Bloomberg Business of Sports

A minority owner of the first-place Philadelphia Union, Richie Graham is looking even further down the road. He's put together an ambitious blueprint to help the U.S. develop a soccer superstar -- think LeBron James for The Beautiful Game. At the core of the plan is the YSC Academy, which he calls "the Juilliard for soccer." With North America hosting the 2026 World Cup, and the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles two years after that, Graham is accelerating plans to expand U.S. soccer, especially for the men's game, which doesn't enjoy the global dominance of the U.S. Women's National Team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold Reynolds joins us from Texas, where the the World Series is in full swing. The former All-Star turned MLB Network analyst says Covid has affected not only the big leagues, but the ecosystem underneath, including the minor leagues and the NCAA. Changes --financial and even in-game -- loom large in 2021, and Reynolds even takes a beat to marvel at Lynchie's authentic Boston accent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you trade Ryan "Fitzmagic?" Do you pick up Tua Tagovailoa? Will Le'Veon Bell recapture his dominance in Kansas City?Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on all of this as they look ahead to week 7 action.Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.If you listened to the podcast last week Rich made a huge pick.Don't miss out because his moves can turn you into a fantasy champ.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Casino CEO Derek Stevens sees a light at the end of the tunnel as Vegas looks to make a comeback. It was one of the hardest cities hit by the corona virus. Stevens discussed his Circa Resort & Casino being the first new one in downtown Vegas in 40 years and his expectations for business with tourism still lagging. He reminiscences with the team about his foray into the gambling world and how the industry continues to change. Oh and Michael Barr had a lot of good questions and insights... for a friend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The home fitness market has seen a surge of growth during the pandemic, as consumers look for ways to stay fit with many gyms across the U.S. still closed. Jason, Mike and Michael check in with NEOU CEO Nate Forster to discuss how his business is filling that void by providing live streaming and on-demand fitness and wellness classes, ranging from yoga to boxing, and even classes for kids. They discuss what Peloton's done for the wellness world at large and how the future of working out is about going where the customer is, be it a boutique or a basement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 5 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 6. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a hard look at underworld of professional running with Matt Hart, journalist and author of “Win At All Costs: Inside Nike Running And its Culture of Deception." Hart depicts the saga of the Nike Oregon Project, a talent-stacked team of athletes with the goal of building a homegrown Olympic running champion that would help the corporation dominate the market and sell product. Hart details the effort to uncover a win-at-all-costs culture of abuse, gender discrimination and systemic cheating at the highest levels of professional running.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Racial justice and social responsibility have become intertwined with professional sports, in a world coping with a pandemic that is shifting the direction of our daily lives. Doug Whaley, COO & Managing Partner Beautiful Game Group and former Buffalo Bills GM joins the show to discuss the impact pro athletes have in shaping future generations and the legacy of Colin Kaepernick, which he says is comparable to that of Muhammad Ali. They talk about the outlook for the NFL season amid the pandemic, draft day jitters, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Barr, Rich Trueman, and Damian Sassower reflect on week 4 of NFL action, and look ahead to week 5. Check out Rich’s fantasy football column every Thursday on the Bloomberg Terminal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Any parent who's rolled their eyes at their kid claiming there was money in playing video games...listen up. Ken Hersh, part of the Texas Rangers ownership group and long-time Dallas-based private equity investor is now the chairman of Envy Gaming. Hersh dispels Jason, Mike and Michael's skepticism, maps out the future potential and talks about getting into business with Post Malone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.