Front Office Sports Today

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.

In today's episode, we spoke with two U.S. veterans and Para-sport gold medalists Jen Lee and Christy Gardner. Both Lee and Gardner suffered injuries that led to amputation, but they did not let that stop them from competing in sports at the highest level. Hear their inspiring stories of how they overcame their injuries, what led them to Para-sports, and how they continue to serve outside the uniform.

We look back on the week’s top stories, including Michael Block’s miracle shot, the Oakland A’s saga, and ESPN layoffs. Then Jim Courier joins to look ahead to the French Open.

On today's episode, we get an update from Front Office Sports senior writer Michael McCarthy on life at ESPN. McCarthy talks about the most recent round of layoffs, the troubles around their business model, and ESPN's role in the upcoming NBA media rights negotiations. Next, we are joined by Irwin Kishner — a lawyer with over three decades of experience helping teams negotiate major deals. He shares his thoughts on San Diego's record $500 million MLS expansion fee, the Arizona Coyotes failed entertainment district, and whether or not public funds should be used to pay for sports venues.

In 2017, NFL linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a spinal-cord injury that temporarily paralyzed him from the waist-down, bringing his once-promising career to a sudden halt. Shazier has regained the use of his legs, and while his football days are over — his career is just getting started. Shazier joins Front Office Sports Today to talk about his amazing personal triumph, his continued love for the game of football, and his current business ventures — including launching his own medical marijuana line, hosting a podcast — and pursuing a future in the broadcast booth.

Over the last decade, ESPN's Mike Greenberg has established himself as one of the most central gravitational forces in sports media. Greeny joins Senior Writers Mike McCarthy and Owen Poindexter to talk about the ins and outs of his morning show 'Get Up,' layoffs at ESPN, and the NBA Playoffs.

NHL sideline reporter Emily Kaplan joins Front Office Sports Today to talk about what it's like working on the sidelines of an NHL game. She shares her thoughts on being a female in a male-dominated industry, the high-pressure situations of reporting NHL games, gives her pick for who takes home the Stanley Cup.

The WNBA returns tonight! To kick off the season, we are joined by the New York Liberty’s new forward Breanna Stewart. Before coming to New York, Stewart spent six years with the Seattle Storm where she won two WNBA Championships, two finals MVPs, four all-star bids, and a regular season MVP award. Stewart talks about the transition from Seattle to New York, her new signature show with Puma, and what she sees in the WNBA’s future.

Voters in Arizona rejected all three propositions for the Arizona Coyotes to build an entertainment district in Tempe. Senior Reporter AJ Perez joins us to give an update on the future of the Coyotes, as well as a look into the ongoing sale of the Ottawa Senators. Next, we are joined by Donald De La Haye — Creator of the YouTube channel Deestroying. De La Haye shares his journey from being forced to choose between content creation and an athletic scholarship to where he is today at over five million subscribers on YouTube.

Robert Griffin III's time as an NFL quarterback may have come to an end, but that doesn't mean he's done with the game of football. RGIII joins us to talk about his journey from the gridiron to the broadcast booth with ESPN. Tune in to hear how RGIII got started as an analyst (even though he didn't want the job), his aspirations as a media professional, and his thoughts on the Commanders sale.

The NBA Western Conference Finals tip off tonight, but the biggest drama will be off the court. Fourteen teams have a chance at the number one pick in the NBA Draft Lottery and the right to select French phenom Victor Wembanyama. We dive into what the hype is all about and who has the best odds. Later, we hear from NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams on the unique connections the NBA is creating through the Basketball Africa League.