Overview
In my business, I'm not a point guard. I'm a shooting guard. It's my job to go out and be a passionate advocate for my clients.
David Falk is considered by many to be the second most powerful man in basketball -- behind David Stern. He negotiated professional sport's first $100 million dollar deal for Alonzo Mourning, and closed over $400 million dollars in free agency deals during a 6-day period.
Falk's road to success in professional sports stemmed from a blue collar upbringing, where hard work and goal achievement sat at the forefront of daily rituals. His mother instilled in him to "Always shoot for the stars and never settle for anything less."
On the show, we talk about what it was like to sign Michael Jordan, represent him in negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Nike, McDonalds, and Gatorade, as well as how Falk and his team restructured many of the rules in the current NBA Player Handbook, to prevent the cannibalization of player image/likeness by the NBA.
If you're in (or aspire to be) the business of sports, this show will equip you with a history of player representation, packed with anecdotes from MJ's career, the small and large (quite large) deals, and the celebrations. Falk and I also dissect certain core characteristics and soft skills that businesses and agencies are looking for.
Show Notes
1:55 | David's Upbringing |
6:00 | The Importance of Relationships |
10:30 | Building Humility |
13:20 | Building A Foundation To Get Michael Jordan |
16:40 | The Problem With Today's Agencies |
26:00 | Getting His First Job at ProServ |
34:10 | Negotiating The Nike Shoe Deal |
48:30 | How To Differentiate Players As A Brand |
51:00 | The Marketing Success of Jordan |
55:55 | Finding Balance With Endorsement Deals |
59:45 | Scheduling Jordan's Endorsements |
63:15 | Opting Out Of The League Licensing Agreement |
70:00 | The Importance of a Strong Moral Compass |
Noteworthy Resources
- Warby Parker – Free Home Try On
- Away Travel – Use Code Rabil for $20 off!
- Saxx Underwear – Use Code Rabil to Get $5 off and free shipping!