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Sports Agents

Take Your Pick: Boras Or Steinberg

Jon Haber, a student writer at the Daily Trojan (USC’s university sponsored newspaper), likes Leigh Steinberg and does not think very highly of Scott Boras. In fact, he considers them to be at opposite extremes in the way that they conduct business.

This is what Haber had to say about Boras:

On one side, there’s the money agent. He’s the agent not many people like, the agent that suckers the most he can from an owner’s pocket into the bank account of his client. A great negotiator, but he has no real connection with his clients or the franchises for which his clients play.

And these words to describe Steinberg:

The agent that wants his clients to be good role models, the agent that truly cares for the well-being of his athletes. He’ll make sure his clients earn their millions the right way and give back to society.

I will not comment on whether I agree or disagree with any of the associations of words with the agents listed above. However, I will say that I think it is quite obvious that we should all aspire to be the agent who truly cares about his clients instead of a pure money agent. Being an agent is not all about the bottom line. It is easy to forget that sometimes.

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 “Take Your Pick: Boras Or Steinberg”

People can vilify Boras and Rosenhaus “types” all they want to, but at the end of the day, these guys will never struggle getting new clients. There’s a reason for that. Their duty is to their client, not to billionaire owners who arguably “sucker” others themselves through public financing of stadiums, increased ticket prices, etc.

well I tell you this if it is a crime to care about you athletes well fare then I’m guilty and you can lock me up the athlete should be first in all matters bottom line with out the client the Agent is nothing its all about ethics .

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