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Next to be Bagged

Guest contribution by loyal reader and current Q2 intern, Michael Goldman.

When Tiger Woods returns to the golf course in 2009 there will be a new logo adorning his bag, a coveted spot that Buick has held since 2000.  General Motors, the automobile company that owns Buick, recently announced the end of their 9-year endorsement deal with Woods as part of their cost-cutting strategy in the midst of the current economic crisis.  The deal, which has been cut short by a year, has been speculated to be worth at least $7 million a year.

Woods’ agent at IMG, Mark Steinberg, noted that the decision was mutual as Woods was seeking more personal time as he expects his second child.  The end of the Tiger-Buick era does mean that there is an open spot on what the New York Daily News called a “bag that gets more television time at tournaments than any other golfer.” Steinberg expressed that the bag would not be blank when Woods’ plays next.  With regards to the future status of his client’s accessory, the super-golf agent said “I’ve got a few ideas, and we’re in the process of working through that.”  In this time of economic hardships, who will take on the risk of giving away a huge endorsement deal?  To be sure, a new deal should be for less money as Woods expects to spend less time marketing his new endorser than he did for Buick, but will still most likely cost a new suitor several million dollars.

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 “Next to be Bagged”

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Steinberg hook Tiger up with an Asian auto maker. Here we have the premier athlete of Asian descent and another opportunity for a company like Toyota or Honda to gain more market share. Seems like a perfect fit and one that would bring Tiger the most money possible.

WHAT IF, a player like Tiger Woods who has more money than he will ever need, used his golf bag and public stature to help promote ideas that might affect people’s lives like, “Drink Responsibly”, “Exercise is Good” or he endorsed an educational initiative from our new President. I know this will never happen as economics drive the world’s business but what if people in positions of power, like Tiger Woods, took a more active stance on getting our country back on track. Imagine the statement it would make if Tiger Woods decided to do something so extraordinary like using his golf bag as a message to the American public for something other than marketing a product. If his bag is viewed by more people than any other player in the world (and I am sure that it is) wouldn’t this he seen by other companies as THE player to be associated and drive his price up in other areas hence potentially not cost him any money in the long run anyway? Extraordinary times call for extraordinary people and I ask… WHAT IF???

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