Front Office Sports Today

A new book by Billy Walters claims that golfing legend Phil Mickelson placed over $1 billion in bets over three decades on football, baseball, and basketball, losing over $100 million. Walters also claims that Mickelson attempted to bet $400,000 on the 2012 Ryder Cup, which he was participating in. Plus, we look into the rapidly growing world of sports documentaries with the co-directors of the Religion of Sports’ documentary “Destination NBA: A G-League Odyssey.”

ESPN has entered the sports betting market and its partner, PENN Entertainment, is staking much of its future value on the deal paying off. Eric Fisher joins the show to discuss why claiming a big share of the sports betting market is of existential importance to PENN. Plus, Comcast takes issue with comments made by David Adelman in a previous episode and we explore the evolving world of ticketing and how teams are working to keep up with fan expectations.

ESPN made its long-awaited move into the sports betting space, inking a deal with Penn Entertainment. Penn will rebrand its sportsbook to ESPN Bet and sell previous sports betting partner Barstool back to its founder, Dave Portnoy. The move represents a huge pivot for all three companies, as ESPN pushes aside concerns over associating sports betting with parent company Disney’s family-friendly image. Plus, we’re joined by IOC sports director Kit McConnell, who is working to elevate esports to the highest stage — the Olympics.

Fanatics and Panini are suing each other — and the fate of the collectibles market could be at stake. Panini is alleging that Fanatics has spent its way into an illegal monopoly, while Fanatics claims that Panini’s weaknesses as a company left an opening for a new player. We give you the latest on what could be an epic legal battle. Plus, we hear from David Adelman, a partner at Harris Blitzer Entertainment, which owns the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Commanders. Adelman, who is heading the controversial project to build a new arena for the 76ers in downtown Philadelphia, makes his case for why the arena would be a big asset for the city.

Over the past week, six Pac-12 schools announced their intentions to leave the conference — leaving it bereft of universities and facing its end. Reporter Amanda Christovich joins FOS Today to explain how we got this point, as well as what this means for the remaining four schools in the Pac-12 and college sports as a whole. Plus, we have an interview with Andrea Pagnanelli, CEO of the National Cycling League. The League is in the midst of experimenting with the structure of cycling races in an attempt to turn them into a spectator sport.

The USWNT has advanced to the knockout round of the Women's World Cup, but many fans aren't pleased with the team's performance. Newsletter co-author David Rumsey explains why the pressure is on for the United States, and how Jamaica crowdfunded their women's team out of the group stage. Plus, FOX Sports Digital's SVP Michael Bucklin joins us to share what it takes to broadcast the Women's World Cup across the world to the United States.

Running backs across the NFL have been vocal about their desire for longer contract extensions and higher-paid salaries, but the league isn't budging. Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst for ESPN, joins FOS Today to break down why he thinks today's NFL market isn't built for running backs — and why it won't change anytime soon. Plus, the Pac-12 looks to be in jeopardy — but could Apple be its saving grace? Newsletter co-author David Rumsey explains how a deal with Apple TV could keep the Pac-12 together.

From buyers and sellers to prospect swaps and blockbuster trades, the MLB trade deadline represents the last chance for teams to bolster their rosters ahead of a World Series run — or tear it all down for a rebuild. Newsletter co-author Eric Fisher joins senior writer Owen Poindexter to break down the biggest deals and surprises coming out of this year's trade deadline. Plus, we have an interview with former USWNT goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who has seen the sport change and evolve firsthand as a player, coach, and investor in the NWSL's Washington Spirit. Scurry discusses the growth of the women's game in the U.S. and abroad.

Earlier this year, the University of Miami became the first school to receive NIL-related sanctions — and now one of their top donors, John Ruiz and his company LifeWallet, are reportedly under criminal investigation. Reporter Amanda Christovich joins to give some insight on the troubles in Coral Gables. Plus, we are joined by NBA legend Tracy McGrady to talk about his new business venture designed to highlight the best one-on-one basketball players in the world: Ones Basketball League.

Joe Lewis, the majority owner of Tottenham Hotspurs, has been charged with insider trading in the United States, casting a shadow over the club just weeks before the Premier League season kicks off. Newsletter co-author David Rumsey joins FOS Today to break down what this means for the club — and whether it could even trigger a potential sale. We also have an interview with USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who's coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning season and a vast portfolio of NIL deals. Williams talks with us about his goals and ambitions for the year to come — including winning a national championship and being drafted first overall.

Colorado was already making headlines when they signed Deion Sanders as their head football coach, and now they appear to be making news again as they are headed for the Big 12. Reporter Amanda Christovich joins FOS Today to break down why Colorado is making moves to jump ship from the Pac-12. We also have an interview Zaire Wade — son of NBA hall-of-famer Dwyane Wade and a guard in the Basketball Africa League. Wade joins writer Doug Greenberg to talk about what it was like playing with Bronny James at Sierra Canyon, choosing to go pro over going to college, and how he ended up playing in the Basketball Africa League.

Senior Reporter AJ Perez investigated Minnesota's football program and found unsettling allegations suggesting a "cult-like atmosphere" under head coach P.J. Fleck. Perez joins Front Office Sports Today to dive into what he uncovered at the University of Minnesota, and how this — along with the allegations of hazing at Northwestern University — could be the beginning of a new wave of unearthing toxic culture within college sports. Plus, we hear from MLB Network's Mark DeRosa, Lauren Shehadi, and Robert Flores as they celebrate their 750th episode hosting "MLB Central." They share their thoughts on the long-running show, as well as their take on the new rules and potential landing spots for Shohei Ohtani.

Tomorrow afternoon, Barstool Sports will broadcast the Korn Ferry Tour NV5 Invitational with commentary from the hosts of its "Fore Play" podcast. Co-host Sam "Riggs" Bozoian joins newsletter co-author David Rumsey to break down how this deal came together and why the Korn Ferry Tour is a good fit for Barstool Sports. Plus, we have an interview with Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, who has lived with type-1 diabetes since childhood and found a way to perform at the highest level despite his illness. Hear how Andrews manages his diabetes while playing football, as well as his thoughts on the NFL going overseas and Lamar Jackson's new contract.

Kylian Mbappé, widely regarded as one of the best soccer players in the world, has received an offer worth over $1 billion to play in Saudia Arabia — for just a single year. Soccer journalist Ben Jacobs joins Front Office Sports Today to break down what the earth-shaking offer means for Mbappé, PSG, and the soccer world in general. Plus, Premier League CEO Richard Masters shares his thoughts on the Mbappé deal, the Premier League's U.S. tour, and financing a system built around promotion and relegation.

Disney has held talks with the NFL and NBA on a potential stake sale and integration of the companies, but questions are rising about other media partners and journalistic ethics. CNBC media reporter Alex Sherman provides the latest on the talks. Later, we hear from MLS legend Cobi Jones on his experience playing in the last US World Cup and playing with David Beckham, and what those moments tell us about Lionel Messi’s impact and the 2026 World Cup.

The day has finally arrived. After 19 years of playing professionally in Europe, Lionel Messi is set to make his MLS debut tonight with Inter Miami CF. Dan Courtemanche, EVP of Communications at MLS, joins us to give an inside look at how Messi came to play in the States — as well as MLS' streaming deal with Apple and Messi's impact on viewership. We've also got newsletter co-author Eric Fisher, who shares his thoughts on how Messi Mania is going to impact Miami, MLS, and American soccer.

The Women's World Cup kicked off this morning in Australia and New Zealand, and the USWNT is attempting to do something unprecedented — win three World Cups in a row. Front Office Sports writer Doug Greenberg joins us to take a look at America's chances to make history, as well as the record amount of money invested into this year's tournament. Next, we're joined by USWNT captain Lindsey Horan — a focal point on the team that won the 2019 Women's World Cup. Horan gives some insight into what it's like to play for a World Cup, the state of professional women's soccer internationally, and how the NWSL can keep up with European Leagues.

This week alone, Lionel Messi is set to play his first MLS game, Premier League teams are flooding the United States, and the USWNT begins its quest for a third consecutive Women’s World Cup. Men In Blazers’ Roger Bennett joins FOS Today to make his case that this is the biggest moment in American soccer history — and why it’s only the beginning for the sport.

The Atlanta Braves are going public on Wednesday morning. Newsletter co-author Eric Fisher gives us some insight on the deal, plus the latest on the Arizona Diamondbacks' move from Bally Sports. Then, SlamBall makes its return to television this weekend on ESPN after two decades off-the-air. Mason Gordon, founder and CEO of SlamBall, comes on to share the sports' comeback story.

In the few days since its release, Netflix's NFL docuseries "Quarterback" has garnered rave reviews and is one of the top shows on the streaming platform — raising speculation that the new series will overtake HBO's 'Hard Knocks' as the leading NFL reality show. Newsletter co-author David Rumsey shares his thoughts on whether or not Netflix can top HBO. We also have an interview with executives from THINK450 — a for-profit organization owned by the NBPA focused solely on maximizing revenues for the collective body of NBA players. Que Gaskins and Keisha Wright, its respective president and senior VP of partnerships, team up with David Spencer, co-founder of the NYC-based Talent Resources Sports marketing agency, for an inside look at how they work to market and promote individual NBA players.

In an era of cord-cutting, Disney CEO Bob Iger is exploring selling stakes in Disney's linear and digital channels — including ESPN. Senior writer Mike McCarthy joins us to break down Iger's position — and why he thinks Iger is showing his hand with the announcement. We also hear from Senior Reporter A.J. Perez on a potential holdup with the Washington Commanders sale. Plus, ESPN Tennis commentator Patrick McEnroe joins us from Wimbledon to give us a sneak peek of this weekend's finals, whether or not sports documentaries like Netflix's "Break Point" can turn your average tennis player into a household name, and why we haven't seen a American tennis player at the top of the standings in well over a decade.

With the MLB All-Star Game behind us, we are officially at the midway point of the baseball season. Senior writer Owen Poindexter and newsletter co-author Eric Fisher take a look at how the new rule changes have affected the game, an unexpected connection between teams' payrolls and success, and what Shohei Ohtani's next contract could look like. Next, we are joined by USMNT and Fulham F.C. defender Tim Ream, who has a lot to say about his time on and off the pitch — including equal pay for men and women athletes, a possible promotion/relegation system in the U.S., and his upcoming show with Men in Blazers.

The U.S. Senate held a hearing on the proposed deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and FOS senior reporter AJ Perez spoke to leading senators on how the government could impact a defining deal for the future of golf. FOS reporter Amanda Christovich joins to discuss the bizarre situations involving Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald and West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins. Finally, we hear from one of the most iconic voices in sports, Bruce Buffer, who electrifies UFC crowds with his signature phrase, “It’s Time!”

Religion of Sports is a media production company with one key tenet: sports matter. Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and Gotham Chopra wanted to tell stories of how sports impact humanity, and CEO Ameeth Sankaran gives us an inside look at what the production company is up to with Brady and Strahan, plus a new deal with FOX Sports. We also hear from senior reporter A.J. Perez on the sudden disbandment of the New York Times sports desk and the upcoming senate hearing on the deal between the PGA and LIV Golf.

Skip Bayless unexpectedly announced that he is taking a two month break amid an uncertain time for his "Undisputed" show. Front Office Sports senior writer Mike McCarthy provides insider reporting on what's going on, and what could be next for Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith. We also get a peak inside the struggles of MLB's regional sports networks and whether the league will eventually take all of its broadcasting rights in house with Horizon Media's Adam Schwartz.

Threads is a serious threat to Twitter, but it is not set up to take on Twitter as a co-watching platform for sports and other live events — not yet anyway. We also check in on the Atlanta Braves’ plan to go public and speak to the founder and CEO of The Basketball Tournament and The Soccer Tournament on their innovations within those sports.

When John Karayan started The Throwdown cornhole tournament, the casual sport had little presence on the West Coast. Now the tournament draws talent and fans from around the country and is televised on ESPN. We also check on how the weather has thrown off Wimbledon’s schedule.

Early in his baseball career, Adam Duvall was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. In the 11 years since his diagnosis, Duvall made his way into the majors, won a World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 2021, and now plays for the Boston Red Sox. Duvall joins the show to talk about his journey through MLB with type-1 diabetes — and the work he is doing now to help those diagnosed with the disease. We also hear from Senior Writer Michael McCarthy on the time-honored — and somewhat infamous — Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. McCarthy joins newsletter co-author Eric Fisher to take a deep dive into the legendary speed-eating event.

Amanda Vandervort is the president of the USL Super League, a professional women's soccer league coming to the United States in fall of 2024. Vandervort has been tasked with the operations and growth of the league. She joins senior writer Owen Poindexter to talk through the process of starting a professional sport's league, the USL Super League's place in American Sports, and the rising interest in women's sports. We also hear from our newsletter co-authors David Rumsey and Eric Fisher on the Arizona Diamondbacks unusual dealings with Diamond Sports, and the bright future that is ahead for the Chicago Blackhawks after landing prized prospect Connor Bedard in the NHL Draft.

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds joins Front Office Sports Today to talk through the ins and outs of the all-electric racing league. Hear what separates Formula E from Formula 1, why zero-emissions racing is the future of motorsports, and insights from the CEO himself on what's next for the league. First, newsletter co-authors David Rumsey and Eric Fisher break down Fanatics' acquisition of PointsBets' U.S. operations and the hunt for the Chicago Bears future home.

Just because he stopped playing football doesn't mean Eli Manning is done with the New York Giants. He hosts "The Eli Manning Show," a weekly video series interviewing New York celebrities about their connection to the team. Giants CBO Pete Guelli and Manning himself join us to talk about the production of the show, Eli's rivalry with brother Peyton, and his continued presence within the organization. But first, writer Doug Greenberg and reporter Amanda Christovich discuss how EA Sports' new NCAA Football game may define the future of NIL regulation.

Marc Riccio, CEO at USA Lacrosse, foresees exponential growth for the sport in the U.S. and internationally. Riccio joins Front Office Sports Today and explains how he expects a lacrosse boom and the push for lacrosse to become an Olympic sport in 2028. Today's host, Front Office Sports writer Doug Greenberg, breaks down the news of the day, including how Ryan Reynolds is teaming up with the Alpine Formula 1 team and the Fenway Sports Group is adding a Boston team to TGL.

The Pac-12, Big 12, and Big Ten are all seeing significant changes to their school memberships, and that's just scratching the surface of the changing NCAA landscape. Barrett Sallee, college football writer and analyst at CBS Sports, joins us to break down the ground-shaking changes coming to the NCAA's Power Five. Also, FOS newsletter co-author Eric Fisher on Qatar's sovereign wealth fund investing in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics.

Just because the NBA season is over doesn't mean Damian Lillard takes his summers off. The NBA superstar joins Front Office Sports Today to talk about his offseason endeavors — including his music career, the insole company he co-founded, and his Toyota car dealership.

The 2023 NBA Draft begins tonight with San Antonio Spurs getting the opportunity to draft presumed generational talent Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick. ESPN's NBA Front Office Insider Bobby Marks joins us to share some insight on the Draft Process, contract negotiations, and Phoenix's blockbuster trade for Bradley Beal. But first we hear from Front Office Sports newsletter co-author Eric Fisher on MASN's payment to the Washington Nationals as part of a long-drawn legal dispute between the two.

Victor Wembanyama is set to take the NBA by storm, but in the past, a 19-year-old French athlete would have no place in the league. We explore how the NBA has become younger and more international over the last several decades with a Hall of Fame player who helped make that happen.

Sports is one of society’s great unifiers, but can that unity help bring us together on other issues? The non-profit Rise believes the answer is yes. CEO Diahann Billings-Burford joins the show to discuss how sports can build bridges in discussions of race and racism.

Seattle Mariners legend and MLB Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey Jr. joins us to talk about America's favorite pastime. Hear stories from Griffey about playing with his dad in the major leagues, taking batting practice at the world baseball classic, and how Griffey is trying to grow the game of baseball. But first, we round up our picks for news of the week — including two uncanny championships in the NBA and NHL, sports gambling coming to North Carolina, and the Oakland A's "reverse boycott" game.

Golf’s U.S. Open begins today as the sport is still figuring out where it stands after the still-unofficial deal to bring the PGA Tour and LIV Golf under one roof. FOS newsletter co-author David Rumsey and mergers and acquisitions attorney Corey Martin join to discuss the tournament and the sport at this unique moment.

Novak Djokovic won a record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open, but his influence in the sport goes beyond the tennis court. Ahmad Nassar, executive director of the Professional Tennis Players’ Association, joins to discuss the organization focused on players’ rights and financial stability that Djokovic co-founded.

Calvin Johnson, a.k.a., Megatron, retired from the NFL at the peak of his nine-year career with the Detroit Lions. He's had an estranged relationship with the team until recently, when the two sides made efforts to mend fences and have a positive impact on the organization. Megatron joins the FOS Today podcast to talk about what he's been up to since retiring in 2016, and what drove him to reconnect with the Lions.

Lionel Messi changed the face of American soccer with his decision to come to Inter Miami CF. “Men in Blazers” host Roger Bennett joins the show to discuss how and why Messi came, and what this means for MLS, Apple, Adidas. We also discuss the dominance of Manchester City amid an ongoing financial fair play investigation.

Sue Bird is a legend on the basketball court — winning four WNBA titles and five Olympic gold medals with the U.S. National team — but now she's off to bigger and better things. Bird joins us to talk about retiring from the WNBA and the variety of media opportunities she's pursuing. But first — we talk about the Big 12 going international, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's Golf League has it's first team, and the Jacksonville Jaguars new stadium concepts.

International superstar Lionel Messi is joining Inter Miami, while the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers are in the NBA and NHL finals. Fort Lauderdale mayor Dean Trantalis joins the show to provide insight on the impact South Florida’s sudden success in the sports world is having on the area. We also check in with former Miami Marlins president David Samson on his thoughts about the merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour have announced that they will be merging into one single entity. Front Office Sports Writer Doug Greenberg breaks down the bombshell announcement, and what it could mean for the future of golf. Next, former Miami Marlins President David Samson returns to give us another update on the Oakland A's saga. The team finds themselves in limbo once again after the Nevada legislature ended its session without voting on funding for the A's stadium.

Huge deals for teams and players could or already have gone down in Arizona, Chicago, Portland, Manchester, and Saudi Arabia. We take a tour of each one, then talk to Commonwealth co-founder and CEO Brian Doxtator on the world of fractional investing in sports assets, including player earnings.

Andrew Brandt, formerly a VP of player finance with the Green Bay Packers and now a columnist at Sports Illustrated, joins the show to give us insight on what it's like working in the front office of an NFL organization. Brandt talks about the process of negotiating NFL contracts, what the media often gets wrong, and his thoughts on Aaron Rodgers big move to the New York Jets.

The Stanley Cup Final begins Saturday between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Florida Panthers. NHL Network host Jackie Redmond joins us to break down the series. But before we hit the ice, there is a lot of news that we need to recap this weekend from the Oakland A’s to the NBA to European soccer. FOS senior writer Owen Poindexter rounds up all of the biggest news of the week to make sure you don't miss a thing.

On today's episode, Senior Writer Michael McCarthy joins us to share his thoughts ahead of tonight's NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat. Next, we hear from Jason Kelly, Chief Correspondent at Bloomberg and host of Next in Sports. Kelly talks about his experience reporting on Wall Street, how Wall Street money is shaping the sports landscape, and his new show Next in Sports.

Everton narrowly escaped relegation from the English Premier League, and in their stead falls Leicester City, Leeds United, and Southampton F.C. Senior Writer Owen Poindexter breaks down what relegation could mean for each of the clubs. Next, we hear from CBS Sports Golazo Network's Susannah Collins and Jeff Gerttula of CBS Sports on the emerging soccer network. We discussed why they felt a 24/7 soccer network was the play to make in the current media landscape.