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Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (2/10/2012)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:17:39 +0000

This Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up is coming to you from the New Orleans Airport. I will be back in Miami in approximately 2 hours. Just wrapped up another great time in NOLA where I was fortunate to judge Tulane’s Baseball Arbitration Competition for the second straight year. It was also my birthday yesterday, which always makes for an interesting time in New Orleans. Anyway, here are some stories I missed over the past week. Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday.

Football

The union would never sign such a waiver on behalf of its players [Players would fight NFL’s concussion lawsuit waiver; league denies plan].
Eugene Lee (a subject of The Dotted Line) had a client start in the Super Bowl [Show me the (Super Bowl) money!].
Must have been odd for a town to host a Super Bowl without Leigh’s annual event [Leigh Steinberg's demons].
Drug charges in Alabama connected to an August rape complaint…oy [Jeff Rubin, troubled advisor to Terrell Owens, faces drug charges and lawsuits].

Baseball

I assume a raise is in order [Nationals media relations manager Bill Gluvna leaves for Boras Corporation].

Basketball

Pierce’s agent, Jeff Schwartz, was a part of the discussion ['We're all in it together': Paul Pierce discusses the business of basketball].

Social Media

I would be the first to support this in Florida [Maryland Bill Addresses College Athletes’ Social Media Privacy].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (2/10/2012) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (2/3/2011)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:16 +0000

It was not easy for me to write and publish “My Jerry Maguire-esque Moment?“, but it felt damn good and I am so very appreciative of the comments on the post, the emails I have received, and the tweets sent in my direction in response. All of your support means a lot to me. I hope that I live up to all of your expectations. At the end of next week, I will be in New Orleans serving as an arbitrator at The 5th Annual National Baseball Arbitration Competition. Professor Gabe Feldman and his students put on a tremendous event, and I am always honored when I receive the invitation to participate. My birthday is next Thursday. Turning 27-years-young. Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

Baseball

How Matt Sosnick and Paul Cobbe built a very influential baseball agency [Bay Area buddies find success with baseball agency].
He dropped Creative Artists Agency last year [Zack Greinke still agentless, yet open to extension].
Wait, he is human? [So, what to make of Scott Boras’ winter?].

Football

The first executive M.B.A. for professional athletes [New Playbook for Post-Career Success].
Uncle Luke isn’t happy with Rosenhaus getting rich off the African-American community [Superagent Drew Rosenhaus should give back to Miami's black communities].
JR Rickert – agent of Hakeem Nicks and high school principal [Sports agent's work labor of love].

Hockey

6,400 words seems like an awful lot of type [Prominent NHL player agent gets in blog war…with blogger].

Sports Law

Is it unconscionable or contrary to public policy? [Is the National Letter of Intent Legally Enforceable?]

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (2/3/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (1/27/2012)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:15 +0000

Can you believe that we are already almost one month through 2012? This past Saturday, I started up a brand new website strictly dedicated to covering the world of Sports Law. It is called Sport-In-Law. Check it out and let me know what you think. I am looking forward to serving as an arbitrator again at Tulane’s National Baseball Arbitration Competition. Unfortunately, I have to leave early that Friday, so I will not be able to moderate one of their fantastic panels. I am also excited to be speaking at the Sports Lawyers Association Annual Conference in May. It will be held in San Diego, California. I will be speaking alongside Donald Remy, new NCAA general counsel, on a panel titled, “Hot Topics in NCAA Legal Issues: Agents and Amateurism.” Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

Baseball

Mind the gap [David Ortiz expects arbitration hearing, not settlement, with Red Sox].
Baseball agency and marketing agency join forces [Legacy Sport Group and The Agency Sports Management Merge to Form The Legacy Agency].
Still a possibility that Arn Tellem leaves the agent biz [Sorting through potential Dodgers bidders].
Boras wins with his patient approach [Tigers offer 'lifeboat' to Prince Fielder].

Football

Not convinced that this will open the door for a wave of less experienced agents [Did Andrew Luck just change the agent business?].

Sports Law

“The agent epidemic isn’t abating and no university with premier players is immune” [Refereeing sports agents].

Sports Business

Let’s see if some of our content gets rolled into the USA TODAY network [USA TODAY Sports Media Group Acquires Big Lead Sports Digital Property and Fantasy Sports Ventures].
Read of the week regarding IMG Worldwide and Teddy Forstmann [Machiavelli and Mogul].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (1/27/2012) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (1/6/2012)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:00:31 +0000

Welcome to 2012! I hope all of you are still sticking to your New Years resolutions. My personal resolutions are to stop biting my nails, stop cracking my knuckles, smile more often, and cut out some red meat from my diet. Huge news yesterday with the announcement of Lagardère Unlimited acquiring Gaylord Sports Management Group. It is certainly signing season in football. I probably hear of roughly 10 new player/agent signings per day. I do not cover all of the signings on Sports Agent Blog, though. Follow me on Twitter to receive some of the signings information that does not get posted on this site. And make sure to check out the exciting new MSBA program that Ben Sturner and co. have put together! Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

Baseball

Scott Boras loves creating books [After hearing Garza price, Yankees eye E-Jax].
Magic Johnson, Peter O’Malley, Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, Fred Claire, Arn Tellem, Dennis Gilbert, Mark Cuban… [Torre brings credibility to Dodger ownership bid].

Football

Usually 40-45 underclassmen get invited [Q & A on NFL Scouting Combine invites].
Nick Saban and Les Miles will make a cool $200,000 bonus each just for having their teams play in the national championship game [From the Sideline to the Bottom Line].

Basketball

Jeanne McNulty (now Jeanne King) has been mostly representing female basketball players overseas for the past 15 years [Work as agent keeps McNulty in the game].

Sports Law

Show me the the “highly sensitive” ESPN and BCS agreements [Ex-players seek ESPN, BCS contracts from SEC].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (1/6/2012) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (12/30/2011)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:59 +0000

I am back from Barcelona and Israel! It was a fantastic trip full of sightseeing, eating unbelievable food, and relaxing with my girlfriend and her family overseas. However, I must admit that it is nice to be back around my friends and family. You know you are doing what you love when you do not mind getting back to work. My Miami Heat are off to a great 3-0 start! I will be attending the home game on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. Sports Agent Blog will be turning 6 years old tomorrow. A site that began on December 31, 2005 as a New Years Resolution to “force myself” to stay on top of the happenings in the sports agent industry has become quite the successful venture. Thanks to each and every one of you reading this post and thousands of other posts that have been written over the many years. Your continued support will keep a smile on my face. Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

Baseball

If he wins the bidding war, he could take Arn Tellem out of the agent biz [Hedge-fund executive Steven Cohen is bidding for the Dodgers].
Scott Boras is making his pitch for 39-year-old Jason Varitek [Red Sox can often be late risers in roster moves].

Football

Peter Schaffer’s new firm [JR Announces Official Deal with Authentic Athletix].
Leigh Steinberg reportedly owes a lot of money to various entities [Real-Life ‘Jerry Maguire’ Facing Jail Over Debts?].
Maybe Steinberg doesn’t think the general public should be concerned with his issue, but it is certainly a noteworthy subject for this site’s readers [Legendary Agent Leigh Steinberg Responds To Unpaid Debt Charges].
Hard to believe that Jason Babin only has $5.5 million guaranteed on his 5-year contract [Making a list: best and worst of 2011 contracts].
More than a dozen lawsuits have been filed since July 2011 [For N.F.L., Concussion Suits May Be Test for Sport Itself].

Basketball

Arn Tellem and Dan Fegan listed in the “supporting cast” [What Really Happened In The Chris Paul Fiasco].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (12/30/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (12/16/2011)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:00:02 +0000

Shabbat Shalom! In a few days, I will be saying shalom with more regularity, as I will be traveling in Israel. But first, I will be in Barcelona for a couple of days. I leave later today for the trip, which will keep me out of the United States until December 25. This is my first time going to Barcelona and my third time venturing to Israel. I doubt I have much access to internet and I have not yet tested out the WordPress app on my iPad 2, so I am not sure whether I will be posting at all between today and Christmas Day. If you do not hear from me ahead of time, I hope all of you have extremely Happy Holidays. And let’s go Heat! Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

College Sports

Looking more and more like a private cartel [97 schools sign petition against stipend].
He has created the “Congressional Collegiate Sports Caucus” [Rep. Joe Barton, noted BCS hater, ups his push for a college football playoff].
1.2% of NCAA basketball players make it to the pros [Estimated Probability of Competing in Athletics Beyond the High School Interscholastic Level].

Football

On Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc. [Embrace Your Brand].

Basketball

I assume the potential lawsuit will vanish now that Paul is a Clipper [Hornets guard Chris Paul may take NBA to court over rejected trades].
I feel like I say this a lot, but Professor Gabe Feldman killed it on this one [The Misadventures of David Stern].

Baseball

Boras Corp. rejected my request for a copy, but I’m not bitter about it.. ["The Book" on Prince Fielder].
Includes a summary of the primary issues that will be considered [MLB, MLBPA To Talk International Acquisitions].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (12/16/2011) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (12/9/11)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:39 +0000

Last weekend in Memphis, Tennessee was a great success. We put together a tremendous Professional Sports Counseling Panel at the University of Memphis and received fantastic feedback from athletes, parents, agents, and administrators with regards to Memphis’ first Agent Day. I have to really thank my partner Jason Belzer; he is the reason that Collegiate Sports Advisors is going to be a successful venture. Lots of big deals being brokered in the NBA and MLB. Any readers spend some time in Dallas during the Baseball Winter Meetings? Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

Football

A few good questions for athletes and their parents to ask agents [Inside the player-agent interviews].

Baseball

Top revenue earners and spenders discouraged from spending more [Did The Baseball Union Make a Colossal Mistake?].
Scott Boras still thinks players will slide down the draft board to big market teams [Signing-bonus constraints to impact Draft].

Basketball

Brad Ames of Priority Sports was wrong – Pargo was not a free agent [FIBA Ruled - Jeremy Pargo Violated His Contract, Owes Maccabi $270,000].
J.R. Smith had 52 points and 22 rebounds in a game in China.. [Free-agent buzz: Players seek way out of China].
It really is a big deal that players kept guaranteed contracts and a soft salary cap [Don’t weep for the NBA players].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (12/9/11) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (10/28/11)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:00:54 +0000

Halloween is on Monday, but most people I know are celebrating this Saturday. Any good costume ideas? About to jump into speaking season, as I will be traveling to New York Law School next Friday and then hopping on a flight that night so that I can lend my words to the attendees of Arizona State’s 2nd Annual Conference On Sports & Entertainment Law. A couple of weeks later, I will be heading to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to accept my 10 NEXT Award, and I am already calendaring events for the Spring. Meanwhile, I am staying very busy working on behalf of my excellent clients, updating this website, and teaching a great group of students at Indiana University. Here are some stories I missed over the past week:

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].

Hockey

Scott Norton has been making a lot of people happy on Mondays [Sports Agent Celebrates One Year of Social Media-Based Charity].

Baseball

Agents’ average posting fee guess was $45 million and they believe he will get a 5-6 year deal for $72-75 million [Agents Predict Darvish's Posting Fee, Contract].
Scott Boras also didn’t represent Cano on that contract and does not get a commission if the options are taken by the Yankees [Cano's agent wants contract redone; Yankees GM hasn't returned call].

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

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (8/26/11)

Darren Heitner — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:00:55 +0000

I am officially teaching my first college class next Monday. I am more excited than nervous. The one thing I am not looking forward to is putting together the Powerpoint slides. Two days after that, I will be taking a much deserved vacation to Las Vegas. Shout at me if you will be in Vegas any time between next Wednesday and Sunday. Sports Agent Blog is still offering the best deal around on the Athlete Connect program, which gives you access to sports agent contact information. Here are some stories I that I enjoyed reading in the past week:

Basketball

Surprised that the NBPA does not make more use of the median player salary argument [NBA's 'average' salary -- $5.15M -- a trendy, touchy subject].
It may be a bargaining tactic, but these guys also want to get paid without breaking the union line [Playing overseas: Will it work?].

Baseball

Everyone’s eyes are on Bryce Harper [Harper's every move under review].
Rocky Hall represented Nomar Garciaparra [Sports agent turns coach].
Scott Boras didn’t like the idea of a hometown discount [Jered Weaver bucks agent's advice].

Football

The final line: “Pryor and Rosenhaus may be falling on their sword here for something bigger than them” [Pryor Restraint].
Questioning why the majority owners are so anxious to throw away millions of dollars [Time to bring UFL trio to Washington].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (8/26/11) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

2011 MLB Draft Round 1 Advisors/Players List

Darren Heitner — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:00:03 +0000

First Round

Gerrit Cole (Pittsburgh Pirates) – Boras Corp. – I assume this negotiation was not as brutal as Pedro Alvarez’s?
Danny Hultzen (Seattle Mariners) – Creative Artists Agency
Trevor Bauer (Arizona Diamondbacks) – Wasserman Media Group
Dylan Bundy (Baltimore Orioles) – Jay Franklin (BBI Sports Group) – I hope he will look as good in Oriole Orange as he would have looked in Royal Blue.
Bubba Starling (Kansas City Royals) – Boras Corp. – He had the opportunity to be a quarterback at Nebraska.
Anthony Rendon (Washington Nationals – Boras Corp. – The Nationals love them some Boras.
Archie Bradley (Arizona Diamondbacks) - Jay Franklin (BBI Sports Group) - Lots of happiness at BBI Sports Group by this point of the draft.
Francisco Lindor (Cleveland Indians) – Sportsmeter
Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs) – Jet Sports Management
Cory Spangenberg (San Diego Padres) - Jet Sports Management
George Springer (Houston Astros) – Greg Genske (Legacy Sports Group)
Taylor Jungmann (Milwaukee Brewers) – Hendricks Sports
Brandon Nimmo (New York Mets) – SFX
Jose Fernandez (Florida Marlins) – Ken Turkel and John Agliano (Team One Management)
Jed Bradley (Milwaukee Brewers) - Greg Genske (Legacy Sports Group)
Chris Reed (Los Angeles Dodgers) – Boras Corp.
C.J. Cron (LA Angels of Anaheim) - Moye Sports Associates
Sonny Gray (Oakland Athletics) – Bo McKinnis
Matt Barnes (Boston Red Sox) – SFX
Tyler Anderson (Colorado Rockies) - Greg Genske (Legacy Sports Group)
Tyler Beede - Octagon (unsigned – will be attending Vanderbilt)
Kolten Wong (St. Louis Cardinals) – PSI Sports Management
Alex Meyer (Washington Nationals) – Boras Corp.
Taylor Guerrieri (Tampa Bay Rays) - Greg Genske (Legacy Sports Group)
Joe Ross (San Diego Padres) - Wasserman Media Group
Blake Swihart (Boston Red Sox) - Greg Genske (Legacy Sports Group)
Robert Stephenson (Cincinnati Reds) – Matt Sosnick (Sosnick/Cobbe)
Sean Gilmartin (Atlanta Braves) – No advisor?
Joe Panik (San Francisco Giants) – Andrew Lowenthal (Proformance)
Levi Michael (Minnesota Twins) – Creative Artists Agency
Mikie Mahtook (Tampa Bay Rays) - Creative Artists Agency
Jake Hager (Tampa Bay Rays) – Paragon
Kevin Matthews (Texas Rangers) – Bobby Barad

Notes:

Greg Genske and Legacy Sports Group had the same amount of clients taken in the first round (5) as Scott Boras. The two of them account for almost one-third of all players selected in the first round (both companies also had superb offseasons). Creative Artists Agency was next in line with a total of 3 clients selected, followed by Wasserman Media Group, SFX, Jet Sports Management, and Franklin-Frye Sports, each with 2 advisees drafted in the top 33 picks.
Speaking of Creative Artists Agency - the company does not seem to be taking a hit in recruiting after the departure of Casey Close…or is it too soon to make such a statement? No one knows just how much of an influence Close had in recruiting Mikie Mahtook, Levi Michael, and/or Danny Hultzen over the years, but they all have stayed with CAA.
Back to Genske vs. Boras. While Genske tied Boras with regards to the number of clients selected in the first round, no one compared to Boras when it came down to signing bonuses negotiated. Combined, Gerrit Cole ($8 million), Bubba Starling ($7.5 million), Anthony Rendon ($7.2 million), Chris Reed ($1.589 million), and Alex Meyer ($2 million) received a total of $26.289 million. Genske’s clients – George Springer ($2.525 million), Jed Bradley ($2 million), Tyler Anderson ($1.4 million), Taylor Guerrieri ($1.6 million), and Blake Swihart ($2.5 million) – received a total of $10.025 million, which is absolutely nothing to scoff at.

2011 MLB Draft Round 1 Advisors/Players List from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules