Football

• Titled, The Players All-Star Classic [New College Football All-Star Game comes to Little Rock].
• Agent that was a subject of ESPN’s “The Dotted Line” comes out with a mobile app [ETL's Play on Sunday].
• Great for integrating mobile app and social game licensing [NFL Players, Inc. Partners with Playmark to Launch New Licensing Platform].
• As long as the owners believe in the UFL product.. [UFL says it will return in 2012].
• Big day today for Blake as he appears before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions [An inside look at case against former UNC assistant John Blake].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (10/28/11) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Baseball

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have spent the most money (by far) on draft bonuses in the past 4 years [MLB Attempts Aren't Slowing Draft Spending].
• New job description: matchmaker [Phillies star seeks mermaid].

NCAA Rules/Regulations

• My friend Warren Zola looks at the issues surrounding Andre Drummond going to play at the University of Connecticut [UConn: NCAA Rules (Still) Don't Apply to Us].

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

Hockey

• Unlike baseball, hockey’s system isn’t final offer arbitration [Why Shea Weber’s arbitration win was good for hockey].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (8/19/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Darren Heitner: You were a partner in two other sports agencies before starting your own, Norton Sports Management (NSM). What agencies? Who did you work with? Who were some of your clients?

Scott Norton: I began in the business by working with Buddy Meyers at Sunset Coast Sports Management (SCSM) where we repped some NHL players including Igor Kravtchouk as an NHL All-Star and Olympian, as well as Alexei Morozov. I then was a partner in GAME Hockey for a few years.

Darren Heitner: What made you decide to start your own agency? What are the positives and negatives of setting up your own shop as opposed to working for an established agency?

Scott Norton: I originally bought Buddy Meyers out from SCSM when he decided to leave the business and focus on his partnership in the Chicago Wolves. Ever since then I have always enjoyed the freedom of being my own boss. I am very concerned about my morals and reputation, and that is not always the case in this business.

Darren Heitner: What were some of your biggest challenges when you started NSM?

Scott Norton: The biggest challenges have mainly been getting the company name out there and well recognized. Finding the right people to fill out my staff has also been a major point which has had to be addressed properly.

Darren Heitner: What is your family’s involvement with the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox? With a tie to basketball and baseball, you chose to represent hockey players. Explain that one!

Scott Norton: My father owns a piece of the White Sox, and my mother owns a piece of the White Sox and the Bulls. It has been something that I have been blessed with since I was a teenager, and allowed me to learn a lot about the business of sports. I chose to represent hockey players because 1. I was a hockey player so I think I understand my clients the best and 2. I wanted to stay away from baseball and basketball so that I could make a name for myself.

Darren Heitner: Do you place any hockey players overseas? Can you describe how the placing of players and negotiation of their contracts is different overseas?

Scott Norton: Yes, amongst others, I represent Kevin Dallman who is known to be the most successful North American to play in the KHL. I have partnered with an agency which assists me in this process. The placement is difficult because many times the teams have not actually seen the players so they are going off of referrals and/statistics. The negotiations are not a lot different other than the language barriers which can cause some issues.

Darren Heitner: I love to see that you are extremely charitable and that you have leveraged Twitter to increase your charitable efforts. Tell me about “Make My Day Mondays” (MMDM).

Scott Norton: Make My Day Mondays is a charity movement which I began 11 months ago on Twitter. It is the 1st ever Twitter-driven charity, and has now branched out to Facebook as well as live events. With the assistance of many of my clients, MMDM is about giving back and helping others. Each and every Monday the hope is that every person will do some random act of kindness to make ourselves feel good, whether its donating to a charity, helping a homeless person or carrying a woman’s groceries. If the person has social media accounts, they are to then post their act of kindness on Twitter or Facebook so that others can follow. It has been a great success, and something myself and clients are all very proud of since it started at the grassroots of our family.

Darren Heitner: Other than MMDM, how have you used social media to benefit you, your company, and your clients? How involved are you with your clients’ social media presence?

Scott Norton: Social Media, and Twitter especially, has been a huge benefit to all of the above. I have made many business and media contacts thru Twitter. Some of my clients’ endorsement deals have begun through my reaching out via SM.

With regards to my clients, I attempt to be very involved with their use of SM. I encourage all of my clients to use SM and show their personalities to the fans. I also try to educate them on the do’s and dont’s when using SM.

Darren Heitner: Who has the best Twitter account and why – you or Allan Walsh of Octagon?

Scott Norton: I hope you are not asking this question in a serious tone. I dont need to be a self-promoting, pompous ____. Octagon is a very successful company and I am sure that Allan is a big part of that, but I do not believe that Twitter or any other public forum is the place for conflicts between player and team.

Darren Heitner: Do you have a specific strategy with regards to recruiting new clients? Do you continue to work on behalf of clients after their retirement from professional hockey?

Scott Norton:Not really a specific strategy, I would say more a certain target for recruiting. For example – after I moved to Southern California, I began recruiting more local players, and that has lead me to working more in the WHL.

I have strong relationships with many of my retired clients, and attempt to assist them in many facets of their lives after retirement.

Darren Heitner: What suggestions would you give to people who aspire to be hockey agents?

Scott Norton: Dont do it! It’s competitve enough. But, seriously – education and experience are the two most important aspects. Schooling is great, but if you dont get out there and work, it will only take you so far.

Darren Heitner: Do you currently offer any internships?

Scott Norton: I do. I currently have one intern helping me, and I am open to others as well. Now that I have branched out into other sports including tennis and golf, I have more work to be done, and many more facets of marketing, so I appreciate the assistance and am happy to help hard working, motivated students who want to learn.

Interview With The Agent: Scott Norton from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

It turns out that Reynolds’ statements have not only put him in the doghouse with regards to homosexuals, but also at least one of his now former clients.  Yesterday, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Andrew Brunette fired Reynolds and Uptown Sports Management due to the whole Avery fiasco.  Brunette his hired Don Baizley, an attorney at Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, as his new agent.

Brunette signed a 3-year, $7 million deal with the Minnesota Wild in 2008.  As Russo notes in his Tweet, Brunette is a potential free agent.  Rough time for an agent to lose his millionaire client.

On To The Next One: Andrew Brunette from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Very sad to read Sean Avery's misguided support of same-gender "marriage". Legal or not, it will always be wrong.

May 9, 2011 3:38 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@uptownhockey

Uptown Sports

To clarify. This is not hatred or bigotry towards gays. It is not intolerance in any way shape or form. I believe we are all equal...

May 9, 2011 5:22 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@uptownhockey

Uptown Sports

But I believe in the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. This is my personal viewpoint. I Do not hate anyone.

May 9, 2011 5:26 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite

@uptownhockey

Uptown Sports

Usually we cover athletes using social media for wrong reasons.  This time it is an agency Tweeting without care about how those Tweets will affect its brand.  Realize that Reynolds’ Tweets do not only affect his reputation, but that of his company and his clients.  Others may be less inclined to work with a company that Tweets such statements.  Competitors of Uptown Sports may use such Tweets against the agency in future recruiting battles.

Reynolds’ Tweets were made in response to the following video:

Todd Reynolds Will Not Be Representing Any Homosexual Hockey Players from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Easter has passed, Mother’s day is almost here, and the sun is finally starting to shine. These traits are definitely characteristics of the end of a hockey season. This year has been a one-of-a-kind for us at VSM Hockey. Plenty of things have happened, good and bad, but all of them were necessary in order to allow us to grow, evolve, and to eventually reach our own goals.

These last couple of weeks have been all about touching base with scouts and teams about next season, preparing off-season planning for our guys and meeting up with them in order to recap the last season.

One of our junior players is gaining interest from NHL teams. I had a real productive discussion with an NHL scout about him, and he confirmed that they are very interested in drafting him. He now has 3 teams interested in either drafting or inviting him, so things are extremely positive!

Our pro’ goalie just arrived home, so I had the chance to go and grab a meal with him. We discussed his last season and planned for the upcoming season. All in all, we are very satisfied with the year he had and expect him to continue to progress tremendously. I truly believe that we will see him in the NHL in a couple of years. He possesses a mental attitude and strength that very few can even comprehend.

Great news for our midget player; he has been listed as a first rounder for the upcoming QMJHL draft. He had a strong season as he played in the Canada Games and at only 15 was the pillar on defence for his midget team. Our job will be to get him ready to make the jump up to Juniors as quickly as possible.

So for now, it’s telephone and gym time!

Aiming For The Top! – Episode 12: The End of Another Season from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

• Mike Danton considered his agent, David Frost, as a father figure.
• Danton was placed in jail for hiring a hitman to kill David Frost.
• Frost was charged with 12 counts of sexual exploitation.
• Frost was arrested for using Mike Danton’s credit card to pay a gas bill.
• Frost was told to stay away from the Phoenix Coyotes training camp and Adam Keefe, who’s brother was once represented by Frost.
• Danton’s attorney was charged with unauthorized practice of law.
• Frost was cleared of  the sexual exploitation charges.
• Prison officials described Danton as a “model inmate” and “an incredible asset.”

Then Danton was granted full parole and claimed that he never actually hired the hitman to kill Frost, but instead wanted the hired assassin to kill his father.  And Frost…he changed his name to Jim McCauley.

ESPN to the rescue.  This Tuesday, May 3 (7 p.m. EST) ESPN E:60 will present “The Mike Danton Story.”  It will include an interview with David Frost (let’s stick with that name instead of McCauley).  This is the first time that Frost has been interviewed by the media about this story in 7 years.

ESPN E:60 Will Focus On Mike Danton’s Strange Relationship With David Frost from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Life is about ups and downs. If life was always easy, how would one appreciate anything? How would one grow and evolve? It is through difficult situations that a person can assimilate the new environment and demands, then adapt and become better and stronger.

The last 2 weeks have been all about ups and downs at VSM Hockey. From health and family problems, to injuries, to conflicts, VSM has seen it all!

A couple of weeks ago, our pro’ goalie was on fire! He had the pole position with his new ECHL team and was dominating. Winning his first 4 games, he then fell from his high, losing the fifth. Things went down from there: pulled groin in practice the next morning. This annoying little injury would prevent him from playing the next 5 games. He had worked hard all season in order to get a shot at #1 with the ECHL team, and just after finally earning it, injury strikes! That’s the way she blows mate, as many fisherman would say.

I feel that the constant communication between he and I is truly a key factor. Having guided him through the last 3 years of his career, I understand how he feels in certain situations and how he reacts. I spent most of my time on the phone with him trying to guide him in the right direction. The important thing for him was to see this situation in a positive light, even though his first reflex was to think disaster. Life is all about perceptions. Instead of seeing this as a deception and negative, I tried to bring him to see it as an opportunity. A chance to work on making sure his body is full of energy for the playoffs, a chance to learn more about the way his team plays and a chance to become even stronger mentally.

Man, this kid is a beast! He can certainly get down on himself, but he picks himself up so fast and gets back to what he needs to do, it is truly impressive. So, as the story goes, he comes back from injury and wins a big game. Life is what you make it!

So back to ups and downs. This year is a very trying year for VSM, as we have let go many players and business partners. From the outside, this might look negative to certain people, but sometimes it is a due process. One thing that has been very pleasant is to be able to give more attention to players who truly deserve it. Bigger is not always better, so for all of you young and aspiring agents, do not worry about the number of players that you represent, make sure that you simply represent a few and that you give them your 100%!

Until next time.

Aiming For The Top! – Episode 11: Ups and Downs from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The newest college hockey league will initially be composed of six of the current Big 10 members, including Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin.  None of the schools left out, including Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Northwestern, currently have D-I hockey teams.  Theoretically this means that the door could now be opened for five new teams to enter the D-I ranks.  Considering that each of the schools without hockey teams currently have either, or in some cases both, a competitive D-I football team or D-I basketball team, and that these programs generally end up “funding” less prominent hockey programs, it is not unreasonable to think these schools could add a sheet of ice to their athletic facilities.  Even in a tight economy, technically it wouldn’t be that hard for a school to come up with the roughly $5 million it takes to fund a complete D-I hockey program for a year.

What does this mean for college hockey as a whole?

A Big 10 hockey league could spell trouble for other NCAA hockey leagues, as several of them will be cherry-picked to create the new league.  For example, the WCHA would lose Wisconsin and Minnesota.  However, the CCHA could be dealt the biggest blow as Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State would all be departing to join the new league.  Certainly none of these leagues would necessarily want competitive teams to leave, but both will still have enough teams left to sustain a decent schedule with both leagues having more than eight teams left after the various teams leave.

On the other hand, a Big 10 hockey league would almost surely be one of the  most competitive on the market.  While this year seems to be down year in the national polls for the future Big 10 teams, as only two of the five teams currently in existence are in the top 25, many of these schools are perennial powerhouses in college hockey.  Collectively the teams will have won 23 NCAA men’s championships, including Michigan with 9 (tops in the NCAA), Michigan State with 3, Minnesota with 5, and Wisconsin with 6.  When it comes to recruiting, there is no doubt the success of the league will play a role in a player’s decision to attend one of these schools.

What are your thoughts?  Will Big 10 hockey be more competitive than any other league in college hockey?

Big 10 Hockey, Here We Come from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules