Episode summary
Ed Mylett reunites on air with his childhood friend Greg Genske, now a veteran sports agent and CEO of Vayner Baseball, after decades without seeing each other in person. Genske explains his initial career path as a trial lawyer, including his work at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office and later high-profile litigation. He says representing Steinberg & Moorad in a foundational lawsuit culminated in a six-week federal jury trial in Los Angeles and a $44.66m verdict, after which he left law to work with Jeff Moorad and take over the agency.
Genske recounts a courtroom episode involving Drew Bledsoe, saying he used contract terms on cross-examination to show Bledsoe’s then-recent deal was “not a good contract”, contrasting it with earlier record agreements negotiated by Moorad and Lee Steinberg. Mylett offers a speculative counterfactual about how contract structure and vulnerability can affect roster decisions.
The conversation shifts to negotiation tactics: Genske stresses managing stress responses, “immaculate preparation”, and building rapport by understanding the other side’s constraints. He also outlines his pitch to athletes as education-first partnership, combining contract expertise with Vayner’s branding and business resources.
On college sports, Genske supports NIL and argues the NCAA’s former restrictions were unlawful, predicting the system will move towards something like collective bargaining and multi-year commitments. He also speaks about sobriety, saying he stopped drinking nine years ago when it began to compete with family, health and personal growth, and describes meditation and surfing as key practices.
