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Dynasty Athlete Representation

Dan Leatherman Interviews With AccessAthletes

Dan LeathermanDan Leatherman was one of my first baseball clients.  He is someone who I respect and love.  When I found out that he was promoted to Double-A at the end of the season, I was probably as happy for him as I would be for myself if I were in his situation.

Leatherman went into the 2009 season with more baggage than most players.  He had just lost his father, who he looked up to as his hero.  He missed a few games in Spring Training because of it, which set him back in the beginning of the year.  However, Dan would not allow his father’s passing set him back for long.  Instead, he dedicated the 2009 season to his father, and pitched his heart out to make it to the next level by season’s close.

Recently, Dan was interviewed by a site that I actually Co-Founded, AccessAthletes.

In the introduction to the interview, Dan received amazing praise, which I re-post below,

Today in sports, a Dan Leatherman is rare.  We often see professional athletes with egos the size of the stadiums in which they play in.  Leatherman has none of that.  None.  He might be what you would call a “blue collar” athlete.  He is thankful for both his career and his family, and promises that in the future he will give back to baseball, as it has afforded him so much joy and success.  We also know that Dan Leatherman has made a bond with baseball and that’s where his heart will always be.  Whether his dream of making a major league roster comes true or not, one thing is for certain—he’s no longer just pitching for himself, but for his late father, friend, and coach too.

Go ahead and read the entire interview at AccessAthletes.  Everyone at Dynasty is excited to see what Dan will do for the Nationals next year, as he will begin the 2010 not far beyond the MLB squad’s reach.

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.

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