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Greg Oden’s First Endorsement Should Be For Hand Sanitizer

Back on May 25th, only one day after I returned from the Holy Land (Israel), I pondered whether the Portland Trail Blazers should select Greg Oden or Kevin Durant based on more than just their playing skills [Who Will Blaze The Trail?]. At the time, I was led to believe that Greg Oden looked older than LeBron James (which is true) and acted older than a Jewish grandmother. Non-conventional wisdom told me that maybe Kevin Durant would be a smarter pick for the Trail Blazers, even if he was not at the same playing level of Oden. I still believe that a team would have an additional benefit by taking the more fan-appreciative personality, but I am no longer sure that Kevin Durant is that man.

Everyone all the way to Thailand is aware that the Portland Trail Blazers selected Greg Oden with their number one pick. Jim Gatto, NBA sports marketing manager for Adidas, feels that Durant has more to offer than Oden. Since writing the post on May 25, I no longer agree with that statement. Since that point, Greg Oden has opened up to the world through his Yardbarker blog and displayed his great humor at the NBA Draft [YouTube video]. But the man who has known that he would go #1 for a long time now may have not always had such a shining personality. The tactic that he used should be duplicated by agents who have future star clients in need of some personality training.

What exactly did Greg Oden do? He hired funny actor and sports media consultant at Game On, Steve Shenbaum. Steve helped develop Oden’s character leading up to his spotlight at the NBA Draft [With a little help, Oden’s prepped for media’s game]. Did it work? I would definitely say so. BDA Sports has an ongoing relationship with Shenbaum. Other agents should learn from what Duffy has been doing for a long time to have some of his clients break out of their shells.

Shenbaum states:

“When you’re an athlete like Greg Oden or Pete Sampras, and the media calls you boring or robotic, that hurts.”

Why not provide your clients with the tools to avoid such situations? If you have a big name guy/girl who could use some personality preparation before the media begins to harass, go with a company like Game On. The price will be well worth it.

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It does not matter if they win or lose, the philadelphia eagles have always provided a fun filled super bowl. The competition seen in atlanta falcons matches is however, too worrisome.

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 “Greg Oden’s First Endorsement Should Be For Hand Sanitizer”

Darren,

I just stumbled upon this site and your comments were a breath of fresh air. I am not a savvy internet surfer nor am I hip to the blog scene. Beleive it or not, I am actually a bit burned out by professional sports in general and reading about their trangressions in the press. But what you said about Greg Oden and my work with him leading up to the draft was very kind. I appreciate the support and the positive remarks. I hope more agents follow Duffs lead because all of our young athletes need communication support. It does not make the agent or the athlete weak to seek help. Duff realizes that I am not a threat but rather a complement to his agency and I certainly do not want to be an agent. I have enough trouble calculating my company’s payroll, let alone a contract. And at the end of the day, all I care about is that these young men feel comfortable in a very challenging environment. An environment that most of us would have trouble navigating, including ex-character actors with Performance Studies/Theater degrees(see also: me). Keep up the supportive blogging and feel free to email me at the office. steve@gameonmedia.com

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