SPORTS AGENT BLOG

Showing you the money since 2005.

Friday Wrap-Up Headline

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (7/25/2014)

Post author By Darren Heitner
Post date July 25, 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo is teaming up with Lil Wayne? You don't say! Photo Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo is teaming up with Lil Wayne? You don't say! Photo Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports — Cristiano Ronaldo is teaming up with Lil Wayne? You don’t say! Photo Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

I had a blast in Dublin, Ireland, where I was able to truly explore the business of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and its global expansion, along with experiencing a part of the world that I had never traveled. Thanks to agent Audie Attar for helping with logistics of the trip. A little bit more than a month in with the creation of HEITNER LEGAL, and I could not have asked for a better start. Thanks for all the support to date. This week on FORBES: (1) University Of Arkansas Trademarks The Hog Call; (2) Conor McGregor’s Agent On Accomplishments And Challenges For UFC And His Firm; (3) The UFC Has A Great Problem In Dublin; (4) Sports Authority Strikes Deal To Sell Its First Football Helmet Accessory; and (5) Carmelo Anthony’s Venture Capital Firm Invests In Smart Kitchen Company. And as always, the weekly wrap-up:

Baseball

No. 1 overall pick failed to sign with team [Brady Aiken’s adviser rips Astros as team can’t reach deal with picks].
This would be such a shame [Brady Aiken’s College Eligibility Might Be In Jeopardy].

Football

Chicago or Los Angeles on the horizon? [Sports Agents Discuss Relocation Of 2015 NFL Draft]
That time of the year when hundreds converge on Washington D.C. [NFLPA exam week thoughts].

Basketball

Creative, but kosher? [Josh Huestis’ agent proposed delaying rookie contract]

Sports Business

This could be huge [Lil Wayne Reportedly Starting Sports Agency with Cristiano Ronaldo as 1st Client].
15-year IMG vet David Abrutyn is on to the next one [Another Exec Leaves Ari Emanuel’s IMG: Growing Pains or ‘A Slow Motion Car Crash’?].

Sports Law

In-depth article on lawyer taking on the NCAA [Game changer].

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.