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Negotiating
an endorsement deal is also a part of an agent's job. "With
endorsements,
some players prefer the brand over the compensation he is paid for wearing
whatever it is. However, some players have no preference as to which brand
they use, as long as they receive a hefty sum to wear the footwear, gloves
or other apparel." Once again, representing a client's best interests,
making sure he is satisfied is an agent's job.
Dan
handles lots of players, all with different goals. What is astonishing is
how he is able to work with each of them to find common ground. "You
have to understand that clients' goals are different," he explained to
me. "Your job is to treat each one differently. Most importantly, you
have to be honest. If a client is demanding $8 million dollars, but you know
he is not worth it, you need to tell him."
He
went on to say that a good agent is also a good listener. Knowing what the
client wants will help the agent make the right decisions that affect the
career of the athlete he is representing.
Dan
admits that the best part of his job is, "Making a difference in my clients'
lives and being able to work in pro sports. When the day is done, and a client
says something as little as 'thank you',
it makes you feel really good. It could be something as small as helping a
client's little brother get into college, or as extensive as negotiating a
7 year $91 million contract." When asked about the worst part, he replied,
"The worst part is seeing players with incredible ability, given great
opportunities, not capitalize. It's a shame."
You
might think being a sports agent is the next best thing to being on the field.
However, Mr. Lozano claims that his work is not as glamorous as it sounds.
He says in order to prosper in the sports agency business, you must have creativity,
patience, and most importantly, be flexible. You must be able to leave and
hop on a plane at any hour of the day. "When you think about it, there
are 30 teams in baseball, that means 30 General Managers that I have to get
to know. If any one of them calls and needs to see me, I go."
Dan
has always been interested in baseball. He shared his love for the game with
his two older brothers. Although, when it came to reading the newspaper, Dan
was more interested in the business aspects of the game than the box scores.
He became fond of the idea of becoming a sports agent because he was interested
in making a difference in an athletes' life.
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