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MLB Players

Odalis, Will You Be My Hero?

“When you spend your own money you want to be recognized for that. I don’t want to be a hero, but just pay more attention to what I’m doing. People don’t want to give me the recognition for it.”

What you lookin at charity fool?How many guesses will it take before you figure out who said the quote above? If you picked Odalis Perez, you were right on the money, as good old Odalis has decided to stop his O’s 45’s charitable program after losing his starting job on the Los Angeles Dodgers [Odalis No Idealist]. Sore loser? Sure. Bitter? Definitely. Pure stupidity? That’s what I was looking for. Public relations seems to be a hot topic that players are really messing up on this week. Players need to keep their mouths shut sometimes, and let the people they employ (agents) speak for them. Odalis Perez and any other player should never tell reporters that he/she is stopping a charitable program because he/she did not get enough credit from the public and team for donations made even if it is the truth. Either scrap the program and do not make a stupid statement that makes you look like a jerk in the public eye, or keep the program running and take your demotion like a man/woman.

This is a perfect example of just one more reason why Sports Agents are needed. Most players need to stick to what they are good at, which is performing on the field/court/rink/etc. Let the agents take care of the reporters and charities.

[tags]odalis perez, los angeles dodgers, public relations, pr, sports agents[/tags]

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.