People I Admire

Last Friday, at the Princeton Sports Symposium, I was asked who I thought was my idol.  I responded with revealing my hero and somebody that I look up to in my industry.

My hero is my Grandma Lottie, a beautiful Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust.  She persevered through Nazi Germany and every day I remind myself that my challenges are nothing compared to what she went through.

The person I that I said I look up to in my industry is Lonnie Cooper, the CEO of Career Sports & Entertainment (CS&E).  CS&E is the agency I interned with between my Sophomore and Junior year of undergraduate studies.  Lonnie and his crew took me under their wing and allowed me to get hands-on experience working with some of their best clients.  One thing I will never forget is that Lonnie Cooper once told me, “When something really good happens, get excited for two minutes and then move on.  When something really bad happens, get upset for two minutes and then move on.”  That simple advice has really helped me progress as a businessman and as a person.

Another person who I look up to in my industry is Donald Dell.  I have had the opportunity to chat with a few times in person and cannot dislike anybody who represents former Florida Gators.  Something that impresses me about him is that he is an agent and an academic.  Like Donald, I wish to not only be a sports agent, but also a professor.  I have a strong passion to teach others everything I have learned in my existence so that they can hopefully be leaders of their generation.  Dell has had one of the most remarkable careers in sports, and continues to work hard as he ages with time.

As I am sure you already know, Dell has a book out, which I happened to really enjoy reading.  In an effort to keep that book relevant, he has been releasing various YouTube clips, that happen to be quite interesting.  He recently discussed Serena Williams’ severe punishment, the NFL taking concussions seriously, and some tips on how to get a job in sports, which is embedded below.

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 “People I Admire”

Darren,

I enjoyed your thoughts on this. I actually went right to amazon and bought the Dell book after reading it. Thanks for an educating post.

Not only are you a smart businessman and an intelligent individual; you are also a truly admirable human being.

As someone trying to break into the sports agent field, I have found your blog to be quite helpful and highly interesting. I have enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks!

Comments are closed.