Bloomberg Business of Sports

Michael Barr and Rich Trueman break down the first week of Fantasy "Playoffs". We discuss the sleeper picks on the waiver wire and why it might be time to bench Ezekiel Elliott.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a resume that includes two Super Bowl championships and seven Pro Bowl appearances, our guests knows a thing or two about winning on the football field. Now he wants to take that winning track record to the fight to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We talk to Washington Football Team alum and NFL Hall of Famer Darrell Green about his company Halodine, the current status of his former squad and how a short memory for both tragedy and triumph helps him keep him optimistic and looking ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adewale Ogunleye made the leap from the NFL to an MBA and, armed with hard-won knowledge about bad business deals, now has another acronym to add to the mix: being a boss at UBS. The former Bear, Dolphin and Texan is advising current and former players, as well as budding movie and pop stars, about how to keep and grow that wealth they're generating. In a wide-ranging conversation, we talk about athletes finding their voice, locker room money culture and, in a twist, Mike Lynch's days as a substitute teacher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman and Damian Sassower break down the final week of the fantasy football season. We discuss who you should pick up on the waiver wire, how to recover from a covid-19 week 12 and the best way to position your team for the playoffs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flush with endorsements and investments from athletes like Patrick Mahomes and newly minted deals with the NFL, MLB and the NBA, the ambitions of Hyperice are massive. Invoking game-changers like Apple, Peloton, and Dyon, CEO Jim Heuther breaks down the new, booming business of recovery with Jason, Mike and Michael. They discuss how getting products onto the sidelines and into the dugout, as well as a surge in at-home fitness, have Hyperice eyeing more acquisitions and a skyrocketing valuation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA All Star Baron Davis made an impact on the league, but his longest-lasting contributions have arguably come off the court. Starting with an inspired (and lucrative) early investment in Vitaminwater, Davis has become the model for the modern athlete-as-businessman. In conversation with Jason, Mike and Michael, Davis lays out his vision for empowering others through an ever-growing platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are inching ever closer to the playoffs as Week 12 is right around the corner.Are you aiming to squeak in or do you need players to secure that top spot? Well the team has a few guys who can help you.Michael Barr has made it to the last 28 in his Survival Pool. Who should he pick this week to keep him in the hunt?The guys also reminisce about the great Thanksgiving memories plus the best Turkey day football player of all time!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are few things less viable in a global pandemic than road races, whose business relies on thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of people gathering in close proximity. It's a massive challenge for Dave McGillivray, the director of the Boston Marathon and founder of DMSE Sports. A legend in the business, he joins Jason, Michael and his long-time buddy Lynchie to talk about the economic devastation wrought by a calendar filled with cancellations, the evolution of racing, and its intersection with giving.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a UMass standout to a stalwart defender in the NBA, Marcus Camby had a storied career. Hours after this year's unusual, virtual NBA Draft, the 17-year veteran of the league reminisces on getting picked by the two-year-old Toronto Raptors back in 1996, making good for his mistakes and the magic of owning your own barbershop (MC23 for those in the Houston area). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower look ahead to week 11 action. Rich proposed trading one of the most coveted players in fanasty football this season. Want to find out who? You gotta listen to the podcast. And check back in next week to see if Barr has advanced in his survivor pool. It's down to 35 teams and he's getting antsy. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The basics of the modern Patriots story are well-known -- six rings, Hall of Famers all around and one of the world's most valuable sports franchises. But Jeff Benedict's "The Dynasty" goes deeper than anyone has before on the Beatles-esque collaboration among an owner, a coach, and a star player. Benedict dives in and compares notes with Lynchie and Jason, bringing the Pats' business story to the fore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing a major Division I, public university athletic department through a global pandemic -- as part of one of the most powerful conferences in the NCAA -- is pushing Patrick Hobbs to use everything he's learned as an administrator, lawyer and dealmaker. The former law school dean talks to Jason and Mike about negotiating apparel deals, the power of a conference television network and getting back to the football field (and soon, the basketball court).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Kelly, Rich Trueman and Damian Sassower previewed week 10 of the NFL Season as Michael Barr was out this week.Can you figure out who is your league's most valuable fantasy player? Well look no further as Rich gives you a couple of candidates.The team also looks into possible trade targets as the playoffs are just around the corner.As always check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal all season long. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CBD is getting a hard look from professional sports leagues seeking pain management alternatives. Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch speak with the co-founder and CEO of the CBD sports drink company DEFY, Megan Bushell. The business is co-founded by former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis. They discuss the future for CBD products in sports, the difficulties the pandemic pose for DEFY, and the impact of recent legal triumphs for the marijuana industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports betting is back in the headlines after a trio of states voted in favor of ballot measures aimed at legalizing gaming initiatives. Jason Kelly, Michael Barr, and Mike Lynch speak with Nigel Eccles, co-founder & CEO of sports app, Flick, and co-founder and former CEO of fantasy sports and betting platform FanDuel, about the gaming industry, and the path forward for his new sports chat platform, Flick. The app has drawn investments from several top-tier venture capital firms. They discuss Flick's deal with BetMGM in the U.S., the transformation of fan engagement during the pandemic, and why Flick is targeting sports influencers for the platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 8 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 9. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing against "Dancing With The Stars," but Monday Night Football needs to return to network television. At least if you ask Michael Barr. He's joined by Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch for a wide-ranging chat around NFL ratings, NY Mets ownership, and the Wynn Resorts-NASCAR betting partnership. They also discuss the Supreme Court's refusal to stop an antitrust suit against the NFL and DirecTV over the cost of Sunday Ticket package of out-of-market football games.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's a Rhodes Scholar, a former professional football player and now a neurosurgeon on the front lines of a global pandemic. What can't Myron Rolle do? The former Florida State standout joins for a candid and personal conversation about the state of the game and the state of the worldwide health crisis. He talks about his family -- the extended one for whom football is the family business, and his own growing brood, including his twins born just a couple months back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr and Rich Trueman had to do the heavy lifting this week as Damian Sassower was away on jury duty.However they still were able to give you some nuggets for your fantasy team as they look ahead to week 8 action.Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.Rich made a couple picks that could keep your team going strong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A minority owner of the first-place Philadelphia Union, Richie Graham is looking even further down the road. He's put together an ambitious blueprint to help the U.S. develop a soccer superstar -- think LeBron James for The Beautiful Game. At the core of the plan is the YSC Academy, which he calls "the Juilliard for soccer." With North America hosting the 2026 World Cup, and the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles two years after that, Graham is accelerating plans to expand U.S. soccer, especially for the men's game, which doesn't enjoy the global dominance of the U.S. Women's National Team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold Reynolds joins us from Texas, where the the World Series is in full swing. The former All-Star turned MLB Network analyst says Covid has affected not only the big leagues, but the ecosystem underneath, including the minor leagues and the NCAA. Changes --financial and even in-game -- loom large in 2021, and Reynolds even takes a beat to marvel at Lynchie's authentic Boston accent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you trade Ryan "Fitzmagic?" Do you pick up Tua Tagovailoa? Will Le'Veon Bell recapture his dominance in Kansas City?Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on all of this as they look ahead to week 7 action.Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.If you listened to the podcast last week Rich made a huge pick.Don't miss out because his moves can turn you into a fantasy champ.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casino CEO Derek Stevens sees a light at the end of the tunnel as Vegas looks to make a comeback. It was one of the hardest cities hit by the corona virus. Stevens discussed his Circa Resort & Casino being the first new one in downtown Vegas in 40 years and his expectations for business with tourism still lagging. He reminiscences with the team about his foray into the gambling world and how the industry continues to change. Oh and Michael Barr had a lot of good questions and insights... for a friend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The home fitness market has seen a surge of growth during the pandemic, as consumers look for ways to stay fit with many gyms across the U.S. still closed. Jason, Mike and Michael check in with NEOU CEO Nate Forster to discuss how his business is filling that void by providing live streaming and on-demand fitness and wellness classes, ranging from yoga to boxing, and even classes for kids. They discuss what Peloton's done for the wellness world at large and how the future of working out is about going where the customer is, be it a boutique or a basement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 5 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 6. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a hard look at underworld of professional running with Matt Hart, journalist and author of “Win At All Costs: Inside Nike Running And its Culture of Deception." Hart depicts the saga of the Nike Oregon Project, a talent-stacked team of athletes with the goal of building a homegrown Olympic running champion that would help the corporation dominate the market and sell product. Hart details the effort to uncover a win-at-all-costs culture of abuse, gender discrimination and systemic cheating at the highest levels of professional running.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Racial justice and social responsibility have become intertwined with professional sports, in a world coping with a pandemic that is shifting the direction of our daily lives. Doug Whaley, COO & Managing Partner Beautiful Game Group and former Buffalo Bills GM joins the show to discuss the impact pro athletes have in shaping future generations and the legacy of Colin Kaepernick, which he says is comparable to that of Muhammad Ali. They talk about the outlook for the NFL season amid the pandemic, draft day jitters, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 4 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 5. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Any parent who's rolled their eyes at their kid claiming there was money in playing video games...listen up. Ken Hersh, part of the Texas Rangers ownership group and long-time Dallas-based private equity investor is now the chairman of Envy Gaming. Hersh dispels Jason, Mike and Michael's skepticism, maps out the future potential and talks about getting into business with Post Malone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who thought it would happen? Major League Baseball playoffs are going on, and it's been must-see TV. That's great news for MLB Network President Rob McGlarry. He joined Jason, Mike and Michael to discuss how much work has gone into making all this possible, how it's not over yet, and how baseball isn't wasting the crisis by trying all sorts of new things to appeal to the next generation of fans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow is the start of week 4 in the NFL season. Now with the first positive tests since the season started with the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans.Teams have suspended activities until Saturday.How will this affect your season and how you position players?Not too mention the major injures that are still ravaging through the league.Oh and wait until you hear the major trade Rich pulled off in his league. And don’t forget to catch his weekly fantasy football column that comes out every Thursday this season on the terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason and Lynchie were champing at the bit to get Barr's take on the massive NASCAR news that Michael Jordan is getting into the fast-car business. Before the trio takes that on, they dig into the seemingly full return of college football, albeit delayed and diminished. And Jason admits that he's less excited about Saturday afternoon football amid the ongoing NBA playoffs, especially now that we're onto the Finals, with LeBron James chasing that fourth ring against his old Miami Heat team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly two months ago the NBA returned to play, and after a busy schedule, we’re on the brink of the NBA finals. Bain Capital Co-Chairman and Boston Celtics owner Steve Pagliuca joins Jason Kelly and Mike Lynch to reflect on an unprecedented season in the bubble, and to talk about his role in maximizing the fan experience and quality of product that has established the NBA as one of the most dominant sports in the industry. They discuss the emergence of private equity in sports ownership, the legacy of Celtics basketball, and the tumultuous year for social justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Kelly, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 2 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 3. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talk about the business of sports -- meet the banker in the midst of the some of the biggest stadium and team deals. Bill Mulvihill, Managing Director and Head of Sports and Entertainment at U.S. Bank, joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of team ownership and sports empires, and the transformation of stadium design and the nuances of getting fans safely back to arenas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Super Bowl LIV feels like it happened an eternity ago, we last spoke with former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick on radio row in Miami and boy has the world changed since then. Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch sit down with the coach to discuss week 1 in the NFL, the covid-19 changes that might be here to stay, and how the players on field protection has changed since Mike Lynch's playing days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 1 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 2. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a jam-packed weekend for American sports, as the NFL's first week coincided with NBA and NHL playoff action, MLB, and U.S. Open tennis finals. Jason Kelly, Michael Barr, and Mike Lynch speak with a veteran of sports gambling, Steve Budin, Chief Executive Officer of Sportsinfo.com. They discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the industry, the outlook for the professional and college football seasons, and the potential e-sports has for the future of legal gambling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three months into a widespread, national reckoning on racial inequalities, and on the eve of pro football returning, NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis returns to take on all of it. And amid a wide-ranging discussion touching on systemic racism, player safety and health, the football great pauses to ruminate on Michael Barr's bowling injury -- proving once and for all why he's the show's favorite guest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your fantasy football draft is probably over. Now your searching the waiver wire and combing through the free agent pool to bolster your team right before week 1.Who do you pick up? Who do you stay away from? Who do you stash for a later dater?Well Michael Barr, Damian Sassower and Rich Trueman clue you in to some pick ups.Also Rich and Michael are looking to spice up their team names? Any ideas send them to Barr at Big Barr Sports on twitterCheck out Rich's weekly column that comes out every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An empty Arthur Ashe Stadium isn't stopping the U.S. Open from being one of the most important sporting events of the year. Tennis Channel President Ken Solomon joins Jason, Michael and Mike to talk about how his sport has survived -- and even thrived -- amid the pandemic. He discusses both the social distance, and the social activism, that have defined tennis for decades, and his hope for a new generation of empowered players to continue the legacy of Ashe and Billie Jean King.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Football, and the world, have changed a lot since Amani Toomer stopped playing. The former New York Giants and University of Michigan great weighs in from Denmark on the pending NFL season and the trickiness of non-bubbled pro football. He also talks to Jason, Michael and Mike about the gross inequalities built into college athletics and how social media has radically transformed what it means to be an athlete.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the best strategy for picking a fantasy football team when we might not have any football at all? Michael Barr and Mike Lynch speak with our in house fantasy football experts, Bloomberg Intelligence's Damian Sassower and Bloomberg Radio producer Richard Trueman. Do you diversify picks among NFL teams? How many backup quarterbacks do you hold? Do you change the structure of your league? Our team will answer these and many other questions and prepare you for your upcoming drafts so you'll end up holding the trophy at the end of the season. Don't forget to catch Rich Trueman's Fantasy Football column released every Thursday during the season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He’s the co-founder of the Home Depot who’s now better known as one of the most influential team owners in the U.S. Arthur Blank joins Jason Kelly to talk about his new book, and the lessons along the course of decades in business. Blank talks about the advice he got from Robert Kraft, Michael Vick’s remorse and the role his adopted hometown plays in a time of massive tumult and discussion around racial injustice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first four days of Jason Wright's new job as the Washington Football Team's new president are even more challenging than anyone thought they could be, and that's saying something. The first Black man to run an NFL team is facing scandal in his own organization, and social unrest in the broader world; he'll draw on every experience as a former NFL player and a McKinsey & Co. partner to tackle them. Wright talks to Jason, Michael and Mike between conversations with head coach Ron Rivera and ahead of an all-hands meeting with his team, about changing the team's culture, coping with structural racism and running a major franchise all at the same time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the Dodgers left Brooklyn has spawned a cottage industry of books, but very little has been written about how they got to Los Angeles -- and how the city picked a site for the ballpark. "Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between" is Eric Nusbaum's gripping new history of one of sport's iconics ballparks and it's a must-read, detailing the lives torn apart ahead of the baseball's team arrival. Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch talk with Nusbaum about how many of the issues around inequality unfortunately resonate today, and how sports fans can be more than an "armchair GM" and think about their home team critically.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was a ball kid for the Dallas Mavericks, and cut her teeth in social media at the Cowboys and ESPN. Now Neeta Sreekanth is the chief operating officer at INFLCR, where she's working with hundreds of colleges and thousands of college athletes to get smart about engaging the world at a time of increased empowerment. She talks with Jason Kelly, Mike Lynch and Michael Barr about what college sports may look like this fall, making big waves with a small following, and that Luka Doncic buzzer beater.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After months of being shut down, gyms in New York have a timeline for reopening. Retro Fitness CEO Andrew Alfano wasn't even a year into the top job when Covid-19 ravaged the economy and shuttered his franchises. He tells Jason Kelly, Michael Barr and Mike Lynch about the demand for fitness centers, the biggest hurdles to reopening, and the attention the pandemic has brought to health and wellness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author, screenwriter, and former pro hockey player Bill Keenan joins the podcast to discuss his transition from playing professional puck in Europe, to investment banking, and everything in between. He speaks with Michael Barr, Mike Lynch, and Scarlet Fu about pro hockey in a Covid-19 world, and adapting his first book, Odd Man Rush, to film.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Mike Lynch, and Jon Stashower discuss the decision to name former pro running back and business consultant, Jason Wright, as the new President of the Washington Football team. He is the first African-American to hold such a position in league history. Also discussed is college football, and the economic impact small towns like Iowa City, Iowa, and State College, Pennsylvania will feel as athletic conferences decide on the future of the fall season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.