Interview With The Athlete: Danny Richmond

Interview With The Athlete

By Matthew Vuckovich

Welcome to I Want to be a Sports Agent‘s newest column: Interview With The Athlete. All of us here at SportsAgentBlog.com hope that you enjoy.

Danny Richmond is a 22-year-old NHL player. He plays Defense for the Chicago Blackhawks (http://www.chicagoblackhawks.com/team/player.asp?player_id=203). I have been best friends with Danny since we were small children. Being by his side throughout his hockey career has really given me a great insight on how an agent should handle his/her clients. I was with him when he got drafted in 2002, which was an all around great experience. I was able to be there first hand to see how the draft process works and what agents do behind the scenes. Danny will be looking to be on the blue line again for the Blackhawks this coming season.

Matthew Vuckovich: Who is your agent?

Danny Richmond: I am currently represented by GAME Sports. My agents are Justin Duberman and Scott Norton. They are located in my hometown of Chicago.

Matthew Vuckovich: Do you have a separate marketing agent? Who is he/she?

Danny Richmond: No, they pretty much handle everything on their own. With hockey players, the only real endorsement deals involve equipment companies or hockey cards. Endorsement contracts with these companies are pretty standard, so a marketing agent isn’t necessary.

Matthew Vuckovich: When you were searching for an agent, what factors did you consider?

Danny Richmond: The most important thing in my search, was finding an agent who understood me as a player and a person. If my agent doesn’t know exactly what kind of player I am, I think it would be pretty difficult for him to sell me to other teams and general managers. I believe that a good personal relationship with my agent is necessary. If things aren’t going that well, sometimes it’s the agent’s responsibility to talk to the player and set him straight. It’s pretty hard for me to take advice from someone unless we have a good personal connection.

Another thing I considered is the agent’s client list and where his other players play. I find it important to look at the agent’s client list to see how many clients he has, and also what kind of players he has. If he has too many clients, I think it would be hard to get enough personal attention from him. If you have too many clients, there isn’t enough time in the day to take care of all your clients. Also it’s important to look at the type of players he represents. I take a look at the mixture of younger and older players. If he has a lot of older players and not many younger guys, that tells me that he isn’t as experienced with younger players like myself. As a player going on his first year or two pro, that would be a concern.

Matthew Vuckovich: Did your family have a big impact on your decision in choosing an agent?

Danny Richmond: For me, my family did have a pretty big impact on me choosing an agent. I am lucky enough to have my dad, Steve Richmond (a former NHL’er) help guide me through the process of picking an agent. He was a great resource when I was trying to decide which agent is best for me.

Matthew Vuckovich: Was having a personal relationship with your agent a factor in choosing him?

Danny Richmond: Absolutely! Like I said earlier, it’s a lot easier to take advice from someone if you have a personal relationship. Another reason why a personal relationship with your agent is important is during the free agent process. If he knows what kind of person you are, he would select teams that fit you well in both your professional life and personal life. He should know what cities you would be happiest playing and living in.

Matthew Vuckovich: Why did you decide to hire your agent?

Danny Richmond: I hired my agents because I feel they are the best people to represent me for who I am. They know me extremely well on both a professional and personal basis. They know my game inside and out and have also been great in improving me as a player. They are constantly in contact with me and the Chicago Blackhawks. All in all, I feel that we are just a great fit.

Matthew Vuckovich: How often do you talk with your agent? How often do you see him/her in person?

Danny Richmond: I talk my agents about four times a week. They each live within 5 minutes of me so we see each other quite often. It’s nice to be able to meet up for lunch or dinner whenever we want.

Matthew Vuckovich: What factors would entice you to choose a smaller agency or independent agent over a full-service agency?

Danny Richmond: I have been with 3 different agents throughout my career. At one point I was with the largest agency in hockey and was not really happy with the service I received. My agents are a smaller agency in terms of size, but are huge in terms of service.

Matthew Vuckovich: What are some of the things your agent does for you that you like?

Danny Richmond: This year, I was called up from and sent down from the minors quite frequently. They made it a point to make sure every time I was moved, that I knew what the reasoning was behind the decision. I was never kept in the dark by my agents or my hockey club. As a player, that’s all you can ask for.

Matthew Vuckovich: What single event would you say defines the relationship you have with your agent?

Danny Richmond: I would say the whole last season. I was still under contract from my former agency and had to pay them, instead of my current agents. They did more work for me in 9 months than any agent has in the previous 4 years. And they did it for free!!

Matthew Vuckovich: What are some of the most important factors athletes in general look for in an agent?

Danny Richmond: I think a player looks for someone they can relate to. One of my agents played in both the NHL and AHL, so he understands what its like to get sent down or called up. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone and bounce ideas off, and if it’s a former player, that’s a plus.

Matthew Vuckovich: On behalf of SportsAgentBlog.com and all of our readers, I would like to thank Danny Richmond for sharing his knowledge and experiences with us today. Till next time, be safe and act ethically in the business that you love.