courier with a $100,000 cash bonus and the year-end No. 1 trophy on Friday, November 21 after his match at the Emirates NBD Legends “Rock” Dubai Championships in Dubai, U.A.E., the eighth and final Outback Champions Series event of 2008.
Suzanne Hamm, Chief Marketing Office for North America for Stanford, said, “Stanford is proud to underwrite the Stanford Champions Rankings and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jim Courier for his first place finish this season. We applaud his success both on and off the court.”
Courier consistently has been the dominant player on the 2008 circuit, posting a 23-4 win-loss record over seven events with three titles, one runner-up finish and two third-place finishes. With the $100,000 year end bonus, Courier has earned $350,000 on the Outback Champions Series in 2008 entering this week’s event in Dubai. His first title of the 2008 season came in the Cayman Islands in April, where he defeated Wayne Ferreira in the final. After a runner-up showing to Pat Cash at the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I., in August, Courier won back-to-back titles this fall in Charlotte and Dallas, defeating Todd Martin and Thomas Enqvist, respectively, in the finals.
“My goal each year is to win as many tournaments as possible, but my long-term goal for this season was to regain the year-end No. 1 on the Stanford Champions Rankings after losing it in 2007,” said Courier. “It is very gratifying to get back to the top of the mountain when your competition is as strong as it is out here. Stanford Financial is one of the original supporters of the Outback Champions Series and I take great pride in receiving this award from them.”
Outback Champions Series players earn ranking points based on each match victory in round-robin play and bonus points based on finishing in the top four at each event. Players earn 100 points for competing in each Outback Champions Series event and 100 points per round-robin match victory. The winner of each event receives 400 bonus points, while the runner-up earns 200 bonus points. Third-place finishers earn 100 bonus points while the fourth-place finisher receives 50 bonus points.
Entering this week’s event in Dubai, Courier has 3800 Stanford Champions Ranking points, followed by John McEnroe with 2500 points and Todd Martin with 2200 points. The current rankings list is as follows;
2008 STANFORD CHAMPIONS RANKINGS (as of November 19)
1. Jim Courier (USA) 3800 points
2. John McEnroe (USA) 2500 points
3. Todd Martin (USA) 2200 points
4. Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 2000 points
5. Aaron Krickstein (USA) 1650 points
6. Magnus Larsson (SWE) 1000 points
Jimmy Arias (USA) 1000 points
8. Thomas Enqvist (SWE) 900 points
9. Pat Cash (AUS) 800 points
10. Mikael Pernfors (SWE) 750 points
11. Karel Novacek (CZE) 500 points
12. Anders Jarryd (SWE) 450 points
MaliVai Washington (USA) 450 points
14. Paul Haarhuis (NED) 350 points
15. Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) 200 points
Pete Sampras (USA) 200 points
17. Mats Wilander (SWE) 100 points
Justin Gimelstob (USA) 100 points
Courier also finished the 2006 season as the Outback Champions Series year-end points champion with tournament victories in Naples, Fla., and Charlotte and third-place finishes in both Boston and Houston. Todd Martin concluded the 2007 year as the top-ranked player on the Series, paced by winning the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. and runner-up showings in Boston, Charlotte and Athens, Greece.
The Outback Champions Series features eight events on its 2008 schedule with each event featuring a round-robin match format. The winner of each division meets in the title match while second place finishers in each division play in the third-place match. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000, as well as Champions Series ranking points that will determine the year-end Stanford Champions Rankings No. 1 player.
The 2008 Outback Champions Series kicked off March 12-16 in Naples, Fla., at The Oliver Group Champions Cup where Todd Martin defeated John McEnroe in the final. Courier won the second event of the season at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman Legends Championships April 16-20, defeating Ferreira in the final, while McEnroe won his first career Outback Champions Series event in Boston April 30- May 4, defeating Aaron Krickstein in the final. Pat Cash won his first Outback Champions Series title in Newport, R.I., in August, defeating Courier in the final, while Courier won his second and third titles of the season in September in Charlotte and in October in Dallas, defeating Martin and Thomas Enqvist in the final, respectively. In November, McEnroe won his second title of the 2008 season in Surprise, Ariz., defeating Martin in the final.
About Outback Champions Series
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis from the last 25 years, including Pete Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and many others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event also has the right to choose a “wild card” entrant. More information on the Outback Champions Series can be obtained by visiting www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment
InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com
About Stanford Financial Group
Stanford Financial Group is a privately held global network of independent, affiliated financial services companies led by Chairman of the Board Sir Allen Stanford.  The first Stanford company was founded by his grandfather, Lodis B. Stanford in 1932. Stanford’s core businesses are private wealth management and investment banking for institutions and emerging growth companies.
The Stanford Financial Group of companies provides private and institutional investors with global expertise in asset allocation strategies, investment advisory services, award-winning policy and equity research, international private banking and trust administration, commercial banking, investment banking, merchant banking, institutional sales and trading, real estate investment and insurance. Stanford has more than $50 billion in assets under management or advisement.
Stanford Financial has made it a priority to invest in the communities in which it operates across the globe through signature corporate philanthropy initiatives with nonprofit organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and countless local and national charities that strengthen communities.
Securities products and services are offered in the United States through Stanford Group Company, member FINRA/SIPC. Stanford Financial Group is not a legal entity, but a registered trademark that encompasses the global network of independent, but affiliated, privately held and wholly owned entities. More information can be found at www.stanfordfinancial.com.