Wait...What? #sportsbiz chat with DP & McGhee

DP & McGhee are joined by Terrence Burns, a true luminary in the Olympic movement. Terrence tells stories ranging from assisting Casey Wasserman and the LA28 bid effort to writing a speech for...Vladimir Putin?

He lays out a compelling case for what brands can hope to achieve through an Olympic sponsorship and how the Olympic Games are more than just sport.

There's more, of course. The #sportsbiz chat hosts also talk about their latest favorite topic, Caitlin Clark, and women's sports. But, this conversation has an interesting twist, including a disagreement with one media personality and bewilderment with another.

DP & McGhee are joined by Shripal Shah, author of the recently published book, "Leveling Up with AI: A Strategic Guide to AI in Sports Marketing." Shripal makes a potentially complex topic easy to understand for sports marketers.
Before the interview, the co-hosts talk about the Masters, the meteoric rise in viewership for the WNBA Draft, and the lifetime ban imposed by NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, on Jontay Porter for betting on basketball and trying to influence prop bets on himself.
Enjoy.

Hello friends. Another year of March Madness is in the books, and this was unlike any one in history. South Carolina prevailed over Caitlin Clark and Iowa on the way to an undefeated season. This match-up for the ages led to over 18M viewers for a game played on a Sunday afternoon. On the men's side, UConn pulled away from Purdue in the second half to repeat as NCAA Champions.
But unlike every year before, the women's final outdrew the men's game, and by a lot (4M viewers). Yet another watershed moment for women's sports.
And DP & McGhee covered it all (and then some).

It's Opening Day, and DP & McGhee are back with their 84th episode.  That is higher than the number of games NHL and NBA teams have in a season, and more home games than an MLB club plays each year. But, we digress.

The hosts talk about the dark side of sports betting, which is starting to make its way from the back pages to the front pages with Shohei Ohtani embroiled in a potential scandal, NCAA president Charlie Baker calling for a ban on prop bets on college players, and Raptors forward Jontay Porter being held out of games as betting authorities investigate strange betting patterns.

And because the show was Opening Day of the 2024 baseball season, David and Tim weigh in on MLB.  They also talk the NFL's decision to play on Christmas, Kim Mulkey asking to speak to a manager (or at least an attorney) about an article that had yet to be published and recent developments in stadium deals around the various leagues.

Enjoy.

After the longest episode in the history of the show, DP & McGhee come back with a much shorter show this week. But, that doesn't mean the hosts didn't touch on numerous topics. From the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (for the second week in a row) to Mike Tyson getting back in the ring to the potential coming together of men's and women's tennis, David and Tim hit a lot of the news.

Check it out before you get too caught up in March Madness.

Rob Prazmark has built a legendary career, selling some of the biggest and most impactful sponsorships in the history of sport. He joins the show to talk about his book, "The Olympics Don't Take American Express," a journey through his nearly 40-year career in the Olympic Movement and beyond. His insights, advice and stories make him one of the best guests the show has ever had.

Oh, and DP & McGhee are also there.  Talking a lot about collegiate sports, Clarkmania and the brewing F1 controversies.

Enjoy!

The podcast took a rather deep digression (even deeper than normal digressions) into the world of 1970s progressive rock in the middle of a wide-ranging discussion of news in the business of sports. Trust us, it’s worth the listen.

DP & McGhee talked about the issues facing two of the bigger events on the sports calendar. While the problems with the NBA All-Star Game were all man-made, NASCAR had Mother Nature to blame for delaying the Great American Race by a day.

And although it’s still February, college football is never far from the minds of sports fans, especially when the College Football Playoffs is talking about expanding to up to 16 teams before they’ve even played a game in the 12-team format.

There’s a spotlight on sponsorship, memories of the Miracle on Ice and more.

Enjoy.

Poets call April the cruelest month. For the sports industry, February may just be the coolest. DP & McGhee talk at length about the biggest event of the month, the Super Bowl. But, they certainly didn’t want to ignore another marquee event, the NBA All-Star Weekend.

And David and Tim were honored to have NBA Executive Vice President Kerry Tatlock talking about all the festivities taking place in Indianapolis. Kerry provided insight into two big new sponsorship deals the NBA recently announced with some megabrands.

The Waste(d) Management Phoenix Open, ESPN’s revised CFP deal, the Daytona 500, and pitchers and catchers reporting also got the Wait…What? treatment.

DP jumped on the mic from London to record this episode just days before the Super Bowl kicks off in Las Vegas. There was plenty of talk about the Big Game, including DP and McGhee’s predictions.  Let’s just say they’ll either both be crowing or you won’t hear another word about it.

The hosts also talked about the commercials they’re most looking forward to seeing, and some of them are really familiar to fans.

The recent announcement that ESPN, Fox and Warner Brothers Discovery were coming together to bundle their sports offering certainly caught DP and McGhee’s attention, as did news of a great year on the sponsorship front by the NHL.

And going from the ridiculous to the absurd, there was a great discussion about Kim Jong Un, Peter Thiel, and Phil Mickelson.

The University of Michigan football team circled the wagons after not one, but two, suspensions of head coach, Jim Harbaugh.  And they embraced their role as villains of the college football world all the way to a national championship.  DP & McGhee talk about the ratings and the ramifications of the last College Football Playoff featuring 4 teams.

The hosts also touch on the feud within Disney between two top talents, as well as ESPN’s major investment in NCAA Championships, including the women’s basketball tournament.

Finally, David and Tim also make their predictions for the 2024 sports industry.  Only time will tell if they are bold or foolish.

DP & McGhee kick off season 3 by welcoming Jerry Cifarelli, Jr., President & CEO of ANC, an industry-leading media and technology company.

There was a lot to talk about after the holiday break, and David and Tim touch on the College Football Playoffs, Jim Harbaugh and the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

David Tepper, a newly popular topic for discussion (often for the wrong reasons), makes the show after tossing a drink into the crowd at last weekend’s game between Tepper's Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The hosts also take a look back at their 2023 predictions – a truly mixed bag from the insightful to the inane.

And finally, both David and Tim are looking forward to seeing Caitlin Clark in action.

In the midst of the holiday season, DP & McGhee have something for pretty much every sports (biz) fan in this episode. They start the discussion with their most popular topic, LIV Golf. Jon Rahm’s decision to join the upstart league certainly seems to have impacted the negotiations between PIF, LIV and the TOUR.

They then pivot to the history-making contract signed by MLB phenom, Shohei Ohtani, and MLB’s big jump in sponsorship revenue. If you’re a college football fan, this show has you covered as they talk about the upcoming CFB playoffs. NBA? They’ve got you covered! MLS? EPL? Ditto!

Enjoy the show, and the holidays!

In this, their 75th episode, DP & McGhee touch upon some topics that have become very familiar to loyal listeners. The merger between the PGA TOUR and LIV Golf continues to have more twists than Shelly (Alan Arkin) serpentining in the In Laws. NASCAR’s new media deal beats expectations, with new partners joining the dance.
David and Tim both agree that if he’s not the worst owner in sports, this certain billionaire is certainly in the conversation. And no, it’s definitely not Mark Cuban, who’s also a topic of discussion.
They also hit on the conference championships, the AI brouhaha at SI, and a tribute to the late, great Rodney Dangerfield.

Jim Andrews, as much as any person in the sports industry, made marketers smarter about sponsorships. His work at IEG, both with IEG Report and the IEG Conference, was groundbreaking and essential to the dramatic growth of the sports marketing industry from the 1980s through the present.

Jim shares his thoughts and perspective on a broad range of subjects during his visit.

DP & McGhee also talk about the complicated legacy of Bobby Knight, World Series ratings (and what they do or don’t say about MLB’s prospects going forward) and the newly named head coach of the USWNT, Emma Harris.

Looking forward, David heads to Vegas for the F1 race for work, while Tim heads to Ithaca for Cornell Hockey for fun.

Some weird stuff is happening up in Michigan.  Between inappropriate trivia questions at Michigan State and an alleged cheating scandal in Ann Arbor, DP & McGhee talk the craziness that is Michigan college athletics these days.

The co-hosts then talk about the ongoing Fall (not so) Classic going on between the D•Backs and the Rangers. Neither co-host can speak with too much first-hand knowledge about the World Series, but since when did that stop them?

The ever popular sponsorship segment is back, with DP and McGhee talking at length about briefs.  Namely, the recently announced deal between the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball and Kim Kardashian’s Skims brand of underwear.

Shortly after recording the episode, in which the co-hosts mentioned Bobby Knight, it was announced that Coach Knight had passed away. They had no knowledge of that as they were speaking of him.

DP & McGhee return with a free wheeling conversation around LIV Golf, one of their favorite topics, the New York Jets, F1 and most notably UFC’s really big deal with Bud Light.

As many people know, Bud Light was recently knocked off its perch as the best selling beer in the US as a result of a concerted effort by some people to boycott the brand. This new deal shows Bud Light leaning into its core audience, and borrowing the equity of one of the strongest sports brands out there – the UFC.

And, it wouldn’t be a Wait…What? episode without a pop culture, albeit a dated one, reference. 

DP & McGhee dig into the numbers in this week’s episode, talking about MLB attendance, NFL viewership, Inter Miami ticket prices, and Liverpool FC investments. They also do a recap of some of the stories around the recently completed Ryder Cup (DP even likens the rivalry to war), including how the Saudi investment could impact the event going forward.

No guest? No problem.  The hosts talk about some past guests, including one legendary sports business journalist’s take on spring football.

Take a listen to hear about a whole host of topics related to the sports business "ecosystem." How's that for a Wait...What callback?

Long-time sports industry leader, Keith Bruce joins DP & McGhee for a discussion about the recent acquisition of QuintEvents by F1-owner Liberty Media and what it means for their growth and expansion plans. The QuintEvents International President also talks about his long and storied career, including being the CEO of Super Bowl 50, arguably the most important Super Bowl in the history of the NFL. Bruce also gives listeners his perspective on what has changed and what’s remained constant in his more than a quarter century in the sports biz.

The co-hosts start off talking about the upcoming Ryder Cup, MLB ratings and Coach Prime and his University of Colorado Buffaloes.  It seems everyone is talking about Sanders and his team.

Enjoy the listen.

After a long, hot summer, DP and McGhee are back!  As cool as the coming fall. In this episode, your intrepid hosts distill a season’s worth of sports biz news into an hour long show.

 With football now in full swing, they talk about everything from Coach Prime to Aaron Rodgers to record ratings to conference realignment. The other football gets some love, as well.  Specifically, the Messi Effect and his immediate and significant impact on MLS.

Tim and David are both impressed by both Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic and how they fared both on and off the court at the US Open.

Enjoy!

DP & McGhee are about to take a hiatus from the show to enjoy the summer. But before they sign off for a few weeks, they touch on a number of topics around the sports industry. No show would be complete without a discussion of LIV Golf, but while the merger (or whatever you want to call it) between the TOUR and LIV Golf is under legal and regulatory scrutiny, it will continue to be newsworthy. But golf in general continues to create compelling storylines, whether it’s the US Open won by a guy who'd never made a cut at the tournament, or the NFL-style finish to the Canadian Open, it continues to make the back pages (the sports section), and not just the front.

Finals ratings, both NBA and NHL, make the cut, as does the rehiring of Greg Berhalter to once again lead the US Men’s National Team.

And before signing off, the hosts shine a spotlight on sponsorships and give a wholehearted endorsement of the College World Series. Enjoy the show...and we'll talk soon.

The show has covered LIV Golf as much as it has any current topic in sports, but this week’s episode is dedicated almost exclusively to the recent merger (?) between the TOUR, the DP (not short for David Paro) World Tour and LIV.
Oh, and a pretty good soccer player named Lionel something is coming to MLS.

DP & McGhee kick off, or should we say tip off, the show talking about LeBron’s departure from the playoffs and the real possibility that the Celtics might also be swept away. Brooks Koepka won his 5th major this past weekend, but his first since joining LIV Golf.  What is the impact of Koepka's win, both long- and short-term, on the upstart golf tour?

Getting back to hoops, your co-hosts talk about the start of the WNBA season, highlighted by Brittney Griner’s return to the court and Breanna Stewart going full beast mode.

On a more serious note, recent episodes of overt racism in the sports world, both here and abroad, are discussed.

 And before some shout outs to some industry luminaries, Tim and David discuss the lasting legacy of Jim Brown, the NFL great who recently passed away.

DP & McGhee take advantage of not having a guest by touching on a whole host of topics around the sports industry.  They start by channeling their inner Siskel & Ebert (look it up, kids) to discuss the Ben Affleck-directed “Air” about Nike’s efforts to sign Michael Jordan before he became MICHAEL JORDAN, or just MJ. And keeping to their rule about only discussing certain topics on days that end in Y, they hit upon the NFL’s upcoming schedule and PGA of America’s honcho Seth Waugh’s take on LIV Golf.
Your hosts also touch on the NBA and NHL playoffs, MLB (small market teams in particular), MLS, F1 and college realignment.
There’s a lot to cover, and something for everyone.

Alternate title: Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I’m (episode) 64

DP & McGhee spend the opening segment discussing ratings for the NHL and NBA Playoffs, MLB first month numbers and, yes, Super Bowl ratings. And while they do discuss action on the field of play, that merely goes to show you that the sporting side impacts the commercial operations and vice versa.

The Co-Hosts are then joined by Rick Singer, one of the most accomplished and nicest people in the sports industry. From his early days at the NBA, to running sponsorships for IBM to his more recent experiences with the Tiger Woods Foundation and Duke University, Rick has had a front row seat to some of the greatest moments in sports over the past quarter century.

Listen to one of the more fun and entertaining interviews on this episode.

The growth of bull riding as a major sports property has been nothing short of phenomenal. A lot of credit for that goes to Sean Gleason, the CEO of the Professional Bull Riders.  From creating not one, but two docuseries around the sport to selling franchises to the Team Series, Sean has been among the most innovative leaders in sports.  On this episode, Sean talks about PBR’s founding 30 years ago, its milestone anniversary, and the sport’s future.

DP & McGhee open the show by recapping the recently completed Masters, and of course LIV Golf works its way into the conversation.  They also talk about the recently completed NBA season numbers (spoiler alert: they were very good) and the upcoming playoffs, MLB sponsorships from the sublime to the ridiculous and the ongoing success of the NWSL.

After global travel and illness kept the dynamic duo apart for several weeks, DP & McGhee return in fine form to discuss the recently completed NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament, Masters Golf and other sundry and various topics. Endeavor’s purchase of WWE to merge it with UFC gets a bit of the irreverent treatment the podcast promises, while IBM’s use of its Masters sponsorship to showcase some pretty cool AI technology checks the “sometimes serious” box. And throughout the episode, David and Tim don’t hold back on their opinions.

This week’s guest is Julie Tyson, a Senior Vice President with the PGA TOUR with responsibility for Global Partnerships - Global Strategy and Innovation. Julie has held a variety of senior roles within the organization, so she’s well suited to talk about the recent changes and innovations the TOUR has implemented to increase fan engagement, viewership and ultimately participation in the sport. And, as one of the most senior women in the business of golf, she has a vested interest in the steps the TOUR has taken to address DEI. Spoiler alert – they’ve done a lot.

At the end of the episode, McGhee gives his predictions for this weekend’s men’s and women's Final Fours. DP's definitely looking forward to seeing how those pan out.

With David on the PUP list due to a lost voice, Tim flies solo in this episode.  McGhee interviews Bill Sutton, a true industry legend. Bill talks about working with David Stern to launch the NBA’s TMBO (Team Marketing/Business Operations) group, his early days in the industry and advice that any person in the sports business can benefit from heeding. Dr. Sutton has created and led some amazing sport management programs at various universities, and has helped place thousands of students in positions throughout the sports world. Listen to our latest #sportsbiz "Legends Series" interview here.

After taking a week off, DP & McGhee return with a conversation that runs the gamut across a variety of sports, and around the world. March Madness is top of mind for many US sports fans, so the hosts talk about everything from NIL to incoming president Charlie Baker to a big corporate sponsor returning. Of course, they also touch upon gambling and the grandaddy of college basketball betting, the office pool. XFL seems to be a nearly weekly discussion, and this episode is no different as DP & McGhee talk about falling ratings and what that bodes for long term success. David and Tim then touch upon some unseemly goings-on in global football as the beautiful game shows its ugly side.

Finally, there’s a truly “Wait…What?” moment when the conversation turns to the WWE seeking to have a sports book created for its pre-determined matches.

DP & McGhee mine a rich lode when they go back to two favorite subjects, LIV Golf and pickleball.  LIV Golf delivered less than stellar ratings on the CW, while pickeball landed a title sponsor with Vlasic pickles coming on board in one of the most obvious brand partnerships in history.

After talking about some recent sponsorship news, the hosts welcome Bob Lynch, the founder and CEO of SponsorUnited.  SponsorUnited is one of Inc. Magazine’s fastest growing companies, and Bob talks about the genesis for the platform, an early meeting with an NBA owner that led to an investment, and a recent capital raise that will fuel international expansion.

As part of the ongoing Young Entrepreneur Series, DP & McGhee welcome Brendan Candon, CEO of SidelineSwap, an online platform for buying and selling sports equipment. Brendan takes us through lessons learned, the recent strategic investment by Dick’s Sporting Goods, and advice for would-be entrepreneurs.

Before talking to Candon, the co-hosts talk about the highs and (mostly) lows of the NBA All Star festivities, the first weekend of the re-launched XFL, the great atmosphere at the Genesis Invitational and the US Women’s team performance in the SheBelieves Cup.

Next week, DP heads out on the road, making Wait…What? a truly global media entity.

CEO of the Kraft Analytics Group (KAGR) and co-founder of the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Jessica Gelman joins the show to talk about the growth and evolution of analytics in the sports business, on both the sporting and commercial side.  Gelman feels that the science of data analytics in sports is still in its very early stages of development and has only begun to scratch the surface of what it can add to the business of sports. Started as a one-day event in 2006 with only a keynote speaker, the conference is now sold out, offers dozens of panels about all aspects of the sports business, and encourages diversity, equity and inclusion through opportunities to showcase under represented populations.

DP & McGhee talk about all things Super Bowl, from ratings and the half time show, to their favorite (most and least) commercials.

Football may be over for now, but there will be plenty to talk about in the coming episodes.

DP & McGhee welcome Fordham University’s director of athletics, Edward Kull to the show. Ed talks about the challenges of running a program competing in a mid-major conference, how things like NIL have complicated an already complex job, and how programs like Fordham drive revenue, the lifeblood of college athletics.

Given that it’s Super Bowl week, our hosts spent most of the up front portion of the show talking about the...NHL. Of course, they also mentioned Tom Brady’s (2nd) retirement as well as Pepsi’s decision to swap out Mountain Dew for Starry as the flagship brand of their NBA and WNBA sponsorships.

We may be less than two weeks away from the Super Bowl, but the NASCAR season starts this weekend in Los Angeles, and F1 revs up in just over a month. So, DP and McGhee were excited to welcome Jonathan Gibson, EVP, Marketing and Business Development for the Penske Corporation to the #sportsbiz chat. Jonathan has had a long and storied career and he shared some of the wisdom he’s gained from working for the legendary Roger Penske. He also talked about some of the great things Penske has in store for IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Our own DP shared some of his personal work story having just launched the new MoneyGram Haas F1 Team livery to a strong industry response. Tim and David also talked about Conference Championship ratings, AB’s advertising plans for Super Bowl LVII....which is not to be confused with LIV Golf, which makes it into yet another conversation on the show.

DP & McGhee launch a new segment, the Young Entrepreneur Series and they couldn’t have asked for a better first guest than Daniel Hennes, co-founder and CEO of Engage. Daniel shares his journey of disrupting an industry that had been inefficient and often wrought with bad actors. Engage allows brands and athletes to connect creating opportunities for companies to utilize talent for appearances and speaking engagements.  Daniel’s maturity certainly belies his young age.

What would an episode of Wait…What? be without a discussion about LIV Golf and pickleball?  And both were legitimately in the news this past week for their respective media deals. Before signing off, David and Tim give their predictions for the upcoming AFC and NFC conference championships.

Wait…What? welcomes three leading educators from three of the most prestigious sport management programs in America. Lisa Delpy Neirotti of George Washington University, David Hedlund of St. John’s, and Will Norton of the Isenberg School at UMass join the podcast to talk about sport management as an academic discipline. The distinguished group talks about the importance of real-world experience to the educational journey, the changes they’ve seen in sport management and their respective paths to academia. While all three bring a unique perspective, they also share a lot of the same views on things like networking, hard work and flexibility.

DP & McGhee start the show by talking about something they haven’t really covered before, namely combat sports and the changes on the horizon at WWE, PFL, and potentially UFC.

DP & McGhee kick off Season 2 of the podcast talking about a host of topics. They open with a discussion about the College Football Playoffs and the Georgia Bulldog juggernaut.  After the dismantling of TCU, it would seem the expansion of the playoff field can’t come too soon. And keeping with the “kicking” theme, our hosts talk about the ongoing drama at US Soccer involving the US Men's National Team. They finish the soccer chat by paying tribute to Pelé, the GOAT. 

On a much happier note, David and Tim celebrate Damar Hamlin’s continued recovery from a nearly fatal incident just last week. The show ends with DP & McGhee’s prediction for the upcoming year. Listen throughout 2023 to see who gets it right and who misses the mark.

DP & McGhee head into the holidays with a look backward on an extraordinary first season of Wait…What. DP opens the show by putting a bow on FIFA World Cup, talking about the thrilling finals and the legacy Qatar hoped to create vs. the one it may be left with.  McGhee then talks about the NCAA’s announcement that Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker, has been selected to replace outgoing president, Mark Emmert. After some quick hits, McGhee relates his story about breaking into the sports industry, which involves more than a little luck.

The hosts then weigh in on their choices for the biggest sports business stories of the year, and not surprisingly, it involves LIV Golf. Finally, DP & McGhee reel off the list of all the guests who have graciously joined the show over the past year. It truly has been an amazing first season on the #sportsbiz chat.

Happy holidays to all of our listeners!

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member and ESPN analyst, Debbie Antonelli, joins the #sportsbiz chat to talk about the current college hoops season, NIL, Title IX, and the importance of putting the time in.  And if the NCAA ever calls, Debbie will be ready with her list of things she’d change in college athletics. After a several-week hiatus on the topic, DP & McGhee open this week's episode talking about LIV Golf and the seemingly ill-conceived plan to garner public support for the Saudi government. The hosts also talk about World Cup, including the tragic passing of Grant Wahl, and the drama surrounding Gio Reyna and his issues with coaches and teammates. To close out this fun episode, DP gives McGhee another racquet sport to scorn and ridicule.

DP & McGhee go without a safety net (and without guest) as they take on a variety of topics during this episode of "Wait…What?" The hosts talk at length about the new College Football Playoff format that is scheduled to start in 2024, a few years earlier than originally planned.  They discuss the ramifications of a 12-team CFP field and how conferences may alter the way they choose their champion. After some conversation about Coach Prime, Dr. Pepper and the spate of bowl games, David and Tim talk about the World Cup and Qatar’s desire to use its time in the limelight to launch a bid to host the Summer Olympic Games.

A different type of episode, to be sure, but hopefully one that’s entertaining and educational.

It’s the biggest event in global sports, so it’s no surprise that DP & McGhee covered the stories surrounding the US vs. Iran match in the FIFA World Cup. And because of our recording schedule, we didn’t have the result until we went back into the "studio" to interview our guest and record our closing segment. So, we were able to speak about the US moving on to the knockout stage. Not for the first time, and it almost certainly won’t be the last, the Washington Commanders made their way into the conversation. 

And in a first for Wait…What? the hosts welcomed a PhD., Dr. Jonathan Jensen (yeah, that Dr. J) of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who discussed his ROI model that helps properties allocate finite resources based on his data and insights that can tell a rights holder which sponsors are more (or less) likely to renew their agreements.

It’s evening in Doha as Aggregate Sports CEO and former Swansea City AFC COO, Chris Pearlman, joins DP & McGhee to provide his perspective on FIFA World Cup from on the ground in Qatar. Chris provides some unique and timely insight as a fan and sportsbiz executive. Before being joined by Chris, David and Tim talk about the happenings both on and off the pitch in Qatar. From the brave Iranian team and captain, to the BBC reporter who is literally wearing her thoughts about human rights on her sleeve, to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino's public comments about the controversies surrounding this tournament, your co-hosts have you covered.

DP & McGhee go full fan boy when they talk to three-time World Cup player, and Team USA captain Marcelo Balboa.  “Rambo” talks about his career in soccer from the fields of San Pedro, to the world stage, to the broadcast booth, and provides a great overview of what to expect from the tournament in Qatar. The story behind his famous bicycle kick goal while with the Colorado Rapids, arguably the best one in MLS history, is a Wait…What classic. Before being joined by their guest, the hosts talk about issues surrounding the upcoming World Cup, the NFL taking the show on the road to Germany and the potential sale of the Washington Commanders, which continues to fuel speculation around the team’s suitors.

With FIFA World Cup fast approaching, DP & McGhee are joined by FIFA Head of Partnership Marketing, Eduardo Solis, before he heads off to Qatar. One of the biggest spectacles in sports, World Cup delivers nearly a month of the world's most popular sport to millions of fans around the globe. Solis talks broadly about the beautiful game, including FIFA’s commitment to social causes, the growth of the women’s side, and FIFA’s blue chip partners.

This episode also covers the potential sales of the NFL's Washington Commanders and Premier League's Liverpool FC, which could net their owners a combined $12B and would shake up sports finance going forward. Of course, the hosts couldn’t let the recent news about Mark Cuban’s and Anheuser Busch’s recent investment in pickleball go unmentioned. And before some quick hits, they touched on the Kyrie Irving situation and why it’s not just uneducated, but potentially dangerous.

As we move to the final stretch of the college football season, LEARFIELD Chief Revenue Officer John Brody joins the #sportsbiz chat to talk about the changing landscape of collegiate multi-media rights and the opportunities they provide brands.  Brody brings experience from a variety of senior-level roles at WWE, Major League Baseball, Wasserman and the NFL. DP & McGhee also talk about the dramatic performance of Ross Chastain at Martinsville Speedway, which once again earned its nickname of the Half Mile of Mayhem, the dysfunction surrounding the Brooklyn Nets, and Lionel Messi’s reported move to MLS. Tired of pickleball? Get ready for some disc golf talk, which doesn’t typically get a lot of attention.

With League of Legends Worlds 2022 heading toward the finals, DP & McGhee welcomed Dave Bialek, a sports industry veteran who made the jump to esports in 2016 and is now the president of Infinite Reality Entertainment and Co-founder and CEO of ReKTGlobal. Dave gives a tutorial on all things esports with a focus on how brands can best utilize esports and gaming to build relationships with customers. Our hosts kick of the show talking about F1, including the recently completed US Grand Prix in Austin, the new ESPN broadcast deal, Red Bull Racing celebrating success while mourning the passing of its iconic founder, and MoneyGram's new Haas F1 Team sponsorship, in which DP was involved. A bunch of quick hits touched on Kanye West and Adidas, Brittney Griner, Jim Nance's final NCAA dance, the European Super League and, of course, pickleball.

With so much swirling around the college sports space, Pac-12 Networks Executive Vice President Steve Tseng joined DP & McGhee to talk about the current state of affairs in college athletics, and how the Pac-12 approaches securing and engaging its blue chip roster of partners. The show opens with a look at the success MLS has realized this season boasting solid growth in social engagement, viewership and attendance.  As MLS looks towards its new streaming deal with Apple, it will be interesting to see if they can keep the momentum going into 2023 and beyond.

It’s hard to get through a show in the autumn without discussing the NFL, and the 40th episode of Wait…What? is no different.  Daniel Snyder continues to make headlines, and we ask the question, “Will he or won’t he be forced to sell?” In a Spotlight on Sponsorship segment, both Tim and David found Spotify’s decision to feature Drake’s logo on the FC Barcelona jersey a unique and innovative way to leverage the content on their platform, and offered up the podcast for Spotify to use the next time. It's a no-brainer.

On the Wait...What? #sportsbiz podcast we like to say we take a sometimes serious look at the sports business. The recent report from former Acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, detailing the abuses in the NWSL is one of those times. We talk about the path forward for a league that has had great success on the pitch and in securing league partners. Of course, we have some fun with the "sport of the future," pickleball, as well as cheating in...chess?
DP & McGhee are then joined by President of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mark Donovan, who talks about his storied career including roles at the NHL, NFL and the Eagles, before joining the Chiefs over a decade ago. He even talks about a wrestling match he got into with his former teammate, agency partner, and former guest of this show, George Pyne.  

DP & McGhee are joined by Mark Lazarus, Chairman of NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. Leading one of the world’s largest media companies, Mark is consistently ranked among the most influential people in the industry. NBC Sports' premier portfolio of properties serves as the backdrop for the far-reaching discussion and Mark shares his thoughts on a variety of subjects, including soccer’s growth trajectory in the US, his bullishness on motorsports, the importance of the Olympic Games, and even LIV Golf.

At the top of the show,  David and Tim talk about the NFL’s latest black eye with the Tua Tagavailoa situation, LIV Golf (what else is new?), some quick hits and Tim’s feelings on pickleball (spoiler alert, they’re not entirely positive).