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Sports Law

The Oklahomian Wants My Words

I have not posted on the Andy Oliver topic in a while, but that does not mean that all parties in the lawsuit are now enjoying barbecues at the pool on Sundays.  The lawsuit remains in place and Andy has still not re-gained the right to pitch for Oklahoma State.  There are still six months before the beginning of the season, though.  Andrea Cohen of The Oklahomian has continued her coverage of the Andy Oliver affair, and quoted me in her article, OSU’s Oliver continues to wait for reinstatement.

Darren Heitner, who runs sportsagentblog.com and has followed the affair closely, said that in the scheme of things any possible violations are minor.

“The problem here is that while the NCAA tries its best to distinguish advisers from agents, often times there’s a gray area,” Heitner said. “I’m not trying to draw any conclusions, but compared to a lot of the infractions you have going on this Andy Oliver affair is very small. They have a lot bigger fish to fry.”

I am all for weeding out those who violate the rules and regulations that bind our profession; however, I believe that the NCAA is appropriating way too much attention to this story when there are many larger issues that it must confront.  Do you agree?

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.