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Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (5/23/2014)

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Robert Mathis (98) autographs a fans jersey as he walks off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Jacksonville 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Robert Mathis’ agent is very upset with his client’s 4 game suspension. Photo Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

It is great to be back in sunny South Florida and away from the blistering cold of Chicago.  Last week’s Sports Lawyers Association conference was a blast outside of the harsh weather, though.  It is also great to be in South Florida as the Miami Heat continue to assert their dominance over the NBA.  Definitely looking forward to attending Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday evening.  This week on FORBES: (1) Is It Time For California To Move Forward With Regulated Online Poker?; (2) NFL May Have Suffered Major Setback As Concussion Lawsuit Settlement Lingers; (3) The Inevitable Death Of NBA’s One-And-Done Rule; (4) Jadeveon Clowney Becomes Face Of Wilson Football With Multi-Year Endorsement Deal; (5) The Whistle’s YouTube Sports Empire Expands With Harlem Globetrotters Partnership; (6) Donald Sterling Receives Termination Charge From NBA; (7) Can California Chrome Strike Gold?; (8) The Hurdles Former NFL Players Face In Their Painkiller Suit; (9) Sports Social Network For Smack Talk Raises $500,000 Ahead Of Series A; and (10) Miami Beckham United Reveals Plan And Support For Downtown Soccer Stadium.  And as always, the weekly wrap-up:

Football

Basketball

  • “Arn Tellem, who was a lawyer for the Clippers before becoming a top sports agent, has said one of Sterling’s strong suits in litigation was figuring out what his opponents wanted — and what they feared” [Sterlings turn to lawsuits in cases great and small].

Sports Business

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.