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].

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!  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

The internet is littered with stories of university coaches banning their players from tweeting.  Most recently, South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier joined the ranks of the tweeting ban.  Spurrier said, “Well, we have some dumb, immature players that put crap on their Twitter, and we don’t need that.  So the best thing to do is just ban it.”  Really?  As I tweeted on Thursday, banning Twitter works as well as teaching abstinence.  A parent may be able to control her child’s actions while the child is still under her close watch, however as soon as this child gets the opportunity, chances are that the individual will subdue to her hormones.  Suddenly, your child is Bristol Palin.

Now, I am not saying that every collegiate athlete who is banned from Twitter is going to go pro and ruin his/her career the first time he/she tweets, but I am saying (just as public schools across the nation have learned and implemented through sex ed) that education on the dangers of participating in such an activity, on preventative measures, on protecting yourself and those around you, will prove more beneficial then simply teaching “Don’t do it.”

The ban on Twitter is an attempt to not address the problem – to not educate and develop their team.  Because, after all, that takes time and money, and what university has either of those?  The truth of the matter is coaches (and/or athletic departments) should have their athletes’ education as their number one priority.  They are “student-athletes,” with the “emphasis” being on student first, right?

Gregg Doyel wrote an article today for CBSSports.com titled, “Coaches’ Twitter ban isn’t stunting players, it’s protecting them.”  He suggests that “In the wrong hands, twitter is a dangerous thing.  And a college athlete’s hands are awful.”  Doyel points to such examples as a tweet posted last year by North Carolina defensive lineman Marvin Austin. Austin tweeted pictures of him enjoying a lavish vacation in South Beach, which may have catapulted the investigation (as well as the firing of Butch Davis) into the program.  Doyel concedes that “Twitter isn’t to blame for the offenses — but Twitter got North Carolina busted.”

Again, we see a huge discrepancy in the education of collegiate athletes.  Doyel’s point emphasizes what the NCAA has seemingly accepted, dare I say encouraged, what I will dub the “Jim Tressel.”  If you are doing something wrong/illegal/against the NCAA, Jim Tressel it immediately.  Do not own up to your improprieties, do not learn from them, and definitely do not figure out how to avoid the negative situation again.  Just cover it up and lie.  The problem with Twitter, is that once you have tweeted a picture, well, let’s just say it’s going to take more work then a “My Twitter got hacked” story to cover up your actions.

The real reason coaches are banning Twitter is not for the “player’s protection,” but rather to protect the program.  As Dan Patrick stated while reporting the Spurrier story, “Will it help us [win]? … No.  Can it hurt us?  Yes.”  Listen, I understand and value the need to protect the program as a whole.  Furthermore, I GET that the actions of just ONE player can irreparably damage an athletic program.  However, I do not believe that the best way to protect the player and to protect the program is to strip the players of their ability to tweet.  (Note: I am not even going to address the notion that players may choose to attend a university based on whether or not they are able to tweet because I do not believe that issue is even close to the core problem with the ban.)

Gregg Doyel continues in his agreement with a coach banning Twitter saying, “A couch isn’t limiting his players’ personal growth… Players have plenty of chances to grow as people in college.  Classes, interview sessions.  Public appearances.”  Oh, but not through Twitter.  So you’re allowing your players to do some things (those which you can control), but not others.  In a world where proper Twitter usage is almost as valuable as tackling techniques for a professional football player, I am having a hard time understanding how the ban is not the definition of “limiting.”

Last, the NCAA has stripped nearly every promotional right of the collegiate athlete.  These players work endless hours to perform at their highest ability in order to bring their team a victory.  They have no rights to their name, likeness, number, or anything that they do during their college career.  They are unable to even be taken out to dinner by an agent who wants to inform them of their future career options.

I will not equate these athletes to slaves (as a recent South Park episode did) because I do believe in the value of a free education.  However, the system is nothing short of flawed.  These players bring in billions of dollars annually to the universities that they play for.  These universities stress the fact that these players are “student-athletes,” and emphasize the “value” of the education that their athletes are receiving.  The truth of the matter is that what is a valuable education for me (an aspiring attorney) is drastically different from that of Matt Barkely (an aspiring NFL quarterback).

Universities need to enact programs centered on their athletes.  If you are going to stress the importance of education, then realize what kind of education would truly benefit your players.  Athletic departments need to create programs that are specifically directed at the student-athlete.  Teach them the proper way of dealing with the media.  Warn your players of the detrimental effects of posting false, negative, or simply unnecessary information to the internet.  There are social media professionals who teach these skills as a career.  Find these people.  Hire them.  Spend money on your athletes who bring in billions of dollars for your university.  Equip them with the tools they need to succeed professionally.  After all, isn’t that the purpose of the collegiate institution?

Twitter Education: The Responsibility of a University to Prepare its Athletes from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• Includes failure to adequately monitor the social media activity of the team [North Carolina Receives NCAA Notice Of Allegations].
• College football players were accepting benefits under the table back in the 1940s [Pay for Pay - How one college athlete received cash or benefits while at USC].
• Supported by the competition committee [Roster sizes could be expanded during training camp].

Basketball

• Gabe Feldman is back with another “user-friendly” explanation of the issues at hand [The Legal Issues Behind the Looming NBA Lockout].
• About the NBA Draft that has become a game within the game [Fifteen Years of the NBA Draft].

Sports Business

• I am interviewed on a variety of subjects [An Agent’s Take on Lockouts, the NCAA, and Paying Athletes].

Baseball

• No above-slot signings from the 2011 Draft to date [Ranking the toughest players to sign]

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (6/24/2011) 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

What: KU Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium

When: Friday, April 15, 2011

Where: Green Hall Room 203

Topics

• Hey, who Tweeted? It wasn’t me!

Social media provides a great forum in which to express oneself, but what free speech rights do collegiate student athletics have within it? May a member institution legally limit student-athlete access to social media? How should athletic departments deal with “ghost tweets” – fake social media accounts and messages attributed to student-athletes, coaches and staff that could make headlines?

• Right of Publicity and Former Student-Athletes

The Ed O’Bannon Case – When do the grant-in-aid rights signed away in college end? Is a former athlete’s likeness forever the property of the NCAA and their member institutions? How will the right of publicity landscape change in the future for student-athletes?

• Death of the NCAA: Could the Super Conference Change the Game?

Could a “Super Conference” system redefine intercollegiate amateurism? What would be the ramifications for student-athletes at institutions that opt out of the NCAA? What would be the ramifications for the NCAA?

• Who Represents the Student-Athlete?

If the grant-in-aid (or scholarship) is a contractual relationship with a NCAA member institution, what power does the student athlete have to negotiate the terms? Who may represent the student athlete without risking NCAA eligibility? Should students fight to be considered employees and unionize? What role should agents play with collegiate athletes? How may the NCAA change such role in the future? How do pro sports league labor negotiations affect the current college student-athletes wishing to enter the pro sports field?

• Big Headache: Ethical Issues Associated with College Football Concussions and Mass Tort Litigation

As research demonstrates the long-term negative effects of damaged caused by repeated head injuries sustained in football, what liability, if any, does the NCAA and member institutions have?  What information and education is being provided to student-athletes by the NCAA, member institutions, medical staff, etc. regarding concussions and the associated risks?  What rights do former student-athletes have to recover for their injuries?

If you have any questions, please email Jade Freeman at Jadefeeman@ku.edu or Libby Harmon at Libby912@ku.edu.

Kansas Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

This year’s Congress will be held at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami, Florida.

The Panel List reads as a “Who’s who” in the industry including:

• Bud Selig, Commissioner (MLB)
• Chris Parsons, Vice President (NFL)
• Peter Moore, President (EA Sports)
• Bea Perez, CMO (Coca-Cola North America)

These are just a few of the names who will be participating in discussion. There are also several breaks for opportunities to network. Not to mention several social events such as an early morning fun run and a networking reception.

Running through the list of Topics covered, the highlights include:

• “Rapid-Fire Roundtable” which includes discussion of important topics over the next 12 months with guests such as Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO, WTA; Scott Blackmun, CEO, USOC and Donald Fehr, Executive Director, NHLPA. With the NFL in lockout mode, this will definitely be a don’t miss discussion!
• “Sponsorship Value and Innovation: The New Realities of Sports Marketing” which will look into how social media is changing the face of sponsorship.

At a cost of $1,850 ($1,695 for SBJ/SBD subscribers), it is a little to rich for my bank account, though by coincidence, I will be in Miami during this time. If any like minded sports business professionals who are attending or in the area wish to contact me feel free to do so.

For a full rundown of the program and to register please visit here.

2011 IMG World Congress of Sports: March 30-31 Miami, Florida from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

When: March 4-5, 2011

Where: The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (map)

Agenda

Friday, March 4, 2011

9:00am – 9:30am Keynote: Gary Stevenson

9:30am – 10:20am: ProServ Founders
Ray Benton, CEO, Junior Tennis Champions Center
Frank Craighill, Chairman and CEO, Atlis Marketing LLC
Donald Dell, Group President, Lagardere Unlimited

10:20am – 11:00am: ProServ Employees (Pre-1983)

11:15am – 12:00pm: Two Sides Of The House

George McPhee, General Manager, Washington Capitals
Kevin Payne, President, DC United

12:00pm: Proceed To E Street Building For Lunch Sessions

12:15pm – 2:30pm: Networking Lunch

Lunch Session #1
12:15pm – 1:20pm: Sports Law Panel
1:25pm – 2:30pm: Networking Lunch

Lunch Session #2
12:15pm – 1:20pm: Networking Lunch
1:25pm – 2:30pm: Sports Marketing & Media Panel

2:30pm: Proceed To MPA Building For Afternoon Sessions

2:45pm – 3:30pm:  Social Media and Innovations

3:40pm – 4:20pm: Sport Business Negotiations

4:25pm – 5:15pm: Sponsorship, Sales, Service and Evaluation

5:15pm – 5:45pm: Human Resource Directors

5:45pm: Proceed To City View Room For Reception

6:00-8:00pm: Friday Evening Networking Reception sponsored by The Sport And Recreation Management Program At Temple University

Saturday, March 5, 2011

9:15am – 10:00am: Athlete Foundations, Marketing and Management

10:05am – 10:45am: Keynote: Michael Robichaud, MasterCard Worldwide

10:55am – 11:45am: Target Marketing

11:45pm: Proceed To Nationals Park (Home of Washington Nationals)

12:15am – 1:45pm: Networking Lunch

1:55pm – 2:35pm: Keynote Presentation: Washington Nationals Executive

2:45pm – 3:25pm: Let’s Move: Selling Physical Fitness and Sport Products

3:40pm – 4:20pm: Trends in Sports Events & Facility Management

4:20pm: SINC Conference Wrap-Up

Cost: Individual rate is $230.  There are discounts for group purchases.  Register here.

Sports Industry Networking and Career Conference from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

This is sure to spark some conversation.  Let’s hear it.

Why Pick A Non-Attorney Agent Over An Attorney-Agent? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• Great information regarding how the NCAA determines the length of suspensions [National Notes].
• According to social media, the Cowboys are still America’s team [The Most Popular NFL Teams on Twitter and Facebook: 2010 Season].
• How serious is their relationship? [Butch Davis and Worldwide Wes]
• Should be coming any day now [Source: NFLPA awaiting NCAA report on agents].
• If successful, the NFLPA would then operate as a trade organization [Union seeks authority to decertify].

Hockey

• Steve Bartlett started his agency because his friends were complaining about their agents [Top hockey players look to local agents].

Baseball

• Agents can adjust for the decreased offense in the same way economists do for inflation [Caution: Falling Offense].

Sports Law

• Information on the members of the NCAA’s Agent, Gambling, and Amateurism Activities division [Inside look at NCAA enforcers who are spearheading AgentGate].

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up (9/17/2010) from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules