June 23, 2009

The Sportslawtalk Interview: Robert Ruxin

Today we are fortunate to speak with Robert Ruxin. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Mr. Ruxin is vice president and general counsel of Kazmaier Associates, Concord, MA. He is also author of the classic, An Athlete's Guide To Agents.

SLT- In 1982 Ronald Reagan was in the first term of his Presidency, Pete Rose was chasing Ty Cobb's all-time hits record, and an agent by the name of Mike Trope was representing some of the top names in the NFL. Can you tell us about the origins and inspiration for An Athlete's Guide To Agents ?

ROBERT RUXIN- The origins go back to 1977-78. As a student at Harvard Law School, I was interested in the ethical issues facing attorneys as agents. I had a faculty advisor (Roger Fisher, author of Getting to Yes) who wanted me to write something for the consumer (the athlete), not the lawyer, and I was more than happy to interview agents, athletes and general managers. My law school thesis was the basis of the book. Subsequently I was invited to speak at a conference on legal issues and college athletics at Indiana University. Indiana University was interested enough in the manuscript to ask if they could publish it.

The book came out in 1982 in hard cover and paperback, and it was 163 pages. The 4^th edition was 227 pages. The fifth edition will be longer yet because of the increased scope of issues that agents are now dealing with, and because athletes from a greater number of sports are now getting representation.

SLT- So there'll be a fifth edition?

RR- You can be the first to publicly announce that the fifth edition will be out in December.

SLT- Thank you! Let's go back to 1977-78, when free agency was in its infancy. Please comment on the business at that time.

RR- The legitimacy of agents was in question. You had a lot of ethical issues, such as agents being paid up front.

SLT- During the course of the almost thirty years that the book has been in print, do you regularly get contacted by universities for advice in their counseling programs for players who are entering the draft?

SLT- In the 1980's schools such as Texas A&M and Auburn had some eligibility issues with players because of agents getting involved with players during their college seasons. That brought on state regulation of agents. Do you think this was a knee-jerk reaction, or was it something more worthwhile?

RR- I think it was intended to protect the colleges more than the athletes. Most state laws only deal with student athletes. Many states don't enforce their laws. Texas is an exception; for a while Florida was very aggressive.

SLT- Were you personally ever interested in being in the agent business?