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Happy New Year…now it’s time to get busy

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year and may 2006 be full of fun and good health for all.

Yes, I lied. A terrible hangover cannot prevent me from starting the New Year off with another post to this blog.

So today’s subject is: You are already late.

This mainly applies to future Sports Agents, but is actually relevant for anyone who has not yet gained a stable job in a profession (what is a stable job anyway?).

So why are you already late? Because if you have not applied for a Summer Internship yet, you are behind. Many will say that it is too early to start applying, but I say ACT NOW. The Sports Agent business landscape as it is right now is brutally tough to break into. If you truly want to become a Sports Agent in the future, make it your New Years resolution to gain an amazing internship this Summer and work on obtaining that internship from this day on…until it is awarded to you!

A major in Sports Management, a 4.0 GPA, a 180 on your LSAT, a bunch of leadership experience in college, and a great background knowledge on sports…are not the tools needed to become a Sports Agent.

Internships, building relations with those already in the Sports business, becoming close with as many athletes as possible, and never giving up while always innovating…are the tools necessary for getting a foot into the door of the industry.

So what should you start doing? RESEARCH. Find out what company or Agent has the same ideologies as you, has a client list that interests you, and provides an internship that throws you into the deep end. There are many Agencies out there with tons of applicants. You can decide that you want to intern at a large firm such as IMG or Octagon, or decide that you want to pick a small Agency where you might get noticed more, have more responsibilities, but not work with the same type of client list. I suggest that you don’t settle for just making coffee and getting lunch for the Agents. Stop worrying about which major teach you about the business, because it does not exist. The absolute best way to learn about how to become a Sports Agent is to gain an internship and build from there.

As a closing note, I must give a plug to Career Sports & Entertainment and all of the amazing people that I was able to intern for this past summer. Intern with a fine company such as CS&E, and you will gain more knowledge about the Sports Business than any College course will teach you.

I plan on discussing various Agencies and Sports Agents in the future to bring more visibility to the current business landscape, which may provide more insight on which Agent/Agency fits your preferences best.

Now stop reading this, fix up your resume, and start applying!

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.

2 replies on “Happy New Year…now it’s time to get busy”

I have added and will continue to add links to Sports Agencies on the left side of this page. It will be the only comprehensive, free listing of such agencies available to the public. Research the sites to see if any interest you.

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