I am an audiophile.  It bothers me that my ears are shaped in a particular way that Apple’s in-ear headphones, along with most other companies’ in-ear headphones, do not fit in my ears.  I may be able to slip them in for a minute before they slide out.

I have finally found in-ear headphones that not only stay in my ears, but also produce a great sound and are extremely stylish.  The Monster Miles David Trumpet High Performance In-Ear Headphones truly brings together revolutionary design and revolutionary sound into an in-ear headphone, which is something I did not think was possible prior to receiving a review copy.

The Packaging

Upon tearing apart the wrapping, I was shocked to find a gorgeous blue felt box with the words “Miles Davis Tribute” along with a logo of Miles Davis playing the trumpet emblazoned on the front.  This logo appears all over the items included in the package, which helps distinguish the product from the competition (although the design of the headphones and its accessories already separate the product from others on the market).  Monster spared no expense in putting together its blue felt box.  It also easily latches shut to protect its inner contents, which are the goods that really make the product worth every penny that it sells for.

The Headphones

When it comes to comfort, I have never been able to find anything close to studio headphones.  However, while studio headphones are good in the house or in the office, they are not optimal devices to use while in motion at the gym, running, or even on-the-go heading from place to place (i.e. an airport).  With the Monster Miles Davis Trumpet Headphones, you get studio headphones sound with an in-ear headphone design.  These headphones are certainly worthy of use in the home and office, along with the gym and anywhere else you may be headed.

The headphones are almost entirely covered in blue, sticking with the general theme of the packaging and accessories (which will be discussed later).  The royal blue color certainly stands out and will cause people to ask you what kind of headphones you are wearing.  These headphones are all about attention to detail.  The earbuds have Miles Davis’ signature and resemble mini-trumpet mouthpieces.  Not far from the earbuds lies a small device that appears to be three keys on a trumpet.  The outside keys control the volume and the inside key allows you to pause the music.  This is a rather convenient function, as you do not have to take out the earbuds to speak to someone; you can just press the pause button and then resume your music listening experience once your conversation finishes.  I tested the pause button with an Android phone, and it works like a charm.  The volume buttons appear to only work with Apple products (iPad, iPhone, iTouch).  Even the piece that plugs into your sound system bears the unique Miles Davis branding.  These headphones are an ear blessing, but also are extremely stylish.

Then there are the earbuds themselves.  As I mentioned earlier in this post, I have very particular ears that never can quite find that right fitting in-ear headphones.  In fact, when I first tried the Monster Miles Davis Trumpet Headphones, I feared that this product would be no different.  However, I soon came to realize that the headphones are all about custom user experience.  The headphones come with no less than 10 different pairs of earbuds in various shapes and sizes.  While the first size did not fit properly, by about the third try I found a pair that just snuggled into my ears and had no desire to slip out.  This is extremely important to me, since no matter how good the sound of the speakers may be (and the sound is fantastic), the headphones have to fit my ear.  Monster did a great job tailoring its product to the consumer by providing different options.

The Accessories

It is easy to be blown away by the sound and style of the Monster Miles Davis Trumpet Headphones.  Once you see the accessories, you will be even more impressed.  The headphones come with two storage units: 1) A small blue pouch that reminds you that you own “The Ultimate Jazz Experience Headphone,” and that “Life’s Too Short to Listen to Bad Headphones,” and 2) A slightly larger, sturdier case that almost resembles a small envelope, but also looks to be just smaller than a cell phone case.  Both accessories are painted in the same royal blue that is a hallmark of the headphones, along with the Miles Davis logo and Miles Davis’ signature.  Monster’s logo is also featured on both items.

Another accessory provided by Monster Music is Miles Davis’ “Sketches of Spain” music CD, which is praised as a masterpiece of mood and flamenco flavors from Miles Davis.  I have not yet had the opportunity to pop the CD into my computer to play it, but I certainly will in the near future.

Overall

I am extremely pleased with the Monster Miles Davis Trumpet Headphones.  The headphones are the answer to sub-par in-ear headphones produced by too many companies.  While one concern that some people may have is the price tag ($329.95 on Amazon.com), you certainly get what you pay for.  With the holidays coming up, I think that these headphones would be a very nice purchase for athlete clients.

Product Review: Monster Miles Davis Trumpet Headphones from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

I am legitimately upset that I paid $69.00 for Apple’s leather iPad Smart Cover.  It is not that there is any issue with the Smart Cover itself; in fact, I still believe that it is fairly priced for what it provides.  However, after getting my hands on the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2, my life on-the-go has completely changed for the better, and I believe that I will have absolutely no more use for Apple’s iPad Smart Cover.  In fact, I recently listed my tan leather Smart Cover on eBay for much less than I what I purchased it for – that goes to show you how much I love the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2.

The Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2 doubles as a Bluetooth keyboard and iPad case, protecting the iPad from damage while traveling.  The keyboard component is fantastic; it is no wider than the iPad in landscape mode and does not extend too far in length.  Further, it has some really neat keys: A “home” key, “Search” key, “Photo Slideshow” key, and very convenient cut, copy, and past keys right on the keypad.  The keyboard connects to the iPad via Bluetooth.  The only time I have had any connectivity problems is when I first wake up the iPad and start to type.  Thereafter, the connection is fantastic.  You can get by with not having a keyboard on the iPad, but if you are a power user, it is really something you want to have, especially if you take a lot of trips and do not want to lug a laptop around with you at all times.

The casing itself is an upgrade from the iPad Smart Cover.  While it does not have the neat folding capacity of the Smart Cover, does not magnetically snap onto the iPad, and is not as light (the iPad Smart Cover is really convenient in that sense),  it is more sturdy than the iPad Smart Cover and quite aesthetically pleasing.  The cover has the same metallic color as the iPad’s back side.  The iPad easily slides into the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG and is securely fastened in; there is no worry that the iPad will slip out while carrying it around.

Athletes, agents, and other sports professionals are always traveling around to conduct their business.  I know that I personally would rather be accompanied by an iPad instead of schlep around a laptop wherever I travel.  With the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2, I can do just that – bring an iPad on business trips and actually be productive when I need to respond to emails, draft and review documents, and spruce up my Twitter timeline.  I am thoroughly impressed with the product.

The following are a couple pictures I took of my iPad with the Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2.  The first is the iPad in landscape sitting on the stand with the keyboard in front, and the second picture displays the iPad locked into the case for easy transport:

Product Review: Logitech Keyboard Case by ZAGG for iPad 2 from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

It was only yesterday, June 6th, that crowdseats.com officially launched its website. Crowd Seats is a daily deals site that offers sports tickets at HUGE discounts.  The discounts range anywhere from 50-90% off face value with no fees. This is a benefit for both the consumer and the sports organization. These time-sensitive, daily deals offer fans an opportunity to get in the crowd at a fraction of face value, while teams benefit from generating significant revenue from otherwise perishable inventory. The  inherent overages (i.e. additional revenue streams) that are guaranteed for each ticket sold on Crowd Seats are what makes sports tickets a perfect fit for this business model.  Popular group buying sites get merchants on board by promising new customers in exchange for huge discounts.  Crowd Seats’ merchants can expect more – each ticket sold on Crowd Seats will lead to more revenue through supplementary purchases such as parking at the stadium, concessions such as beer, soda, and hot dogs, and merchandise like jerseys and hats.  These additional revenues make daily deals ideal for sports teams.

A handful of teams have thought about this already and have utilized group buying websites for the past two years. Many sports organizations, including the Dallas Mavericks, have experimented wtih Groupon and LivingSocial and had great results. In a case study produced by Crowd Seats, deals involving tickets for NBA, NHL, and MLS games were reviewed.  The combination of revenue generated through ticket sales via various daily deals sites and supplemental revenue generated at the stadium (Fan Cost Index) has resulted in NBA teams taking in an average of over $50,000/deal.  The NHL and MLS based deals also did tremendously well.

Notable Deals:

• Dallas Mavericks, October 2010, 4819 Tickets Sold, $173,000 Revenue
• Toronto Raptors, March 2011, 2368 Tickets Sold, $101,000 Revenue
• Toronto Raptors, November 2010, 3049 Tickets Sold, $97,000 Revenue
• Colorado Avalanche, February 2011, 1784 Tickets Sold, $51,000 Revenue
• New England Revolution, August 2010, 2515 Tickets Sold, $45,000 Revenue

The Fan Cost Index is the sports industry metric of measuring what a fan spends once he/she buys the ticket.  This includes parking, food, beverages, beer, souvenirs, programs, etc. Each time a ticket is sold on Crowd Seats, the team will generate revenue from the ticket sale (minus Crowd Seats’ cut, which varies) on top of the guaranteed additional “overage” revenue from parking, concessions, etc.  This model makes Crowd Seats very attractive to teams and sporting events of all levels (pro, minor league, local).

According to Justin Cener, Founder and CEO of Crowd Seats,  “Sports ticket inventory is very similar to hotel inventory – if you don’t sell it, you lose it.  Crowd Seats enables teams to generate significant revenue from otherwise perishable inventory.  Moreover, unlike traditional businesses, sports teams generate large supplementary revenues after the ticket is sold through parking, concessions, and merchandise, making the sports industry the perfect partner for daily deals.”

It is clear that consumers will benefit, receiving discounts at 50- 90% off the face value of tickets to their favorite teams. Teams will also greatly benefit from the first group buying site specifically targeted towards their product. With the website now officially online as of Monday, June 6th, you can now go and check it out yourself. Fans who want to receive future offers for local events can sign up for the” Deals Newsletter” at http://www.crowdseats.com.

Crowd Seats Brings Group-Buying and Sports Tickets Into the Same Arena from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Talk about a beautiful frame and picture!  I know we have three losses so far this year, but I cannot wait to put this up in my office.  It is one of the new products on Church Hill Classics’ Mike Sullivan Sports Artwork Frames line.  Sullivan is a nationally known sports artist who is known for his chiseled, edgy style.  The frames (which come in two different styles) are available here.  Go take a look.

And while I have your attention, Sports Agent Blog is running a contest for a separate prize.  We are teaming up with Buffalo Wild Wings to offer a free Buffalo Wild Wings lawn chair.  The chairs are great for tailgating or for additional seating all season long.

All you have to do is tweet what you think will be the the final score of tonight’s Game 4 of the New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers match-up and reference @Darren_Heitner. Here is an example tweet: “@Darren_Heitner Game 4 #ALCS final score prediction: NYY-5 TX-2.”  If more than one person correctly predicts the final score, we will randomly select the winner amongst those who got it right.  If no one gets it right, then everyone who submits their guess will be eligible in a random drawing.  Make sure you include @Darren_Heitner, though, or else we won’t know that you tweeted your prediction.

Gators Picture Frame And Sports Agent Blog CONTEST from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

I have been in the market for a new pair of headphones for quite a while now.  I had heard that Bose brings the best sound to your eardrums, but that Beats by Dr. Dre are close to Bose’s quality with a kick of style.  One thing that both products have in common is that they come with a hefty price-tag.  Beats Studio Headphones are $349.50 retail.  Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are $299.95 retail.  But what if you want strong sound with noise isolation, along with enough style to make a few people stop and stare, all for an affordable price?  I could not find the right product.

Then I received an email about a brand new range of durable headphones from a couple of companies that you would probably never guess would be working together.  Philips, known as a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle, and lighting teamed up with O’Neill, a Californian surf, snow, and lifestyle brand, to bring a kick-ass pair of headphones to my door.

The headphones were actually designed with athletes in mind.  They are made to be able to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle.  They are also extremely customizable, coming in different shapes, sizes, and colors.  The headphones I received are called “The Stretch” in Black Bordeaux (black and red).  They are tough, flexible, and include a really cool tangle-free red and black cable that matches the headphones.  And they really feel good on my ears.

I am not a big fan of ear bud headphones, but if that is your play, Philips | O’Neill offers a pair called “The Covert” and 6 color options in a line called “The Specked.”

My “Stretch” pair has made me very happy, but if I could try another pair from the Philips | O’Neill line, it would be a pair of “The Snug.”  Like The Stretch, The Snug is a durable headphone.  It also had the capacity of folding up, which is perfect for someone who is always on the go.  They have the same powerful sound as The Stretch, but might even look more comfortable than my pair, which happens to be pretty damn comfortable.

I found a pair of The Stretch on Amazon for a fraction of the price of a pair of Bose or Beats by Dr. Dre headphones (click here for the link to the Amazon page).  With the holidays coming up, it might be a good purchase for a loved one or a good client!

More pictures, below.

Product Review: Philips | O’Neill Headphones from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

With only two months until Halloween, it is smart to start thinking about what you are going to be dressing up as.  1) It starts to become more of a topic of conversation as the date approaches, 2) It is cheaper to buy a costume well in advance of the holiday, and 3) You do not want to get stuck the day before Halloween wondering what you are going to wear.

Luckily, you might not even have to go to a physical store this year to do all of your Halloween costumes shopping.  With over 10,000 costumes and masks, and promised prompt shipping, Moon Costumes may be your destination for Halloween garb.  Whether you are looking to go with a risqué look or be an actor from the movie 300, Moon Costumes seems to have you covered.

Again, it is important to do your Halloween shopping now for a variety of reasons.  As for the pricing of costumes, Moon Costumes is providing a 10% off coupon through October 1st, which turns into a reduced 5% off coupon in October.  The code is REVIEW10.

What will you be dressing up as this Halloween?  Will you give online shopping for costumes a try?

Review of Moon Costumes from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The Sports Agent Directory is the most comprehensive sports agent directory in the world.  Sure, we provide links to various agency websites in our Sports Agencies feature, but the Sports Agency Directory, which is offered by Sports Agent 411, LLC provides everything you could possibly need in terms of information regarding athletes and their agents.  And information is power.

This product should be interesting to a wide array of individuals, including but not limited to, financial planners, concierge services, real estate agents, relocation specialists, nutritionists, training facilities, private jet companies, and web designers.  If you have a business that in some way may cater to athletes, this product will save you time, provide you valuable and up-to-date information, and save you money.

Best of all, the database is extremely easy to use.  Here are a few things you can do with it:

• Search for the agent, agency, or athlete name by simply typing a  name.
• Search for sports agents by sports specialization (MLB, NBA, WNBA, NFL, LPGA, PGA, NHL, ATP, WTA, MLS, FIFA), total salaries negotiated, total number of clients, or geographic state/region/country.
• Search for athletes by the sports the athletes play, teams the athletes play for, salaries earned, or by salary ranking.
• Download each and every agent’s vCard to your address book and export your search results to Excel or PDF.

A concern you may have is that the database will not have valid information since athletes and agents are constantly changing where they work and who they work with.  The first thing I decided to do was test the database a day after Dan Lozano left Beverly Hills Sports Council.  Sure enough, he was no longer listed with the firm, and the clients that he took with him from BHSC were listed with him and no longer with BHSC.  And the database is also kept fresh with new salary information, player-agent switches, etc.

Here is what you can expect to find when you pull up an agency:

• Sports agency name
• Web site addresses, mailing addresses, phone/fax numbers
• Agents, principals, and decision-makers within agency
• Option to download vCard to address book for each agent/executive
• Total salaries represented
• Number of clients
• Names of clients, including Sport (League) name, Team name, Salary, Status, Professional league profile page link
• Option to export detailed search results to PDF and save
• Option to export address list search results to Excel and save

The Sports Agent Directory includes over 590 sports agencies and 1,050 sports agents.  And if you thought that’s a lot of information on the sports agent side, wait until you see what is offered in terms of customization of results according to athlete selected:

• Search for athletes by name
• Search for athletes by sport(s)
• Search for athletes by team names
• Search for athletes by minimum/maximum salary range
• Search for athletes by salaries
  • Top 10, 25, 50, 75, 150, 200, or ALL by order from highest to lowest
• Sort by Athlete name, agency name, recent salary, team name, or sport
• Athlete search results include the following: Athlete name, Agency name, Sport (League) Name, Team Name, Salary, Status, Professional league profile page link, Comprehensive agency details (see above)
• Option to export search results to PDF and Excel and also save
• Directory includes the following recent contracts/salaries:
  • Baseball (MLB) $2,791,608,253.00 (1,100+ players)
  • Basketball (NBA) $2,028,572,288.00 (450+ players)
  • Basketball (WNBA) $8,077,242.00 (120+ players)
  • Football (NFL) $3,009,647,577.00 (2,000+ players)
  • Golf (PGA) $297,854,588.00 (500 players)
  • Golf (LPGA) $33,620,120.00 (115+ players)
  • Hockey (NHL) $1,722,204,565.00 (1,000+ players)
  • Tennis (ATP) $68,480,832.00 (130 players)
  • Tennis (WTA) $45,916,487.00 (65+ players)
  • Auto Racing (NASCAR) $166,438,043.00 (41 athletes)

I’m not done yet.  The listings only include sports agencies and agents who have clients, so you don’t have to waste your time pitching agencies and agents who do not have clients.  Additionally, you will receive email updates whenever new data is available, such as new client hirings, firings, etc.

So now the big question – how much does it cost? It is $2,500 for a 1-user yearly subscription or $250 per month for a yearly subscription.  $5,000 for a 3-user subscription and very favorable pricing plans for large groups/corporations..

If you are interested in testing the product feel free to contact me.  Readers of SportsAgentBlog.com may be eligible for a slight discount off of the stated price. I would not sell a product that I have not tested myself, and after trying out the service, I can see its true value.

INTRODUCING: The Sports Agent Directory from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Anyway, while reading one of my favorite websites (TechCrunch.com), I found out about Bring TIM!, which is short for “Time is Money!”  It is advertised as a “cost calculator”, which also serves as a clock when you are not reminding people how much money they are wasting by making you sit through a meeting.  I saw a picture of the item, and immediately thought that it could be used for many purposes other than bugging executives about the money they are costing themselves by being managers instead of entrepreneurs.

For instance, yesterday, upon opening the package containing Bring TIM!, I brought it outside with me as I soaked up the sun.  An hour after hitting the easy start button, I realized just how much money I could have been making had I been productive instead of laying out.  But it’s also very useful for any lawyer who bills on an hourly basis.  All you have to do is set your hourly rate and start it up.  It will do all the calculations for you.  Next, the inventors need to add a button that transfers the result to an invoice – now we’re talking!  This product would also be useful for an agent who bills by the hour instead of asking for commissions from his clients.  I talked about using such a fee structure (which is used by basketball agent, Lon Babby) 3 1/2 years ago on SportsAgentBlog.com.

I like the fact that Bring TIM! also functions as a clock when it is not being used to count the money you are making (or could be making).  It costs only $25, so if you are billing at an hourly rate of $300, you can pay for a Bring TIM! in only 5 minutes of work.  I also like that the people behind Bring TIM! have a sense of humor.  See the video, below.

If you are interested in having your product reviewed on this website, please contact us for further information.

Product Review: Bring TIM! from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

This year, after being bombarded with questions, I finally told my parents to look into those new palm-sized video recorders.  I had never recorded a video with my Blackberry (the quality is not so hot and my Blackberry freezes every other second), and I keep seeing more and more people using video to create interesting, sharable clips.  Did you read the 2010 Sports And Social Media Predictions posted yesterday?  Check out how many people mentioned video in their forecasts.  I have tried to do a little bit of vlogging (video blogging myself), only to get so frustrated with trying to record with my webcam that I finally gave up.

There are a few different manufacturers of these small video recorders, but I kept hearing about some “flip” thing.  After a little bit of research, I found out why.  The Flip MinoHD is sleek looking, easy to use, and has amazing sharing features.  For me, it is an amazing tool that will allow me to upload video blogs, record my clients, take clips of players that I am recruiting, and maybe even create some potential viral videos.  I opened it up yesterday, and immediately fell in love.  This is definitely something that I will be taking with me to Ft. Myers for the 2009 National Underclass Showcase.

The Flip MinoHD is perfect for any sports business professional, and it is actually smaller than my phone, making it something that I can take with me anywhere.  Again, for sports agents it is perfect for promoting our clients, promoting ourselves, or documenting players we want to have the chance to promote.  For athletes, it is something that can be used to capture memories, but also to record technique so that it can be perfected.  Pitching mechanics, proper swing, throwing stance…all can be recorded and then viewed in HD.  And it is so simple.

There is still one more day for you to get the one you love a Hanukkah gift and still 7 more days to buy your Christmas presents.  The Flip MinoHD is a great buy for anybody who loves sports and enjoys technology.  At this point, you can still be called an “early adopter.”  Soon, these things will be used by the masses.

If you are interested in having your product reviewed on this website, please contact us for further information.

P.S. – I was playing around with the Flip MinoHD yesterday, and recorded a little video of my kitchen.  I also embedded some music to put you in a kickin’ mood.  Check it out below (at your own risk).

Holiday Product Review: Flip MinoHD from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

So what exactly is the Motorola Endeavor HX1?  Don’t like the name fool you, this “endeavor” is the size of my thumb.  It happens to be the most comfortable, best audio, most non-douche-looking earpiece I have ever experienced in my life.  Since bluetooth earpieces hit the market, I have been one of its most stringent non-supporters.  Every time I talk to my mother and she is wearing her earpiece, I make her turn it off and call me back.  The quality is that bad.  But not with the Motorola Endeavor HX1.  Everyone hears me better than when I actually talk right into the phone.  And the quality on my end is outstanding.  Somehow, I even get better service in my own room (where I am known to drop quite a few calls), when I am wearing the earpiece.

My absolute favorite part about the Motorola Endeavor HX1, is that it fits my ear.  I have never been able to use Apple’s ear-buds.  I can’t wear any type of headphones that does not have some sort of apparatus that goes around my head.  I had no control over the size of my ear holes when I was born, but for some reason nothing ever fits in them…except for the Motorola Endeavor HX1.  And they take it a step further.  In the package, there is an additional attachment in case you have a different ear hole size than me.

The Motorola Endeavor HX1 is an excellent accessory for anybody that is constantly on the go.  Sports agents are traveling all the time…to the airport, to catch a game, to the office, to the gym, etc.  Athletes are always on the move as well.  Traveling from city to city to play their games.  And we are all very busy people.  Snap the Motorola Endeavor HX1 in your ear and life suddenly becomes much easier to manage.  An added feature is that the headset is a charm at noise cancellation, so if you are in a noise spot, the caller on the other end will only hear your voice.  And I promise, this headset does not scream “douchebag” like many competing products on the market.

For the official fact sheet and another picture of the headset, click here.

If you are interested in having your product reviewed on this website, please contact us for further information.

Product Review: Motorola Endeavor HX1 from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules