Kicking off the fall: Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks headlines event with Stetson Entertainment and Sports Law Society
(L to R): David Lisko, Yo Murphy, students Samantha Grizzle, Marissa Marchena, Alexandra Murdocca, with Mike Dillon of Reynolds Sports Management, and Justin Moore CEO of SBLA.
By Tyler Rutledge, Second-year student, EASL Communications Chair
The Stetson Entertainment and Sports Law Society kicked off a full year of events with a successful panel discussion on “Agents and Athletes: The Business of Turning Pro.” The event was sponsored by Stetson EASL, the Sports Business and Leadership Association, Shutts & Bowen LLP, and University of Florida EASL and graciously hosted by the Performance Compound in Tampa on Friday, Sept. 18.
Headlined by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks, the event’s focus was to expose the crowd of more than 70 students and guests to elite professionals in their respective fields and inform them about different avenues of success. Brooks, a 2014 inductee into the Professional Football Hall of Fame and current president of the Tampa Bay Storm, spoke about his experiences on a variety of topics. His first-hand accounts of hiring his agent, choosing his friends, his transition from the football field into the front office and more had all in attendance captivated.
David Lisko, SBLA president and co-founder, was vital in securing Brooks for the event.
Lisko stated, “I am an NFL agent as well as a lawyer at Holland & Knight, and one of my clients is a friend of Derrick Brooks, who informed him about the Sports Business & Leadership Association and asked him if he would be willing to speak at one of our networking and educational events. I believe that when he found out about the charitable goals of our organization and that he would be speaking to students and young professionals, he was inspired to join the panel.”
Panelists Mike Dillon, Derrick Brooks, and Yo Murphy take a question from a Stetson Law student.
The panel also included guests Mike Dillon and Yo Murphy. Dillon is the executive vice president of Reynolds Sports Management, an agency representing some of Major League Baseball’s top stars. Dillon spoke about his professional evolution from high school teacher to his current position today negotiating contracts and providing marketing services for top athletes. Murphy, who is director of sports performance at the Performance Compound, spoke about his professional football career in both the National Football League and Canadian Football League, which included a Super Bowl appearance with the St. Louis Rams in 2001. Murphy, now working as a trainer for professional baseball and football players, also spoke about the importance of proper training throughout both the season and off-season for professional athletes.
To learn more about Stetson EASL and upcoming events, like the EASL page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StetsonEASL or e-mail [email protected].
Stetson EASL’s next event is open to Stetson students, faculty and staff will take place Monday, Oct. 12, at 12 p.m. in Stetson’s Great Hall and will feature a luncheon with David Cohen, general counsel of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
RSVP for this event on the EASL HatterSync page at https://orgsync.com/115131/chapter.
Post date: Sept. 29, 2015
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580