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Exhibit 10.16  

 
 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    
    

        THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into by and between The Sports Authority, Inc., a Delaware corporation previously known as Gart
Sports Company (the "Company"), and Elliott Kerbis (the "Executive") and shall be effective as of the "Effective Time," as defined in the written Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
February 19, 2003, by and among the Company, Gold Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and The Sports Authority, Inc. ("TSA") (the
"Merger Agreement"). 

        WHEREAS,
the Company desires to employ the Executive as its President and Chief Merchandising Officer and the Executive desires to serve in such capacity on behalf of the Company. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows: 

        1.     Employment. 

        (a)   Term. The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall begin as of the Effective Time and shall end at the time of the
termination of the Executive's employment in accordance with Section 12 herein. 

        (b)   Duties. The Executive shall serve as the President and Chief Merchandising Officer of the Company and shall report
directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "CEO"). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with his position as President and Chief Merchandising
Officer of the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may be reasonably assigned to him by the CEO. 

        (c)   Best Efforts. During the period of his employment, the Executive shall devote his best efforts and full-time
and attention to promote the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliated companies, and shall be engaged in other business activities only to the extent that such activities are not
competitive with the Company and do not interfere or conflict with his obligations to the Company hereunder, including, without limitation, the obligations pursuant to Section 14 below.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may (A) serve on corporate, civic, educational, philanthropic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking
engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities hereunder. The foregoing shall also not be construed as preventing the Executive from investing his assets in such form or manner as will not require any significant services on his
part in the operation of the affairs of the businesses or entities in which such investments are made; provided,  however, that the Executive shall not
invest in any business competitive with the Company, except that the Executive shall be permitted to own not more
than 5% of the stock of those companies whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange or on the NASDAQ system. 

        2.     Compensation. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual
base salary of $650,000 (the "Base Salary"). The Base Salary may be subject to annual increases (but not decreases), as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee (the
"Compensation Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company's existing payroll policies. 

        3.     Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible for an annual target bonus payment in an amount equal to 60% of his Base Salary
(the "Bonus"). The Bonus shall be determined based on the achievement of certain performance objectives of the Company as established by the Compensation Committee and communicated to the Executive in
writing as soon as practicable after commencement of the year in

 
respect of which the Bonus is paid. The Bonus may be greater or less than the target Bonus, based on the level of achievement of the applicable performance objectives. 

        4.     Equity Award. The Executive shall be eligible to receive stock options and other equity-based compensation awards under
the Company's 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan and otherwise; provided that the Executive shall be granted such awards in the form, on the same terms and conditions, at the same time, and in
an amount no less than 75% of the amount granted to the CEO during the Term; further provided, however,
that any awards granted to the CEO which are extraordinary one-time or "sign-on" grants shall be ignored for the purposes of the preceding proviso. 

        5.     Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other
business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with such reasonable procedures as the Company may adopt generally from time to time. The Company shall also
reimburse the Executive for reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with the review of the terms of this Agreement. 

        6.     Travel Expenses. For a period of one year following the Effective Time, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for
economy class travel expenses between Denver and Southern Florida for the Executive, his spouse and children (the "Travel Reimbursement"). In addition, the Company shall pay to the Executive an
additional amount (the "Travel Reimbursement Tax Payment") such that the net amount of the Travel Reimbursement Tax Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any federal, state and local
income and employment taxes (calculated assuming that the Executive is subject to tax at the highest applicable marginal rate) on the Travel Reimbursement Tax Payment shall be equal to the amount of
federal, state and local income and employment taxes due with respect to the Travel Reimbursement. 

        7.     Relocation. The Company shall pay Executive, immediately following the Effective Time, the amount of $50,000 in connection
with his relocation to Colorado. In addition, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred with the relocation of the Executive, his spouse and children from Southern
Florida to Denver pursuant to the Company's relocation program, a copy of which has been provided to the Executive (the "Relocation Reimbursement"). In addition, the Company shall pay to the Executive
an additional amount (the "Relocation Tax Payment") such that the net amount of the Relocation Tax Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any federal, state and local income and
employment taxes (calculated assuming that the Executive is subject to tax at the highest applicable marginal rate) on the Relocation Tax Payment shall be equal to the amount of federal, state and
local income and employment taxes due with respect to the Relocation Reimbursement. 

        8.     Temporary Residence. The Company will reimburse the Executive for reasonable expenses incurred by him with respect to the
rental of a furnished two bedroom apartment located in a Denver area of the Executive's choice with full services for a period of one year following the Effective Time (the "Temporary Residence
Reimbursement"). In addition, the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the "Temporary Residence Tax Payment") such that the net amount of the Temporary Residence Tax Payment
retained by the Executive after the payment of any federal, state and local income and employment taxes (calculated assuming that the Executive is subject to tax at the highest applicable marginal
rate) on the Temporary Residence Tax Payment shall be equal to the amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes due with respect to the Temporary Residence Reimbursement. 

        9.     Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to vacation, holiday and sick leave at levels no less than commensurate with
those provided to the CEO, in accordance with the Company's vacation, holiday and other pay-for-time-not-worked policies.

 

        10.   Retirement and Welfare Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's health, life insurance,
long and short-term disability, dental, retirement, and medical programs, if any, pursuant to their respective terms and conditions, on a basis no less than commensurate with those
provided to the CEO. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company or any affiliate of the Company from terminating or amending any employee benefit plan or program from time to time after the
effective date of this Agreement, provided that any such amendment or termination shall be effective as to the Executive only if it is equally applicable to every other senior executive officer of the
Company. 

        11.   Perquisites. The Executive shall be provided with such other executive perquisites as may be provided to the CEO
(including but not limited to the use of a Company-provided automobile of a type similar to that being provided to the CEO and all operating and insurance costs related thereto, and a discount card
allowing the Executive to purchase items from the Company's retail stores at cost plus 10%). 

        12.   Termination. 

        (a)   Termination by the Company. 

        (1)   For Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder at any time for Cause (as defined and in
accordance with the procedures outlined below), in which case the Company's sole liability to the Executive shall be for unpaid Base Salary and benefits (then owed, or accrued and owed in the future,
but in all events and without increasing the Executive's rights under any other provision hereof, excluding any Bonus payments not yet paid) through the date of termination and unreimbursed expenses
incurred by the Executive pursuant to Section 5 above, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive's termination. 

        (2)   Without Cause. The Company may also terminate the Executive's employment without Cause at any time upon not less than
thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Executive; provided, however, that in the event
that such notice is given, the Executive shall be under no obligation to render any additional services to the Company and shall be allowed to seek other employment. Upon the Executive's termination
in accordance with the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay to the Executive a single lump sum in cash, within 10 days following the date of the Executive's termination, unless another
date is mutually agreed upon by the parties, equal to the aggregate amount of (i) unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid Bonus and benefits (then owed, or accrued and owed in the future)
through the date of termination, (ii) 3.2 times the Base Salary in effect immediately prior to such termination if such termination occurs prior to the third anniversary of the Effective Time
and two times such Base Salary if such termination occurs on or following the third anniversary of the Effective Time, and (iii) all unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Executive pursuant to
Section 5. In addition, (x) at the time of such termination, the Executive shall be fully vested in all outstanding long-term incentive awards (whether based in equity or
cash, and specifically including, but not limited to, stock options and restricted stock) then held by the Executive, (y) if such termination occurs on or following the third anniversary of the
Effective Time then, no later than the date on which annual bonuses are generally paid to the Company's executives in respect of the year of such termination, the Executive shall receive a payment
equal to two times the lesser of (I) the target Bonus for the year of termination or (II) the Bonus to which the Executive would have been entitled for the year of termination had the
Executive remained employed throughout such year, based on the achievement of the Executive's Bonus objectives for such year; provided that if any portion of such Bonus is based on subjective
determinations, then for purposes of this subclause (II) the amount of the Bonus shall be determined based on the percentage of the applicable objective performance criteria

 
attained multiplied by the entire target Bonus, and (z) all health, life insurance, long-term disability, dental, and medical programs specified in Section 10, and all
perquisites described in Section 11, shall continue for two years commencing on the Executive's date of termination (the "Severance Term");  provided, however, that the Company shall in no event be required to provide any coverage after such
time as the Executive becomes entitled to receive benefits of the same type from another employer or recipient of the Executive's services (and provided, further, that such entitlement shall be
determined without regard to any individual waivers or other similar arrangements). At the conclusion of the Severance Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive all accrued benefits then owed
and any benefits pursuant to the Company's plans or programs which are accrued and owed in the future. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a termination described in this
Section 12(a)(2) occurs (A) within the 18-month period commencing on the date of a Change of Control (as defined below), or (B) prior to a Change of Control and
such termination was at the request of a third party who had memorialized an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or was otherwise in anticipation of a Change
of Control, the Executive shall receive in all cases the payments and benefits described in this Section 12(a)(2) as if such termination had occurred prior to the third anniversary of
the Effective Time, plus the Executive shall receive clear title, free of any liens, to the car provided to the Executive pursuant to Section 11 herein. 

        (3)   "Cause" Defined. As used in this Agreement, termination for "Cause" shall mean a termination based upon: 

        (i)    a
material violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company (A) for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies
of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee, and (B) which the Executive fails to correct within 30 days after the Executive receives written notice from the Board of
such violation; 

        (ii)   misconduct
by the Executive to the material and demonstrable detriment of the Company; 

        (iii)  the
Executive's conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony; 

        (iv)  the
Executive's continued and ongoing gross negligence in the performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or 

        (v)   the
Executive's material failure to perform his duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the
Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of
termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive's failure to cure
such material failure within thirty (30) days following receipt of such notice. 

        Cause
shall not exist unless and until the Company has delivered to the Executive, along with the notice of Termination for Cause, a copy of a resolution duly adopted by
two-thirds (2/3) of the entire Board (excluding the Executive if the Executive is a Board member) at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board an event set forth in
clauses (i), (ii), (iv) or (v) above has occurred and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. The Board must notify the Executive of any event constituting Cause

 
within ninety (90) days following the Board's knowledge of its existence or such event shall not constitute Cause under this Agreement. 

        (b)   Termination by the Executive. 

        (1)   The
Executive may resign from his employment hereunder in the event of "Good Reason" after thirty (30) days' written notice from the Executive to the Board
describing in detail the "Good Reason," if not cured within such 30-day period; provided,  however, that such notice shall be given no later than ninety
(90) days after the time that the Executive has actual knowledge of the event or
condition purportedly giving rise to Good Reason. In the event of any such resignation, the Company's obligations to the Executive shall be the same as set forth in
Section 12(a)(2) above, and if (A) such resignation occurs within the 18-month period commencing on the date of a Change of Control or (B) prior to a Change of
Control the event constituting Good Reason for such termination was at the request of a third party who had memorialized an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control
or was otherwise in anticipation of a Change of Control, then the last sentence of Section 12(a)(2) shall apply. 

        (2)   The
Executive may resign his employment hereunder other than for Good Reason at any time by giving no less than thirty (30) days' written notice to the Board. In
the event of any such resignation, the Company's sole obligation to the Executive shall be for unpaid Base Salary and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future, but in all events and
without increasing the Executive's rights under any other provision hereof, excluding any Bonus payments not yet paid) and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 5 above through the
effective date of the Executive's resignation specified in the Executive's notice. 

        (3)   For
the purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means resignation by the Executive based upon the occurrence without the Executive's express written consent of any of
the following: 

        (i)    a
significant diminution by the Company of the Executive's role with the Company or a significant detrimental change in the nature and/or scope of the Executive's status
with the Company (including a diminution in title); 

        (ii)   a
reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum Bonus, other than as part of an across the board reduction in salaries of management personnel (including all vice
presidents and positions above) of less than 20%; 

        (iii)  at
any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the
Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control; 

        (iv)  the
relocation of the Executive's principal executive office to a location more than 30 miles further from the Executive's principal residence than the Executive's
principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation, or any requirement that the Executive be based anywhere other than the Executive's principal executive office; provided that the
relocation of the Executive from Southern Florida to Denver, Colorado at or shortly following the Effective Time shall be excluded from this clause (iv); 

        (v)   any
failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 21; or 

        (vi)  any
other material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

        Notwithstanding
the above, a resignation by the Executive for any reason during the 30-day period commencing six months after a Change of Control, upon giving at least
thirty (30) days' advance written notice to the Board, shall be considered to be a resignation for Good Reason. 

        (c)   Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive's death or "permanent disability" (as defined below)
during the Term, the Executive's employment shall terminate on the date of death or date of permanent disability. In the event of such termination, the Company's sole obligations hereunder to the
Executive (or the Executive's estate) shall be for unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid Bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata Bonus for the year of
termination based on the Executive's target Bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed, and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 5 through the
effective date of termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive's termination. For purposes of this Section 12(c), the Executive shall be
considered to have suffered a "permanent disability" if he has become eligible to receive benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company. 

        13.   Change of Control. 

        (a)   A
"Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Time, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of securities representing more than 30% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any "person" as defined
in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger,
would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares
representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent
corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation,
(iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the
sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition, or (iv) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of the Board ("Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason (other than death) to constitute at least a majority
thereof; provided that each new director whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office
who were directors at the beginning of such period shall be deemed an Incumbent Director unless such approval was made directly or indirectly in connection with an actual or threatened election
contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board. 

        (b)   Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise,
whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (a "Payment"), would constitute an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the
"Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the

 
Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and
any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment
taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the
highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive's residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax
return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the
deduction of such state and local taxes. 

        (c)   All
determinations made pursuant to the foregoing paragraph shall be made by the Company's independent public accounting firm immediately prior to the transaction
resulting in the application of section 4999 of the Code or, if such firm continues to be retained by the Company or its successor to provide any services whatsoever subsequent to such
transaction, an independent public accounting firm selected by the Executive in the Executive's sole discretion (the "Accounting Firm"), which firm shall provide its determination and any supporting
calculations (the "Determination") both to the Company and to the Executive within ten days of the date of the Executive's termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the
Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the "Dispute"). The existence of any
Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive's right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Accounting
Firm shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and
the Executive, subject to the application of Section 13(d). All of the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm in performing the determinations referred to above shall be borne solely by the
Company. Within five days after the Accounting Firm's determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Accounting Firm determines that no
Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any
Excise Tax on his federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Accounting Firm of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting
from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 13(c), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Accounting Firm. 

        (d)   As
a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have
been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an "Excess Gross-Up Payment" or a "Gross-Up Underpayment,"
respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or
(B) an Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Gross-Up
Excess Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess
Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess
Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment
at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such
Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess

 
Gross-Up Payment. If it is determined (I) by the Accounting Firm, the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its
federal income tax return) or the IRS, (II) pursuant to a determination by a court, or (III) upon the resolution to the Executive's satisfaction of the Dispute, that a
Gross-Up Underpayment has occurred, the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or
resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 13(d), until the date of payment. 

        14.   Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive's termination of employment with the Company, the Executive
agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any
termination of the Executives' employment. The Executive further agrees that he will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by
the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge;  provided,
however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related
out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and to pay the Executive reasonable compensation for his time based on his rate of Base Salary at the time of termination,
and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive's then current employment. 

        15.   Restrictive Covenants. In consideration of the obligations of the Company hereunder, the Executive agrees that he shall
not, (i) during the Term and the Severance Term, if severance is being paid, or if no severance is being paid, for a period of one year after a termination of the Executive's employment with
the Company for any reason, (A) directly or indirectly become an employee, director, consultant or advisor of, or otherwise affiliated with, any retailer of sporting goods, athletic footwear or
athletic apparel which sells in the United States through any retail channel, including without limitation, stores, catalogs, direct mail, the Internet, and commercial and/or institutional sales
(unless (1) the sporting goods, athletic footwear and athletic apparel sold by such retailer constitute less than 50% of the total sales by such retailer and its licensees in the United States
during the fiscal year of the Company immediately preceding the year of such termination, (2) such retailer had sales totaling less than $300,000,000 during the fiscal year of the Company
immediately preceding the year of such termination and had less than twenty (20) retail outlets in the United States at the end of such fiscal year, or (3) the classes of products sold
by such retailer constitute less than 10% of the total sales by the Company and its licensees in the United States during the fiscal year of the Company immediately preceding the year of such
termination), or (B) directly or indirectly solicit or hire or encourage the solicitation or hiring of any person who was an employee of the Company at any time on or after the date of such
termination (unless more than six months shall have elapsed between the last day of such person's employment by the Company and the first date of such solicitation or hiring);
(ii) during or after the Term, make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any other action which disparages
the Company or its officers, directors, businesses or reputations; or (iii) during or after the Term, without the written consent of the CEO, disclose to any person other than as required by
law or court order, any confidential information obtained by the Executive while in the employ of the Company, provided,  however, that confidential
information shall not include any information known generally to the public (other than as a result of unauthorized
disclosure by the Executive) or any specific information or type of information generally not considered confidential by persons engaged in the same business as the Company, or information disclosed
by the Company by any member of the Board or any other officer thereof to a third party without restrictions on the disclosure of such information. For the purpose of Sections 14 and 15 only,
the term "Company" shall mean the Company and its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the above, nothing

 
in this Agreement shall preclude the Executive from making truthful statements or disclosures that are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process. 

        16.   Enforcement. The Executive hereby expressly acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 15 are
reasonable and necessary to protect the Company's legitimate interests, that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement in the absence of such restrictions, and that any violation of such
restrictions will result in irreparable harm to the Company. The Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, without the necessity of proving
actual damages, as well as an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits arising from any violation of the restrictions contained in Section 15, which rights shall be
cumulative and in addition to any other rights or remedies to which the Company may be entitled. The Executive irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees that any legal proceeding arising out
of this paragraph may be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, or if such court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept jurisdiction, in any court of general
jurisdiction in Denver County, Colorado, (ii) consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any such proceeding, and (iii) waives any objection to the laying of
venue of any such proceeding in any such court. The Executive also irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the service of any process, pleadings, notices or other papers in connection with any
such proceeding. 

        17.   Survival. The provisions of Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 25 and 26 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

        18.   No Mitigation or Set-Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any
other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive
obtains other employment. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances,
including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others;  provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced
to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder. 

        19.   Return of Documents. Upon termination of his employment, the Executive agrees to return all documents belonging to the
Company in his possession including, but not limited to, contracts, agreements, licenses, business plans, equipment, software, software programs, products, work-in-progress,
source code, object code, computer disks, books, notes and all copies thereof, whether in written, electronic or other form; provided that the Executive may retain copies of his rolodex. In addition,
the Executive shall certify to the Company in writing as of the effective date of termination that none of the assets or business records belonging to the Company are in his possession, remain under
his control, or have been transferred to any third person. 

        20.   Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing. 

        21.   Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the express prior written consent of the other
party hereto, except that the Company (i) may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, provided that no such assignment shall relieve the Company of its obligations
hereunder without the written consent of the Executive, and (ii) will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially
all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if
no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean

 
the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 

        22.   Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto and
shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive's employment by the Company, including, without limitation, a severance agreement, between TSA and the
Executive, dated January 31, 2002. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall not
supercede or replace any agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive with respect to any plan or benefit described in Section 10 or 11 herein. 

        23.   Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 

        24.   Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO RULES GOVERNING CONFLICTS OF LAW.

        25.   Arbitration. Other than as set forth in Section 16, any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating
to this Agreement or the Executive's employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be
resolved by arbitration in Denver, Colorado pursuant to then prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. It is the intent of the
Company that, following a Change of Control, the Executive shall not be required to incur any expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement by arbitration, litigation or
other legal action because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Executive hereunder. Accordingly, the Company shall pay the
Executive on demand the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive in full for all expenses (including all attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Executive in enforcing any of the
obligations of the Company under this Agreement, or in defending any action by the Company against the Executive in respect of such obligations or the obligations of the Executive under this
Agreement, if such action is commenced on or following a Change of Control. The Company shall pay such expenses to the Executive upon demand in connection with any action described in the preceding
sentence which is commenced prior to a Change of Control if the Executive substantially prevails on at least one material issue in dispute. 

        26.   Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for directors
and officers liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive's position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to
any other senior level executive or member of the Board and to the full extent provided by the Company's certificate of incorporation or by-laws, and such coverage and protections, with
respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the
Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement. 

        27.   Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the
other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as follows: 

If to Executive: 

At
the address set forth on the signature page.

 

If to the Company: 

The
Sports Authority, Inc.

1050 West Hampden Avenue

Englewood, Colorado 80110

Attn: General Counsel

Telecopy: 303-864-2188 

        or
to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the
addressee. 

        28.   Withholding. The Company may withhold from amounts payable under this Agreement any and all federal, state, and local
taxes that are required to be withheld by any applicable laws and regulations. The Company may also withhold any amounts necessary pursuant to the benefit plans, policies, or arrangements of the
Company or otherwise, in accordance with any applicable Company policies, laws and/or regulations. 

*
* * * * 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written. 

	

 	
 	

THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

	 	 	Name:	 	John Douglas Morton
	 	 	Its:	 	Chief Executive Officer
	

 	
 	

 Elliott Kerbis
	

Address and contact information for Elliott Kerbis as of the date hereof (not to be included with any public filings):	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 	
 	

 

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Exhibit 10.17  

 
 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT    
    

        THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into by and between The Sports Authority, Inc., a Delaware corporation previously known as Gart
Sports Company (the "Company"), and Greg Waters (the "Executive") and shall be effective as of the "Effective Time," as defined in the written Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
February 19, 2003, by and among the Company, Gold Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and The Sports Authority, Inc. ("TSA") (the
"Merger Agreement"). 

        WHEREAS,
the Company desires to employ the Executive as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and the Executive desires to serve in such capacity on behalf of the
Company. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows: 

        1.     Employment. 

        (a)   Term. The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall begin as of the Effective Time and shall end at the time of the
termination of the Executive's employment in accordance with Section 9 herein. 

        (b)   Duties. The Executive shall serve as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and shall
report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "CEO"). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with his position as Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may be reasonably assigned to him
by the CEO. 

        (c)   Best Efforts. During the period of his employment, the Executive shall devote his best efforts and full-time
and attention to promote the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliated companies, and shall be engaged in other business activities only to the extent that such activities are not
competitive with the Company and do not interfere or conflict with his obligations to the Company hereunder, including, without limitation, the obligations pursuant to Section 12 below.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may (A) serve on corporate, civic, educational, philanthropic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking
engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities hereunder. The foregoing shall also not be construed as preventing the Executive from investing his assets in such form or manner as will not require any significant services on his
part in the operation of the affairs of the businesses or entities in which such investments are made; provided,  however, that the Executive shall not
invest in any business competitive with the Company, except that the Executive shall be permitted to own not more
than 5% of the stock of those companies whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange or on the NASDAQ system. 

        2.     Compensation. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Executive an annual
base salary of $500,000 (the "Base Salary"). The Base Salary may be subject to annual increases (but not decreases), as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee (the
"Compensation Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company's existing payroll policies. 

        3.     Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible for an annual target bonus payment in an amount equal to 60% of his Base Salary
(the "Bonus"). The Bonus shall be determined based on the achievement of certain performance objectives of the Company as established by the Compensation Committee and communicated to the Executive in
writing as soon as practicable after commencement of the year in

 
respect of which the Bonus is paid. The Bonus may be greater or less than the target Bonus, based on the level of achievement of the applicable performance objectives. 

        4.     Equity Award. The Executive shall be eligible to receive stock options and other equity-based compensation awards under
the Company's 2003 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan and otherwise. 

        5.     Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other
business expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with such reasonable procedures as the Company may adopt generally from time to time. The Company shall also
reimburse the Executive for reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with the review of the terms of this Agreement. 

        6.     Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to vacation, holiday and sick leave at levels no less than commensurate with
those provided to any other executive vice president of the Company, in accordance with the Company's vacation, holiday and other
pay-for-time-not-worked policies. 

        7.     Retirement and Welfare Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's health, life insurance,
long and short-term disability, dental, retirement, and medical programs, if any, pursuant to their respective terms and conditions, on a basis no less than commensurate with those
provided to any other executive vice president of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company or any affiliate of the Company from terminating or amending any employee benefit
plan or program from time to time after the effective date of this Agreement, provided that any such amendment or termination shall be effective as to the Executive only if it is equally applicable to
every other senior executive officer of the Company. 

        8.     Perquisites. The Executive shall be provided with such other executive perquisites as may be provided to other executive
vice presidents of the Company (including but not limited to the use of a Company-provided automobile of a type similar to that being provided to other executive vice presidents of the Company and all
operating and insurance costs related thereto, and a discount card allowing the Executive to purchase items from the Company's retail stores at cost plus 10%). 

        9.     Termination. 

        (a)   Termination by the Company. 

        (1)   For Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder at any time for Cause (as defined and in
accordance with the procedures outlined below), in which case the Company's sole liability to the Executive shall be for unpaid Base Salary and benefits (then owed, or accrued and owed in the future,
but in all events and without increasing the Executive's rights under any other provision hereof, excluding any Bonus payments not yet paid) through the date of termination and unreimbursed expenses
incurred by the Executive pursuant to Section 5 above, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive's termination. 

        (2)   Without Cause. The Company may also terminate the Executive's employment without Cause at any time upon not less than
thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Executive; provided, however, that in the event
that such notice is given, the Executive shall be under no obligation to render any additional services to the Company and shall be allowed to seek other employment. Upon the Executive's termination
in accordance with the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay to the Executive a single lump sum in cash, within 10 days following the date of the Executive's termination, unless another
date is mutually agreed upon by the parties, equal to the aggregate amount of (i) unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid Bonus and benefits (then owed, or accrued and owed in the future)
through the date of termination, (ii) 2.4 times the Base Salary in effect immediately prior to such termination if

 
such termination occurs prior to the third anniversary of the Effective Time and 1.5 times such Base Salary if such termination occurs on or following the third anniversary of the Effective Time, and
(iii) all unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Executive pursuant to Section 5. In addition, (x) at the time of such termination, the Executive shall be fully vested in all
outstanding long-term incentive awards (whether based in equity or cash, and specifically including, but not limited to, stock options and restricted stock) then held by the Executive,
(y) if such termination occurs on or following the third anniversary of the Effective Time then, no later than the date on which annual bonuses are generally paid to the Company's executives in
respect of the year of such termination, the Executive shall receive a payment equal to 1.5 times the lesser of (I) the target Bonus for the year of termination or (II) the Bonus to
which the Executive would have been entitled for the year of termination had the Executive remained employed throughout such year, based on the achievement of the Executive's Bonus objectives for such
year; provided that if any portion of such Bonus is based on subjective determinations, then for purposes of this subclause (II) the amount of the Bonus shall be determined based on the
percentage of the applicable objective performance criteria attained multiplied by the entire target Bonus, and (z) all health, life insurance, long-term disability, dental, and
medical programs specified in Section 7, and all perquisites described in Section 8, shall continue for 18 months following such termination (the "Severance Term");  provided, however, that the Company shall in no event be required to provide any coverage after such
time as the Executive becomes entitled to receive benefits of the same type from another employer or recipient of the Executive's services (and provided, further, that such entitlement shall be
determined without regard to any individual waivers or other similar arrangements). At the conclusion of the Severance Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive all accrued benefits then owed
and any benefits pursuant to the Company's plans or programs which are accrued and owed in the future. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a termination described in this Section 9(a)(2) occurs
(A) within the 18-month period commencing on the date of a Change of Control (as defined below), or (B) prior to a Change of Control and such termination was at the request
of a third party who had memorialized an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or was otherwise in anticipation of a Change of Control, the Executive shall
receive in all cases the payments and benefits described in this Section 9(a)(2) as if such termination had occurred prior to the third anniversary of the Effective Time, plus the
Executive shall receive clear title, free of any liens, to the car provided to the Executive pursuant to Section 8 herein. 

        (3)   "Cause" Defined. As used in this Agreement, termination for "Cause" shall mean a termination based upon: 

        (i)    a
material violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company (A) for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies
of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee, and (B) which the Executive fails to correct within 30 days after the Executive receives written notice from the Board of
such violation; 

        (ii)   misconduct
by the Executive to the material and demonstrable detriment of the Company; 

        (iii)  the
Executive's conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony; 

        (iv)  the
Executive's continued and ongoing gross negligence in the performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or 

        (v)   the
Executive's material failure to perform his duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the

 
Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of
termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive's failure to cure
such material failure within thirty (30) days following receipt of such notice. 

        Cause
shall not exist unless and until the Company has delivered to the Executive, along with the notice of Termination for Cause, a copy of a resolution duly adopted by
two-thirds (2/3) of the entire Board (excluding the Executive if the Executive is a Board member) at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board an event set forth in
clauses (i), (ii), (iv) or (v) above has occurred and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. The Board must notify the Executive of any event constituting Cause within ninety
(90) days following the Board's knowledge of its existence or such event shall not constitute Cause under this Agreement. 

        (b)   Termination by the Executive. 

        (1)   The
Executive may resign from his employment hereunder in the event of "Good Reason" after thirty (30) days' written notice from the Executive to the Board
describing in detail the "Good Reason,"
if not cured within such 30-day period; provided, however, that such notice shall be given
no later than ninety (90) days after the time that the Executive has actual knowledge of the event or condition purportedly giving rise to Good Reason. In the event of any such resignation, the
Company's obligations to the Executive shall be the same as set forth in Section 9(a)(2) above, and if (A) such resignation occurs within the 18-month period
commencing on the date of a Change of Control or (B) prior to a Change of Control the event constituting Good Reason for such termination was at the request of a third party who had
memorialized an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or was otherwise in anticipation of a Change of Control, then the last sentence of
Section 9(a)(2) shall apply. 

        (2)   The
Executive may resign his employment hereunder other than for Good Reason at any time by giving no less than thirty (30) days' written notice to the Board. In
the event of any such resignation, the Company's sole obligation to the Executive shall be for unpaid Base Salary and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future, but in all events and
without increasing the Executive's rights under any other provision hereof, excluding any Bonus payments not yet paid) and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 5 above through the
effective date of the Executive's resignation specified in the Executive's notice. 

        (3)   For
the purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means resignation by the Executive based upon the occurrence without the Executive's express written consent of any of
the following: 

        (i)    a
significant diminution by the Company of the Executive's role with the Company or a significant detrimental change in the nature and/or scope of the Executive's status
with the Company (including a diminution in title); 

        (ii)   a
reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum Bonus, other than as part of an across the board reduction in salaries of management personnel (including all vice
presidents and positions above) of less than 20%; 

        (iii)  at
any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the
Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control;

 

        (iv)  the
relocation of the Executive's principal executive office to a location more than 30 miles further from the Executive's principal residence than the Executive's
principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation, or any requirement that the Executive be based anywhere other than the Executive's principal executive office; 

        (v)   any
failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 18; or 

        (vi)  any
other material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement. 

        Notwithstanding
the above, a resignation by the Executive for any reason during the 30-day period commencing six months after a Change of Control, upon giving at least
thirty (30) days' advance written notice to the Board, shall be considered to be a resignation for Good Reason. 

        (c)   Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive's death or "permanent disability" (as defined below)
during the Term, the Executive's employment shall terminate on the date of death or date of permanent disability. In the event of such termination, the Company's sole obligations hereunder to the
Executive (or the Executive's estate) shall be for unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid Bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata Bonus for the year of
termination based on the Executive's target Bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed, and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Section 5 through the
effective date of termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive's termination. For purposes of this Section 9(c), the Executive shall be
considered to have suffered a "permanent disability" if he has become eligible to receive benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company. 

        10.   Change of Control. 

        (a)   A
"Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Time, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of securities representing more than 30% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any "person" as defined
in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger,
would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares
representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent
corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined
voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as
their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition, or (iv) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period were
members of the Board ("Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason (other than death) to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided that each new director whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period shall be deemed an
Incumbent Director unless such approval was made directly or indirectly in connection with an actual or threatened

 
election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board. 

        (b)   Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise,
whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (a "Payment"), would constitute an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the
"Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and
employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the
amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the
calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive's residence (or,
if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up
Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes. 

        (c)   All
determinations made pursuant to the foregoing paragraph shall be made by the Company's independent public accounting firm immediately prior to the transaction
resulting in the application of section 4999 of the Code or, if such firm continues to be retained by the Company or its successor to provide any services whatsoever subsequent to such
transaction, an independent public accounting firm selected by the Executive in the Executive's sole discretion (the "Accounting Firm"), which firm shall provide its determination and any supporting
calculations (the "Determination") both to the Company and to the Executive within ten days of the date of the Executive's termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the
Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the "Dispute"). The existence of any
Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive's right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Accounting
Firm shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and the Executive, subject to the application of Section 10(d). All of the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm in performing
the determinations referred to above shall be borne solely by the Company. Within five days after the Accounting Firm's determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the
Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive with
an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Accounting Firm of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 10(c), except for claims, damages or expenses
resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Accounting Firm. 

        (d)   As
a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have
been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an "Excess Gross-Up Payment" or a "Gross-Up Underpayment,"
respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or
(B) an Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") proceeding

 
which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Gross-Up Excess Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to
the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on
demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the
IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in
Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate
paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If it is determined (I) by the Accounting Firm, the Company (which
shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or the IRS, (II) pursuant to a determination by a court, or
(III) upon the resolution to the Executive's satisfaction of the Dispute, that a Gross-Up Underpayment has occurred, the Company shall pay an amount equal to the
Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded
semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 10(d),
until the date of payment. 

        11.   Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive's termination of employment with the Company, the Executive
agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any
termination of the Executives' employment. The Executive further agrees that he will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by
the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge;  provided,
however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related
out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and to pay the Executive reasonable compensation for his time based on his rate of Base Salary at the time of termination,
and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive's then current employment. 

        12.   Restrictive Covenants. In consideration of the obligations of the Company hereunder, the Executive agrees that he shall
not, (i) during the Term and the Severance Term, if severance is being paid, or if no severance is being paid, for a period of one year after a termination of the Executive's employment with
the Company for any reason, (A) directly or indirectly become an employee, director, consultant or advisor of, or otherwise affiliated with, any retailer of sporting goods, athletic footwear or
athletic apparel which sells in the United States through any retail channel, including without limitation, stores, catalogs, direct mail, the Internet, and commercial and/or institutional sales
(unless (1) the sporting goods, athletic footwear and athletic apparel sold by such retailer constitute less than 50% of the total sales by such retailer and its licensees in the United States
during the fiscal year of the Company immediately preceding the year of such termination, (2) such retailer had sales totaling less than $300,000,000 during the fiscal year of the Company
immediately preceding the year of such termination and had less than twenty (20) retail outlets in the United States at the end of such fiscal year, or (3) the classes of products sold
by such retailer constitute less than 10% of the total sales by the Company and its licensees in the United States during the fiscal year of the Company immediately preceding the year of such
termination), or (B) directly or indirectly solicit or hire or encourage the solicitation or hiring of any person who was an employee of the Company at any time on or after the date of such
termination (unless more than six months shall have elapsed between the last day of such person's employment by the Company and the first date of such solicitation or hiring);
(ii) during or after the Term, make statements or representations, or otherwise communicate, directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or otherwise, or take any other action which disparages
the Company or its officers,

 
directors, businesses or reputations; or (iii) during or after the Term, without the written consent of the CEO, disclose to any person other than as required by law or court order, any
confidential information obtained by the Executive while in the employ of the Company, provided,  however, that confidential information shall not include
any information known generally to the public (other than as a result of unauthorized
disclosure by the Executive) or any specific information or type of information generally not considered confidential by persons engaged in the same business as the Company, or information disclosed
by the Company by any member of the Board or any other officer thereof to a third party without restrictions on the disclosure of such information. For the purpose of Sections 11 and 12 only,
the term "Company" shall mean the Company and its subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the above, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Executive from making truthful statements or disclosures that
are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process. 

        13.   Enforcement. The Executive hereby expressly acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 12 are
reasonable and necessary to protect the Company's legitimate interests, that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement in the absence of such restrictions, and that any violation of such
restrictions will result in irreparable harm to the Company. The Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, without the necessity of proving
actual damages, as well as an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits arising from any violation of the restrictions contained in Section 12, which rights shall be
cumulative and in addition to any other rights or remedies to which the Company may be entitled. The Executive irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agrees that any legal proceeding arising out
of this paragraph may be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, or if such court does not have jurisdiction or will not accept jurisdiction, in any court of general
jurisdiction in Denver County, Colorado, (ii) consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any such proceeding, and (iii) waives any objection to the laying of
venue of any such proceeding in any such court. The Executive also irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the service of any process, pleadings, notices or other papers in connection with any
such proceeding. 

        14.   Survival. The provisions of Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 22 and 23 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

        15.   No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action
by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other
employment. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including,
without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others;  provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced
to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder. 

        16.   Return of Documents. Upon termination of his employment, the Executive agrees to return all documents belonging to the
Company in his possession including, but not limited to, contracts, agreements, licenses, business plans, equipment, software, software programs, products, work-in-progress,
source code, object code, computer disks, books, notes and all copies thereof, whether in written, electronic or other form; provided that the Executive may retain copies of his rolodex. In addition,
the Executive shall certify to the Company in writing as of the effective date of termination that none of the assets or business records belonging to the Company are in his possession, remain under
his control, or have been transferred to any third person. 

        17.   Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

        18.   Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the express prior written consent of the other
party hereto, except that the Company (i) may assign this Agreement to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, provided that no such assignment shall relieve the Company of its obligations
hereunder without the written consent of the Executive, and (ii) will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially
all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if
no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and
agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 

        19.   Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties hereto and
shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive's employment by the Company, including, without limitation, the severance agreement between the Executive and
the Company, dated September 1, 2001, as amended. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement
shall not supercede or replace any agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive with respect to any plan or benefit described in Section 7 or 8 herein. 

        20.   Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 

        21.   Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE SUBSTANTIVE AND PROCEDURAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO RULES GOVERNING CONFLICTS OF LAW.

        22.   Arbitration. Other than as set forth in Section 13, any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating
to this Agreement or the Executive's employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be
resolved by arbitration in Denver, Colorado pursuant to then prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association. It is the intent of the
Company that, following a Change of Control, the Executive shall not be required to incur any expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Agreement by arbitration, litigation or
other legal action because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Executive hereunder. Accordingly, the Company shall pay the
Executive on demand the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive in full for all expenses (including all attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Executive in enforcing any of the
obligations of the Company under this Agreement, or in defending any action by the Company against the Executive in respect of such obligations or the obligations of the Executive under this
Agreement, if such action is commenced on or following a Change of Control. The Company shall pay such expenses to the Executive upon demand in connection with any action described in the preceding
sentence which is commenced prior to a Change of Control if the Executive substantially prevails on at least one material issue in dispute. 

        23.   Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for directors
and officers liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive's position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to
any other senior level executive or member of the Board and to the full extent provided by the Company's certificate of incorporation or by-laws, and such coverage and protections, with
respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the
Term. Any

 
indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement. 

        24.   Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the
other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as follows: 

If to Executive:

At
the address set forth on the signature page. 

If to the Company:

The
Sports Authority, Inc.

1050 West Hampden Avenue

Englewood, Colorado 80110

Attn: General Counsel

Telecopy: 303-864-2188 

        or
to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the
addressee. 

        25.   Withholding. The Company may withhold from amounts payable under this Agreement any and all federal, state, and local
taxes that are required to be withheld by any applicable laws and regulations. The Company may also withhold any amounts necessary pursuant to the benefit plans, policies, or arrangements of the
Company or otherwise, in accordance with any applicable Company policies, laws and/or regulations. 

*
* * * * 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written. 

	

 	
 	

THE SPORTS AUTHORITY, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

	 	 	Name: John Douglas Morton

Its: Chief Executive Officer
	

 	
 	

 Greg Waters
	Address and contact information for Greg Waters as of the date hereof (not to be included with any public filings):	 	 	 	 
	

	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 	
 	

 

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