Épisodes

  • How Sports Arenas Transform Cities: Lessons from Cleveland’s Downtown Revival

    How Sports Arenas Transform Cities: Lessons from Cleveland’s Downtown Revival
    Apr 11 2026
    What happens when a city invests in sports, entertainment, and the fan experience? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome Len Komoroski, longtime executive with Rock Entertainment Group and former CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. Komoroski helped lead the transformation of Cleveland’s downtown sports district—anchored by Rocket Arena and Progressive Field—into one of the most vibrant entertainment corridors in the country. What began as a struggling arena and team in the early 2000s evolved into a sports and entertainment ecosystem hosting hundreds of events annually and generating major economic activity for the city. In this conversation, Len explains how arenas can become catalysts for urban revitalization, why fan experience matters as much as the game itself, and what Rust Belt cities like Buffalo, Hamilton, Detroit, and Cleveland can learn from each other.
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    56 min
  • Why Muscle Matters: Science, Story, and Strength with Bonnie Tsui

    Why Muscle Matters: Science, Story, and Strength with Bonnie Tsui
    Apr 4 2026
    Author and journalist Bonnie Tsui joins Skin In The Game for a fascinating conversation about the science, story, and meaning of muscle. Drawing from her book On Muscle, Tsui explores how strength shapes not just athletic performance, but identity, longevity, and human connection. From her childhood immersed in swimming and martial arts to learning to surf later in life, she shares how movement has influenced every chapter of her journey. The conversation spans cutting-edge research on muscle memory and aging, the mind-body connection, and why strength training may be one of the most important investments we can make in our long-term health. Tsui also reflects on the cultural and historical perceptions of strength—from ancient Greece to modern fitness—and how those ideas continue to evolve. At its core, this episode is about possibility. Whether you’re an athlete or just getting started, Tsui reminds us that it’s never too late to build strength, find joy in movement, and redefine what our bodies are capable of.
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    56 min
  • Inside the Sports Betting Boom—and Its Consequences

    Inside the Sports Betting Boom—and Its Consequences
    Mar 28 2026
    This week on Skin in the Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with journalist and author Danny Funt to discuss the explosive growth of sports gambling and what it means for fans, athletes, and the future of the games themselves. Funt’s new book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling, takes an investigative look into an industry that has rapidly reshaped sports culture. Funt talks about today’s sports fans and the barrage of advertising and in-game betting opportunities to the rise of VIP gamblers and mounting concerns around addiction, integrity, and athlete safety. The leagues may be cashing in, but at what cost? This episode challenges the idea that sports betting is just entertainment, raising important questions about regulation, responsibility, and whether the very thing that makes sports special is being changed in the process.
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    1 h
  • The Future of Hockey Starts with Access

    The Future of Hockey Starts with Access
    Mar 21 2026
    In this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman sits down with Rick Nadeau of Nadeau Sports to explore what it really takes to grow the game of hockey. Drawing on his experience with Madison Square Garden and his work advising teams and leagues, Nadeau breaks down how fan development starts at the grassroots level—creating meaningful, accessible entry points for young athletes and their families. With renewed excitement coming out of international competition, including the Olympics, hockey has a major opportunity to expand its reach—but only if the sport can meet that interest with access. From rising participation in girls’ hockey to the need for more affordable, flexible pathways beyond elite travel teams, this conversation highlights both the momentum and the challenges facing the sport. At its core, the future of hockey depends on opening the door for those not yet in the game.
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    57 min
  • From Grassroots to Gold Medals: How USA Fencing Is Expanding the Sport

    From Grassroots to Gold Medals: How USA Fencing Is Expanding the Sport
    Mar 14 2026
    Fencing may be one of the oldest Olympic sports, but in the United States it is experiencing a modern surge in growth. This week on Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, and Brad Suchorski, Director of Membership Service and Growth, to explore how the national governing body is expanding the sport across the country. From grassroots programs to elite Olympic competition, Andrews and Suchorski explain how USA Fencing manages everything connected to the sport in the United States — including more than 750 clubs and a growing membership base. The conversation dives into the business strategy of growing the sport, including marketing campaigns that introduce new audiences to fencing, how they examine and launch clubs in emerging markets, and how experiential programs like Fencing Across America allow people to try the sport for themselves. While the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles may seem far off, Andrews and Suchorski explain how USA Fencing is already preparing for the games. Finally, are you curious about trying something new? Visit usafencing.org to find a club near you!
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    54 min
  • Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Big Business: The Growth of Professional Rodeo

    Cowboys, Cowgirls, and Big Business: The Growth of Professional Rodeo
    Mar 7 2026
    Rodeo may have deep roots in the American West, but today it’s becoming a global sports business, with a focus on equity in the sport. In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei are joined by Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), and Linsay Rosser-Sumpter, Commissioner of Premier Women’s Rodeo (PWR). The conversation explores the explosive growth of rodeo, including sold-out events at Madison Square Garden, major television deals and the expanding global footprint of professional bull riding. Gleason explains how PBR evolved from a small group of riders investing $1,000 each into a global sports property alongside UFC and WWE. Rosser-Sumter shares how Premier Women’s Rodeo, with the support of PBR, is creating long-overdue opportunities for female athletes centered around increased prize money, competitive disciplines, and bringing women’s rodeo to national television. Whether you are a rodeo fan or just rodeo-curious, this episode is for you.
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    54 min
  • Canada’s Basketball Boom: Inside The Golden Generation with Oren Weisfeld

    Canada’s Basketball Boom: Inside The Golden Generation with Oren Weisfeld
    Feb 28 2026
    In this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with sports journalist Oren Weisfeld, author of The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse, to explore how Canada transformed from producing the occasional NBA player into a global basketball force. From immigration policy under Pierre Trudeau to the grassroots AAU movement, Weisfeld explains how culture, access, infrastructure, and commercialization shaped a new era of Canadian hoops. The group dives into the “Carter Effect” in Toronto, the Raptors’ 2019 championship, the rise of privatized youth sports, cost of elite development, and the influence of current AAU programs. Canada invented basketball, but for decades, it didn’t dominate it. That’s had a cultural and financial impact on the sport. This is a conversation about what happens when a country finally embraces the game it helped invent.
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    54 min
  • Forged for Gold: What It Takes to Become an Olympian

    Forged for Gold: What It Takes to Become an Olympian
    Feb 21 2026
    Recorded live at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York, this Olympic Special of Skin In The Game explores what it truly takes to compete at the highest level in sport. Hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with three-time Paralympic gold medalist Adam Page, training center director Miguel Azcarate, and sports performance coach Dr. Jason Rich for a powerful conversation about sacrifice, deliberate practice, pressure, and mental resilience. Airing during the Olympic Closing Ceremonies and just days before the Paralympics begin, this episode bridges both worlds and reminds us how greatness is built and the price it takes for a chance at the podium.
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    54 min