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How Much Is Too Much For A Professional Athlete?

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Andrew Carnegie once stated, “Take away my factories, my plants; take away my railroads, my ships, my transportation;  take away my money;  strip me of all these, but leave me my key people and I will have them all back again.”

Throughout the history of sports, many athletes have failed both on and off the field of play, both during and after their playing days.  The difference, however, between ultimate success and long-term failure can be and should be the people surrounding the athlete.  Following some type of setback from an injury to being cut to being traded to some type of economic hardship, the ability for an athlete to pick himself up and get going again, might be directly related to the people he surrounds himself with.

While an athlete can be well served by a good “team” around him, he must also be aware of fees.  If someone provides a service for an athlete, naturally he should be compensated for that service.  It’s widely known that many athletes have their bills (mortgage, car payments, utilities) paid by someone as a service.  The person responsible for this service should gauge the client simply due to the fact he makes millions of dollars per year.  As a result of today’s modern day banking and upcoming technological advances, athletes do not need to pay thousands or hundreds of dollars per month for the “service” of having their bills paid.  How much is too much?  The fee should be zero, or very close to that figure.

Disclosures.  The information contained herein is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.  Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.  Further, the information herein is intended solely to provide general information and does not constitute a promotion of any offerings or products.  Donald J. Kushner is an independent financial advisor with Arque Capital, Ltd., and does business as DK Sports Financial.  Arque Capital, Ltd., and DK Sports Financial are unrelated entities.  Securities offered through Arque Capital, Ltd.  7501 E. McCormick Parkway, Suite 111 North Court, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.  (602) 971-9000.  Member FINRA/SIPC.  Any unauthorized reproduction of this information is strictly prohibited.

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.

One reply on “How Much Is Too Much For A Professional Athlete?”

I totally agree with this article its always about the people you are surrounded with. I’ve read a book “From athletes to business” and I got learn that this is important for an athlete to think long term …

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