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Sports Agents

Matt Sosnick Speaks At UCSB

20080924100455_sosnick-matt-1Matt Sosnick stopped by UC-Santa Barbara last Friday to speak to a Sports Management class.  He was very frank in his discussion with students about his former business, his college days, and how Sosnick and Cobbe Sports ended up becoming the large California baseball agency that it is today.  Here are some things that Matt said to the class:

“I could have tried to do this [become an agent] another ten times and would not have been successful. I had a decent skill set for it but I had a ton of money on my own and more importantly caught a couple huge breaks

When he [Dontrelle] started to become a household name, I was terrified that he was going to switch agents.  If Dontrelle didn’t make it, it was going to be hard for me to make it long-term.

I don’t need to roll the dice and risk a player getting less guaranteed money for his future, especially if he has family to take care of. This is where I am completely different than Scott Boras.”

And a question that is always asked to an agent when he/she is giving a speech to students: “What is your advice on becoming an agent?”

“Don’t do it. It’s a much easier deal to become a money manager and handle a player’s money until they’re through to retirement.”

I am a big fan of Matt, but do not buy his closing statement.  Just because something is “easier” does not mean it is the proper direction that you should take.

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.

4 replies on “Matt Sosnick Speaks At UCSB”

I’ve never heard an agent be that cut and dry (“Don’t do it”). Most of them say to practice law for a few years, gain some capital, get experience negotiating contracts, and then pursue a career in agency. Sounds like he’s trying to scare away competition.

Ryan Ballard: I’ve never heard an agent be that cut and dry (”Don’t do it”).Most of them say to practice law for a few years, gain some capital, get experience negotiating contracts, and then pursue a career in agency.Sounds like he’s trying to scare away competition.

Honestly, I don’t think that Sosnick is worried about scaring away competition. You and me are the least of his worries, and guys like Scott Boras do not care about what Sosnick is saying to college students in a Sports Management class. I do agree that if you do not give this profession your all (or any profession, for that matter), don’t do it. But if you are willing to take the ride on the highs and endure the lows, then do not let Matt’s statement discourage you.

follow @Darren_Heitner on twitter

By Post Author

The theme running through all sports agent’s comments of attempting to discourage anyone from being agents is so common now it’s getting boring.

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