THE BLOG WISER HOT SEAT: DARREN HEITNER

by Rupert and Stan, Ghosts of Wayne Fontes

Hey folks, it’s almost time to power down those spreadsheets, flip off the lights in the cube, and lace up those roller skates, because it’s time to ring in the weekend. As usual, there’s one last thing you have to do – read this week’s edition of the Blog Wiser Hot Seat. Today, we have a very special guest who is not only a great writer, but very well could be the next Bob Sugar. That right folks, we have the one and only Darren Heitner, the shopkeeper over at “I Want to Be A Sports Agent.” This is a big week for Darren, because in addition to his normal blog duties, he recently launched a new entrepreneurial venture entitled AccessAthletes. We’re ready to get the inside scoop by using bribes and strippers…just kidding. Anyway, let’s get down to business shall we?

Ghosts: Thanks for joining us today on the Blog Wiser Seat. It’s a pleasure to have you.

Darren: Where are the strippers?

Ghosts: So tell us, what Access Athletes is and what would the average user do there in a typical day?

Darren: As described right on the front page, AccessAthletes is an interactive, professional and social community that connects athletes, agents, and the media across the globe so that they can communicate with each other more effectively and efficiently. AccessAthletes is also open to the general public. To break it down, AccessAthletes is a new social networking site specifically geared for sports entities and sports fans. Athletes, agents, and media sign up and go through a verification process before they are admitted as “MVPs”. MVPs may interact with each other and fans may interact with MVPs if the MVPs allow it. We have strict privacy settings to allow MVPs security of their information. Currently, we feature a message board where most interaction takes place. However, we will be adding many new features soon.

Ghosts: Does it make sense to sign up if you aren’t an athlete, agent, agent, or writer? Also, does it matter if you totally un-established in your respective spots medium (i.e., sh*tty blogger aspiring to be a writer)?

Darren: Sports fans make up a serious component of the site. Without the fans, the site is boring and lame. We want to open up the industry so that there is a lot more interaction between those behind the scenes and the general public. Information is often changed many times over before the public gets access to it. We hope to change that.

Darren: In the end, my partner (Matthew Allinson) and I, make the final say on who is given MVP status. We may ask for more information if we are not sure about validation. Bloggers are definitely encouraged to sign up as media members. However, we do reserve the right to deny your MVP status if we feel that you do not provide strong enough credentials (Will Leitch made the cut…how hard could it be?). If that is the case, you may still sign up as a fan.

Ghosts: Tell us about the whole “I want to Be a Sports Agent” dream. Did you start the blog to gain exposure and get an “In” to the competitive landscape of Sports agents? Have you since found a gig as a sports agent?

Darren: I started the blog on December 31, 2005 with two goals in mind. 1) I wanted to gain exposure in a unique way, because I knew how hard it was to break into the industry. 2) I genuinely wanted to stay on top of sports agent related issues and believed that starting a blog would keep me on my game. Luckily, both have occurred. I am now friends with many important players in the industry and have created my own agency with a contributor on the blog, Dynasty Athlete Representation (www.dynastyreps.com).

Ghosts: What, if any are your plans for the blog now? Are you still going to write on a regular basis or focus solely on Access Athletes?

Darren: Even though I became a sports agent, I decided that I would keep up “I Want to be a Sports Agent.” I love writing for the site and believe that I would be doing my readers a disservice by abolishing the blog. Now that AccessAthletes has launched, I will not quit my drive to bringing important sports agent related content to the masses. The site is making me some decent money, I learn more about the industry by writing, and I continue to get exposure…why quit?

Ghosts: Obviously, we joined up…what can we expect? Fame, notoriety, etc?

Darren: A nice badge that says “Media” to show off to your blogger buddies. Joakim Noah and Mike Wilbon would be impressed.

Ghosts: This might sound like a question for a job interview, but it’s really not; what’s your five-year plan…for the site?

Darren: Right now we are just trying to reach out to as many “MVPs” as possible. We want to grow our athlete, agent, and media base more and more over the next couple of weeks/months. This should make the site even more legitimate. We also want to add more interactive features (I do not want to give too much away here). Eventually we would like to make money from the site, but for now, we are mainly focusing on growing it as a place you want to make your home page.

Ghosts: What would you do if you strike it rich off the Access Athletes website?

Darren: Sit in my boxers while I write for my blog and call clients. Maybe buy an island.

Ghosts: If you could represent any athlete who would it be and why?

Darren: I know it sounds cheesy, but it would be my three current clients: Kyle Dison, Mike DeVaney, and Barbara Bonic. They have been nothing but patient and loving as my partner and I try to learn the ropes of this business.

Ghosts: Nice touch. So, seeing as how you are a Florida Gator, give us your honest take on the future of Florida Basketball. Do they remain a power and eventually get mentioned in the same breath with North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, etc.?

Darren: Eventually, yes. Not this year. We have some great young players and an excellent head coach, who chose to stay here for less money than going to an NBA team for higher figures. What potential recruit would not want to sign with a coach like that? Not to mention this is Florida…which should be enough of an incentive on its own.

Ghosts: Alright that’s enough business, let’s move on to the stupid sh*t. Who is the greatest comedy posse of all time: the old Saturday Night Live crew with Chevy /Murray/ Belushi/etc., the new Apatow crew, the Wilson Brothers/ Stiller/ Vaughn/etc., the 2nd generation of SNL with Sandler/Farley/Farrell/Lovitz/etc., or the new Judd Apatow guys? Anyone else who belongs in there?

Darren: 2nd generation of SNL hands down. I am a little biased, because I own every Adam Sandler movie and quote lines from Billy Madison daily. Farley was amazing, may he rest in peace, and Farrell just totally runs shit now a days. Bring along all of the people that Sandler brings with him in his movies, and everyone else’s Sh*t’s Weak.

Ghosts: Who do you know/think had the most success with the ladies (Noah, Brewer, Horford or Green)?

Darren: Al Horford, hands down. First of all, he is the best looking of the 4 (sorry guys, but it’s true). In fact, he even had his own group of followers (Horford’s hotties). Noah and Green were “locked down” throughout college. Brewer may have been some competition for Horford, but I don’t think that Horf had any problems winning the ladies over a guy who people called “Beaker”.

Ghosts: To what magazines do you subscribe?

Darren: None, but I am the head Playboy rep in Florida, which means I get each month’s issue for free. There are other perks of being the head rep, as you can imagine. Reading the latest news online everyday is more than enough. You do not even want to know how many RSS feeds I sift through daily.

Ghosts: What’s playing on your iPod (in regular rotation) right now?

Darren: I pretty much have Kanye West – Stronger on replay. That song is the hotness. Besides that, I am rocking the new Wyclef song, Chris Brown song, Flo-Rida song…I like my hip-hop.

Ghosts: How bad is our Fantasy team in the Bloggers league?

Darren: No worse than mine. Marc Bulger has 2 broken ribs, Terry Glenn is acting soft, and Maurice Jones-Drew seems to have been a big 1st round bust. I should just trade my 1st round picks for now on. Last year I blew it on LaMont Jordan…we all know how that turned out. So, I don’t even have time to worry about your team...I’m too busy crying over my own.

Ghosts: If you were playing Fantasy Football in the 90’s, let’s say 1995…who would be your #1 pick?

Darren: In Fantasy Football, the most prized position is the RB. If you had LaDanian Tomlinson last year, your team was golden. In 1995, I would take Emmitt Smith with #1 overall. He led the league in rushes, rushing yards, and rushing TDs…and he is a former Gator! Plus, he ended up becoming a lovable sports commentator. How could I resist?

Ghosts: Who would win a fight between Anthony Mason and Charles Oakley?

Darren: I have to take the Oak. I am a Miami Heat fan and remember how dirty of a player he was over the years. Many players have been ejected because of Oakley in the Heat/Knicks series’ over the years (including Oak himself).

Ghosts: In your opinion who had the most successful solo career from N.W.A? Eazy-E? Ice Cube? Dr. Dre? Mc Ren?

Darren: Ice Cube. The man is still showing up on rap tracks and he has been a successful actor as well. Dr. Dre comes close, but if we are just talking about solo careers, then it still has to be Ice Cube. Dre showed California some love, was one of the founders of WESTSIDEEEE, threw it down with Tupac and helped start Eminem. I hate Eminem, actually…Dre sucks.

Ghosts: There is really a Hollywood in Florida?

Darren: Pick up the newspaper from Wednesday. We are now nationally known for having a crazy guy threaten to blow up a Wachovia. Happens to be the branch of Wachovia that I use.

Ghosts: How bad are the Dolphins?

Darren: Terrible. And I can’t stand that there are more Jets fans here than Fins fans.

Ghosts: Why did they sign Trent Green?

Darren: Because John Beck is busy doing a church mission.

Ghosts: If Daunte Culpepper called you and needed representation, would you oblige?

Darren: Daunte is a starting NFL quarterback who still has opportunity in the league. As long as we had some control over any character issues, why not? He may have to wait a couple of years, though. The NFL requires an agent to have a post-graduate degree before becoming a licensed NFLPA representative. I am currently in my first year of law school, so I have a little ways to go.

Ghosts: Finally, can you get free tickets for the people who interview you?

Darren: I can get you free tickets to the gun show, but I am afraid that I am headlining the act.

Ghosts: Strong finale. I think we'll call it a day with that. Hopefully, that wasn’t too stupid??? Anything else you care to add share or pub about Access Athletes?

Darren: If you are reading this interview, we want you to join.

Ghosts: Excellent, thanks for your time man and best of luck with the site.