Talk:DeMaurice Smith

CSD & Notability

For the record, I think the sources now in the article not only bring it past (A7) criteria, but satisfy general notability requirements.--Cube lurker (talk) 18:51, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

Update (COI disclosure)

Hey guys, I've noted this in a few other places, but my current employer has the NFLPA as one of its clients. This clearly creates a WP:COI, so before I make any edits, I'd like to get some feedback. I'm working on a draft to revise the article, and I'll let everyone know when I'm finished. My main goal is to add references and reorganize the layout, which I hope will improve the the overall quality of the article. Thanks. --TravisBernard (talk) 19:19, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

I completed the draft, which can found at the above link. Most of what I did was removed information that lacked sources and added new sources. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. --TravisBernard (talk) 20:28, 20 January 2012 (UTC)

Since I haven't heard back from anyone, I'll assume the edits are fine. If anyone has additional suggestions, let's keep the conversation. --TravisBernard (talk) 15:59, 23 January 2012 (UTC)

Updating Career section

Hi there anyone watching this page! I'd like to propose a few small edits to this article's Career section to bring it up-to-date. In particular, I'd suggest including a sentence about DeMaurice Smith being elected to his second and third terms as NFLPA executive director and adding mention of some of Smith's speaking engagements. I'm representing the NFLPA with these suggestions and as a paid consultant I will not to edit the article myself. Instead, I hope someone here will review my suggestions and make the changes.

Here's my proposed updated section with changes shown in green:

Career

Career

Prior to his work with the NFLPA, DeMaurice Smith was a trial lawyer and litigation partner in the Washington, D.C. offices of Latham & Watkins and Patton Boggs, serving as the chair of the firm's government investigations and white-collar practice group. Smith previously served as Counsel to then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice before entering private practice. He spent nine years with the U.S. Attorney's office and one with the Department of Justice, working on issues like national security and prison construction. Smith has also represented Fortune 500 companies, and argued numerous cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

On March 15, 2009, Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives to become the executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). Although Smith lacked football experience, his ties to presidential power and business experts helped give him an advantage over other potential candidates like Troy Vincent, Trace Armstrong, and sports attorney David Cornwell. He was elected to his second and third terms in 2012 and 2015, respectively. As Executive Director, Smith has emphasized that players need to take more control of their careers, educate themselves, and be more involved in the process. Although his main role is to fight for better player salaries and improved safety, Smith has made it clear that long-term health care and increased benefits for tomorrow are just as important.

During Smith's first term as Executive Director of the NFLPA, the issue that dominated dialogue was the 2011 lockout. With improved player safety, better player salaries, long-term health care, and increased benefits for retired NFL players in mind, DeMaurice Smith helped the NFLPA negotiate with the NFL owners and agree on a new collective bargaining agreement in July 2011.

Smith spoke at the commencements for the University of Virginia School of Law in May 2015 and University of Maryland in 2011.

References

Markup

==Career==
Prior to his work with the [[National Football League Players Association|NFLPA]], DeMaurice Smith was a trial lawyer and litigation partner in the Washington, D.C. offices of [[Latham & Watkins]] and [[Patton Boggs]], serving as the chair of the firm's government investigations and [[White-collar crime|white-collar]] practice group.<ref name="SI Vault">{{cite news|last=Trotter|first=Jim|title=The Fighter|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1182007/index.htm|accessdate=20 January 2012|newspaper=Sports Illustrated|date=21 February 2011}}</ref> Smith previously served as Counsel to then-Deputy Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] in the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] before entering private practice.<ref name="The Grio">{{cite news|title=TheGrio's 100: DeMaurice Smith, Playing Hardball for NFL Players|url=http://www.thegrio.com/black-history/thegrios-100/2011-demaurice-smith.php|accessdate=20 January 2012|newspaper=The Grio|date=1 February 2011}}</ref> He spent nine years with the U.S. Attorney's office and one with the Department of Justice, working on issues like national security and prison construction.<ref name="SI Vault"/> Smith has also represented [[Fortune 500]] companies, and argued numerous cases before the [[U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]] and the [[District of Columbia Court of Appeals]].<ref name=ESPN>{{cite news|last=Clayton|first=John|title=Smith Elected to Head NFLPA|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3983760|accessdate=20 January 2012|newspaper=ESPN|date=16 March 2009}}</ref>

On March 15, 2009, Smith was elected unanimously by a board of active player representatives to become the executive director of the [[National Football League Players Association]] (NFLPA). Although Smith lacked football experience, his ties to presidential power and business experts helped give him an advantage over other potential candidates like [[Troy Vincent]], [[Trace Armstrong]], and sports attorney David Cornwell.<ref name="SI Vault"/><ref name="ESPN"/> He was elected to his second and third terms in 2012 and 2015, respectively.<ref name="WinstonMarch162015">{{cite news |title=DeMaurice Smith re-elected by NFLPA |last1=Winston |first1=Eric |last2= |first2= |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12492072/demaurice-smith-re-elected-nflpa-executive-director |newspaper=[[ESPN]] |date=16 March 2015 |accessdate=16 June 2015}}</ref> As Executive Director, Smith has emphasized that players need to take more control of their careers, educate themselves, and be more involved in the process.<ref name="SI Vault"/> Although his main role is to fight for better player salaries and improved safety, Smith has made it clear that long-term health care and increased benefits for tomorrow are just as important.<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news|last=Pappu|first=Sridhar|title=Quarterback for a Team of 1,900|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/business/23nfl.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=20 January 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 January 2011}}</ref>

During Smith's first term as Executive Director of the [[NFLPA]], the issue that dominated dialogue was the [[2011 NFL lockout|2011 lockout]].<ref name="The New York Times"/> With improved player safety, better player salaries, long-term health care, and increased benefits for retired NFL players in mind, DeMaurice Smith helped the NFLPA negotiate with the NFL owners and agree on a new [[National Football League collective bargaining agreement|collective bargaining agreement]] in July 2011.<ref name="ESPN - Goodell signs">{{cite news|title=Roger Goodell Sings 10-Year CBA|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6836275/roger-goodell-nflpa-demaurice-smith-sign-cba-hall-fame-steps|accessdate=25 October 2011|newspaper=ESPN|date=6 August 2011}}</ref>

Smith spoke at the [[graduation|commencements]] for the [[University of Virginia]] [[University of Virginia School of Law|School of Law]] in May 2015<ref name="StricklerMay2015">{{cite news |title='Find good fights' and other tips for law school grads |last1=Strickler |first1=Andrew |last2= |first2= |url=http://www.law360.com/articles/655593/find-good-fights-and-other-tips-for-law-school-grads |newspaper=[[Law360]] |date=21 May 2015 |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref> and [[University of Maryland]] in 2011.<ref name="AssociatedPressMay2011">{{cite news |title=DeMaurice Smith talks at Maryland |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6566569 |newspaper=[[Associated Press|The Associated Press]] |date=19 May 2011 |accessdate=19 June 2015}}</ref>

In addition to the above, I wonder what editors feel about including mention of Smith's 2013 TEDx talk and a speech he delivered at the 2013 Convention for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. While these aren't covered in news reporting, I wonder if the available online videos could be used as external links at least.

Would someone mind taking a look at these suggestions and let me know what you think? Thanks, 16912 Rhiannon (Talk · COI) 13:22, 26 June 2015 (UTC)

The changes don't seem especially controversial to me - they look fine. I've gone ahead and added them.

As for the videos, I don't see any issues with including them in some fashion. At the very least external link would be OK, but they could also be included in the career section along with the commencement speeches or something. Toa Nidhiki05 17:41, 26 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks Toa! As always, really appreciate your help. For the TEDx and NACDA speeches, if you think it would be ok to add them into the Career section, even with just primary sources to support, I've drafted up a potential addition with citations below that could be dropped in at the end of the section:

Additionally, Smith has delivered speeches at TEDxStLouis in 2013 and the 2013 NCAA National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention.

References

Alternatively, it would be great if you can add the previously linked YouTube videos within an External links section. Thanks again! 16912 Rhiannon (Talk · COI) 19:54, 26 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks Toa Nidhiki05, I'm all set here now! 16912 Rhiannon (Talk · COI) 13:15, 29 June 2015 (UTC)

The new Social Science

it seems that the world has accepted a new form of socializing with existence being dictorial and damaging as acceptable. The topic is not the discussion just discussing the topic. If I were to be a public official let's say as the last president would be as my dossier how would begin to educate myself with the benefit of the after office in mind rather than the office itself. any and all opinions regardless the forwardness of them will be acceptable. Scold away 2603:6011:CCF0:110:79AF:5D7F:F1C2:99CC (talk) 03:47, 18 December 2023 (UTC)