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Dad’s Corner: New York, New York

Big week in sports! The Mets blew a 7 game lead in Sept. But no worries NY fans, you still have the Knicks, Jets, Rangers, and Giants to complain about. At least the NY Yankees may be a saving grace.

The media would love to see the Yankees play The Cubbies. It would be the most watched and written about series in recent years. The last time the Cubs were in a World Series was 1945 – they lost. Last time the Cubs won a world series was in 1908. That even predates my existence.

In football last week (both college and pro), I hope you bet the DOGS! My dog picks with the current spreads for this week are:

  • College: ND + 22 Kansas +3 Vandy+7.5 and Arizona +3.5.
  • Pro’s: Atlanta+8 Washington+3.5 Miami +5.5

Shame on the San Diego Chargers for firing a coach that went 14-2. Now they not only have a new head coach, but a new defensive coordinator and a new offensive coordinator as well. Other teams are copying the Patriots’ game plan against the Chargers on both offense and defense. San Diego’s new geniuses at coaching are not adjusting to these new schemes applied against them. They still have the same great players…do something!

My team (the Dolphins) needs to start rebuilding now. Keith Traylor…it is time to retire. You were very good once…that is no longer the case. I believe the Fins need to play more younger players to start the rebuilding process. They need to let their 26-year-old rookie QB (John Beck) get some playing time. Ronnie Brown is the only offensive player that is playing well. The Fins built a pass rushing defense that cannot stop the run.

And then there is UF. What can I say? Tough loss to Auburn. It was a very badly played first half. Were you guys looking ahead to this weeks LSU showdown? I hope the game lives up to the hype. It should be a high scoring game.

-Phil Heitner (my father)

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.