Épisodes

  • Beyond the Ballcap: Bruce Popko on New Era, Global Sports Business and Building an Iconic Brand

    Beyond the Ballcap: Bruce Popko on New Era, Global Sports Business and Building an Iconic Brand
    Jul 11 2026
    What does it take to build one of the world's most recognizable sports brands? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Popko, President of New Era Cap, the Buffalo-based company that has become a global leader in licensed sports headwear and apparel. Popko discusses New Era's remarkable growth from a fourth-generation family business into a worldwide brand with operations spanning 16 countries and partnerships across every major professional sports league. He explains how the company's acquisition of ’47, an American lifestyle brand strengthened its position in the marketplace while allowing both brands to maintain distinct identities. The conversation explores the intersection of sports, fashion and entertainment, including the evolution of licensed merchandise and celebrity collaborations, including the legendary story of Spike Lee asking for the creation of a red NY Yankees ballcap. They talk about product placement and how fans increasingly use apparel as a form of self-expression. Popko also shares insights into emerging opportunities in college athletics, NIL, global expansion, golf, entertainment licensing and the future of sports merchandising as leagues, brands and media companies continue to collaborate in new ways.
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    54 min
  • The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes

    The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes
    Jul 18 2026
    More than 400% growth in just five years. So how did a backyard game become one of the biggest business stories in sports? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Rusty Howes, founder of Pickleball Channel, for an inside look at the explosive growth of America's fastest-growing sport. From producing some of the sport’s earliest media coverage to documenting pickleball’s remarkable growth, Howes gives us the inside story of the game’s popularity and rapid expansion. They talk about private equity, media, professional tours, equipment manufacturers, and the role youth sports play in opening up new opportunities and growing pains for the sport. The conversation wraps with a look at the future of pickleball and what comes next for an industry centered around a multigenerational model with building community as its north star.
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    47 min
  • What Have We Lost? David Macfarlane on the Business of Modern Sports

    What Have We Lost? David Macfarlane on the Business of Modern Sports
    Jul 25 2026
    Sports have never been bigger—or more profitable. But has something been lost along the way? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome acclaimed Canadian author David Macfarlane to discuss his latest book, On Sports. From the overnight explosion of sports gambling and billion-dollar revenues to a growing emphasis on entertainment over athletic excellence, Macfarlane claims that today’s sports have fundamentally changed fan experience. The conversation explores why sports continue to unite communities, the tension between tradition and commercialization, the role athletes play in today's culture, and whether it's still possible to preserve the authenticity that made people fall in love with sports in the first place. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, and part sports business discussion, this episode asks a timely question: Can sports continue to grow without losing their soul?
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    48 min
  • Did the World Cup Deliver? The Real Business Impact of FIFA 2026

    Did the World Cup Deliver? The Real Business Impact of FIFA 2026
    Aug 1 2026
    Millions of fans filled stadiums across North America during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but did host cities actually win? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei look at the impact of the world’s biggest sporting event from two very different perspectives. First, Columbia Business School professor Angela Lee shares what it was like to live in the midst of the tournament in New York City and New Jersey, and how mega-events drive innovation, strengthen infrastructure, reshape global perceptions, and even influence how athletes invest in their futures. Then, Toronto Star business reporter Josh Rubin digs into the numbers behind Toronto’s investment, questioning whether the economic benefits came close to the hundreds of millions of public dollars spent to host a mere six games. From civic pride and travel and tourism to venture capital and the challenge of measuring return on investment, this episode asks a question any host city should consider before bidding on the next global sporting event. Is it worth it?
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    54 min
  • The $2+ Billion Deal Behind the Bills' New Stadium

    The $2+ Billion Deal Behind the Bills' New Stadium
    Aug 8 2026
    The Buffalo Bills are about to open a state-of-the-art stadium in Orchard Park, ushering in a new era for one of the NFL's most passionate fan bases. But how did the deal come together, and what does it mean for the future of Buffalo? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei sit down with business leaders Bill Maggio and Jordan Levy, two trusted advisors who worked behind the scenes during negotiations for the Bills' new stadium. They discuss the relationships that helped move negotiations forward, the roles played by Governor Kathy Hochul, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Terry Pegula, and Erie County, and the difficult decisions that ultimately kept the Bills in Western New York. The conversation also explores one of the biggest questions surrounding the project: Should the stadium have been built in downtown Buffalo instead of Orchard Park? Looking back, both guests share their perspectives on that debate and explain why they now believe Buffalo's next major investment should focus on the Cobblestone District and revitalizing the area around KeyBank Center. It's an honest conversation about leadership, negotiation, public investment, and what Buffalo got right, what it may have missed, and what comes next.
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    54 min
  • A Runner's Journey: Bruce Kidd on Sport, Social Change and the Power of an Athlete's Voice

    A Runner's Journey: Bruce Kidd on Sport, Social Change and the Power of an Athlete's Voice
    Jun 27 2026
    What responsibility do athletes have beyond competition? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Kidd, one of Canada's most celebrated distance runners, a former Olympian, scholar, author, and Officer of the Order of Canada. Kidd reflects on his remarkable journey from a teenager discovering a talent for running in Toronto to representing Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Along the way, he shares how sport became much more than competition, serving as a lens through which he explored politics, economics, culture, and social change. During his decades-long efforts to challenge racism, sexism, and inequality in sport, he experienced how athletes can use their platforms to create meaningful change and why sports remain one of society's most powerful mirrors. Kidd also addresses two issues currently driving his advocacy work: the rapid expansion of sports betting and its impact on athletes and fans, and the ongoing debate surrounding sex testing and eligibility policies in international sport. The episode concludes with a discussion of Kidd's memoir, A Runner's Journey, which chronicles his athletic career, academic work, and lifelong commitment to making sport more inclusive and equitable.
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    44 min
  • Building Sports Careers Online: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook on NIL, Networking and Sports Management Worldwide

    Building Sports Careers Online: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook on NIL, Networking and Sports Management Worldwide
    Jun 13 2026
    What does it take to turn a passion for sports into a career? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, founder and president of Sports Management Worldwide, a global sports education company that has helped more than 30,000 graduates from 164 countries pursue careers throughout the sports industry. Lashbrook shares his remarkable journey from athlete, coach, and university administrator to sports agent and entrepreneur, explaining how a chance encounter with the early internet and the release of Jerry Maguire helped inspire a business that has connected aspiring sports professionals with opportunities around the world. Unlike traditional sports management programs, Sports Management Worldwide delivers its curriculum entirely online through courses taught by industry professionals in sports. Lashbrook explains how the organization's global classroom model connects students from around the world with executives, agents, scouts, broadcasters and analysts, creating opportunities that extend far beyond a traditional campus experience. Lashbrook also offers an insider's perspective on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), calling it one of the most significant transformations in modern sports. He discusses how NIL is creating new opportunities for athletes, families, advisors and aspiring sports professionals while reshaping college athletics.
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    54 min
  • Is Dance a Sport? Tony Bellissimo Says Absolutely.

    Is Dance a Sport? Tony Bellissimo Says Absolutely.
    Jun 6 2026
    What happens when a multi-sport athlete discovers that his greatest talent is on the dance floor rather than on the field or the ice? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Buffalo native Tony Bellissimo, a professional dancer, choreographer, actor and educator whose career has taken him from local sports fields and dance studios to some of the biggest stages in entertainment. Bellissimo shares how growing up playing hockey, lacrosse and soccer helped shape the discipline, competitiveness and work ethic that ultimately propelled him into the professional dance world. Along the way, he has performed alongside some of music's biggest stars, including Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Chris Brown, while building a career that has taken him around the world. The conversation explores the athletic demands of professional dance, the realities of auditioning and competing at the highest level, and why Bellissimo believes dance deserves a place alongside traditional sports when discussing performance, training and physical excellence. Bellissimo also reflects on his recent experience working on the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, where he fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing in scenes inspired by the legendary "Thriller" music video. Most importantly, he shares lessons about perseverance, mentorship, and helping young people discover the passions that can shape the course of their lives.
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    54 min