Chapter 1: Sports
Agents
Sports Agents
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Who is a sports agent?
What is the role of the agent?
Principal-agent
Lawyer-client
Doctor-patient
Based upon contract and agency law
Qualifications?
Sports Agent Regulation
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Uniform Athlete Agents Act (UAAA)
Sports Agent Responsibility Trust Act
(SPARTA) and the FTC
NCAA-governs agents who solicit “studentathletes” with remaining collegiate eligibility.
Players Associations (NFLPA, MLBPA, NBPA,
NHLPA) have a certification process
Concerns: How to enforce sports agent laws?
State or federal law? Certification v. Licensing?
Sports Agent Fees
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Regulated by Players Associations in the Big
Four leagues
Salary fees are different from endorsement fees
Salary: usually 2-4 percent commission
Endorsement: usually 10-20 percent
Sports Agency History
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Red Grange (1925)
Mark McCormack (1960s) and Arnold Palmer
Influx of agents with more money in sports
“Follow the money”…
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Agent Roles
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Fiduciary
Duty of good faith
Duty of loyalty
Duty of accounting
Duty of care
What do these mean?
Sports Lawyers as Agents
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Advantage or disadvantage?
More or less regulation?
Model Code of Professional Responsibility
(1969)
Model Rules of Professional Conduct (1983)
Other Sports Agent Considerations
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NCAA rules related to agents?
Professional sports counseling panels.
Runners?
Agents v. Financial Planners?
Sports Agents and Relative Issues
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Walters and Bloom
Tank Black
Leigh Steinberg v. David Dunn
Drew Rosenhaus
Don King?