For the current Internship Program, Justin Herzig (our HR Director) received over 250 intern applications.  Some were thrown away after reading a couple of lines of the cover letter, but most applicants actually seemed extremely qualified for the limited number of spots available.  Do you need to have a law degree, MBA, or internship to break into this industry?  Read Jack Bechta’s story…the answer is no.  But it surely does help to at least have an internship.  Bechta is a part of a very small minority of people who can succeed in this very difficult profession by printing a few business cards and starting up a company with absolutely no experience.

Bechta mentions that there are several agents with a huge client list that never attended law school.  My response is that an agent is not graded by his client list.  There are also many players who end up suing their agent or leaving the agent because of poor execution of his job.  When I first started law school, I wondered myself why so many people said that it was so important for a person to attend law school in order to be an agent.  Criminal law, Torts, Property, Civil Procedure…yeah they may all come in handy, but probably not.  Then came Contracts, Corporations, Business Organizations, Intellectual Property…now it all makes sense.  The knowledge I have after going to law school coupled with the experience I continue to gain with my own clients makes me a better agent every day.

There is also going the route of Bechta and keeping an attorney on retainer for your firm.  I still think that if given the opportunity, go to law school.  Players like having a one-stop shop for all their needs (that’s why CAA, WMG, etc. continue to dominate).  I think that they also want an agent who can wear more than one hat.  To bring a personal knowledge of the law to every negotiation and not have to rely on another person seems to bring some extra value to the table.

As far as grad school for some sort of Sports Management MBA is concerned, I am not completely sold.  If you go that route, I think you should definitely heed Bechta’s advice.  Look at who the professors are and the subjects being taught before you spend all that money.

I can’t disagree with Bechta when he says that overall the 2 most important qualities for success in this industry are:

1. a competitive nature
2. determination

Along with that, I will add a third quality: 3) innovation.  There are so many agents out there going after the same clients, giving the same pitch, and providing the same services.  Do something to make yourself stand out.  Sorry, I already created SportsAgentBlog.com, so making a blog about the sports agent world will not really separate you.  Spend some time thinking about what you can do to make yourself a thing of value.  I promise that the time taken will be well worth it.

Vuckovich and I did not always see eye to eye on a lot of issues, and decided to part ways in February 2008.  I retained the rights to Dynasty, and Matthew went on to form his own agency, Xclusive Sports Management (XSM).  Kyle Dison joined him, and the two created an agency solely dedicated to representing baseball players.  Kyle is a Managing Partner at XSM.

Yesterday, Matthew had an interview with the website, Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight.  Click here to head on over to the interview.  I have been interviewed on the site in the past, and in fact, you can hear me at the beginning of Matt’s clip.  It was good to hear Matt’s voice again.  Since a few weeks following the break-up between us, I have not heard a word from Matthew.  To be fair, I did not reach out to Matthew to touch base, either.

Good luck Matt.  Though we have had our differences in the past, I am still rooting for you.  I won’t ever be that “Florida guy” who harassed you in Minnesota.  And who knows, maybe your client Merricks crosses paths with one of our own, Zach Rosenbaum, who is in the Mets organization as well.

The job market sucks, whether you want to become a sports agent, a financial analyst, or even a lawyer.  Summer associateships are on the decline, and jobs out of law school are hard to find.  The firms that are hiring seem to be looking more at who you know than what you know.  Yes, we are living in the world where LinkedIn may mean more for your future employment than your GPA.

So when I read this article in the Wall Street Journal, about the rise of law school applicants while the amount of lawyer positions at law firms is falling, I was not all that surprised.  Some of my best friends are living that situation out right now.  We talk about how competitive it is to break into the world of sports agency.  The legal profession, in general, is starting to become tough to break into on its own.  If firms are firing associates left and right, what makes you think that they will entertain your novel invitation to start up a sports law division with you at the head of it all?  Not in this economy!

One important point I took from the article: In a struggling economy, people start becoming pickier with the decisions that they make.  I believe that our profession will encounter this as athletes start to choose lawyers as their agents more often than those who try to represent athletes without a J.D.

Darren Heitner: How did you get started in this industry?

Eric Wiesel: After graduating from law school and starting to practice as a litigating attorney I was introduced by a business client to an NBA player being abused by his agent – no communication, accountability or respect. There were also financial irregularities. As an advocate and man I couldn’t believe the way the athlete/person was being treated – as an employee rather than an employer. At roughly the same time, I was introduced to a WNBA player who was having the same issues – except the lack of respect and honesty from her agent was even greater. I deeply wanted to make a difference in their careers and lives. I had found the career I feel completely passionate about.

Darren Heitner: You are a partner in the law firm, Matheny Sears Linkert & Jaime.  What are some of the positives and negatives of being a part of a major law firm while representing professional athletes?

Eric Wiesel: Being a partner in a law firm is a tremendous advantage. I am a trained advocate who spent his entire career as a lawyer negotiating and advocating for local, national and international clients. I have tremendous resources and don’t need to work with unlimited clients to pay the power bill. I can carefully select and work to be excellent with a smaller group of clients. The firm provides my income and, as a result, I don’t need to rely on an assistant to manage my clients – it is all me. Any legal services my clients need and want I obviously provide and encourage – creating an LLC, foundation and/or preparing wills, etc. In addition, as one of the partners who run the law firm I have the experience and proven ability to help each of my clients run their own companies – I encourage each client to view their career as a business.

Darren Heitner: Why are there very few law firms with athlete representation practices?

Eric Wiesel: Lawyers have very busy and compacted schedules. Litigation requires the creation of a strategy for each case and the vision to make that strategy end in a favorable outcome for your client. It can and should be very involved. Time doesn’t usually allow a full-time litigator/firm to build a sports practice. It takes time, money and extra energy when at many times does not exist. I worked two full-time jobs when I first started – trial attorney and agent. Now I do nothing but work with athletes – I paid my dues and because of my unique skills and background my clients benefit. My partners are always supportive and I now work out of my own home office with the freedom to work and travel anywhere for my clients.

Darren Heitner: You have negotiated over 400 professional sports contracts in 30 countries during the last 11 years.  What was your most interesting negotiation, and why?

Eric Wiesel: All negotiations are equally interesting because my goal is always the same - to secure the absolute best possible situation for my client…to ensure they are happy, safe and receive the maximum compensation for what they do.

Darren Heitner: Give us an idea of some of the things you do for your clients outside of negotiating their professional contracts.

Eric Wiesel: I look at each client as a whole person. Negotiating a contract is critical but, in reality, a very small part of what I do. Enforcing that contract and ensuring my clients are cared for is my first priority. I also look for any source of outside income and push my clients to always prepare for the time when playing will no longer be an option. A career can be over in an instant and I feel it’s tragic when agents don’t push their clients to prepare for the “rest” of their lives.

Darren Heitner: What did going to law school do for your advancement in this profession, and would you recommend that future agents obtain a JD?

Eric Wiesel: Going to law school and being an attorney is critical. All I do is advocate, negotiate and enforce. Why would you hire a non-lawyer to do lawyer work? Most non-attorney agents either hire
Lawyers or just wing it. Why would someone hire a person to secure and enforce a legal document that has no training in doing so? I want to be the one who does everything – the responsibility starts and stops with me and that’s how I like it.

Darren Heitner: Do you find yourself more restricted in what you are able to do than some of your competitors who are not attorneys (recruiting regulations, conflicts of interest, etc)?

Eric Wiesel: As an attorney I am bound by requirements that should be viewed as critical by an athlete. As a member of the bar and officer of the court I must abide by restrictive codes of conduct and ethics. For example, I must always avoid conflicts of interest and must never engage in conduct that is adverse to the best interests of a client. I could spend each day doing nothing but listening to complaints about unethical lawyers with constant conflicts engaging in tragic conduct – most of which is not known by their clients. The rules I must follow do prevent me from recruiting like other agents BUT, in reality, as a man I would never recruit that way anyway. Any potential client whose mentality is directed to unethical conduct is someone I don’t want to work for. Athletes don’t realize that in the end what they do and who works for them will reflect on who and what they are.

Darren Heitner: What made you first get into representing female basketball players?  Do you see a lot of growth for the sport and the potential for future agents to profit off of its rise?

Eric Wiesel: I love working with any athletes who are people of character. I want someone who is as motivated as me to make an impact on sport and society. I look for exceptional people who also happen to be exceptional athletes. My singular goal is to maximize everything they do and experience. I have found this most often with female athletes over the years. I love working for my clients and each becomes a huge part of my world. I take what happens to them very personally. I am a huge fan of women’s sports – I experience and see increasing and important support for what female athletes do. They can be incredible role models and agents for change. I am dedicated to doing whatever I can to contribute positively to the growth of what they do. It is clearly one of my passions in life. I am only concerned that as the popularity of women’s sports grows so does the number of unqualified people trying to work for the athletes. Every year the stories get worse – the damage caused to female athletes by agents who have no business convincing athletes they are capable and care when money is really their only motive.

Darren Heitner: What would you lend as advice to college students looking to break into the industry?  Anything special you would add to college female students?

Eric Wiesel: The advice I have for college students – don’t get into this profession unless you deeply care, take what happens personally and receive the correct education, skills and training. You can ruin a career and life if you are not completely serious and prepared.

In his well written but controversial Sports Agency Power Rankings, Jason Belzer ranked CSMG at #6, wedged between #5 Octagon and #7 Career Sports & Entertainment.  He noted, CSMG has not had recent success in the NBA draft, but its MLB division continues to grow and is one of the largest amongst all agencies.  At the time of Belzer’s post, #5 Octagon was actually deep into negotiations with CSMG about acquiring that strong baseball division along with its coaches, broadcast, legends and marketing divisions.  The deal has just been sealed, and the aforementioned Nero along with roughly twenty CSMG employees and over one-hundred-and-forty CSMG clients will now fall under the Octagon umbrella.

What does this do to the sports agency landscape?  In terms of athlete representation, I believe this move firmly establishes Octagon as a memeber of a new big four (CAA, WMG, Octagon, BEST).  IMG has been going away from its traditional athlete representation business to different kinds of business opportunities in collegiate licensing opportunities, television deals, etc.  It is still a very powerful entity in the sports business world, but has a markedly different composition than the big four.

CSMG will still exist as a basketball operation, with names like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ronnie Brewer headlining Henry Thomas’ practice.

Octagon becomes a behemoth in the world of representing baseball players, CSMG’s shareholders will make good money on the sale, and former internal strife seems to have been calmed before any storm let loose.  When a top high school baseball player is looking for an advisor, what company will be more enticing: Boras Corp or Octagon?

When the last Dynasty Notes was published, I was going through a very hectic period, juggling all of the legalities involved in the buyout of my ex-partner, Matthew Vuckovich along with determining what course Dynasty Athlete Representation, LLC would take in the future. It would be a true test of my determination, drive, and passion to succeed in this extremely tough industry. I am 100% confident when I say that Dynasty weathered the storm and came out stronger than it was prior to the buyout.

As previously mentioned, all Independently Contracted employees at the time of the buyout decided to stay on with Dynasty. Grant Zhou and Bruce Falcon showed their allegiance in a time of strife. Additionally, Dynasty’s sole intern, Austin Walton, remained strong and actually increased his efforts to contribute to Dynasty’s success. Kyle Monroe-Dison had never actually signed any type of employment agreement with Dynasty (only a Standard Representation Agreement as a former Independent League Baseball Player), so technically, Dynasty went unscathed after the Articles of Incorporation were amended to reflect a change in management. Since the change, we have been lucky enough to add the services of Frank Zaino, who has been busting his butt to make Dynasty’s Baseball Division a strength of the company.

On the client front, Dynasty has been extremely active in trying to expand. Let me remind everyone that Dynasty is less than a year old, so before the haters come out of the closet to try to ruin our parade, I want to remind them that starting a business takes a lot of time alone. I am extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish thus far, even if that includes ONLY signing some of THE BEST bowlers in the country. That being said, we have been hard at work to build our other divisions along with continuing to grow in the sport of bowling.

So let’s first start off with baseball. Dynasty took a short-lived heavy blow when the buyout occurred. Kyle Monroe-Dison was doing a lot of the scouting of young talents and Matthew was making most of the personal visits to families out in California. Part of the buyout agreement included an oral promise that I would not actively recruit any of the guys that we had been recruiting to advise in the upcoming MLB draft. At that point, we had about 6 or so verbal commits, that Dynasty had to part ways with. I still wish those players that I had personal contact with all the best in their future endeavors. Anyway, two days ago, Dynasty had some major news. We signed our first baseball client since the reorganization of the company. I am proud to announce that Gerard Haran will be the first of many talented new additions to Dynasty’s Baseball Division. The story of how Gerard landed with Dynasty displays yet one more reason to never count out any opportunity, especially in this digital age. Gerard found Dynasty through our MySpace page (go ahead and friend us!) and wanted to know how Dynasty would be of any benefit to him. I sent Gerard some information about the company, but then did not hear back from him for a while. A few weeks ago, I heard back from Gerard and we once again started talking about the possibility of Dynasty representation. Even after putting up solid numbers this Spring Training for a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, Gerard was released. We are now in conversation with various Independent League, European, and Asian teams to see where Gerard will land.

The baseball news does not stop there. Frank Zaino later called me to inform that we had just signed our second baseball player in the span of one day. The whole team is very excited to add Dan Leatherman to Dynasty’s Baseball Division’s client list. We will be hard at work trying to find the perfect fit for Gerard and Dan while Frank Zaino continues to add more beef to our stable of baseball clients.

And how about our bowlers? All of them have been having a successful year on tour. I have recently reached out to a bowling industry corporation that has expressed interest in our clients in the past. Right about this time of the year is when that particular company establishes its budget for the next fiscal year. Let’s hope for the best! Bruce Falcon has been working hard to bring some more top notch bowling clients aboard. We may package all of our bowling clients together in an innovative marketing idea in the near future.

Basketball is not an easy sport to break into. I have had many leads in the past, but let them pass by because I want to break into the sport by getting a client who is a potential draft pick. Before Spring Break, I visited a guy who is listed on draft boards to be picked anywhere between the middle and end of the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. He is a senior, and I visited him after his final game of the regular season, so no worries about violating any NCAA regulations. Anyway, myself and Dynasty’s intern, Austin Walton, had been hard at work for weeks, trying to develop a brochure that would blow away the recruit. We got our 5 minutes of face time with the player, but that proved to be not enough. He ended up signing with an agent that has represented some of his former teammates, and Dynasty is left looking again for its first NBA client. I have recently considered bringing on additional help to develop the Basketball Division with some lower level talent.

And then there is football. Dynasty’s Football Division will not be established until 2009. The plan is to hire an NFLPA Certified Agent (I already have been in discussions with one such person) and have him represent some potential prospects that we have had our eyes on. If all goes according to plan, 2009 could be a breakout year in Dynasty’s first attempt to maintain a football division.

The last and latest project I have been working on is Dynasty’s Philanthropy. One of Dynasty’s main tenets is charity and philanthropy. We will encourage all of our clients to perform in philanthropic events and adopt a charity that they will give back to after success in their individual sports. As a company, Dynasty will also do its part to give back to the community. With that in mind, I have been doing a little brainstorming lately, and have come up with an idea. The plan is to have the event take place in Summer of 2009. I have already created a sample flyer and have put a lot of time into the event’s logistics. If you have experience in working with charities, have connections to athletes/celebrities, or just want to get some inside information and be part of an excellent event, feel free to email me and we can discuss this further.

Thanks for reading. I cannot wait for the next update!