Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee

Episode 138 | DP & McGhee are fired up to welcome Michael Payne, the former head of marketing for the International Olympic Committee and author of the new book  Fast Tracks and Dark Deals , for a deep dive into his 50-year journey through the global sports industry. Payne shares stories from the Olympic movement, his high-stakes work with Bernie Ecclestone at Formula 1, and encounters with sp...

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟳 | In this episode of  Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee , David and Tim welcome sports business leader Sarah Cummins, CEO of World Sevens Football. Sarah shares her dynamic career journey—from an early internship with the New York Mets to influential roles at WWE, the USTA, and New York Road Runners—before taking the helm of an ambitious new women’s soccer property. It’s...

Episode 136 | In this episode of  Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee , the guys welcome Campus Multimedia Founder & CEO  Karl Mawhinney  for a deep dive into how brands can authentically connect with K–12 schools across the country. Karl shares how lessons from his collegiate sports career translate to elementary, middle, and high school environments — and how his platform,  Spons...

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟱 | In this episode of  Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee , the guys cover a full slate of breaking stories — and a powerful conversation with one of NASCAR’s most respected executives. From gambling scandals to leadership legacies, they explore what it really means to “lead from ahead.” 🎰 𝗠𝗟𝗕’𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘆 — and what it means for the league’s integrity 📺 𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗡 𝗮𝗻...

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟰 | David and Tim are in full nostalgia mode this week as they count down their 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. From classics to cult favorites, there’s some overlap, plenty of surprises, and a few shocking omissions — you’ll have to tune in to hear which films made their lists. In between cinematic debates, the guys dive into some of the biggest stories in sports business this week:...

David and Tim dive deep into the NBA betting scandal that’s sending shockwaves through the sports world. After warning for more than two years that something like this was bound to happen, they break down what it means for the league, the players, and the broader sports betting ecosystem. 🎰  NBA Betting Scandal How deeply the betting industry is intertwined with pro sports — sportsbooks spent a s...

Episode 132 | David and Tim are back and tipping off this week’s show with one of the NBA’s most respected executives —  Ted Dalton , Executive Vice President and Chief Partnership Officer of the  Boston Celtics . Ted shares insights from his 21-year career with the storied franchise, talks about the upcoming season, and explains how the Celtics’ culture drives everything the organization does, on...

Episode 131 | DP & McGhee David and Tim are back with another jam-packed episode of  Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee , starting with a lively breakdown of the latest college football controversies — from chaos in Happy Valley to NCAA policy debates that could reshape the future of college athletics. Then, they welcome  Wade Martin , COO and CEO, Baseball at  Unrivaled Sports ,...

Episode 130 David and Tim are back with another jam-packed episode of  Wait, What?  — diving into the latest headlines across the sports industry with their trademark mix of insight and humor. From the WNBA’s contrasting narratives to record TV ratings and eyebrow-raising political involvement in sports, they cover it all. 🏀  WNBA: A Tale of Two Stories  — The on-court product has never been bett...

Episode 129 David and Tim are in class with three distinguished educators who are shaping the next generation of sports business leaders: Andy Clark (DePaul University), Keith Cutler (Montclair State University), and Mary Scott (Columbia University). This episode dives into the evolution of academic programs, the critical importance of industry connections, and how students can best prepare for a...

Episode 128 DP & McGhee are joined by legendary sports marketer  Tom Fox , whose remarkable career has spanned leadership roles at Nike, Gatorade, Wasserman, Arsenal, Aston Villa, and the San Jose Earthquakes. Tom shares behind-the-scenes stories from his journey and offers sharp insights into the rapidly evolving sports business landscape. Before Tom joins, David and Tim break down the week’s...

Episode 127 | DP & McGhee This week’s episode features a wide-ranging conversation with  Mark Wright , VP of Media & Sponsorships at AT&T. From his early career at AB InBev to leading sponsorship strategy at one of the world’s biggest brands, Mark shares insights on career growth, brand respect, and the importance of measuring partnerships. Alongside our guest spotlight, DP & McGhe...

Episode 126 | DP & McGhee No guest? No problem. David and Tim fire up the mics for a packed episode covering the biggest stories in sports business — with sharp insights and a touch of humor. Here’s what you’ll hear this week: 🏈  NFL Week 1 Ratings  — Eagles-Cowboys nearly set a record (until weather interfered), and YouTube delivers solid numbers for Chiefs-Chargers. But should they have bee...

Episode 125 | DP & McGhee David and Tim return from the long weekend ready to dive into a packed episode filled with college football, NASCAR drama, and Ryder Cup anticipation. From major wins on the field to intense battles off of it, this episode covers the latest developments across multiple sports while featuring two powerhouse guests from the world of golf. Here’s what they cover: 🏈  Col...

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝟰 | 𝗗𝗣 & 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗵𝗲𝗲 In this episode, David and Tim sit down with  Keith Gill , Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, for an open and wide-ranging conversation on the future of college sports. Gill shares his perspective on the College Football Playoff expansion, the transfer portal, and reflects on his own journey as a student-athlete at Duke University. Before Gill joins the show, DP...

Episode 123 | DP & McGhee In this episode, David Paro and Tim McGhee kick things off with their signature Spotlight on Sponsorships before diving into big stories across the sports business landscape. They wrap things up with a conversation with Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and CEO of Winners Alliance. ✨  Spotlight on Sponsorships 🏟️ O...

Episode 122 | DP & McGhee Co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee open with a sharp look at recent headline-making moves in sports media. They break down the NFL’s $2.5B stake in ESPN—part of a massive $25B valuation—and Fox Sports’ strategic investment in IndyCar, exploring how these deals could reshape the sports broadcast and rights landscape. The discussion then tackles the troubling persistenc...

Episode 121 | DP & McGhee In this  Legends Series  episode of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee, co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee sit down with industry pioneer  Frank Vuono  — a true architect of the modern sports marketing era. From supercharging the NFL’s licensing operation in the 1980s to co-founding ISI and 16W Marketing, Frank shares hard-earned insights and behind-the-s...

Episode 120 | DP & McGhee In this wide-ranging episode, co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee sit down with former New York Giants star Leonard Marshall. Known for his dominant play on the field, Marshall opens up about his legendary NFL career, his championship days in New York, and his impressive post-football business ventures. But before welcoming Leonard, the hosts take a lap around the worl...

Episode 119 | DP & McGhee DP & McGhee return with a wide-ranging look at the latest in sports and sports business — from the All-Star Game to a possible showdown in MLB labor talks. They also break down the shocking indictment of Oak View Group Founder & CEO, Tim Leiweke, and what it means for the future of OVG and other management firms. Also in this episode: 🌭 Joey Chestnut’s wildes...

Episode 118 | DP & McGhee 🎙️ Hot Takes on Hot Dogs Co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee kick off with the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, praising Joey Chestnut’s continued dominance while diving into the controversy surrounding the women’s winner’s disqualification. ⭐  WNBA All-Star Pay & Player Power Moves The hosts spotlight the modest All-Star bonuses for WNBA players and the Players A...

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝟳 | 𝗗𝗣 & 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗵𝗲𝗲 This week, DP & McGhee sit down with  Scott Carmichael , founder and CEO of  Prodigy Search  — one of the most trusted names in executive search across sports. From Lakers ball boy to front-office insider, Scott shares what’s changed in the hiring game and what’s next for leadership in sports. Also: It’s July 1 — which means birthdays, Bonilla, and a few curveball...

Episode 116 | DP & McGhee This week, we tackle the biggest headlines in the sports business — from NBA expansion rumors to Wrexham’s stunning $475M valuation — and then sit down with  Julie Giese , President of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. We cover: • Julie’s path from Watkins Glen to Phoenix to the heart of Chicago • How NASCAR brought racing to city streets — and pulled it off • What it r...

115 | DP & McGhee What's behind the headlines in sports this week? DP & McGhee serve up another fast-paced rundown of the latest in the business of sport:   PGA TOUR Enterprises  makes a power move, naming  Brian Rolapp  (former NFL media chief) as CEO. What does this mean for the future of the TOUR and any potential reunification with players on the LIV Tour?   Scott O’Neil and Chris...

Episode 114 | DP & McGhee From Emirates to Abu Dhabi, Roger Duthie has had a front-row seat to the Middle East’s emergence as a global force in sports. This week, he joins DP & McGhee to share stories from his time leading sponsorships at Emirates Airline — and to break down how the Gulf region became a sports power center seemingly overnight. We cover: • The Emirates playbook on global sp...