At 8 p.m. EST on Tuesday, October 11, 2011, ESPN will premier The Dotted Line, a documentary about sports agents directed by Morgan Spurlock. ESPN provided a DVD screener of the documentary, which I had a chance to review over the weekend.

The documentary begins with Drew Rosenhaus, the most recognizable sports agent in the world, defending one of his clients.  But Rosenhaus is certainly not the focus of the show.  Instead, ESPN provides commentary from a plethora of current and former agents, NCAA personnel, and went through the recruiting process of a young, upcoming agent named Eugene Lee.  Other than a clip of former NFLPA Contract Advisor Josh Luchs taking the cameras with him to UCLA’s practice facility to show just how easy it is for agents to gain access to college athletes, I found the portions devoted to Lee and his company ETL Associates to be the best parts of the show.

The cameras followed Lee, who founded his company in 2003, through the process of recruiting players at West Virginia, University of South Florida, and Notre Dame.  He thought he would leave his meeting with the WVU player and have a signed representation agreement in hand.  Lee ended up finding out from the WVU player’s high school coach that the player would be signing with a different agent.  Lee signed the USF player and celebrated with his co-workers, only to receive a termination letter from that player six weeks later.  Lee also signed the Notre Dame player, who went undrafted, but eventually was picked up by the Chicago Bears.  The show provided great insight on the highs and lows of recruiting for the smaller, boutique firms.  Eugene Lee spent a lot of time and money on recruiting and representing fringe players, and ended up losing out on signing one, was terminated by another, but worked his tail off for the third, who got picked up by a team after Lee put in even more hard work.  The question is, how does someone like Lee actually make money?

Another segment of the show was devoted to baseball agent Peter Greenberg.  Greenberg became one of the biggest
agents in baseball by focusing on recruiting and representing Venezuelan players.  ESPN’s documentary displayed just how powerful Greenberg’s name is in baseball circles in Venezuela.  Players hope to have a chance to sign with Greenberg.  Typically, it is the other way around, with agents praying that they can sign top talent.  The fact that Greenberg negotiated a huge contract for Johan Santana certainly helped the agent establish his solid reputation.

And then there was a segment on agent scandals. Quite a bit of attention was paid to Josh Luchs, who was recently a fabulous guest speaker in the Sport Agency Management class that I teach at Indiana University.  Again, the part of the Luchs segment that stood out the most was when he drove his Mercedes right up to a UCLA locker room entrance and showed how easy it was to gain access to the players.

The documentary also included words of wisdom from Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports & Entertainment, who talked about the immense costs associated with providing training for clients, basketball agent David Falk, who talked about how trust is earned and that it is very difficult to succeed as an agent without cheating, and others.

Be sure to tune in to ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EST on October 11, 2011, and let me know what you think of the documentary.

ESPN’s “The Dotted Line” – A Documentary About Sports Agents from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

I am on my way up to Gainesville, Florida to return to my alma mater (undergrad and law school) and watch the Gators take on the Alabama Crimson Tide.  I can’t wait to see a lot of friends and watch some good football under the lights at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (8 p.m. kickoff).  I will return on Sunday and then it’s off to the new office on Monday.  The new law firm is called Wolfe Law Miami.  It will be myself and Richard Wolfe, a very experienced entertainment law attorney.  Our office space is in Brickell (right next to downtown Miami, Florida) in the penthouse of a beautiful building.  Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

Basketball

• David Falk: “I would bet a lot of money that if we miss one or two games, we’re going to miss the whole season.” [Sports agent Falk says entire NBA season is in jeopardy]
• The ultra-punitive measures alternative [NBA owners budge on hard cap demand].
• Tyreke Evans is being counseled by Arn Tellem and “Team Tyreke” [Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (9/30/11) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Sports Agents

• Bill Duffy of BDA Sports will be honored [BESLA Announces 2011 Conference Theme: "INCEPTION: Mastering Entertainment and Sports Paradigms in a Digital Universe"].

Social Media

• Now you know why JR is tweeting with the #YearoftheFan hashtag [How Sports Agent JR Rickert is making this the Year of the Fan].

Skateboarding

• “Skateboarding is really insular. They don’t like their own, much less outsiders coming in.” [AN INTERVIEW WITH CIRCE WALLACE, AGENT]

Basketball

• Arn Tellem visited Lithuania and provided labor updates to his client [European title in hand, Marc Gasol ready to return to Memphis].
• Prominent agent: “The union hasn’t been listening to its players.” [Battle lines drawn for NBA, players, agents].
• Falk isn’t part of the group of agents who want the NBPA to decertify [David Falk implies there'll be a full season or no season at all].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (9/23/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

• Hassan Adams – David Lee (David Lee Services). Currently playing for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Gilbert Arenas – No agent
• Jerryd Bayless – Jeff Schwartz (Excel Sports Management)
• Mike Bibby – David Falk (FAME)
• Chase Budinger – Kevin Bradbury (BDA Sports)
• Channing Frye – Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency)
• Jordan Hill - Kevin Bradbury (BDA Sports)
• Andre Iguodala - Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency)
• Richard Jefferson – Todd Eley (Stratosphere Sports)
• Jason Terry – Dan Fegan (Lagardere Unlimited)
• Luke Walton – James Tanner (Williams & Connolly)
• Marcus Williams – Aaron Goodwin (Goodwin Sports Management). Not quite sure what happened to him.

BDA Sports and Landmark Sports Agency both seem to be in the lead with two players each, but no one firm has dominated Arizona basketball over the years.  Other big names seen at many other schools include Williams & Connolly, Lagardere Unlimited, and Excel Sports Management.  Thus, it seems like anybody has a shot at Derrick Williams, who has to be leaving after this year.  As stated last week, BDA Sports, Landmark Sports Agency, and Wasserman Media Group (which is not listed above) are all pushing for the right to rep Williams.  Time will tell who the victor will be.

Agent Selection Scenarios: Arizona Basketball from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

• Rafael Araujo – James McDowell. Currently with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.
• Shawn Bradley – David Falk (FAME)
• Travis Hansen – Rade Filipovich (BDA Sports). Currently playing for BC Khimki in Russia.

Throw Danny Ainge in there, but I am not sure who represented him in his playing days.  Obviously, this is a short list.  And it will likely have only one name added to that list after the 2011 NBA Draft – Jimmer Fredette.  I have been hearing that BDA Sports is pushing hard for Fredette, and may use its connection to the school through Travis Hansen to help secure the absolutely outstanding point guard.

Agent Selection Scenarios: Brigham Young Basketball from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

• Grant Hill – James Tanner (Williams & Connolly)
• Christian Laettner – Lon Babby (Williams & Connolly). Babby is now the President of Basketball Operations for the Phoenix Suns.
• Elton Brand – David Falk (FAME)
• Shane Battier – James Tanner (Williams & Connolly)
• Carlos Boozer – Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency)
• Chris Duhon – Kevin Bradbury (BDA Sports)
• Mike Dunleavy – Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
• Dahntay Jones – Aaron Mintz (Priority Sports)
• Daniel Ewing – Thad Foucher (Wasserman Media Group)
• J.J. Redick - Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
• Shelden Williams - Arn Tellem (Wasserman Media Group)
• Corey Maggette - Rob Pelinka (Landmark Sports Agency)
• Luol Deng – Jason Levien (LSR). Levien became general counsel and assistant GM of the Sacramento Kings and it is likely that Deng has either hired a new agent or is still in the market for one.
• Josh McRoberts - Bob Myers (Wasserman Media Group)

This year, the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft could be coming out of Duke.  Kyrie Irving is projected to be one of the top picks in the Draft.  The talented freshman suffered a toe injury that has kept him out of much of this season.  Other Blue Devils expected to be selected are seniors Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler.  It is assumed that Smith will go ahead of Singler.  If Mason Plumlee decides to leave early, he could be a first rounder.

Looking at the list of Duke players along with their agents, Wasserman Media Group stands out from the pack.  Tellem, Myers, and Foucher do work!  And they also have B.J. Armstrong to assist in recruiting.  If you are not one of the big name agencies, it is doubtful that you have a shot securing a top Blue Devil.  Good luck competing against WMG, BDA, Landmark, FAME, Priority Sports, and Williams & Connolly (who takes more of a “lawyer approach” and charges by the hour up to a certain percentage of the player’s contract).

Agent Selection Scenarios: Duke Basketball from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• Referring to Arn Tellem, Wasserman stated, “I’m fortunate enough to get to call him a good friend” [Casey Wasserman: Why I Want an NFL Franchise in L.A.].
• Teague Egan is back, and he wants to build the next Nike [How A 5-Minute Golf Cart Ride Paved One USC Student's Path To Building The Next Nike].
• Nice rap sheet on the attorney [Sources: Former Ohio State football player tipped Tressel to player investigation].

Baseball

• Not quite as much as Boras Corp. [Legacy Sports Group Brokers Over $300MM].
• Issues may include an international draft, mandatory slotting in the draft, expanded playoffs, increased drug testing, lower luxury tax threshold, eliminating the “super two,” etc. [The ABCs of Baseball’s Next CBA].

Basketball

• It all started with the recruitment of Kevin Walls [How Calipari's Relationship With Worldwide Wes Began].
• Read. Of. The. Week! [Industry Insider: Legendary Agent David Falk [Part 1 / 2]].
• Which means you have to read Part 2 [Industry Insider: Legendary Agent David Falk [Part 2 / 2]].

Sports Agents

• The agent is David Arluck of Arluck Promotions [Athlete, agent share 'little steps' to success (with video)].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (3/11/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

On December 31, 2005, I was a Junior undergrad at the University of Florida.  Today, I am a practicing attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  On December 31, 2005, this website was viewed by a handful of people at a domain name that no longer exists.  According to SiteMeter.com, in the month of July 2010, Sports Agent Blog received over 135,000 page views.

I have always viewed this site as being something owned by the general public.  You wanted agency information, and we provided it broken down by state, sport, and alphabetically.  You wanted an internship database, and today we maintain a growing amount of agency internship information.  So what is next for Sports Agent Blog?  You tell me.

Last year, I looked back at how the site has grown over time.  Give it a read if you have a moment.  This year, let’s look back at the most popular posts of 2010.  If I had to label 2010, I would say that it was the year that the phrase “student-athlete” lost its meaning.  It was marred with scandals of agents providing benefits to college football players.  Was 2010 just the beginning?

#1 – The UNC Football Scandal

July was our biggest month partly because of this particular story.  My friend Joe Schad at ESPN originally broke the story that the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill was under investigation by the NCAA and that agent benefits were a concern.  While Schad found out that Marvin Austin was under investigation, I found that there were actually many others on the team who reportedly received benefits from agents.  At the time, no one had any idea that UNC’s former associate head coach, John Blake, had anything to do with it.  People also had not made the connection that agent Gary Wichard was involved.  Eventually Blake lost his job and Wichard was suspended by the NFLPA.

#2 - South Carolina Up Next?

This story also pushed Sports Agent Blog to the eyes of many new visitors in the month of July.  It was another investigatory piece, but involving North Carolina’s neighbor, South Carolina.  This time, the focus was on Tight End, Weslye Saunders.  Saunders ended up sitting out the 2010 season afterwards.

#3 - UFL Player And Agent Compensation

The United Football League (UFL) has become a destination for many football players who hope to one day make (or return to) an NFL roster.  More and more agents are considering sending their players to the UFL to showcase their talents to NFL scouts.  Recently, however, the UFL was criticized for its steep transfer fee.  This particular post was very popular because it simply laid out player and agent compensation in the UFL and how to become a certified agent.

#4 - Brock Lesnar Update

I have no idea why this post by Zachary Lipari from January 2010 is so popular, but we seem to get a good amount of visits from Google searches for it, so here you go.  Lesnar had diverticulosis, had surgery, and based on a medical miracle, was able to return to the octagon.

#5 - The 2010 NFL Draft Pick/Agent Selection Master List

There has been a lot of agent switching since the 2010 NFL Draft took place, but immediately after all the names were called in New York, I put together this list of players and their agents of record at the time of being selected.  There were a few blanks, but I was able to find agent information for the majority of players taken in the draft.  This remains as a very useful resource for people to find out who to contact to get ahold of a particular player.  Expect this feature to return in 2011.

#6 - NCAA Chomping At The Gators

Another potential scandal, but one that was eventually forgotten.  Someone sent a letter to the University of Florida, which stated that an agent provided $100,000 to Maurkice Pouncey prior to his performance in the Sugar Bowl.  No names ended up surfacing and no punishments were handed out.

#7 - John Blake’s World Could Come Crashing Down

The aforementioned John Blake was found to be one of Gary Wichard’s best friends and a former employee of Wichard’s company, Pro Tect Management.  Blake resigned from UNC and hired multiple lawyers to protect himself.

#8 - What Does Penn State D-I Hockey Mean for College Hockey?

Here is a post by contributor Mitchell Bragg.  He looked at how the college hockey landscape would change with the addition of a nationally recognized athletic program.

#9 - Casey Close To Leaving CAA

It would not be a stretch to say that in 2010, CAA separated itself from the pack of other agencies to become “the best” sports agency in the world.  A big part of the company’s dominance is its baseball division, which has Casey Close as one of its important members.  In March, I had heard that Close may eventually leave CAA and either start up his own practice, or join David Falk at FAME.

#10 - Bacardi deal with NBA will not be waste

Contributor Richard Kimsey analyzed the NBA’s 3-year, 7-figure deal with Bacardi.

2010 – The Year “Student-Athlete” Lost Its Meaning from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Here is a summary of what transpired:

• Falk believes that LeBron took a quick hit on his brand equity.  After watching LeBron’s new Nike spot, I have to think that his brand is already in the rebuilding stage.
• Falk doesn’t think that a basketball player should announce something before it actually happens.  He calls it “a little too modern, a little too social media.”  He would have preferred that LeBron signed with Miami and then had his big press conference about his decision.
• On Worldwide Wes: “early on in his career had a lot more influence than people gave him credit for and now probably doesn’t have as much influence as people give him credit for.”
• Falk really does not like the limitations placed on max contracts.  He thinks it limits what the best players deserve and allows much less talented players to earn more than they are worth.
• Falk does not seem to be a big fan of Isiah Thomas or the fact that the current union is not involving agents much in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Falk’s client Evan Turner is the highest draft pick to ever sign with a Chinese shoe company.
• Falk’s first big shoe deal was with New Balance for James Worthy back in 1982.
• Falk thinks players should stay in school longer.
• He has no desire to grow a big agency, and calls his operation an “ultra-boutique.”

David Falk’s Interview With SLAM Magazine from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Who knows, you might just end up being an NBA General Manager or some other high-level executive within an NBA franchise.  You no longer have to be a former player, scout, or coach to get the high-level NBA job that many people dream of having.

Guys like Rich Cho, Lon Babby, David Kahn, and Jason Levien have changed the game in the NBA executive ranks, and I think the trend of hiring people with legal experience will continue.  And then there is the stat wiz, Daryl Morey, who does not have a legal background, but did graduate from M.I.T. (which has to count for something, right!).  In the future, will we see names like Joel Segal (Hofstra Law School), Tom Condon (Baltimore Law School), Ben Dogra (St. Louis University School of Law), Scott Boras (McGeorge School of Law), David Falk (George Washington University Law School), Arn Tellem (University of Michigan Law School), and Dan Fegan (Yale Law School) enter the mix of candidates for team executive position openings?

Sports Agents With Opportunities In The NBA from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules