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Dynasty Athlete Representation

Dynasty Bowlers Battle for Title at the Denny’s Dick Weber Open

Dynasty Athlete Representation

For Immediate Release

Dynasty Bowlers Battle for Title at the Denny’s Dick Weber Open

Fountain Valley, Calif. [February 8, 2009] A week-long break on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour was a welcome relief for PBA Hall of Famer, and Dynasty Athlete Representation client Norm Duke.

Coming off a disappointing 39th place-finish in the H & R Block Tournament of Champions two weeks ago, a rested Duke defeated fellow Dynasty client Michael Fagan 278-168 in the championship match to win the Denny’s Dick Weber Open Sunday at Fountain Bowl.

“That week off was everything,” said Duke, who was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame the same week as the Tournament of Champions. “I needed it mentally-if there wasn’t this break on Tour I would have probably taken a week off anyway.”

Duke’s win was the 32nd of his career, tying him for fifth all-time with fellow Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III. In addition to coming into the tournament with renewed focus, the Clermont, Fla., resident admitted to a little added inspiration from the late Dick Weber.

“When I started the practice session I noticed Dick’s photo on a banner and I thought if I’m going to win this tournament I better bowl like Dick Weber,” said the 44-year-old Duke. “It means a lot.”

For Duke it was his third victory of the season, having won the PBA World Championship to start the season.  Norm Duke is the first player to win three consecutive majors. He also won the Don and Paula Carter Mixed Doubles with Liz Johnson in January.

Duke, who won a $35,000 first prize, held off the hard-charging Fagan who won three consecutive matches from his No. 5 qualifying position to get to the championship match.

The 28-year-old Fagan opened the stepladder by defeating reigning PBA Player of the Year and 10-time titlist, Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 204-183, and then beat four-time Tour titlist Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, N.Y., 256-223, and Hall of Famer and 34-time titlist Pete Weber of St. Ann, Mo., 243-201.

“I really didn’t have high expectations and I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me,” said Fagan, who was trying for his first individual PBA Tour title. “I felt good going into the last match but the lanes were breaking down pretty quickly. I was just hoping I could get one more good game out of it.

“But when Norm’s on his game there’s really not much you can do.”

Contact:
Bruce Falcon, Bowling Division Director
Dynasty Athlete Representation, LLC
bfalcon@dynastyreps.com

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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.