Categories
MLB Players Sports Agents

Desi Relaford Bashes Beverly Hills Sports Council

Desi Relaford

Earlier this week, Jimmy Scott’s High & Tight interviewed former MLB player, Desi Relaford.  Jimmy gave me a tip to check it out because the topic turned to Desi’s agents.  Instead of listening to the long clip, I started in that particular area of conversation, which begins around the 27 minute mark.

Desi originally signed Beverly Hills Sports Council before switching to Professional Sports Planners later in his career.  When Desi was released by Colorado in 2005, his relationship with BHSC started to become rocky.  It would take him a couple weeks to a couple months to get calls back from the agency.  Desi felt like he was low on the totem pole, which he says happens to a lot of BHSC clients as their careers begin to start declining.  Desi believed he still had it in him to play professional ball and did not feel as though the two agents (he does not mention specific names) designated to him were truly supporting his cause.  He dropped BHSC and found his next MLB job with the help of his wife.  Desi said that he needed to make a change on representation and that it did not matter who he signed with.  He switched to PSP and is still with them to this day.

Desi Relaford made some strong accusations against BHSC and completely dissed the company’s professionalism.  He mentioned that there was a time where he didn’t talk to his agents for 6 months, even though he had made many efforts to reach out to them.

I bet you Barry Bonds does not feel the same way about BHSC.  I cannot remember a week in the past year that there was not an article published in some paper about Jeff Borris (agent at BHSC) complaining about MLB teams colluding against Bonds.  I bet Desi and others wish they had the same kind of treatment.

And for some old school Desi…

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.

5 replies on “Desi Relaford Bashes Beverly Hills Sports Council”

That’s pathetic when an agent starts ignoring his own client just because the client is no longer a front-line player.

Inexcusable treatment from BHSC, if true. No client, no matter what the practice, should wait no more than 24 hours for a call back. In sports especially, responsiveness is central to the quality of representation.

Now…Let's just wait a few seconds people. This is one sided. He says they did not call back for 6 months. I bet it went both ways! They probably played phone tag. His career started going down…OF COURSE they are going to deal with their top clients first. EVERYONE does it that way. BHSC would not be around if they didnt talk with clients for 6 months. They still maintain a GREAT reputation….therefore lets not jump to conclusions. Yes, if they did it, inexcusable. There needs to be another article by BHSC before any accusations are made

This may be old but it’s sad and true, and once you leave BHSC don’t ever try to say a polite hello to them as they will show their true colors and you’ll suddenly realize your ex-agent was a jerk all along.

I am also an ex-client of Beverly Hills Sports Council and the same treatment was given to me as my career started declining. As a matter of fact I only knew they were no longer representing me when I got a letter stating they were no longer handling my tax needs and I should retain an accountant to handle that. At which time I placed several calls to them and never received a phone call back. And that is where my career ended. I was only in the big leagues for 3 years but definitely feel I had more time in me. I wish I would have looked into a different agency but unfortunately did not know how to go about it.

Comments are closed.