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Dynasty Athlete Representation

Dynasty Notes – Part 6

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 5, go ahead and read it. Enjoy Dynasty Notes – Part 6.

With Dynasty signing its first client, it was time for Darren and I to really hit the ground running. Dison was in the process of fully recovering from Tommy John and everything was looking good. We had some interest from a couple of teams for Dison’s services, but he was not quite ready at the time. While Dison was finishing up his recovery, Darren and I continued to make phone calls and get his name out to every team. There was only so much we could do since Dison was still not 100% ready.

Things were also looking good on other fronts. The blog was still on the rise and more contributors were being added. As the summer of 2007 was coming to an end, both Darren and I were preparing for the approaching difficulties of being first year law students. At this time, we received a post on the blog from a professional bowler on the PBA Tour by the name of Mike DeVaney. DeVaney was seeking out to the athlete representation industry for some help in procuring marketing and sponsorship opportunities. By reaching out for assistance on the blog, he caught Dynasty’s eye. For those of you that are not into the PBA or bowling, here is something that you all should understand. Prior to DeVaney signing with Dynasty, there never has been a bowler on the PBA Tour represented by any agency. Darren and I saw this as an opportunity to grow Dynasty into the full service sports agency that we envisioned since day one.

After a few conversations, Dynasty was able to land DeVaney as a client and be the first agency to ever represent a professional bowler on the PBA Tour. In this business you need to do or be something that is different from the rest of the pack. Many of the agents who have had interviews posted on this site have stressed this point. Sure, you can go the traditional route of getting an internship and try to follow that up by gaining a job within that agency after college, law or grad school and go from there. There is nothing wrong with taking that path. The bottom line is that it is not where you are that determines what happens, it is what you do while in that situation that will determine your success.

Now back to business. DeVaney signed with Dynasty and Darren and I began to reach out to companies and media outlets. We have contacted many companies in an effort to land DeVaney his first few deals. We have also been successful in reaching out to media outlets in order to build up some press. Since joining Dynasty, DeVaney has been published in two of his local California papers [First Local Professional Bowler to Sign with a Sports Agency] [Dynasty: Mike DeVaney Interview #2] and has been featured on a TV segment [Dynasty: Mike DeVaney Interview Update] with KZSW TV in Temecula, CA. Like I said before, this business is about production. Darren and I were continuing to prove Dynasty’s word by producing for our clients.

-Matthew Vuckovich

Thank you for reading this edition of Dynasty Notes. Make sure to be on the lookout for Dynasty Notes – Part 7.

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.

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