How to Play the Game

On this episode of the How to Play the Game Podcast, Darren Heitner is joined by NFL agent David Canter, who just recently sold his sports agency to acquirer GSE Worldwide.

Topics include: (1) When David got his start in the sports agency world and what caused him to want to represent pro athletes; (2) How the business of representing professional athletes has changed since David started practicing as an agent; (3) Why now was the right time to sell his agency; (4) What stood our about GSE Worldwide among other potential acquirers; (5) The process of being targeted as a possible acquisition from when there was initial interest until the deal finally got done; (6) How much NIL and marketing played into David's decision to join up with a larger organization; (7) What the acquisition means for his existing clientele; and (8) After so many years in the business and objectively a large amount of success during that time, is there still anything specific David hopes to accomplish or any goals he has set for the future.

Follow Darren: @DarrenHeitner

Follow David: @DavidCanter

Chase Garrett and Drew Butler joined the How to Play the Game Podcast to break down the first month of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights for college athletes and highlight how their company, Icon Source, has played a role in the explosion of athlete deals during the first four weeks. They highlighted how their platform now has over 10,000 athletes and thousands of brands, connecting to engage in potential NIL deals such as the landmark agreement negotiated between Haley and Hanna Cavinder (the Cavinder Twins) and Boost Mobile. They expect gold medalist Suni Lee to have great opportunities as she enrolls at Auburn and hope to be part of Bryce Young doing deals beyond the roughly $1 million that he has thus far secured (Bryce is on the Icon Source platform). The biggest brand campaign that they have had on the Icon Source platform was over 6-figures. Amazingly, no school compliance department has rejected any of their athlete/brand deals. After a month, Drew and Chase say that they have had more deal flow than they could have imagined and that the biggest surprise thus far is how many athletes are receiving great deals that they are rejecting.

Follow Chase: @ChaseGarrett23

Follow Drew: @DrewButler

Follow Icon Source: @iconsource_

Follow Darren: @DarrenHeitner

Scott O'Neil, CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment, takes a break from celebrating the Philadelphia 76ers cruising into the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs to discuss the release of a brand new book called, BE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE. The conversation wasn't about the 76ers success, but instead whether the team is learning as much this year at the top of the Eastern Conference as what the franchise learned when it only won 10 games in a single season. O'Neil explained that he primarily wrote the book to help create the next generation of leaders. He found that the Instagram life we live in that looks perfect is actually not so perfect. O'Neil wanted to share that it's okay and that life is messy; everything will be fine. He opened up and talked about how he has been fired from a high-profile job, ran a company into the ground, was flat broke, and getting foreclosure notices on his house in his life. When bad things happen, there's an incredible opportunity that presents itself. "I'm not ashamed of the failures or the falls or the slips because it's a part of who I am." It was great to hear how important being present is to Scott and why we all need to do a better job putting our phones down from time to time and keep our heads up. Scott also points out that is okay to ask for help and it is important for us to check in on people to make sure they are fine. He even drops a good line from Caddyshack. He also drops the gem that you should keep picking incredible people to work for and that you should not only dream but dream bigger. We finish with a quick chat on blockchain, crypto, and NFTs.

Follow Scott: @ScottONeil

Follow Darren: @DarrenHeitner

In this latest episode of the How to Play the Game podcast, host Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) is joined by Jock MKT co-founder Dave Isman (@DaveIsman). They discuss Jock MKT's differentiation from other types of more traditional fantasy sports products (buying shares in players and being able to live trade those shares in the marketplace), the company's recent $10 million Series A round of funding, the strategy of working with individual influencers and content creators in the fantasy sports space for onboarding new users, Jock MKT's position on the hierarchy of fantasy sports companies, lack of fear for fantasy sports as sports betting expands across the country, upcoming goals that the company hopes to hit, and the process of selecting their name (which was registered as a trademark with the help of Heitner Legal).

On the latest episode of the How to Play the Game podcast, I spoke with New York Mets starting pitcher Taijuan Walker about his own experience dabbling in the world of NFT auctions. Walker very recently completed a five-day auction of a one-of-one digital card that sold for 2.35 Ether, or roughly $4,000. He says that the experience was rewarding and that he is looking into hosting more auctions in the future.

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Follow Darren Heitner on Twitter/IG: @DarrenHeitner

In this latest edition of How to Play the Game podcast, Darren Heitner interviews Jason Howarth, vice president at Panini America. They discuss Panini America's commitment to digital trading cards and building on the blockchain, how he views the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFT) like NBA Top Shot, what makes him most optimistic about further growth in his space, and much more.

Follow Darren on Twitter/IG: @DarrenHeitner

On Clubhouse: @heitner

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Former National Football League vice president Casey Schwab left the union in 2020 to create Altius Sports Partners. Since then, his company has signed LSU, Texas, and the University of South Carolina to assist the schools with preparations for when college athletes will earn the right to make money off of their names, images, and likenesses. In this interview, I talk to Casey about the challenges in building a business from scratch with the need to sign up institutional clients, and what the future holds for college athletes to take advance of their names, images, and likenesses for commercial gain.

Follow Darren on IG/Twitter: @DarrenHeitner

On Clubhouse: @heitner

HeitnerLegal.com | SportsAgentBlog.com

When Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a 14-year, $340 million deal with the San Diego Padres, he was happy, his family was happy, his agents were happy, and so was a guy named Michael Schwimer. He is the founder of Big League Advance, which gave Tatis Jr. money when he was in the Minors in exchange for equity in his future playing contracts. It will pay off for Schwimer and his investors. How did Schwimer come up with the concept for the company? How much money does it have at its disposal? How many players has it signed? Why doesn't the Major League Baseball Players Association like the business model? We discuss that and much more on this latest edition of How to Play the Game.

Follow Darren: @DarrenHeitner on Twitter and IG; @heitner on Clubhouse.

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Today’s episode is my participation on a recent Sports Law and Negotiations Panel at the Sports Industry Networking & Career (SINC) Conference. I discussed how COVID-19 has affected my practice and Sports Law in general; my biggest piece of advice for someone looking to break into Sports Law; what I think will be a hot subject area in Sports Law moving forward; and the status of name, image, and likeness laws throughout the United States.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Tweet me or follow me on IG at @darrenheitner

Connect with me on Clubhouse @heitner

What is NBA Top Shot? What are NFTs (non-fungible tokens)? What is digital art? All of these questions and more are answered by guest Justin Herzig, owner of $400,000 worth of Top Shots and co-founder of the Own The Moment podcast. Justin answers a lot of important questions about the craze surrounding Top Shot, NFTs, and digital art, including what exactly the user owns, concerns about market manipulation, issues surrounding a market that may be driven by quick profits as opposed to true collectors, and much more.

On November 12, Darren Heitner was asked to provide the California SB 206 Working Group with a presentation on the topic of economic implications associated with name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation for college athletes and the impact of related state-based legislation.  Darren was asked to briefly describe his role in drafting language for the Florida NIL legislation and his background in consulting related to NIL issues in college athletics as well as any updates as to how the Florida Board of Education has proceeded to implement the Florida legislation. He discussed issues and/or concerns he envisions for states that have already enacted legislation in the event Congress similarly enacts federal NIL legislation which may pre-empt state laws. Additionally, Darren was asked to discuss the impact of the most recently proposed rules changes for college athletes at the NAIA and NCAA (DI, DII, and DIII) in terms of whether institutions adopting those new rules or regulations would be in conformity with the Florida legislation scheduled to become effective in summer 2021.

Follow on Twitter/IG: @DarrenHeitner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sportsagent/

I recently did an interview with the Building This Community podcast to touch upon my transition from agent to attorney, the advice I'd give people looking to break into the Sports Law industry, how I run my law firm unlike traditional law firms, the ongoing name, image, and likeness issues in college sports, whether I see the U.S. ever transitioning to a European treatment of its athletes where they are allowed to compete at the professional level as soon as they are able, my role on the Fort Lauderdale Board of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, and more.

Building This Community: https://anchor.fm/buildingthiscommunity

Me: @DarrenHeitner

I referenced the 44 NBA players who have signed free agent deals for more than $1.1 billion and looked into whether their deals are truly, completely guaranteed as many claim the contracts to be for the players. While the contracts are certainly more player-friendly than those found in the NFL, there are still ways that NBA players can screw up their guarantees.

Follow: @DarrenHeitner

Darren Heitner, Florida Representative Chip LaMarca, and University of Miami athletics director Blake James discuss many issues surrounding college athletes' publicity rights.  The topics included: The inspiration for Florida's name, image, and likeness (NIL) law as well as the motivation for proposing it within the state; main priorities of Florida's law; the significance of including a July 2021 effective date in Florida; the process of obtaining legislative support for the Florida bill; how potential NCAA or federal action impacts Florida's law; steps universities and athletic departments in Florida must take before July 2021; anticipated effects on recruiting in the State of Florida; and what the NIL market should look like in the future.

This was recorded during the Student Sports Law Network (SSLN) symposium.

Follow Darren Heitner at @DarrenHeitner

Follow SSLN at @the_ssln

Darren Heitner and Professor Michael McCann, who also writes at Sportico, do a deep dive on name, image, and likeness (NIL) issues. The conversation specifically focuses on whether the federal government or the NCAA should be trusted to put something together that is better than what Florida plans to enact on the subject as of July 1, 2021. Darren goes into detail on the federal proposals and what the NCAA had suggested by way of its recommendations at the time. The two professionals also talk about whether there could be a legal claim against Florida if it pushes forward with its law as planned.  Follow Darren: @DarrenHeitner Follow Michael: @McCannSportsLaw

I chatted with Sports Business Journal writer and Forbes 30 under 30 winner, Mark Burns, about his provocative tweet concerning breaking into the business of sports. We discussed his path to where he is today, at the age of 31-years-old, and the advice he gives to people who want to follow in his footsteps or otherwise work in sports. If you like it, then please leave this podcast a strong review and subscribe.

Host: @DarrenHeitner

Guest: @MarkJBurns88

There is hardly a day that I don't have a student reach out to either interview me as a class assignment or otherwise ask me about my past and how I got to where I am today as a lawyer with a niche in Sports Law. I asked a University of Miami student who recently reached out for a class project whether he would allow me to record the interview so that I could share with others the answers to some of the more common questions that I receive on a daily basis. I hope you enjoy it.

Tweet me/Follow me on Instagram: @DarrenHeitner

Darren Heitner discusses how he became part of the effort for Florida to pass the most envelope-pushing college athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) legislation and the process of changes being made to the bill prior to its ultimate passing, including a shift from an effective date of July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021. The financial literacy and life skills workshop requirement is also discussed, with comparison to some proposed federal legislation on the subject.

Darren Heitner discusses the 5 states that have passed legislation, as of November 2020, allowing college athletes to begin monetizing their names, images, and likenesses (NIL). The discussion includes aspects of Nebraska's law and New Jersey's law. It also goes into the 3 federal bills that have been proposed by members of Congress, including those sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio, Senators Corey Booker and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, and Representatives Gonzalez and Cleaver.

Representatives Gonzalez (R-OH) and Cleaver (D-MO) have proposed a new piece of legislation to prohibit the NCAA and universities from restricting college athletes from participating in intercollegiate athletics because such athletes enter into endorsement contracts. I explain why I think this is the best federal proposal to date, break down its provisions, and describe areas that I think can be improved.

Nebraska actually has the most envelope-pushing name, image and likeness law for college athletes.  The law, signed by Governor Rickets, allows any postsecondary institution to allow college athletes to enjoy these rights as soon as TODAY. "The U of Nebraska can implement the Act at any time—now, during this pandemic, would be great," says Nebraska Senator Megan Hunt, who introduced the legislation. This pod discusses the law and the lawsuit filed by Nebraska football players that brought to light Nebraska's progressive stance.

In this episode of the How to Play the Game Podcast, Darren Heitner engages in a short discussion with Dennis Gilbert, an extremely successful former baseball agent who negotiated many professional sports contracts including the oft referred to lengthy contract signed by Bobby Bonilla. For the last 20 years he has worked with the White Sox working as Jerry Reinsdorf’s assistant, keeping a low profile. But he’s not happy about what’s happening right now between MLB and the MLBPA, with the parties unable to come to an agreement to get back to playing in 2020. In this episode, he provides his thoughts to the How to Play the Game Podcast, and says that the players should take the owners' deal.

Drew Rosenhaus, owner of Miami-based Rosenhaus Sports Representation, talks about how this year has been very different from his prior 31 years in representing professional athletes. We also discuss his belief that college athletes deserve to earn money of their names, images and likenesses, the legacy of coach Don Shula, best practices for breaking into the biz and more.

Steve Herz, Preisdent of The Montag Group and founder of IF Management, joins the How to Play the Game podcast. Steve talks about what caused him to switch from being a lawyer to a broadcaster agent, creating his own company at the age of 30, how Al Jaffe at ESPN helped him with early success, merging his company with Sandy Montag's The Montag Group, the launch of his book, Don't Take Yes for an Answer, and much more.

On Friday, May 8, 2020, Steve Herz (President of The Montag Group), DJ Fisher (Founder and Sports Agent at Defining Sports) and Darren Heitner (Founder and Chief Vision Officer at Heitner Legal) joined the Syracuse Sport Business Conference Digital Series to discuss Name, Image and Likeness issues concerning college sports. This How to Play the Game podcast is a republication of the hour-long discussion.

Alexander E. Weber, MD is the Team Physician for USC Athletics and the LA Kings. He joined the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss his take on COVID-19, the utility of the various forms of tests, the importance of a vaccine and why he does not believe there will be any delay in the start of the 2020 college football season. As a former college athlete and someone around current athletes, Dr. Weber also gave his opinion on why name, image and likeness is an important issue to him.

Hockey agent Daniel Milstein joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss how he broke into the competitive industry; how he is able to manage building that agency while also focusing on a mortgage company, authoring books and producing films; the challenges that he is confronting with coronavirus; what separates him from his competition, including his speed in answering all communications; and much more.

Brian Stanchak, Founder and President of the BDS Agency, came on the How to Play the Game Podcast to discuss how he found himself in the business of representing women's college basketball coaches. Stanchak explains how it was not initially his goal to end up where he is today, and provides insight as to how he was able to find his niche and what others should be doing if they want to break into the biz. Stanchak also discusses how COVID-19 has affected his business and the business of his clients.

Law professor and sports business expert Marc Edelman joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss the NCAA's recommendations that will purportedly allow college athletes to begin earning money off their names, images and likenesses, if legislation is created by October and passed by January 2021. We discuss the NCAA's attempt to receive an antitrust exemption, its desire to cause Congress to declare that college athletes aren't employees, issues concerning the regulation of athlete agents by the NCAA and much more.

NFLPA Contract Advisor David Mulugheta joined the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss his success in the 2020 NFL Draft, representing 8 of the top 56 picks and his company, Athletes First, representing 22 picks through the first 3 rounds. Why did Mulugheta pick Atheltes First coming out of law school, the benefits of a virtual draft, what's next on his agenda, and more.

Basketball agent Seth Cohen, who represents NBA player Cam Johnson and prospect Isaiah Todd, joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss Todd's decision making process picking the NBA G League over Michigan, Seth's process of recruiting and signing Todd, how Seth's agency was developed over the past few years, a talented player Seth is representing in the 2020 NBA Draft, and much more.

Gregg Clifton, principal at Jackson Lewis, joined the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss how coronavirus has had an impact on discussions between Major League Baseball teams and players concerning their salaries, the draft and even possibly reducing the number of Minor League affiliated teams. We also talked about his confidence that the NCAA will soon propose a plan allowing college athletes to earn money off their names, images and likenesses. Finally we chat about why Gregg pivoted from being a sports agent to a full time practicing attorney.

The owner of BeatinTheBookie.com comes onto the How to Play the Game podcast to talk about the business of sports betting, particularly during the coronavirus crisis. We talk about everything from how big of a loss his business has taken since COVID-19 hit to how and when he expects Las Vegas to reopen to what should be expected in terms of sports betting with the NFL Draft.

WNBA agent Allison Galer, who created her own sports agency at the age of 22, joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss her successes and challenges of starting a business focused on the representation of WNBA players, the help she received from her uncle Lon Rosen (former agent to Magic Johnson), why she chose to have no clients in the 2020 WNBA Draft, how coronavirus is affecting her business and the industry as a whole and much more.

NFL agent Brian Levy joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss: What are the pro prospects for players who were not invited to the NFL Combine and had their Pro Days scrapped because of coronavirus? What are the challenges that even NFL Combine invitees are having as they prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft? How did NFL players go from a position of viewing a 17 game regular season as being a non-starter to ultimately ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL that gives them less than a 50% split of revenue and guarantees owners that coveted 17th game?

In this episode of How to Play the Game, I am joined by Chris Dingman, Chief Executive Officer of The Dingman Group. Dingman leads a company that specializes in advising major professional sports organizations and athletes on relocation management, whether during expansion or as they simply move to various cities in the United States. We discuss how his business has been affected by coronavirus and what types of conversations he's been having with the roughly 24 NFL players who recently signed contracts with new teams.

What are the legal considerations and liabilities that sports leagues and teams should be thinking about before deciding to return to play and allow spectators in the stands? How can they best shield themselves from exposure in the case that a spectator decides to sue, alleging that he/she contracted coronavirus and that the team or league is at fault? In this episode of How to Play the Game, I discuss what leagues and teams should be thinking about as they get closer to allowing fans to return and also the legal exposure they may have with their own players.

In this How to Play the Game podcast, I speak with football agent Alexa Stabler about the brief history of the second attempt at establishing and maintaining the XFL. What were some of its highlights and what were some of its failures? We also talk about the NFL and what it is like as a younger agent trying to compete against more entrenched representatives in such a volatile landscape.

Rob Katz, a former MLB team executive and currently on the board of North Carolina Development Baseball, joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss how a new deal between Major League Baseball and the players' association may be good for current MLB players looking to secure their service time, but is a tough pill to swallow for prospects who hope to one day be drafted by or signed to MLB teams. The discussion includes a reduction of rounds in the MLB Draft, deferment of signing bonus payments and a cap on payment that is dependent on where a player is drafted.

UFC and NFL agent Malki Kawa of First Round Management joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss his positive reaction to Dana White indicating UFC 249 will happen in California on April 18 despite continued concerns about COVID-19 and even though every other sporting event has been either canceled or postponed. Kawa feels comfortable that the health and safety of the fighters will be accounted for and does not care that the California State Athletic Commission won't participate in the April 18 event.

Attorney and NFL agent Nicole Lynn joins the How to Play the Game podcast to discuss the challenges she and her draft-eligible clients such as Jedrick Wills, Jalen Hurts and McTelvin Agim are confronting as the coronavirus continues to interfere with business as usual. One benefit is that teams have not been limited in how many "visits" (albeit virtual) they can make prior to the NFL Draft.

Nobody wants to see a cancellation of the NBA season, but safety concerns over COVID-19 must prevail. Players have continued to be paid while no games are being played. Will that continue even if the season is scrapped altogether? That power rests plainly in the hands of NBA team owners.