The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly

Elle Duncan has heard your criticism of Netflix’s MLB Opening Day Coverage. And as the streamer’s first sports anchor, she has something to say about it. In this episode of The Deal, Elle explains to Alex and Jason that there is a difference between constructive criticism and saying something is “too Netflix” and there’s a balance between "eventizing" sports and covering them. She also shares why she left ESPN after a decade and what it’s like to be on a desk with the notoriously anti-media Barry Bonds. Then, Elle talks about her other new role hosting USA Network’s 2026 WNBA coverage and why the growth of women’s sports depends on investing in coverage and giving ourselves permission to admit that some players are just better than othersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesse Cole is the Walt Disney of baseball. As the founder and CEO of the Savannah Bananas and its parent company Fans First Entertainment, Jesse rewrote the rules of baseball to build an entertainment juggernaut. There are no bunts, walks or mound visits in Banana Ball, but there are dancing umpires, trick plays and choreographed dance numbers. But the Savannah Bananas are more than just a zany take on America’s past time, they are a $500 million business.  In this episode of The Deal, Jesse tells Alex and Jason the tale of how the Bananas went from a struggling Coastal Plain League team to a multi-team league that sells out NFL stadiums. He also shares why he doesn’t charge his fans taxes or ticket fees and why Bananas games stream free on YouTube- despite the league having a deal with ESPN. Jesse also explains the details of a mistake that cost him $6 million and why he is inspired by both Dana White and Lorne Michaels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season. The season kicks off with a coast-to-coast showdown (on Netflix!) between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants. But it’s the off-the-diamond news that’s making the biggest waves. Beyond a streaming service partnership, baseball's also now in business with Polymarket, and facing labor strife that could lead to an offseason lockout going into 2027. So, yeah, there's a lot to talk about.  In this special episode of The Deal, Alex breaks it all down for Jason, reflecting on his own participation in the 1995 MLB lockout and responds to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred saying off-season lockouts “should be the new norm.” He also explains what he sees as the MLBPA’s non-negotiables, his thoughts on the MLB having a salary cap and why now is the best time to invest in baseball. Finally, Alex shares the baseball storylines he is most looking forward to and his prediction of who will be facing off to win it all in October.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s brackets season! And you can watch all 67 games of both the women’s and men’s NCAA tournament on national TV, thanks to David Levy. Levy spent 33 years at Turner Broadcasting, eventually serving as its president, where he expanded the network’s NBA coverage. Levy is probably best known for brokering a $10.8 billion rights agreement that made every March Madness game available nationally across CBS and the Turner networks for the very first time. In this episode of The Deal, Alex and Jason talk to Levy about the ins and outs of the March Madness deal. He also tells the story of how he got Shaq to fill Inside the NBA’s fourth chair and why the key to that show’s success is letting Charles Barkley talk. Finally, Levy shares more about his current venture, Horizon Sports & Experiences, and why he’s betting big on women’s sports and pickleball. You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight, the United States and Venezuela face off in the finals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And chances are, a lot of you will be watching. Based only on pool play, this year’s WBC viewership is up 142% from the 2023 tournament. 35,000 people have bought tickets to tonight’s final and over 100 million Japanese fans tuned in to watch Shohei Ohtani. Aaron Judge called the crowd at the U.S.-Mexico game on March 10th, “bigger and better than the World Series.” In this special episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez shares his reaction to the phenomenon that is the 2026 World Baseball Classic with his co-host Jason Kelly. Rodriguez talks about the national pride his fellow Dominicans felt over the past few weeks and explains why MLB commissioner Rob Manfred needs to capitalize on this momentum leading into what Rodriguez calls “the most important season in the history of the sport.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bobby Wagner is one of three NFL Linebackers to ever record 2,000 tackles. But his biggest goal is ownership, whether that’s of a team or his own contract negotiations. Following the lead of his mentors Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, Wagner has spent the last decade diversifying his business interests, including investments in tech start-ups and taking a minority stake in the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. In this episode of The Deal, Alex and Jason talk to Wagner about what he saw as an NFL rookie that motivated him to be his own agent and explains the ins and outs of how an NFL contract comes to be. Wagner also shares how Larry Johnson and a cartoon based on Magic shaped his views on athletes and ownership. He also explains why writing a check to the Seattle Storm was his easiest investment decision.  You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Americans really embrace the rest of the world's favorite sport? According to Roger Bennett, the founder and CEO of soccer media powerhouse Men in Blazers, we don't have to wait for this summer's World Cup -- the love affair with soccer is in full swing across the United States. In fact, Roger breaks the news to Alex that soccer has surpassed baseball as the country’s third most popular sport after (American) football and basketball.  In this episode of The Deal, Alex and Jason talk to Bennett about soccer’s ascent into the hearts of American sports fans and into the portfolios of American investors. He also explains why the MLS will never be as popular as the Premier League, why soccer ownership is a great investment and why the World Cup is the pinnacle of athletic competition. Check out Roger’s new memoir We Are the World (Cup) You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, Jason Kelly speaks with Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly about how drivers aren't just racers in today's Formula 1 – they're global brand ambassadors, technical consultants, and brands unto themselves. Gasly discussed how he is building his empire through partnerships with fashion brands, an investment group, and an ownership stake in FC Versailles, on top of competing in 24 races every year around the world.  This interview was part of the first episode of Bloomberg Originals' documentary mini-series, Power Players. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, Jason Kelly speaks with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali about how F1 is bringing its booming business to Miami, why he's excited about the addition of Cadillac to the F1 grid, how he's pushing to bring more women into racing through F1 Academy, and why he teamed up with the folks behind the Brad Pitt movie "F1."  This interview was part of the third episode of Bloomberg Originals' documentary mini-series, Power Players.  Listen to previous episodes of The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly featuring Tom Garfinkel, CEO of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, and Susie Wolff, managing director of F1 Academy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk to Angel City FC controlling owner Willow Bay about how she sees her investment giving back to the community. They discuss how Bay helped change sports media culture when she hosted “NBA Inside Stuff,” how her work as dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism inspired her to acquire a team in the National Women's Soccer League and why team ownership is unlike anything she ever imagined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special bonus episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly hop on the mic to talk about the thrilling seven-game World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. They discuss why it was the best World Series Rodriguez has ever seen, how Dodgers owner Mark Walter's vision and checkbook have fueled the team, and why they see potential for a Dodgers three-peat next year. The hosts also talk about the premiere of the new HBO documentary series, "Alex vs. A-Rod," and the lessons Rodriguez hopes younger athletes learn from his mistakes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk to the former football player and award-winning producer Emmanuel Acho about why he rejected the NFL and rebranded as a media influencer. In this conversation, they discuss the business of the NFL, why Acho’s “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” video series became a viral success and how he’s revitalizing sports media with his new show “Speakeasy.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk to Dallas Cowboys owner, President & General Manager Jerry Jones about how he turned “America’s Team” into a global brand. In this conversation, they discuss the risks Jones took to redefine the role of National Football League teams, how he faces criticism and the high-stakes deals that have shaped his legacy, including the controversial trade of Micah Parson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Erika Ayers Badan, the former chief executive of Barstool Sports and current CEO of Food52, about what she’s learned from leading two “turnaround” companies. Badan tells the hosts how she led a company often laden with controversy, why she’s happy to grow talent that leaves and why she thinks it’s important to fail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with two-time Super Bowl champion Justin Tuck about how he transitioned to a career at Goldman Sachs. In this conversation, which was taped in front of an audience at the Bloomberg Power Players conference, Tuck tells the hosts about the pressures and opportunities of being a professional athlete in New York City, how private equity is poised to revolutionize both the NFL and college football and why he thinks fans shouldn’t give up on the New York Giants this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.