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NBA Players Recruiting Sports Agents Sports Law

BDA Sandwiched With Mayo?

MayoHonestly, the day I leave for a ten day trip to Israel, this happens? Anyone who knows me well, understands that I hate white foods (vanilla not included). I am not a fan of sour cream, despise cottage cheese, and refuse to intake any mayonnaise. I never had anything against one type of mayo, O.J. Mayo, and I still am not sure that he should take the major blame in what has occurred. I’ll let you make up your own mind in deciding who is in the wrong in this situation.

Immediately, we know that BDA Sports and Calvin Andrews will be hurt by what has transpired. Mayo has dropped BDA and is currently in the process of looking for new representation. Early word is that the finalists for winning the job of representing Mayo are Leon Rose and Andy Miller. It should only be a matter of time until we find out who will win the battle, with the NBA Draft quickly approaching. If Worldwide Wes is involved, then my prediction is that Leon Rose is the more likely suitor to win.

But what about BDA, Bill Duffy, and Calvin Andrews? The NBPA recently suggested that it will start to enforce some of its regulations. If it is found that BDA and/or Calvin Andrews acting in his role as an employee of BDA knowingly/recklessly/negligently supplied funds to a runner/handler who then passed them onto Mayo, the BDA employees and the company may be at risk of a penalty. That penalty may come in the form of a monetary fine or even a temporary suspension from representing clients.

At the end of 2005, NFL agent David Dunn was suspended by the NFLPA for eighteen months for trying to steal clients from his former partner, Leigh Steinberg. The NBPA may need to take similar action if it truly wishes to rid itself of an issue that drastically needs to be approached. In fact, the state of California may have a suit ready against BDA based on its Miller-Ayala Act (regulatory legislation in Cali instead of the UAAA). In the wake of the recent interview with David Falk, discussing the price it costs an agent to approach a player, the NBA is in a dire need to reverse its negative image. Corruption seems to be running rampant in a league that already has a tough burden of proving its value and strength based on lower-than-desired ratings and a thug mentality stereotype. Is it too much of a stretch to think that Lon Babby Bill Duffy, Calvin Andrews, and/or BDA may be suspended by the NBPA or receive a heavy penalty from the state of California if found to have indirectly contributed money to an NCAA student athlete?

I can only imagine what the ongoing investigations into this controversy must look like. I will let that settle itself out and not predict its outcome. One thing we know is that top legal counsel for the NBPA who appears to have acted as an attorney for BDA in the past, Gary Hall, will not have any part in sorting this all out. But what about O.J.? It seems like his draft stock will not be hurt. If he is anything like what Michael Wilbon describes him as, then this story really shouldn’t affect his value.

“He was the nicest, sweetest kid you could hope to meet. Said hello and then hugged me, even though he’d seen me call him a ‘punk’ on television. He was polite, engaging, answered every question with ‘Yes, sir’ or ‘No, sir.’ He said: ‘I would just love for you to spend some time with me, just talking. . . . Could I have your card and just be able to call or talk to you? I’ve got the pre-draft camp [in Chicago] coming up, a whole new world.'”

The fact that O.J. may have taken some money from a handler does not invalidate the fact that he displays strong character. And it definitely does not diminish his game in any way. So, Mr. Mayo, if you are still looking for an agent and have not yet limited your choices to Miller and Rose as suggested, then give me a call. I promise that you will not have to go through my non-existent secretary.

A Shabbat Shalom: Memorial Day Weekend Wrap-Up will be coming to you shortly. I still have a bunch of stories to get through.

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 “BDA Sandwiched With Mayo?”

When did Lon Babby come into the OJ debacle? I thought it was Duffy and BDA…

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