Categories
Dynasty Athlete Representation

Dynasty Notes – Part 4

Dynasty Notes will take you through the days when Darren and I (Matthew Vuckovich) did not even know each other, to Dynasty becoming an LLC, to signing our first client, and beyond. If you have not yet read Dynasty Notes – Part 3, go ahead and read it. Enjoy Dynasty Notes – Part 4.

As our senior year of college came to an end, both Darren and I begin to think about the future for not only the blog, but also for our careers. My best friend who plays in the NHL was in the last year of his contract. I talked to him almost everyday (and still do) and one day I brought up the idea of Darren and I representing him. He gave us the go ahead and that’s when Dynasty Athlete Representation began to form. After my phone call with my friend, I immediately called Darren and told him the news. I explained to Darren that my friend would give us 2 months to read the NHL CBA and if we felt comfortable with the language that we would then proceed with the process of representation. This was like a dream come true for the both of us and we hit the ground running. We both sent in our letters to the NHLPA requesting the forms for documentation to be registered as an NHL Certified Player Agent. Darren had the luxury of reading the CBA by the pool at the University of Florida while I was contained to reading the CBA in my room as it snowed outside on the University of Illinois campus. I can still remember our conversations as Darren was outside getting a tan and bragging about it while I was in my room trying to keep warm. Day in and day out the both of us would gather stats and any other kind of data so that we could compare my friend to the rest of the players in his position.

The month of April had come. It would be the most important month of our lives. Darren and I decided that the best way to incorporate Dynasty Athlete Representation was through filing to become a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Darren handled the registration documents, and Dynasty was an official entity in the state of Florida as of April 3, 2007. With the paperwork completed, we were ready to tackle the NHL CBA. As time went on, the conversation between Darren and I consisted of new ideas that would set us aside from the rest of the pack. However, the conversations with my friend who played in the NHL were not looking so good. In the long run, we did not land my friend (due to circumstances that were out of our control), but we did learn something special about the two of us. We learned that even though we did not succeed in landing my friend as a client, we knew that we were ready for what this industry had in store for us. We did everything that we possibly could do in order to be prepared to represent my friend, yet we still did not obtain our end goal. What did/does it mean? This industry is not for everyone, bottom line. You need to be able to deal with rejection and failure, but it is the persistence, motivation and determination that will allow you to succeed; that’s what Dynasty will always stand for. Other athletes would soon recognize this fact.

-Matthew Vuckovich

Thank you for reading this edition of Dynasty Notes. Make sure to be on the lookout for Dynasty Notes – Part 5.

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 “Dynasty Notes – Part 4”

Comments are closed.