SPORTS AGENT BLOG

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Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (11/9/2018)

Post author By Darren Heitner
Post date November 9, 2018

It was an enjoyable and successful six days in New York City, but I’m glad to be back in Florida for a few days before I head to Pittsburgh and Scottsdale next week. Today, I’m off to Gainesville for my annual trip to a Gators football game. Unfortunately, the team is on a mighty slide at the moment, but there is no way that it will interfere with the joy that I always have in returning to the city where I spent seven years of my life (not because I’m Van Wilder, but because I did undergrad and law school studies back-to-back).

This week on The Sports Biz:
(1) Cavaliers And Dan Gilbert Sued After Signaling A Strategy To Hire Younger Coaches;
(2) Job Opening: University Of Miami Seeks Director, Athletic Facilities;
(3) Job Opening: Topps Seeks Assistant General Counsel;
(4) Stadia’s State Of The Season Highlighted By 3rd Exit In 3 Years Of Biz;
(5) Robert Kraft’s Overwatch Team Files Trademark Opposition Vs. Raptors Ownership;
(6) NHL Finds Room To Add FanDuel As An Official Sports Betting Partner;
(7) Lakers Forward Brandon Ingram Inks Deal With Unique Black Water Company;
(8) 47 Of 64 Louisiana Parishes Will Soon Be Able To Spend Money On Fantasy Sports;
(9) Gaming Companies Are Banking On Spread Of Sports Gambling In U.S. To Meet Projections;
(10) Adidas Vs. Ohio State: Trademark Fight Over Three-Stripes Design

And as always, the weekly wrap-up:

Baseball

He was expected to make $25 million next year; signed 4-year deal with Mets to earn $10 million [Brodie Van Wagenen Expected to Take Massive Pay Cut With Mets].
He’s an agent who is not afraid to speak his mind [Agent Scott Boras blames MLB’s lower attendance on tanking teams].
Says he’s never talked to Brodie in his life [Scott Boras doesn’t sound like he wants to negotiate with new Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen].

Basketball

Doesn’t seem like a smart business move for NCAA to penalize many of its strongest school members [Feds give NCAA green light to begin probe of schools in recruiting scandal].
A bit fluffy for me . . . [Lessons Learned From Adidas’ College-Recruiting Scandal].

Football

David Mulugheta took a tough stand against a client who is set to earn a massive amount of money. [Report: Agent ends relationship with Saints WR Michael Thomas].

Tags Brodie Van Wagenen, David Mulugheta, scott boras

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.