Categories
Uncategorized

Hoops Are Not Always Earrings

This is a piece for a Pro Dunk Hoops Contest:

As I was growing up, a large part of my after-school recreation consisted of shooting hoops into my water-stabilized miniature basketball stand, which forever stood in my driveway. My mother would often watch, feigning interest in the sport, because she usually thought I was a pro at all my endeavors. Left to her own devices, I imagine that she probably would not have known the difference between basketball and basket weaving.

Fast-forward to the present, when March Madness causes the least sports-minded individuals to discuss ‘sweet-sixteens’ and ‘final-fours’. My mother, who is still not totally well versed on a variety of sports, will don her Gator pajamas and scream like a banshee when her chosen teams are at the precipice of a win. As a sports fanatic who has aspirations to become a successful sports agent, I pride myself on transforming as many individuals as possible into true couch potatoes. In this case, I believe I have created a monster.

Driving up to my front yard on my last trip home from college, I was amazed by the sight that I beheld. My mother, who is usually more concerned with manicures and makeup, was focused on the installation of a new basketball hoop. She was waiting impatiently, ball in hand, to practice her slam-dunk. There are no words emphatic enough to express my surprise. The more I think about it, though, if she practices enough on her ProDunk, maybe someday I’ll be her agent.


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 “Hoops Are Not Always Earrings”

Comments are closed.