Sports Business Radio Podcast

Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk), former NFL WR turned broadcaster & businessperson joins us to discuss the remarkable path he has taken as an undrafted player to the NFL, who earned an MBA from Columbia University while he was playing and then transitioned to a successful broadcast and business career after leaving the NFL. Hawkins is now a broadcaster for the NFL Network, a podcast co-host of the “ThomaHawk” podcast and he is the Director of Business Development for Uninterrupted, a digital sports media platform that empowers athletes to take control of their own stories and has the backing of LeBron James and Maverick Carter. Hawkins discusses his current roles as well as the importance of maximizing the value of being a current pro athlete during his career instead of waiting to think about his post-career until he retired. Also joining us is Greg Czerpak, President & Chief Operating Officer of 2nd Skull (@2ndSkull), a lineup of headgear products that uses scientifically engineered materials to protect the heads of athletes in sports such as soccer, football and lacrosse. The company received a grant from the NFL and is making tremendous advances in order to reduce concussions for athletes. Subscribe to the award-winning Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes and Spotify and download 15 years of podcasts featuring interviews with the biggest names in sports and business. Follow us on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio. This week's edition of Sports Business Radio is presented by Mizzen and Main. Visit mizzenandmain.com and enter the promo code "SBR" to save on your next purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Kearney - Global Head of Sports Marketing, Gatorade joins us on this week's edition of Sports Business Radio. A 15-year veteran of Gatorade, Kearney has worked across many facets of the Gatorade marketing organization. From managing partnerships with key sports practitioners to overseeing the brand’s youth sports platforms, Kearney has driven many of the brand’s key equity and partnership platforms.  We discuss Gatorade's origin, their portfolio of products and their targeted audience. Within the United States, Gatorade accounts for approximately 75% of market share in the sports drink category.  Kearney tells us what Gatorade looks for in its athlete endorser partners, such as Zion Williamson, whom the brand signed to a partnership deal recently (Gatorade has also partnered with elite athletes such as Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter and Peyton Manning). We also discuss the NBA G League  and the league granting access to incubate innovation and test professional athletes year-round. Kearney and Berger discuss some of the best all-time Gatorade commercials as well. Listen to the Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. Follow us on Twitter @SBRadio or on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PODCAST:  Wide-ranging interview with Portland Trail Blazers star CJ McCollum on this week’s edition of Sports Business Radio. CJ discusses his podcast @PullUpPod (and the guests he still wants to interview on his pod), the @trailblazers culture he has helped to create with @DamianLillard, what he looks for in business partners like Moda Health, Li Ning and Jamba Juice, how his inner circle keeps him grounded, #fashion, #MentalHealth, his home state Cleveland Browns (who he roots for passionately) & his love of #Oregon #wine. Listen on #iTunes, #Spotify or by clicking on the link in our bio. This week’s edition of @SportsBusinessRadio is presented by @ZipRecruiter. 4 out of 5 employers who post on #ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. See why ZipRecruiter is effective for businesses of all sizes. Our listeners can try @ZipRecruiter for FREE at http://ziprecruiter.com/SBR.  #CJMcCollum #TrailBlazers #RipCity #Portland #NBA #sportsbusiness #NBA #basketball #business #fashion #swaggycasual #sportsbusinessradio #brianberger #Culture #DamianLillard #KevinHart  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Finley (@MikeFinley) - CEO of Boingo (@Boingo) joins us to discuss connectivity at sports venues, 5G and his role as CEO of Boingo. Boingo helps the world stay connected to the people and things they love. They build Wi-Fi, cellular and small cell networks at big venues like Soldier Field in Chicago, Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Phillips Arena in Atlanta and the Hollywood Bowl. Then Boingo monetizes those networks with a number of unique products and services. Nearly 80% of consumers use their phones at a sporting event for posting on social media, watching highlights, ordering food or merchandise or soon to place a bet on a game. Boingo is our partner on our Sports Business Radio Road Show series as well. Sports Business Radio Host Brian Berger also weighs in with his thoughts on the NBA's partnership with China and the fallout that has come from Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey's tweet and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron's James' recent comments about Morey and China. Subscribe to the award-winning Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes or Spotify. Follow Sports Business Radio on Twitter @SBRadio or on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike McGoohan, Biofreeze (@Biofreeze) CMO joins us to discuss the company's strategy with sports sponsorships including sponsorship of the brand new Golden State Warriors Performance Center, the jersey patch for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers and partnerships with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Boston Celtics and San Francisco Marathon. McGoohan also discusses the importance of authenticity in marketing and branding. Biofreeze is the #1 clinically recommended pain relief product. The company started 25 years ago but just became available over the counter in the past 2 years. Listen to the Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes and Spotify. Follow us on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meghan Klingenberg (@MeghanKling), U.S. Women's Soccer Star and entrepreneur joins us to discuss her soccer career at the University of North Carolina, the U.S. Women's National Team (where she was part of the 2015 Women's World Cup Champion team and the 2016 U.S. Olympic team) and the NWSL's Portland Thorns, #EqualPay for the U.S. Women's National Team, concussions in soccer, being an entrepreneur, growing up in Pittsburgh and her love of food. Meghan is an intelligent and personable athlete who shares a unique perspective during this wide-ranging interview on this week's edition of Sports Business Radio. Download the award-winning Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes and Spotify and follow us on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Lombardi (@MLombardiNFL), 3-time Super Bowl winning executive joins us on this week's edition of Sports Business Radio. Throughout his three-decade long career with the NFL, Mike Lombardi worked as an NFL executive with the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and Oakland Raiders alongside NFL legends including Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh and Al Davis.    On his podcast - The GM Shuffle, Lombardi tackles a wide range of topics weekly within the world of the NFL and breaks down everything listeners and fans need to know about players, coaches, organizations, the draft, free agency and all of the NFL storylines of the day. The GM Shuffle Podcast comes out twice a week on all Podcast platforms. Lombardi is also the author of the book Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL. On Sports Business Radio, Lombardi discusses the factors that lead to a championship culture, team building, dealing with sports and business owners, communicating with athletes and what he learned from Bill Belichick and Bill Walsh. Anyone leading a sports franchise or business or who is in a role of leadership will find Lombardi's insights extremely enlightening. Listen to Sports Business Radio on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. Follow Sports Business Radio on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dennis Page, CEO of SLAM Media Inc. (@SlamOnline), joins us to discuss the iconic magazine's 25th anniversary. SLAM has masterfully blended basketball and hip hop cultures together for 25 years and the magazine has now blossomed into a multimedia brand. Page discusses SLAM's rich history, what he feels makes for compelling content, how SLAM is staying relevant via event, sponsorship and merchandise partnerships and what lies ahead. We also discuss the sports business headlines of the week including two new minority owners for the Los Angeles Dodgers and how Postmates and the New York Yankees are partnering to make ordering concessions items a seamless experience at Yankee Stadium. This week's edition of Sports Business Radio is presented by Mizzen and Main (@MizzenandMain). Try their new performance Blazer and flannel shirts (in addition to their performance dress shirts) and use the code SBR at checkout to save $10 off your purchase. Follow Sports Business Radio on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio. Find the Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes (in the Sports News section) and on Spotify.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sports Business Radio host Brian Berger and Executive Producer Bryan Griggs discuss headlines of the week including Antonio Brown’s continued off the field problems and how those headlines are highjacking the otherwise positive narrative around the start to the NFL season, the NCAA vs LeBron James, two highly ridiculous trademark filings that were denied this week and the uphill battle USA Basketball is facing to recruit the best players as the rest of the world has closed the gap in international competitions. Jeremy Goldberg (@JeremyGoldberg) from LeagueApps (@LeagueApps) also joins us to discuss the ever-changing youth sports landscape and how his sports tech company is making life easier for youth sports organizers and entrepreneurs. To date, over 10 million users have used LeagueApps to manage and organize their programs, scheduling, payments, data and communications with parents and players—all in one place. Find the Sports Business Radio podcast on iTunes and Spotify. Follow us on Twitter @SBRadio and on Instagram @SportsBusinessRadio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Steinbrenner IV (@GSteinbrennerIV), Co-Owner & Partner with Harding Steinbrenner Racing, the grandson of legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner III, son of current Yankees Co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner and the youngest team owner in IndyCar history (age 22), joins us on this week’s edition of Sports Business Radio. Steinbrenner discusses his passion for IndyCar racing, his close friendship with his star driver Colton Herta (age 19), the overall state of IndyCar, the pressure of delivering championships by carrying the Steinbrenner name and his special relationship with his Grandfather George Steinbrenner III. We also discuss the start of the college football and NFL seasons and the sale of MLB's Kansas City Royals. This week's edition of Sports Business Radio is brought to you by Mizzen and Main - mizzenandmain.com, the official dress shirt of Sports Business Radio. Use the code "SBR" at checkout and receive $10 off your purchase.  It's the most comfortable dress shirt you'll ever wear and the choice of hundreds of elite athletes including Phil Mickelson and J.J. Watt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices