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Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up (9/22/2017)

Post author By Darren Heitner
Post date September 22, 2017

Shana Tova! May you all have a very sweet, successful and satisfying New Year. So far so good on my end. That will especially be the case if Comcast finally gets my Internet and cable working again after a very long time without it thanks to the effects of Hurricane Irma. Comcast says it will be back by the end of the day, but who knows with that company. Miami Dolphins at the top of the AFC East, as all of you predicted. Picked up the team’s defense in my fantasy leagues this year, because . . . the Jets. Miami Heat picked up a jersey patch sponsor in Ultimate Software, which is a very reputable name down here in South Florida and elsewhere. The publicly traded company has had quite the impressive growth in the past few years. Finally, no more travel for me for a little bit (hopefully), which will be nice. Then it picks up again at the end of October.

This week on Forbes:
(1) This Week In Sports Law: NFL’s Ezekiel Elliott Appeal, Boxing’s $22 Million Settlement, NCAA Lawsuit;
(2) Full 12 Franchises Announced For Initial Overwatch League Season

And as always, the weekly wrap-up:

Football

Matt Stafford bringing in more than $52 million in 2017 [The NFL’s Highest-Paid Players 2017].
Drew Rosenhaus says it’s a private matter and won’t discuss it [Timmons suspended ‘indefinitely’ by NFL Dolphins].

Basketball

After estimated taxes, agent fees and 401k, Steph Curry’s net is about $15 million [How much the NBA’s biggest stars actually earn].
Durant called his agent Rich Kleiman panicking from China [Kevin Durant to agent after leaving OKC: ‘Why the f— did you let me do this to my life?’].
One of the agents is Darren Gee, who will join the basketball division in New Jersey [CAA Promotes Four to Agents and Executives].

Baseball

Rick Thurman says Lincecum is keeping in shape.. [Where have you gone, Tim Lincecum? In search of beloved Giants ace].

Sports Law

William G. Horn plead guilty to making false statements on federal tax returns for The Tommie Harris Foundation [Oklahoma sports agent pleads guilty to federal tax charges].

Tags Darren Gee, Drew Rosenhaus, Rich Kleiman, Rick Thurman, William Horn

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.