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Interview with Tanner Dormin

According to the transition agreements with America’s Finest, I am posting this article courtesy of Shin Jut of America’s Finest.

On the first day of our new blog, I am happy to publish an interview I recently had with trainer and owner, Tanner Dormin. Tanner Dormin has grown from the puddles of pig racing to become of the premier dog trainers of the industry. I am proud to have the opportunity to interview such a great trainer as well as an up-and-coming greyhound owner.

DB: Hi Tanner, I have already met SimpleEnuf outside as I walked up to the facilities. Can you tell me a little about him?

Tanner Dormin: Well he’s had 12 races and won 7, finishing second 3 of the other five times. He’s gone into only 4 of those races as the favorite, truly making this an exciting season. As long as he keeps his nose away from the girls, he should be a very strong competitor next year.

DB: So he’s a greyhound equivalent of Tiger Woods?

Tanner Dormin: Well I must say I’d prefer him to be compared to the likes of Wilt Chamberlain but to each his own.

DB: Tell us about his personality – all dogs have them don’t they?

Tanner Dormin: His kennel name is Sammie due to his resemblance to Sammy Sosa. He’s a character in the kennels, an escape artist. If you give him an extra foot of leash, he’ll take it and run with it. He is very independent and has a strong heart. He is extremely friendly but knows when to let the beast out in his races.

DB: So how did you get into greyhound training in the first place?

Tanner Dormin: It is quite an interesting story, actually. I started off training pigs for fairs and festivals and eventually got picked up by some talent scouts. They sold me the big spiel about how I deserve bigger and better things and my true calling in life was in greyhound racing. I bought it and haven’t looked back since. I love my dogs and my place in the industry.

DB: How do you see the future of the sport?

Tanner Dormin: All Greyhound Racing has its pros and cons but it’s important to keep the sport as family friendly as possible. The sport needs to be about quality, quality of the dogs, tracks, trainers, etc., not quantity. Nobody wants to put a bet on a bad dog.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.