With his fighting mentality, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Parise in St. Louis at some point this year. He will continue to develop and could be a candidate for the closer’s role when Ryan Franklin is gone. Whenever Parise makes the majors, few will be as proud as Heitner.

From a no-name company to representing Major League talent, it has been quite a journey thus far for Darren Heitner. And this is only the beginning. He will likely be in this industry for a very long time.

“I love every minute of my work,” Heitner said.

Nick Brockmeyer also started his agency when he was a student.  In his case, he started Platinum Sports & Entertainment Management as a 3L (final year of law school) at St. Louis University School of Law.  In October 2008, Brockmeyer joined forces with Scott Casanover of MAC Sports & Entertainment.  We had interviewed Mr. Casanover as a part of our Interview with the Agent feature.  We also covered the merger on SportsAgentBlog.com.

In this edition of Ask The Expert, which we host in conjunction with AccessAthletes, Nick is very gracious to answer our ten questions, as he just got back from working the busy MLB Winter Meetings.

Questions and Answers

(1) What is the process like when one of your clients gets added to a 40-man roster? Run us through what calls and arrangements you had to make on behalf of Estarlin de los Santos when he was recently added to the 40 man roster by the Minnesota Twins.

This can happen in different ways. I have had it happen where a guy that is not on the 40 gets called up to MLB during the middle of a season and makes the 25 man and 40 man on the same day. I would say this requires a little more work than a guy simply being added to a 40 man during the off-season. Kenneth Powell (an owner and agent at Platinum Sports) handles all of our Latin American clients, so he was the main guy dealing with the Estarlin de los Santos situation. Estarlin’s addition to the 40 was kind of a surprise to us to be honest (a pleasant surprise). We also signed Juan Abreu (minor league free agent with KC Royals) to an MLB contract with the Atlanta Braves that same day. The main things you have to worry about are making sure they fill out their paperwork for pension plan, insurance, 401K, etc. If they get called up in the middle of the season then you have to help them with transitioning into the life of a MLB player in a very short time period (less than 24 hours). This may include travel, lodging, car movers, apartment rentals (on both ends), and of course the agent trying to make it to the player’s MLB debut if possible.

(2) When your minor league clients get discouraged, what sort of things do you tell them to reassure them that they have a chance of making a 40 man roster?

This is a tough one. I am not a coach, counselor, or psychiatrist. However, sometimes being an agent requires you to kind of play that role. You just have to instill positive ideas and thoughts in the player and explain to him that minor league baseball is a long process. I had that situation last month with a couple of guys that we really thought had a good shot at making a 40 did not get that call they were looking for. At that point you just reassure them that maybe they will get picked up in the Rule 5 draft in December. The bad part is that the Rule 5 draft is talked about by all minor league players hoping to someday make it to a MLB roster, but in reality I bet less than 1% of all professional baseball players are ever effected by it. I mainly try to demonstrate to them through examples I have encountered with past players that they can still make it to a 40 and the 25 the following season and tell them stories about clients I represent who went through this before them and eventually made it.

(3) How many minor league players did you have to represent before you had one make a 40-man roster?

When you are starting an agency from scratch like I did you can’t be too picky at first. You realize that many of your first clients will probably never make it to MLB. However, you need some clients in order to sell yourself and your agency to future clients. Trying to get a client and explaining to them that you represent “zero” or “one” client makes for a hard sell. So, I understood that many, if not all, of my initial clients may not ever make it to MLB. I ended up getting kind of lucky though. Of my first five clients I signed back in 2004, 2 have made it to MLB (one of them is going to be starting his 4th year in MLB in 2010). I think I kind of beat the odds on this topic.

(4) Is it possible to make a profit representing minor league players?

I would say no and yes…it depends on if you represented them through the draft and how high they were selected. If you pick up a guy who is just in the minors then the answer would be no. You may make a few dollars off endorsement deals (baseball cards, equipment, etc.) for you and your client, but you can’t take any of his salary (not that there is much to take anyway). If you advise a guy through the draft and then represent him through the minors then you could count that draft money. Kind of a tricky question because I don’t know if you can count the draft money you make as making money on a minor league player for the sake of answering this question.

(5) How do you go about recruiting players to advise for the draft?

We represent players from all over the US, Latin America, Australia, and the Netherlands. When it comes to the draft we have represented guys from coast to coast. Our main strategy is geographically based recruiting. With us being the largest baseball agency in the state of Missouri and very few competitors in bordering states we really focus on the Midwest. There is a lot of baseball talent in the Midwest. We figure if we can beat the other agencies on the Midwest players that they can have their east and west coast players and we will do just fine. We also find that we can relate to the players and their families more in the Midwest. It is easier to go see them more often from a traveling standpoint. Finally, when we get in with many of the Midwest schools it kind of creates a pipeline effect. If we have advised the past five players that came out of College “X” it is very likely we will get the next five players as well out of that same school.

(6) What services do you offer potential advising clients?  What do you offer that other agencies do not provide?

I believe that most agencies are offering the same services for the most part. Having said tha,t a client should pick an agent/advisor based on who they think they could get along with best and do business with. Agencies will phrase their “services” in different ways, but at the end of the day you are usually getting the same services. We offer the following services:

Contract Negotiation
Endorsements
Legal Counsel (4 lawyers on our staff)
Marketing
Equipment Contracts
Draft Preparation
Career Development/Guidance
Salary Arbitration
Financial Planning
Taxes
Personal Training

In addition we buy our player’s equipment for them. I would say the thing that sets us apart is the personal attention our players get from us. We tell players that they can go to a bigger agency, but they may end up being a small fish in a big pond. With Platinum Sports we give each player the personal attention they deserve.

(7) How often do you travel during the season to watch your players perform?  Do you go to Florida and Arizona to check on your players during Spring Training?

The entire company travels to Florida and Arizona for most of the month of March. I always tell people that during the off-season our players are living throughout the world. During the season they could be in any of the fifty states. During March they are all corralled in two states (FL and AZ). During March we get to see every single player in our company. In Arizona we operate out of a centrally located hotel. In Florida we spend 2-3 days in each town and then move to the next town. March involves a great amount of planning for our company. We are orchestrating fifty player meetings in two states with eight agents over a one month period.

During the season we try to see the players as much as we can. We try to make all the all star games we have players in as well as MLB debuts. We see all of our MLB players that come through St. Louis to play the Cardinals. We also go see players if the trip makes sense logistically (example would be two players playing against each other within five hour drive).

(8) Do you have any players playing in the Caribbean Winter Leagues?  How would you rank the leagues and how much involvement do you have in getting your players signed with those clubs?

We do not have any American players playing in Winter Leagues this year. We may be sending a guy down on a short contract next week, but that has not been finalized yet. This is probably the first year we don’t have an American player playing winter ball. We have placed players in the past in Dominican, Venezuela, and Mexico. We are usually very involved with that process for our American players.

On the flip side, we have probably ten of our latin players playing winter ball in their respective countries this year (and every year).

(9) Are you exclusive with a particular offseason trainer?  Do you pay for the cost of sending your players to a trainer?  Explain the process.

We are not exclusive with a particular offseason trainer. We do use Jason Rulo at Pinnacle Personal Performance Training a lot though. Jason is an old college friend of mine that has worked with the Yankees and several MLB players. Some of our players use him if they are based in St. Louis. For our non-St. Louis players Jason still generates workout plans for them if they desire. We have also worked with numerous other trainers throughout the country depending on the player’s needs and location. A big issue is the teams will often send the players home for the offseason with a generic workout for “pitchers”. The problem with this is that not all pitchers should be doing the same workout. Some need to gain weight, some need to lose weight, etc. That is where Jason comes into play. He finds out what the goals of the player are and generates a workout plan specifically for the player and his needs.

(10) Since agents are not able to charge their clients any fee on a minimum salary contract, how do you make money once your clients first make the big leagues?

Simple answer, you don’t! I remember when one of my players reached MLB. I went out to San Diego during his first week in “the bigs”. We were at dinner and he said “I’m glad I can finally start paying you for your work now”. That was in 2007 and I still cannot legally accept payment from him and he has been in MLB 2007, 2008, 2009, and will be again in 2010. You can make money off of them through endorsement contracts you negotiate for them and things along those lines, but the answer to your question is “you don’t!”.

We would like to thank Nick Brockmeyer for participating in this edition of the Ask The Expert Series. If you have any questions for Nick, you can email him at nbrockmeyer@psemagents.com. If you are a sports professional or professional athlete and would like to participate in the Ask The Expert Series, please contact Darren Heitner or Matthew Allinson for more information.

So you want to work in sports?  You’ve put in the days, the months, and the years into getting yourself ready to be a productive member of the sports industry.  You have recently graduated college, maybe even with an industry specific degree in sports management.  In some cases, you even went out and got yourself a fancy post graduate degree and now you are ready to take on the challenge of working in the sports industry.  If this sounds like you and you are currently gainfully employed in the same sports industry you set out to conquer during these ever important early years of your professional career, then consider yourself a lucky member of the minority.  The majority, on the other hand, is the ever expanding group of young sports industry prospects who have a lot to offer, but no one willing to take a chance on them.  I am a part of this majority, and in this case, it is definitely better not to be running with the crowd.

I am 24 years of age, have a bachelor’s degree in sports management, and have held 3 different internship positions since graduating in 2007.  I have interned for a sports and entertainment public relations firm, an up-start NFL agent, and most recently a sports event hospitality company. I believe internships are a great way to learn more about the industry you want to be in, but like anything else, they have their pros and cons.  An obvious pro is that you can learn and gain experience in the industry you have wanted so much to be a part of.  This isn’t as fool proof as one may like; however, since you will find companies who only value their interns as a means to input data and nothing else.  On the other hand, you also may be lucky and work for a company who splits up the boring, tedious work that you are most definitely supposed to be doing at this stage of your career with actual company matters that require creative thoughts and ideas to stimulate your mind and give you the real experience you can use down the line. I have had the opportunity to intern in both types of settings and have a real appreciation for companies who value their internship programs.  But what if you are in the type of situation where your voice isn’t being heard…ever?  Well, that is where you have to make your own luck and figure out a way to do what is necessary to be noticed.

My personal motto for all work situations is to treat everyday like it is an interview. I learned this from the NFL agent I interned with for over a year and I try and do my best to keep that kind of enthusiasm and commitment day in and day out no matter how unglamorous the tedious work for the day might be.  The one thing that every internship has in common is that it is a foot in the door.  Getting that foot in the door is hard enough and you want to make the most out of it because things could suddenly open up, and if you have made yourself an indispensable part of the office and have shown great effort, then you could be in line for a promotion and subsequently a place in the sports industry. An internship also provides you with experience for your resume and can be a great way to make connections and grow your network.

Your network might be your most important asset in the sports industry. I recently spoke with someone who has the job I want at the company I would like to work for, in order to try and gain some perspective and advice.  What I learned from him is that connections trump all. He had worked in the industry for a few years, graduated high in his class and obtained his MBA, but was convinced all of that was peanuts compared to connections he had made, one of which was with his boss that led to him getting his job.  When this person said, “I’m convinced my boss doesn’t ever look at resumes” I rethought my game plan and refocused it on networking and selling myself as a person, because there are countless people out there, some of you included, with more impressive resumes than me and I need to separate myself from the gathering herd of applicants.  You should be doing the same thing.  Sell yourself, get creative and come up with your own game plan to follow.

Don’t get discouraged.  Get hungry.  If this is something you want and you are passionate about it and can afford to maybe work a night job for a few years so you can spend your days working for free towards your goal, then do it.  I personally need to be doing something I’m passionate about to be effective, and I love sports.  I’ve been told to maybe work a job in a different industry and figure it out later, but the time is always now to do what you love and the road isn’t always an easy one.  It is easy to get down on yourself if you, like me, have had a little trouble climbing the corporate ladder, but know that you’re not alone.  In the mean time, keep yourself sharp and try to make yourself stand out, but try not to take any jobs from me!

The entire Q&A segment may be read by clicking here.  Below is one question and answer provided free of charge.

3. In what ways can other sports marketing companies turn their blogs into business opportunities?

Many aspects of the sports industry are closed off to a large segment of the worldwide population.  And unsurprisingly, there are a lot of people hungry for more knowledge about what goes on behind the scenes in the business of sports.  People do not only reserve an interest about sports agents, sports law, and sports business, which are the three areas we cover the most at SportsAgentBlog.com.  Unfortunately, no matter how many Sports Management classes you take in school, you will leave unsatisfied and with a desire to learn more.

Sports marketing companies can benefit from adopting a model based on openness and transparency.  It will allow them greater access to potential innovative interns, spur additional relationships with members of other companies who come across the blog, strengthen the company’s image as a knowledgeable source within its niche, and bounce ideas off of its readers, who end up being the consumers of the produced marketing material.

Dan Leatherman

Leatherman went into the 2009 season with more baggage than most players.  He had just lost his father, who he looked up to as his hero.  He missed a few games in Spring Training because of it, which set him back in the beginning of the year.  However, Dan would not allow his father’s passing set him back for long.  Instead, he dedicated the 2009 season to his father, and pitched his heart out to make it to the next level by season’s close.

Recently, Dan was interviewed by a site that I actually Co-Founded, AccessAthletes.

In the introduction to the interview, Dan received amazing praise, which I re-post below,

Today in sports, a Dan Leatherman is rare.  We often see professional athletes with egos the size of the stadiums in which they play in.  Leatherman has none of that.  None.  He might be what you would call a “blue collar” athlete.  He is thankful for both his career and his family, and promises that in the future he will give back to baseball, as it has afforded him so much joy and success.  We also know that Dan Leatherman has made a bond with baseball and that’s where his heart will always be.  Whether his dream of making a major league roster comes true or not, one thing is for certain—he’s no longer just pitching for himself, but for his late father, friend, and coach too.

Go ahead and read the entire interview at AccessAthletes.  Everyone at Dynasty is excited to see what Dan will do for the Nationals next year, as he will begin the 2010 not far beyond the MLB squad’s reach.

Nik Lubisich

Nik earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and was a two-time Northwest Conference player of the year in Baseball and an All-Conference pick in both baseball and basketball.

Nik and his team have found a niche in the Northwest, representing some of the top young talent in the last few drafts.  It was a pleasure interviewing Nik for this site.  The transcript is below.

Darren Heitner: What made you want to become a baseball agent?

Nik Lubisich: I became a baseball agent because I wanted to stay in the game in some facet after my playing career ended. I liked the idea of working with kids that are chasing something that I once did. I understand the value of a good agent having had two while I played and being your own boss isn’t a bad thing either!

Darren Heitner: What kind of competition exists in the Pacific Northwest, where your company is located?  Do you strictly recruit in that area?  Are you looking to expand to cover more ground?

Nik Lubisich: There is some competition here in the Northwest, mainly from other agencies located outside of the Northwest. Many send “runners” up here to try and lure them away from the Northwest. In Oregon, there isn’t much competition, but up in Seattle there are several agents working out of that city.  I do tend to stay and recruit strictly in the Northwest.  I may expand over time but enjoy working from the ground up.

Darren Heitner: How long have you been in the sports agent industry?  What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Nik Lubisich: I have been in the industry since the winter of 2007.  I think the most valuable lesson I have learned is the most simplist: Treat people how you want to be treated. I have been in the other side of my business and I remember getting frustrated when I never heard from my agent or he didn’t follow through on what he said. In this business, you better back up what you say or you will lose your clients.

Darren Heitner: Tell us a little bit about the first client you signed. And what about the most recent player that has become a client?

Nik Lubisich: The first client I signed was Ehren Wassermann with the Chicago White Sox. It was a little strenuous in that he was represented by another firm. At the time, the “boat” wasn’t “rocking” so to speak, but he saw the potential and opportunity that lied ahead for him with my firm. The most recent would be the kids from our past draft class. Darrell Ceciliani is a good one in that he was drafted in the 4th round by the Mets and it has been fun watching him grow and play through his first year of rookie ball. He was the #2 player taken out of the Northwest and has the potential to be an outstanding baseball player. He is often compared to Jacoby Ellsbury as they coincidentally reside from the same town of Madras, OR.

Darren Heitner: With Spring Training and many Major League teams and their Minor league affiliates being far away from your office, how tough is it to meet with your clients face-to-face throughout the year?

Nik Lubisich: As many people will tell you, if you want to stay sane living in the Northwest, you better travel to the sun as often as possible! Several of my clients played in the Northwest league this summer so it was easy for me to get around and watch them play. The others, I had to hop a flight back East and catch them there. Spring Training isn’t too far away and I usually live in Phoenix for 6 weeks with past players and coaches that I know, as well as scouting new talent at the college tournaments, and seeing my clients.

Darren Heitner: How does spending 6 years in the Minors with the White Sox help you run your business?

Nik Lubisich: I think it serves as a tremendous advantage in that I know what kind of a road it is to be in the minors. And I don’t care what people say, it isn’t an easy road or as glamorous as people think. You have to be strong willed to get through it and have a lot of luck on your side. It is comforting to many families that they know I have been where their sons are going.

Darren Heitner: Do you represent any of your former teammates?

Nik Lubisich: I represent Ehren Wassermann. I have played with some very big stars in the majors but feel it inappropriate to chase them down and ask them to sign with me. If they reach out to me and need help, I am always there for them, but I don’t want them to feel like I am using our friendship and connections as a benefit. Ehren took a leap of faith with me because we were best friends while playing and I know he trusted everything I said I would do. He is happy to be with us and we are fortunate to have him as a client.

Darren Heitner: Can you tell us a little bit about some of the unique marketing deals you have been able to secure for your clients?

Nik Lubisich: I think the major marketing deals that we have rest in our sports camps. In the Northwest, it is important to me that our clients give back to their roots. We set up a business calld Future Stars Sports Camps (www.futurestarssportscamps) where kids can meet our clients and learn from their instruction through various camps and events. Each one of my cleints will have a camp in their name, in their hometown during the off-season. We handle the promoting of it and set up all the logistics. Proceeds from the camp are donated back to the hometown communities in the name of our client. They seem to like the camps and it is truly a win-win for everybody.

Darren Heitner: Anything else you would like to add?

Nik Lubisich: I think that about sums it up. Let me know if you have anything further for me. Thanks Darren.

Nik Lubisich

Nik earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and was a two-time Northwest Conference player of the year in Baseball and an All-Conference pick in both baseball and basketball.

Nik and his team have found a niche in the Northwest, representing some of the top young talent in the last few drafts.  It was a pleasure interviewing Nik for this site.  The transcript is below.

Darren Heitner: What made you want to become a baseball agent?

Nik Lubisich: I became a baseball agent because I wanted to stay in the game in some facet after my playing career ended. I liked the idea of working with kids that are chasing something that I once did. I understand the value of a good agent having had two while I played and being your own boss isn’t a bad thing either!

Darren Heitner: What kind of competition exists in the Pacific Northwest, where your company is located?  Do you strictly recruit in that area?  Are you looking to expand to cover more ground?

Nik Lubisich: There is some competition here in the Northwest, mainly from other agencies located outside of the Northwest. Many send “runners” up here to try and lure them away from the Northwest. In Oregon, there isn’t much competition, but up in Seattle there are several agents working out of that city.  I do tend to stay and recruit strictly in the Northwest.  I may expand over time but enjoy working from the ground up.

Darren Heitner: How long have you been in the sports agent industry?  What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Nik Lubisich: I have been in the industry since the winter of 2007.  I think the most valuable lesson I have learned is the most simplist: Treat people how you want to be treated. I have been in the other side of my business and I remember getting frustrated when I never heard from my agent or he didn’t follow through on what he said. In this business, you better back up what you say or you will lose your clients.

Darren Heitner: Tell us a little bit about the first client you signed. And what about the most recent player that has become a client?

Nik Lubisich: The first client I signed was Ehren Wassermann with the Chicago White Sox. It was a little strenuous in that he was represented by another firm. At the time, the “boat” wasn’t “rocking” so to speak, but he saw the potential and opportunity that lied ahead for him with my firm. The most recent would be the kids from our past draft class. Darrell Ceciliani is a good one in that he was drafted in the 4th round by the Mets and it has been fun watching him grow and play through his first year of rookie ball. He was the #2 player taken out of the Northwest and has the potential to be an outstanding baseball player. He is often compared to Jacoby Ellsbury as they coincidentally reside from the same town of Madras, OR.

Darren Heitner: With Spring Training and many Major League teams and their Minor league affiliates being far away from your office, how tough is it to meet with your clients face-to-face throughout the year?

Nik Lubisich: As many people will tell you, if you want to stay sane living in the Northwest, you better travel to the sun as often as possible! Several of my clients played in the Northwest league this summer so it was easy for me to get around and watch them play. The others, I had to hop a flight back East and catch them there. Spring Training isn’t too far away and I usually live in Phoenix for 6 weeks with past players and coaches that I know, as well as scouting new talent at the college tournaments, and seeing my clients.

Darren Heitner: How does spending 6 years in the Minors with the White Sox help you run your business?

Nik Lubisich: I think it serves as a tremendous advantage in that I know what kind of a road it is to be in the minors. And I don’t care what people say, it isn’t an easy road or as glamorous as people think. You have to be strong willed to get through it and have a lot of luck on your side. It is comforting to many families that they know I have been where their sons are going.

Darren Heitner: Do you represent any of your former teammates?

Nik Lubisich: I represent Ehren Wassermann. I have played with some very big stars in the majors but feel it inappropriate to chase them down and ask them to sign with me. If they reach out to me and need help, I am always there for them, but I don’t want them to feel like I am using our friendship and connections as a benefit. Ehren took a leap of faith with me because we were best friends while playing and I know he trusted everything I said I would do. He is happy to be with us and we are fortunate to have him as a client.

Darren Heitner: Can you tell us a little bit about some of the unique marketing deals you have been able to secure for your clients?

Nik Lubisich: I think the major marketing deals that we have rest in our sports camps. In the Northwest, it is important to me that our clients give back to their roots. We set up a business calld Future Stars Sports Camps (www.futurestarssportscamps) where kids can meet our clients and learn from their instruction through various camps and events. Each one of my cleints will have a camp in their name, in their hometown during the off-season. We handle the promoting of it and set up all the logistics. Proceeds from the camp are donated back to the hometown communities in the name of our client. They seem to like the camps and it is truly a win-win for everybody.

Darren Heitner: Anything else you would like to add?

Nik Lubisich: I think that about sums it up. Let me know if you have anything further for me. Thanks Darren.

In To Pitch in Puerto Rico, Walton notes that Pete will be playing for Ponce in Puerto Rico this Winter, one year after he played Winter Ball in Columbia.

The main article is Pitcher Parise Ponders Pending PCL Playoffs.  Yes, a lot of P’s.  The very first fact that Walton provides is definitely interesting:

Memphis relief pitcher Pete Parise has the opportunity to earn his first title at his seventh professional baseball stop over the last three years.

The article then links to a 10 minute interview clip between Parise and Walton.  In the clip, the gentlemen discuss the Memphis Redbirds pennant drive, Parise’s repertoire, his changing role in the organization, and much more.  Here’s a link that takes you directly to the interview.

Darren Heitner: You are coming close to 20 years of negotiating deals for NFL players. Which period in that long term was your most enjoyable, and why?

Jack Bechta: Probably 1993 through 1998. In ‘93 I had a 2nd-rounder (OL Todd Rucci), a 3rd-rounder (OL Earl Dotson), and a UFA (CB Curtis Buckley) who all went on to be very successful. That was my breakout year, and the next several years were fun because I had the business somewhat figured out. Rucci became a very close friend, and in that period I signed guys like Tim Dwight, Adam Treu and Todd Washington, all of which I grew very close to because my clientele was still small. A few of these guys would live with me in the off-season, and we would travel together to places like Tahoe, Australia and Mexico. Good times!

Darren Heitner: You have negotiated over 200 NFL Contracts. Which one or two were the most creative deals, what were the creative terms, and how did you go about placing those terms into the contract?

Jack Bechta: For Todd Rucci in 1993, he was one of the first players ever to have a voidable clause in his contract under the new CBA. Also, I once had a weight clause in Dotson’s contract. If he reported under 320, he would get $100k bonus. We used it to make a make up a gap. I told Earl the number was 315, so he made it every time.

Darren Heitner: You are one of the brave few agents who has the courage and time management skills to represent talent and blog about it. How do you manage the load?

Jack Bechta: It’s pretty easy, actually. I try to keep my blogs to about 500 words, and I just write about current events and things I know well once or twice a week. Writing has actually made me a better agent, because I now pay attention to every single piece of information in the blogosphere and on our site. I am more informed than I ever have been. I also like educating young people, players and parents on the inner workings of the industry. A lot of agents try to make this business mystical, and I try to demystify it and make it more professional.

Darren Heitner: What benefits do you and your clients get from your regular postings at NationalFootballPost.com?

Jack Bechta: I won’t use NFP as a tool to help myself or my clients. However, they will benefit by getting some national exposure when I write about them.

Darren Heitner: You played college football. How has that helped you relate to clients? Has it helped you in your representation of athletes?

Jack Bechta: I understand what it’s like to go to camp, stay in shape, get hurt, get concussions, get a job, lose a job and be a rookie and a vet. A coach once told me there are football players, and there is the rest of the world. I feel I am in a unique fraternity. Although I played at small Texas A&M, we were big on football pedigree. We had 3 to 5 guys go pro the years I was there, including Hall of Famer Darrell Green. Gene Upshaw was an alum and visited a few times. Basically, it helps me tremendously. I can talk the language, and I am never starstruck.

Darren Heitner: How bad is client stealing amongst NFLPA certified agents? What can be done to curb the practice of client stealing?

Jack Bechta: It’s pretty bad. When a good player nears the doorstep of free agency, the wolves start to circle. So far the NFLPA has done very little to stop it. The problem is they need the player to turn in the wolf, and they won’t do it. I wrote a little bit about a client of mine who was approached by another agent in one of my NFP articles.

Darren Heitner: What’s your beef with Leigh Steinberg all about?

Jack Bechta: I don’t have a beef with Leigh. I actually respect him as a marketer, as he was the first agent to play to the media. However, I have little respect for the latter part of his career because I know some things that are downright disgusting relating to his behavior as a person and an agent. To this date I believe the rookie deal he did for Bledsoe in 1993 exponentially set the stage for rookie contracts today. Unfortunately, i know too much. I am rooting for him, though, to over come his addiction problems, especially since my father was an alcoholic. He’s a pioneer, and I wish him well, but I also tell it like it is.

Darren Heitner: How many years were you in this business before you started earning a profit? What kind of expenses go into being an agent?

Jack Bechta: It took me about 5 years to become a full-time agent. But things were different then. We didn’t have to pay for training, room and board, so my business has always been profitable. A beginning agent will need about $100k to get started.

Darren Heitner: I could not help but notice that you list your high school G.P.A. and class rank on your company website. What’s that all about?

Jack Bechta: I’m not sure, actually. I like to let people know what part of the country I am from. I treat my website like a resume, and college football players are only 4 or 5 years removed from high school, so they can relate. You can never give too much info about yourself – people want to know who you are.

Darren Heitner: What advice would you give to those in their early twenties who want to break into this industry?

Jack Bechta: The #1 rule is: Don’t be naive. This is the most competitive business on the planet. If you want to hear more of my thoughts on this topic, I’ve actually written quite a few posts over at NFP. “Cracking the Agent Business”, “Two Paths to Becoming an Agent”, and “Becoming an Agent Part Two”.

Darren Heitner: Anything else you would like to add for our readers?

Jack Bechta: The sports world can always use more hard working professionals who have the best interest of the players in mind!