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Paying Tribute To Scott Boras As He Pisses Off GMs

Scott BorasLove or hate the guy, how can you not respect Scott Boras for what he has done for his clients and for all other baseball agents’ clientele?  All of us should really be paying for a portion of the numerous dollars spent on Boras Corp’s server system that churns out data comparisons so that Mr. Boras never enters a negotiation unprepared to defend what at first seems like a ridiculous offer.  Those deals that Boras clients end up signing raise the bar for all other players that some of us might be representing.  So thanks, Mr. Boras.

Want to realize his true power?  At last week’s Winter Meetings (yes, they seem to be quite the topic of conversation around these parts this week), Boras was able to piss off San Francisco Giants GM, Brian Sabean, when Boras said that Sabean’s club needs hitting help.  Many agents would be extremely cautious about rupturing their ties with their limited connections in the business of baseball.  Not Mr. Boras.  He takes the heat for many of us, and his clients often benefit from it (as do ours).

This is what Sabean said in response to Boras’ comment,

“Well, you know, I never knew that we needed any more offense. I’m shocked to hear I’m the last to know. Scott’s a very smart man. He’s got enough money to buy a club. Maybe that’s the route he should go.”

And I thought that I was the king of sarcasm.

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.