Boardroom Talks Archives - Boardroom https://boardroom.tv/tag/boardroom-talks/ Sports Business News Sun, 07 Apr 2024 16:12:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Boardroom Talks: Visa CMO Frank Cooper Knows the Secret to Business https://boardroom.tv/boardroom-talks-frank-cooper-visa-cmo-business/ Thu, 21 Mar 2024 15:36:24 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=88896 Boardroom chops it up with Visa's Frank Cooper about his career in business, which has spanned over a decade, and looks ahead to the future of the industry.

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]]> Boardroom chops it up with Visa’s Frank Cooper about his career in business, which has spanned well over a decade, and looks ahead to the future of the industry.

In Boardroom’s newest conversation series, Boardroom Talks, Rich Kleiman sits down with Visa‘s Chief Marketing Officer Frank Cooper, who comes to the financial institution with a deep résumé in the business world. With stops at Pepsi, Blackrock, and Buzzfeed, Cooper has spent decades perfecting his craft of storytelling around some of the world’s biggest companies.

In this conversation, Kleiman and Cooper discuss everything from the early ’90s in New York to how hip-hop broke through in the corporate space to the importance of continuing to learn and grow among industry professionals. Cooper additionally recalled the work ethic of the one and only Ludacris, who is proof of how opportunity in Hollywood is plentiful to those who lean into preparation and consistency.

Lastly, Cooper sheds light on the evolution of marketing and how major companies could be moving away from celebrity endorsements as we know them. Be sure to check out the entire episode — and more original content — over at Boardroom’s YouTube page.

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]]> Boardroom Talks: Visa CMO Frank Cooper Knows the Secret to Business - Boardroom Boardroom chops it up with Visa's Frank Cooper about his career in business, which has spanned over a decade, and looks ahead to the future. Boardroom Talks,Frank Cooper,visa,Frank Cooper The ETCs: Benny the Butcher Doesn’t Mind the Villain Label https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-benny-the-butcher/ Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:07:56 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=86337 The King of Buffalo chops it up with Eddie Gonzalez to discuss his upcoming album, the perks of moving to a label like Def Jam, and so much more.

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]]> The King of Buffalo chops it up with Eddie Gonzalez to discuss his upcoming album, the perks of moving to a label like Def Jam, and so much more.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

Benny the Butcher has long been Buffalo royalty.

As his fourth solo studio release — Everybody Can’t Go — prepares to drop on Jan. 26, the rapper stopped by The ETCs to chop it up with host Eddie Gonzalez. The two discussed his wide-ranging career and how his newest release marks a new chapter.

In 2021, the rapper inked a new deal with Def Jam after years as a founding member of the Griselda roster. With a new label engine behind him, Benny can already see a difference in what’s possible. From production resources to the publicity engine, he’s ready for his newest release to make a massive impact.

Despite a new label, Benny stays consistent. He’s never had — and never will — have time for Twitter trolls who disrespect his craft. He’s happy for the villain edit. The truth is, he’s thriving. With the Def Jam brass behind him, he’s got more opportunity to let people know what he’s about while taking new musical measures. He’s confident his most recent release is an instant classic and has the co-signs from Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and Jadakiss to prove it.

Lock in as Benny the Butcher and Eddie break down the biggest topics in hip-hop, Buffalo sports, and much more.

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]]> The ETCs: Benny the Butcher Doesn't Mind the Villain Label - Boardroom Benny the Butcher discusses his newest album 'Everybody Can't Go' with Eddie Gonzalez on the newest episode of 'The ETCs.' benny the butcher,Boardroom Talks,Buffalo Bills,Def Jam,Griselda,Hip-hop,Music,Benny the Butcher The ETCs Crossover: 2023’s Top Moments Bridging Sports, Entertainment & Fashion https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-crossover-travis-scott-rihanna-taylor-swift/ Sat, 23 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=85105 Boardroom breaks down the year’s biggest convergence culture pivots and partnerships. ‘Hybrid work’ has multiple meanings in 2023. For the most influential icons in pop culture, it means making moves and making bank in

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]]> Boardroom breaks down the year’s biggest convergence culture pivots and partnerships.

‘Hybrid work’ has multiple meanings in 2023.

For the most influential icons in pop culture, it means making moves and making bank in industries or arenas non-native to what made them famous. This past year, said partnerships took new shapes and took new heights.

From Travis Scott taking over the country club to Taylor Swift becoming the biggest name in football, 2023’s bingo card was more bizarre and brilliant than any analyst could’ve predicted.

To celebrate the year that just was, Boardroom breaks down eight of the biggest crossover moments in culture and commerce that defied expectations and creatively paved new ways for how icons operate in business.

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Pharrell’s Ascension at Louis Vuitton

When business was done on Blackberriess and Motorola Two-Way Pagers, high fashion was already calling Pharrell Williams.

Buzzed by Marc Jacobs — then creative director at Louis Vuitton — the musical multi-hyphenate was chosen to collaborate on a range of Millionaire sunglasses. Twenty years later, a new lens at LVMH finds Pharrell as the fearless leader for the heralded house.

Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage

Following the footsteps of the late, great Virgil Abloh, Pharrell’s appointment as LV leadership speaks to many shifts since his mid-aughts shades.

The rise of American — and African American — design directors at European luxury brands has been bubbling over the last decade, with Pharrell leading a list that still needs to grow.

Importantly, the appointment aligns with a more connected world where fashion and culture are less separated by hue or hemisphere.

Additionally, it erases the stigma that ‘celebrity’ is indignant to high fashion, proving all arts are the arts.

Always having an ear for what’s next sonically, Pharrell’s feel for what’s next aesthetically has positioned him as an ideal figurehead for where Louis Vuitton is now and where it’s going.

His ability to see past gender and genre has already led to creative campaigns, spot-on seedings, and an introductory show soundtracked by The Clipse.

Just as Abloh knew the symbiotic relationship between music and fashion far better than pattern-cutting or a Central Saint Martin’s degree could’ve got him, Pharrell’s exposure to creatives of all ilks is reshaping a $407 billion brand at the speed of sound.

The Family Business of Rihanna & A$AP Rocky

Bad Girl RiRi and Pretty Flacko have been making babies and millions for the past two years.

All the while, fans of each artist anxiously await albums with no release date in sight for either. Nevertheless, the two touted musicians have made more noise than most despite the power couple releasing fewer singles than almost all.

Simply put, it’s in their genes — or rather, their jeans.

In 2023, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky dominated headlines and affected bottom lines by both how they dress and the way they dress. Historically, no two artists have been better at mixing high and low fashion in the most influential of manners.

The same can be said for the deals, moments, and moves they make as a power couple.

photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A$AP Rocky F1
photo courtesy of Puma

Example: Rihanna performed two times in 2023: the Super Bowl Halftime Show and the Oscars. At half field, draped in Loewe and Alaïa, the stage and apparel were both mass and avant-garde all at once. The medley of hits was enough to skyrocket streams, sell collaborations, and roll out the red carpet for a return to PUMA.

That same energy is epitomized by her proud partner. While fans didn’t get Don’t Be Dumb in 2023, Rocky’s lone music video for the Pharrell-produced “RIOT” doubled down as a creative campaign for Beats by Dre. The meme-inspired visual was vanguard per usual, once again proving that Rocky’s release method and partnership approach are always off-kilter. This proved poetic when a series of paparazzi photos involving the PMF was reappropriated as a campaign for Bottega Veneta.

So, will 2024 see new music or new children for Rihanna and Rocky? That remains unknown. What we can expect from both is high-level PUMA partnerships that span fútbol to Formula 1, more money from FENTY and Gucci, and visual moments – both candid and campaign – that move the needle as much or more than record residuals will.

AIR Hits a Critical Mass

When word got out that Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were making a movie about Nike courting Michael Jordan, the jury was hung among sneakerheads and casuals as if it’d be any good.

Surprise, surprise, it was awesome.

Amassing a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and critical acclaim, AIR rose to the ranks of one of the most loved movies of 2023.

By investing heavily in casting and set design, the sneaker story served as a time machine back to the ’80s that was fun, fast, and just accurate enough. It appealed to fanatics and average watchers alike, casting a wide net despite being what was once considered a niche story.

Audience aside, AIR also made its mark in how it was released. Scoring well at SXSW, the $90 million project was shown at major theatres in an era where only Marvel movies are meant to perform. Additionally, Amazon streaming support provided another income and viewing lane.

Like The Last Dance, another wrinkle in the Michael Jordan legacy provided even more energy to shoe sales in a halo sense as Jordan Brand eclipsed $6.6 billion in its most recent fiscal report.

Nike Basketball’s NYC Takeover

Events and apparel are seemingly where the money is at in 2023.

Nike — the world’s most famous footwear brand — may not be selling out arenas but they are going big where IRL moments are concerned. From pop-up activations across the world to grassroots sweat sessions in major markets, the Swoosh knows that to matter most to its core customers they have to exist more than just online.

Ironically enough, the 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival was the exclamation point and antithesis of it all.

Hosting hoops’ next generation of boys and girls in tournament play in the Big Apple, the $186 billion brand built a hardwood court in front of the Lincoln Center, showcasing the past, present, and future of basketball products while streaming the games.

Though the action on the court was worth watching in person, it was one viral moment online that set it all off.

via Nike

Taking a photo for the ages, the likes of Kevin Durant, Victor Wembanyama, Dawn Staley, Travis Scott, Devin Booker, Rakim, Dirk Nowitzki, Scoop Jackson, Jason Kidd, Chase B, Lil Yachty, Sue Bird, Ja Morant, Jadakiss, and dozens of other legends all posed on center court.

It was a moment no one saw coming, bringing together decades of influential figures in hoops, hip-hop, and culture in one marquee event.

At a time when advertising feels like a lost art, Nike just did it in the most meta of ways.

Taylor Swift Sweeps the Nation

Men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.

If that’s the case, then Taylor Swift is the truth.

Hate it or love it, the country kid turned pop princess is the queen of selling out stadiums and making money off of music. She continues to crush physical sales at a time when even the biggest acts attain pennies off streams. The Eras Tour sold out more dates in the Superdome than the Saints did this season, set to amass even more money internationally in 2024.

photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

While the music and theatrics were already enough to break the bank and amplify economies in every market she stopped at, the entire world stopped when America’s Sweetheart became entrenched in America’s Game.

Already infamous for dating A-list actors and Grammy Award-winning musicians, fans and bystanders collectively lost their minds when Swift began dating Travis Kelce. From a ratings standpoint, everyone ate — especially the star subject.

In today’s fragmented media landscape, most artists only own the timeline the day their album drops. Taylor on the other hand had national outlets covering her every move in a year where she only put out reissued releases.

Not too mention, it was all an encore to a $1 billion tour. Think selling out stadiums is impressive? Imagine making more noise nationally when appearing in the stands. Think the merch margins are good? Consider casually wearing a pair of New Balance 550s and stores selling out their stock.

When looking back at all the partnerships in 2023, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, or rather Taylor Swift x NFL, is about as big as it gets.

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Harlem Beats Bristol

Active athletes, retired rappers, and C-list comedians all have podcasts in 2023.

What few of them have is a studio show that positions them as pundits in a field they didn’t find fame in. In Feb. 2023, Cam’ron and Mase made a lane all their own in launching It Is What Is: an independently-produced sports’ news talk show that’s already incited a bidding war among buyers and a frenzy online.

By flipping the formula of First Take and Undisputed, Killa Cam and Murda Ma$e are giving fans exactly what they want but network TV could never provide: uncensored commentary cut with humor and context.

Rather than yell at each other for ratings or ride an agenda for acceptance, the Children of the Corn turned men on the mic are telling it like it is. Approaching half a million followers for the show’s IG account and the Come Talk 2 Me YouTube channel in less than ten months, the “Horse & Carriage” collaborators continue to rise to the top.

Music’s Superstars Takeover the Silver Screen

Superheroes and sequels are the surest things smoking when it comes to burning down the box office.

In 2023, another earner entered the chat: concert films.

Both Taylor Swift and Beyoncé rocked arenas all year long, creating commerce in every city they stopped in. While members of the Beyhive were known to budget thousands of dollars on flights, hotels, and outfits to see Mrs. Carter live, the long tail effect for those in attendance or living vicariously through social media was the return of the concert film.

photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS

This year, both Bey and Swift broke the bank by turning footage from their acclaimed tours to box office gold. Just the same, Travis Scott reverse-engineered the process by releasing a movie in accordance with his UTOPIA album as a means to set the stage for his CIRCUS MAXIMUS Tour.

Truth be told, the concept of a concert film had been around long before Beyoncé, Taylor, or Travis were born. However, the new stars putting a new spin on the old concept is a new business and perhaps a new precedent. Expect this trend to continue on the road, in theaters, and on streaming.

Cactus Jack Jumps into the Country Club

From Fortnite to Happy Meals, Travis Scott’s bread and butter in recent years has been feeding the youth collaborative product that applied his taste to consumer goods and experiences.

This year, Day 1 fans and new attendees to the party got their fix from concerts to clothing, music to movies. While the annual Air Jordan activations appealed to kids and adults alike, Travis’ most momentous collaborations in 2023 were targeted to a much more mature audience than those of previous years.

photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN
via Audemars Piguet

As a Nike partner, Travis parlayed his influence outside of the moshpit to take on tennis classics and golf spikes. From volleying with John McEnroe to taking swing lessons from Brooks Koepka, La Flame is slowly blazing a trail in markets saturated in wealth and staying power.

This timely ascent all came to a head in December by way of the Cactus Jack x Audemars Piguet Royal Oak: a $201,000 watch limited to 200 units. By adding collaborative cool to AP and amplifying it all with slightly more attainable merch, Travis proved that he could sell sneakers, sandwiches, and Swiss timepieces all in a matter of minutes.

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]]> The ETCs Top Crossover Moments of 2023 Boardroom breaks down the year's biggest convergence culture pivots and partnerships with the The ETCs crossover moments A$AP Rocky,Air,Audemars Piguet,Ben Affleck,Beyonce,Boardroom Talks,Jordan Brand,Louis Vuitton,Matt Damon,Nike,Pharrell,Pharrell Williams,Puma,Rihanna,Taylor Swift,Travis Kelce,Travis Scott,The ETCs Crossover Loading Louis Vuitton : Photocall – Paris Fashion Week – Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-2024 photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage NFL: FEB 12 Super Bowl LVII – Eagles vs Chiefs photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 23AW_Social_MS_ASAP-Rocky_003_4x5_1080x1350px photo courtesy of Puma e92cfc6da6f3b91f903c9b352aab1194 Chicago Bears v Kansas City Chiefs photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Loading “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” Concert Movie World Premiere photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS Travis Scott Performs At E11EVEN During 2023 Miami Race Week photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN car3_26585CM.OO_.D301VE.01.jpg.transform.apcarouselh via Audemars Piguet The ETCs: Devin Haney Won’t Run From Anything https://boardroom.tv/devin-haney-the-etcs/ Thu, 07 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84624 Ahead of his fight this weekend against Regis Prograis, Devin Haney stopped by The ETCs to talk boxing, business, fashion, and much more.

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]]> Ahead of his fight this weekend against Regis Prograis, Devin Haney stopped by The ETCs to talk boxing, business, fashion, and much more.

Devin Haney accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the 135-pound division. The youngest undisputed champion ever could have simply coasted from there, but that’s not how he’s built. He still has goals. He still has work to do — in and out of the ring.

Haney stopped by The ETCs to discuss just that with Eddie Gonzalez before his fight this weekend against Regis Prograis. In a wide-ranging conversation that covered boxing, business, music, fashion, and more, one thing became clear: Haney is not afraid to blaze his own trail, conquering any challenges that stand in his way.

Or, as he put it, when Gonzalez said his opponents were chasing him:

“I don’t know about chasing me because I’m not running.”

Haney outwardly says that he’s “here to be caught” — that he wants to face the best and has no problem with getting in the ring to prove it.

That attitude extends beyond the sport itself. Rather than signing with a big-name promoter, he and his father went at it themselves. Today, they have Devin Haney Productions, helping the fighter and setting him up to stay in the game long after retirement.

So get used to hearing Haney’s name — even if you don’t follow his sport. He takes pride in his crossover appeal, with boxing fans and casuals alike recognizing him as a rising star in sports and business.

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]]> The ETCs: Devin Haney Won't Run From Anything - Boardroom Ahead of his fight this weekend against Regis Prograis, Devin Haney stopped by The ETCs to talk boxing, business, fashion, and much more. .TV,Boardroom Talks,boxing,Devin Haney,devin haney Ryan Garcia’s Business Is Booming https://boardroom.tv/ryan-garcia-boxing-business/ Sat, 02 Dec 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84293 King Ry has changed the way business is done in boxing by combining his massive following with his elite talent.

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]]> King Ry has changed the way business is done in boxing by combining his massive following with his elite talent.

Ryan Garcia has risen in the boxing world as fast as he hits the cobra bag in one of his Instagram videos. It makes sense, considering his viral training videos and social media content are big reasons why the 25-year-old has ascended at such a rapid rate in a crowded space.

Even still, over seven months after suffering his first professional loss at the hands of Gervonta Davis inside the ring at T-Mobile Arena, Garcia continues to rise. This is no mistake, either, but rather a calculated climb. Garcia, who has a net worth of $20 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, has placed concerted effort into not only his training but also his social media presence.

Consider the following: Garcia boasts 10.3 million followers on Instagram, nearly 4 million more than undefeated Tyson Fury, considered by many to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time with multiple belts to his name. He even carries more followers than some of the biggest stars in the NBA, such as Damian Lillard, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, and even the reigning MVP, Joel Embiid.

Sure, there’s probably a pride aspect, knowing that many strangers are spending their free time watching you hit a bag or jump some rope. But the biggest reason for that laser-focus on building a strong following? Moolah.

“The earning potential on someone like him is huge,” Joe Gagliese, co-founder of the influencer marketing and talent agency Viral Nation, told The Athletic in 2019. “Take aside the fact that he is a professional athlete. His engagement — he’s getting a million views on average every video. These are the types of things that brands are looking for, and in our world, if you look at a traditional athlete who doesn’t have a big social, and you look at this kid, this kid is probably going to push more value to the brand, both in (return over investment) and general awareness.”

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That was in 2019 when Garcia had “just” 3.7 million Instagram followers. It was also well before he had really taken on anyone of note — outside of facing Devin Haney six times at the amateur level, splitting the decisions — with victories over Romero Duno, Luke Campbell, and Javier Fortuna all taking place ahead of his bout with Davis earlier this year.

It’s safe to say that Garcia has realized some of that earning potential since, with room to grow.

Here is a list of some of the brands he has worked with in his career:

  • Dior
  • Gatorade
  • 1800 Tequila
  • GMC’s Hummer
  • Gymshark
  • MARLOWE.

Part of Garcia’s changing of the boxing business has been the type of brand he looks to partner with. Boxing is a brutal sport, so you don’t typically think of a fashion house or a skin care product as a natural partner for fighters.

“For me, it’s just staying humble, looking for opportunities that make sense, that align with my morals because a lot of these big brands, sometimes they do funky stuff and I’m not about that,” Garcia said on The ETCs. “I try to align myself with people who still have their morals intact and trying their best to live an honest and fruitful life. So, it’s just looking for those opportunities.

“Good people work with good people, so I try to attract and work with honest-working folks, but also not being judgmental either. I know what it is to be crazy. I know what it is to live chaotic. I’ve done it. So, I’m very understanding as a person as well.”

But the boxing heartthrob mapped out his own game plan — and rising boxers are taking note. At first, many in the industry wanted to wait and see how things would shake out for Garcia on the marketing end. Now, it’s a proven model.

Take Garcia’s most recent fight against Davis, for example. First off, before even taking into account pay-per-view buys or ticket sales, Garcia was set to take home $2.5 million, with Davis set to pocket $5 million as the A-side.

But the real money is in the PPVs, where it was reported that the Garcia-Davis fight sold over 1.2 million. At $85 per PPV, that’s an additional $102 million brought in via this avenue. While a full breakdown is not available, it’s expected that the two fighters were close to a 50/50 split on PPV buys, netting each of them roughly an additional $50 million for this one fight. Oh, and that’s without noting the nearly $23 million in ticket sales.

But boxers making a lot of money in the ring isn’t anything new. Boxing has long been considered one of the more lucrative sports, with some of the best fighters bringing in millions for a single fight that could last all of a round or two.

The first thing that separates Garcia from some in the boxing space is that he isn’t afraid to take the big fight, which is evident by his stepping across from Garcia in April. There’s a stigma in boxing that any blemish on your win-loss record is a death sentence to one’s memory, but for Garcia, that just adds money to his pocket — win, lose, or draw.

“People want to see two good fighters. They don’t want to just see one fighter beating up another guy that they know they’re going to beat; you’re not going to do anything with that [PPV-wise],” Garcia said. “Fights should be huge fights and big fights with big personalities. … If these fighters want to make life-changing money, it takes two to tango and you need to do it the right way. People aren’t falling for it anymore.”

But the second piece of it is the portion that Garcia has down to a T, and it’s that there’s an art to the self-promotion, the marketing. We see it all the time when two fighters try to manufacture some animosity between them in order to build hype leading up to a fight, only to see them console each other afterward, regardless of the result. We saw it with Garcia and Davis, with the former congratulating the latter and giving him his props for the knockout victory.

The difference is Garcia can balance that line of being genuine instead of cringey, which is where many fighters fall victim. Fans can tell when someone is being fake, and even if Garcia plays actor occasionally, his authenticity on social media shines through.

At times, it can appear fake. It’s especially understandable for the boxing diehards who grew up on the grit and grind of a physically taxing sport, only to see fighters these days care more about getting that viral clip or extra likes on a post.

For Garcia, it’s different. It’s simply who he is, and promoters take notice.

“Part of boxing is a business, and if you’re not putting people in seats, what is profitable to the people that put on the fights?” Garcia posed to Boardroom.

Sye Williams / Getty Images

There’s no way around it — the boxing business is a greedy one. For fighters, for promoters, for fans. Everybody wants the most that they can get, which leads to a lot of overpriced pay-per-view fights that those who really appreciate the sport will be willing to pay for because, well, they love it.

Garcia recognizes this, which is why this fight against Duarte won’t be a PPV sell. It’ll stream on DAZN, and, sure, you need a subscription to watch, which could still be an annoyance for fans who may not be subscribers just yet.

While DAZN is surely paying some sort of flat fee to Garcia in place of a PPV stake, for Garcia, this is leaving money on the table.

“If I said, ‘No, I need this on pay-per-view,’ they would’ve put it on. But that’s robbing the fans,” Garcia said. “Why would I do that to the fans where now they have to pay me to see somebody you don’t know? … So, I’m not going to do that to the fans. The ones that want to see me fight and make them pay $50, it’s Christmas time. People need to save that money. If you already subscribed, great! And if you want to spend money for the subscription, go ahead.”

Balancing whether a fight should be offered via PPV or streaming has been an ongoing battle in boxing. Just ask HBO or Showtime. Both were big names when it came to airing some of boxing’s biggest bouts, and both have since gone belly-up in a tumultuous industry.

Some of that is due to greed on the corporate side, with many promotions being close-minded to the idea of working with one another. But if you ask Garcia, he just wants to look out for his own.

Did you catch Ryan Garcia on The ETCs?
Hear Garcia talk about bouncing back, moving up to 140 pounds, Jake Paul & YouTube boxing.
Check it out!

“I think that the goal of the sport is for the boxers to take more control, take more of the driver’s seat,” Garcia said. “I think that I prove to everybody, by the way that I market myself and the way that I position myself in the sport, that you have more control than you think.

“And, I think that we need [to set a precedent] that boxers are the driving force of this sport. Promoters need to be open to expanding their minds and stop being stuck in the ’90s and the 2000 [or] 2010 blueprint of accosting the sport’s fans because they don’t want to work with each other and it becomes a monopoly type of thing. We need to come together.”

So, while boxing champions come and go, as do some of the companies that have made money from airing their fights, Ryan remains. And thanks to the following and brand partnerships he’s built through his own content, Garcia will always be an attraction, whether you like it or not.

Personally, Ryan feels he’s accomplished all that he needs to in that self-promotion arena. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a rematch with Davis or the first professional fight against Haney or a tussle with Teofimo Lopez or Shakur Stevenson. No matter who steps up against Ryan next, both fighters’ earnings will be maximized thanks to Garcia’s groundwork.

But he told Boardroom his mindset has shifted, and he hopes to run the 140-pound division sooner rather than later.

“You’re going to see some Goku shit … I feel like this is the best version of me and it’s going to be something that you see a mix of,” Garcia said. “When I was on that come-up, I was on that rise and I was on point — in the zone, just on top of it. [My] speed was insane. You’re going to see that, but you’re also going to see a more polished run technique, skill, determination, grit.

“Just knowing the game, the ins and outs. You’re going to see a polished super Ryan. … I’m here to show I’m setting a tone for the 140 division. This is the Ryan you’re going to get. Get ready because I’m not playing and I’m not letting up after this day. You’re going to see this going all the way through. I don’t know how long the career is going to last. I don’t know how many world titles, but I’m hungry. And this is the Ryan you’re going to see moving forward.”

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]]> Ryan Garcia: A Booming Business %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Ryan Garcia has changed boxing business by combining his huge following with his elite talent. The result? Massive paydays. Boardroom Talks,boxing,Ryan Garcia,Ryan Garcia Loading Gervonta Davis v Ryan Garcia – Press Event Sye Williams / Getty Images CJ Stroud Gets in the Mix https://boardroom.tv/cj-stroud-aux-money-mix/ Sun, 26 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=84084 On the first episode of AUX MONEY, the Houston Texans rookie quarterback offers a sneak peek of his game-day rituals and his favorite pregame tracks.

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]]> On the first episode of AUX MONEY, the Houston Texans rookie quarterback offers a sneak peek of his game-day rituals and his favorite pregame tracks.

CJ Stroud reps the West Coast all day. The Houston Texans QB may only be 22 years old, but he vibes with the old-school sounds of Easy E, Tupac, and Snoop. But one LA rapper reigns supreme.

“For me, Nip is my favorite artist ever,” he told DJ and producer Chase B in the debut episode of AUX MONEY.

The vibes of the classic West Coast rappers transport him back to growing up. The familiar beats made up the soundtrack provided by the most influential people in his life, including his dad, his uncles, and his coaches. His love for the game of football is rooted in the music.

When asked for his Mount Rushmore of Cali rappers, the answer comes a little more slowly. “That’s tough, man. I gotta go Snoop at No. 1 … Nip, Kendrick Lamar, I think Mozzy’s really slept on …

“But legendary-wise, Tupac and Snoop are the greatest.”

Like many athletes, Stroud’s pre-game routine includes a steady mix of his favorites. Of course those West Coast staples are in the rotation, but his palette has a sophisticated range. Among the favorites on his oversized headphones: Rylo, Lil Baby, and Boston Richey.

While his music tastes have remained consistent, Stroud reports that he’s been able to shake the weighty superstitions that he locked in during his college years.

“I used the same urinal. Only look in this mirror. Only tied one shoe before the other” he recalled laughing. “But for me … thinking too hard about other things is losing your focus on the task at hand.”

These days, he’s locked in on the game. But the music will forever be a part of his process.

—

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]]> CJ Stroud Gets in the Mix - Boardroom CJ Stround chops it up with Chase B and breaks down his music influences and the can't miss tracks on his pregame warmup mix. Aux Money,Boardroom Talks,Chase B,CJ Stroud,Music,Nipsey Hussle,Snoop Dogg,CJ Stroud Mix Don C & Chase B sit down for the newest episode of AUX MONEY. The Rise & Run of Chase B https://boardroom.tv/chase-b-rise-empire-aux-money-boardroom/ Tue, 14 Nov 2023 18:19:25 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78903 Cactus Jack's DJ x Producer x Personality is moving the needle on music, media, and more heading into 2024.

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]]> Cactus Jack’s DJ x Producer x Personality is moving the needle on music, media, and more heading into 2024.

Operating a turntable while speaking to 70,000 screaming fans, it only takes Chase B two-and-a-half words to turn a sold-out Sofi Stadium into Studio 54.

“Let’s party.”

As “MODERN JAM” melts a Samsung sound system blasting 1.3 million watts of Daft Punk drums and Teezo Touchdown cabaret, Chase operates as offensive coordinator for the Travis Scott show, selling out NFL arenas and moving millions in merch.

Over the last decade, the fly guy behind the booth has seen his star soar as a DJ, producer, and personality, booked by billionaires to throw parties and brands to find their footing.

Chase B
Lorenzo McCloud, CJ Stroud, Michael Rubin, and Chase B attend the Rookie Premiere Wrap Party hosted by Fanatics in May 2023 in Beverly Hills. (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Fanatics)

From Jordan Brand campaign gigs to Chrome Hearts events, the boy born Chase Benjamin has lived up to his name, hunting hundos at a race pace since embarking on his entertainment journey.

Now 33 years old and already a veteran in the game, the Houston hyphenate is bringing it back home by building his empire.

“What I’m on now is trying to condense all of it,” Chase told Boardroom.

Crystalizing his debut album and launching Aux Money, his studio show at Boardroom, learn how the Cactus Jack general became the go-to-guy for Mike Rubin and Mike Jordan alike, set to embark on a new era of excellence.

Houston to Howard

Chase B was born in Houston, coming of age at Hightower High School before coming into his own at Howard University.

The son of two Boston College graduates, academics and sports surrounded Chase as a child, excelling in hoops and football before focusing on the family trade of track and field.

“My brother was super talented at track and went to the University of Pennsylvania,” said Chase. “I really wanted to go to Columbia.”

With the grades to attend an Ivy League school and the footspeed to run mid-distance at Clemson, Chase battled between going all in on academics or keeping his running career alive.

“I wasn’t going to the Olympics,” Chase said. “I kept hearing things about Howard. I loved it as soon as I got there.”

Enamored by the possibility of attending an HBCU, the 800-meter star soon found his footing in music and entertainment.

From hosting functions on campus to getting club gigs as an underclassman, the Texas track star was the toast of DC’s party scene before he was old enough to drink legally.

“I was 19 years old hosting clubs,” said Chase. “They’d take my ID, and I’d host. Being in that realm put me onto so many things in entertainment culture.”

Like Puff Daddy decades before him, Chase excelled in Howard’s social scene, making a name for himself so fast around campus that it quickly became clear that being a DJ was his calling.

A calling that didn’t require a degree but did require a change of scenery.

How to Make it in America

Rather than wait for his graduation cap in DC, Chase B headed north to New York.

The three-hour train ride was a career equivalent to the long jump, looking to land all the experience he picked up DJing at Howard into a real residency in the Big Apple.

“Moving to New York really stamped everything for me,” said Chase. “I was damn near homeless trying to figure everything out even though I was doing really cool gigs.”

Standing at the center of culture, the big bet on going from DC to NYC was a worthwhile risk for Chase. Although the cost of living versus price for parties paled compared to getting by on a college campus, the proximity to talent, energy, and branding opportunities was next level.

“The looks would be so great, but I’m DJing parties for $50 to $100,” Chase said. “How do I take this from a hobby to a real career?”

Miles away from the homecoming concerts he threw at Howard and beneath the poverty line where New York rent was concerned, Chase’s passion proved bigger than his paychecks upon arrival.

Chase B
Chase B & DJ Clark Kent perform at The House Of Remy Martin Pre-Grammy Party at Megu New York in January 2018. (Johnny Nunez / Getty Images for Remy Martin)

That same spirit for music and people eventually introduced him to two mentors who would change his life, the first being DJ Clark Kent.

“When I got to New York, he had a management company, and I wanted to be down so bad,” Chase said. “We had meetings, and he’d put me on game. He said, ‘Honestly, you can survive on your own. Let’s keep this strictly a friendship.’ He’s been my big brother through this.”

As alluded to, another big brother became an early advocate for Chase B. His name? None other than Virgil Abloh.

“I was broke as hell in New York,” recalled Chase. “Me and Virgil would do all these warehouse parties in the deepest dungeons of SoHo. You met the coolest people. That’s where I met [A$AP] Yams, Bari, that whole scene was in New York.”

In Abloh, Chase had a mentor 10 years his senior but equally energized. Their excitement for new sounds saw Chase tagging along for Fashion Week parties and eventually playing festivals alongside the late Off-White founder.

It also opened doors in the city, making Chase the go-to DJ for hip-hop showcases during the latter years of The Blog Era.

“Those shows at Santos Party House and SOBs gave me the notoriety to get to headlining gigs,” said Chase. “My tenure at The Darby and Up&Down transcended my career. It’s where I met all the artists I know now.”

From Swae Lee to Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign to Quavo, Chase B became buddies with hip-hop‘s next wave of talent at a moment when they were all going up. Despite being from Houston and attending school in DC, he was the guy in NYC when it came to throwing parties at all of the city’s hottest spots.

“It was a prime time in New York nightlife history,” said Chase. “I was at the pulse of all that with 1 OAK. From 2015 to 2019, all those interactions are really what impacted my career the most.”

A career that blossomed in the Big Apple and soon took him everywhere.

Coast to Coast

In the mid-2010s, Chase B was becoming the biggest young DJ in New York City.

All the while, his childhood friend from Houston was still sending him songs on Soundcloud. Jacques Webster, better known as Travis Scott, had grown up with Chase in Missouri City and pursued music on a parallel path.

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In that era, Chase was spinning at showcases for bubbling XXL Freshman and at 1 OAK for socialites looking to get lit. At the same time, Travis was becoming both. From producing tracks on Yeezus to rapping alongside Justin Bieber, Scott’s meteoric rise ran concurrently with Chase’s.

For much of the 2010s, Chase B was so booked as a DJ that he had residencies in multiple time zones simultaneously.

“At one point, I had every Thursday at Up&Down in SoHo,” said Chase. “They owned 1 OAK as well, so I’d do 1 OAK in New York every Friday or Saturday and then 1 OAK in LA every week for three or four years. That was my biggest contribution to the DJ culture, those moments.”

From playing TAO in Las Vegas to hosting a party at LIV in Miami, Chase was booked to the brim and tapped in at every market. The coast-to-coast club circuit boosted his name nationwide, setting the stage for taking his talents around the world.

In 2016, Chase traveled with Travis on Rihanna‘s ANTI World Tour. Spinning in NBA arenas in front of thousands of fans, the stage was soon set for Travis and Chase to do the same as the Cactus Jack label ascended.

Chase B
Travis Scott and Chase B perform onstage during the Bootsy Bellows x Sports Illustrated Circuit Series After Party at Austin American Statesman in October 2021. (Rick Kern / Getty Images)

“We were on tour for like five years straight,” said Chase. Back on the road supporting Utopia, the grind hasn’t stopped since he started spinning.

Looking ahead, Chase is set to embark on a new pace in new lanes.

Mic Check

When Chase B began throwing parties at Howard, he dreamed of someday being Houston’s equivalent to Funkmaster Flex or Big Boy.

Hosting a radio show was the end goal, with the posts pivoting as the demands to DJ and tour the world increased. At 33, he looks back at the last 15 years fondly but ahead at the next 15 smartly.

“When I was 24? It was exciting,” said Chase. “6 a.m. flights every day and drinking until 4 in the morning? In 2017, I was probably on six flights a week. I loved it, and the money was great. But right now? It’s the whole life-after-basketball situation.”

The next few months for Chase B will see the end of the Circus Maximus Tour and the birth of Aux Money, Chase’s new show at Boardroom.

“I always knew I’d get back into radio and hosting,” Chase said. “More personality-driven stuff using my platform to put other people on.”

Shooting episodes in his Houston studio, the likes of CJ Stroud, Bun B, and more have already pulled up to chop it up with Chase, sharing stories on their lives and careers while also grabbing the aux to get deep into the music. It’s a creative pursuit that returns to his roots of hosting.

“This show is my biggest focus right now,” said Chase. “It’s a transitional period because I’ve never had to veer away from DJing. I wanted to push myself to offer services in totally different ways.”

Additionally, it coincides with his ongoing production pivot.

In recent years, Chase has been busy behind the boards, making beats for the likes of Pusha-T, Babyface Ray, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, Gunna, and more. Working with Mike Caren, an industry vet well-versed in business, DJing, and producing himself, Chase is releasing singles from his upcoming album, Be Very Afraid, while putting the finishing touches on the project.

Working with the same friends he met when spinning at SOB’s in New York and adding features from those he’s met on the way, it’s a testament to the journey that’s shaped his career and his sound.

“I’m really proud of this album because I didn’t follow any trends,” said Chase. “It’s me personified through music, and a lot of my favorite artists in the world are on this album.”

It’s also a showcase of his ability not just to break songs but to make them.

“I want the production to shine through because it’s really different,” Chase said. “It’s a rap album. The beats are strong. The verses are strong. The samples are dope. I want people to take away that I can not just make beats but really curate a project.”

Both Be Very Afraid and Aux Money see Chase stepping out of the lane of what’s expected of him but returning home to where he always saw his career going. In many ways, it’s no different than the bets he took on himself when he left Texas for school and left school for New York.

“Leaving Houston, I met people from the Bay Area, Atlanta, Trinidad, and Jamaica,” said Chase. “It taught me so many different things. If it wasn’t for Howard, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

A place that’s introduced him to a world of sounds and an array of artists.

A place that’s taking all of that stadium status experience and bringing it right back home to the set of Aux Money.

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]]> The Rise & Run of Chase B: 'Aux Money' Adds to Growing Empire %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Chase B, Cactus Jack's DJ x Producer x Personality, is moving the needle on music, media, and more heading into 2024. .TV,Aux Money,Boardroom,Boardroom Talks,Cactus Jack,Chase B,Travis Scott,Virgil Abloh,Chase B Fanatics x NFLPA Rookie Premiere Party Lorenzo McCloud, CJ Stroud, Michael Rubin, and Chase B attend the Rookie Premiere Wrap Party hosted by Fanatics in May 2023 in Beverly Hills. (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Fanatics) The House Of Remy Martin Presents The Culture Creators Pre-Grammy Party Chase B & DJ Clark Kent perform at The House Of Remy Martin Pre-Grammy Party at Megu New York in January 2018. (Johnny Nunez / Getty Images for Remy Martin) Loading Bootsy Bellows x Sports Illustrated Circuit Series After Party AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 23: Travis Scott (R) and Chase B perform onstage during the Bootsy Bellows x Sports Illustrated Circuit Series After Party at Austin American Statesman on October 23, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images) Loading Dawn Staley: The Dream Merchant of Women’s Basketball https://boardroom.tv/dawn-staley-womens-basketball-dream-merchant/ Sat, 11 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=79970 Louis Vuitton Dawn has dominated hoops in professional and amateur ranks. What registers as wins as those worlds merge?

The post Dawn Staley: The Dream Merchant of Women’s Basketball appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Louis Vuitton Dawn has dominated hoops in professional and amateur ranks. What registers as wins as those worlds merge?

From the bleachers in Columbia to the streets of Philly, there are many things one could call Dawn Staley.

Coach, champ, and Hall of Famer instantly come to mind. If you ask NBA vet Cuttino Mobley, she’s the best point guard he ever played with. If you ask Forbes, they’ll tell you she’s a multi-millionaire. If you ask Andscape, they’ll tell you she’s a beacon of hope for more than just hoops.

But if you ask Dawn herself on-stage at the 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival, she’ll tell you something else.

“I’m a dream merchant,” Staley told Boardroom’s Eddie Gonzalez.

On brand, the tough and flashy floor general can thread the needle on everything that defines her, realizing how a half-century in hoops has taken her all over the world but, most importantly, into living rooms across the country.

In those settings, that self-appointed title holds even more weight. As the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, she’s selling a dream appreciating momentum and monetary value each day.

Sitting across from parents in need of assurance all while operating at the apex of women’s basketball’s big boom, Staley has lived the dream from ABL to NIL. As she starts the 2023-24 season with higher hopes for her industry and less experience on her roster, Dawn’s court awareness is at an all-time high.

“Women’s basketball is bursting through the seams,” said Staley. “This is the best time to be playing our sport.”

In the era of NIL and an awakening in women’s sports, Dawn’s day job is more than just running practice and recruiting visits. Standing in the center of the sport set to tip into more money and more eyeballs, she balances building a powerhouse program while fighting for larger TV deals that will ensure earnings for all involved.

As the lines blur between baller and brand, so does the distinction between college coach and women’s advocate, floor raiser, and fundraiser. It’s a dichotomy that defines the dream merchant.

Luckily, Louis Vuitton Dawn has long excelled at being two things at once.

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Philly’s Most Wanted

Dawn Staley was raised in the Raymond Rosen housing projects in North Philadelphia.

Playing ball with the boys growing up, she traveled five hours down I-95 to the University of Virginia, where she’d lead the school to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and three Final Fours. When it was all said and done, the 5-6 floor general was named National Player of the Year twice.

photo by Damian Strohmeyer/Allsport/Getty Images

After earning her degree, Dawn darted overseas to play professionally in Italy, France, Brazil, and Spain. Running offenses abroad served as a master’s in leadership, eventually bringing her back to the States as the ABL and WNBA launched on the heels of her first Olympic gold medal.

For the latter part of the ’90s, Dawn ascended in the hoops space in America. From a Nike signature shoe to appearances in SLAM Magazine, she was playing on TV and even starring in commercials.

The hard work in hoops was paying off regarding relevance, but it wasn’t making her or her peers rich.

By the year 2000, the average WNBA salary was only $55,000.

That season, she’d start every game at point guard for the Charlotte Sting. Over the summer, she doubled down on her craft by winning her second Olympic gold in Australia.

Weeks later, she’d do something unprecedented for an active athlete her age: She’d start her college coaching career in Philly.

Earlier that year, a chance trip to Temple turned into a recruiting visit for the local legend. Despite having no interest in coaching and fair fear from her peers that taking on two jobs would be impossible, she accepted the challenge to turn around a program that hadn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament since De La Soul debuted.

From 2001 to 2006, Dawn worked two jobs at once. She dominated her playing profession by being an annual mainstay of the WNBA All-Star Game while also winning another gold medal in Athens.

Jeff Gross / Allsport
Joseph Labolito / Getty Images

When she wasn’t killing it on the court, she hustled hard on the sideline. During those dual-employment days, the Temple Owls were winning the Atlantic-10 outright early and often while advancing in the NCAA Tournament because of it.

It was a sleepless stretch for the dream merchant, solidifying her sales pitch the last season she played pro.

In 2006, Staley’s final All-Star campaign coincided with the first year she’d produce one. After traveling to Tampa to recruit a three-sport stud in 2002, Dawn’s worlds collided four years later when Candice Dupree became Temple’s first female player to be drafted to the WNBA.

“When I was in college, she was still playing at the pro level,” Dupree told Boardroom. “So we’d go to New York, Connecticut, Charlotte, and DC to watch her play. I learned what it meant to be a pro just by watching her when I was in college.”

While coaching at Temple and playing in the WNBA, Staley sent both Kamesha Hairston and Dupree to the pro ranks. Each first-round pick found their footing under Staley in Philly, with the Tampa talent playing against her college coach just weeks after hearing her name called.

“To learn from her and compete against her my first year in the league?” said Dupree. “Not a lot of people can say they’ve done that, if anybody at all.”

Lacing up against her college coach after going No. 6 overall, Dupree entered a professional world she shared for one season with her mentor. By the time Dupree’s days in the league were done, she’d have seven All-Star selections, one WNBA Championship, and three Olympic gold medals to her name.

Like her coach, she’d find a fit on the sideline with the San Antonio Spurs. Unlike her coach, she’d finish her playing career earning $170,000 for a single season.

Just as the rate of pay has increased in the WNBA, Staley’s seen her value ascend since leaving Temple for the greener pastures of South Carolina.

Second Home

When Dawn Staley arrived in Columbia, SC, the Lady Gamecocks had never made a Final Four.

In its history, the school had produced an impressive five WNBA Draft picks, many of which Staley had played against

Since taking over in 2008, the Gamecocks have gone to five Final Fours and won two national championships. The 2023 WNBA season opened with eight of her players on rosters and finished with Dawn’s disciples claiming Finals MVP and Rookie of the Year honors.

“My passion has always been young people, just making sure they understand what it takes when they get to the league,” said Staley. “They are the ones that will take the league to higher heights.”

David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

As alluded to, this is true. Staley has sent 14 players from SC to the WNBA and produced MVP talent with shoe deals and public profiles.

The top of the list includes A’ja Wilson, arguably the best player in women’s basketball and the blueprint for Staley’s system of success. Under her acclaimed coach, Wilson won several individual accolades and a national title. This tutelage and excellence led to her going No. 1 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft, setting up the two-time league MVP for two titles.

As a pro, Wilson is estimated to have already earned $630,600 in WNBA action alone. She left Columbia with an array of records and a college degree. Each time she returns, she sees an 11-foot bronze statue saluting her greatness.

She also sees the coach that sculpted her success.

Lance King / Getty Images

“I really enjoy helping to mold players and getting them ready for life,” Staley said. “My passion’s at the collegiate level, and I hope it stays that way.”

From a financial standpoint, it likely will.

Wilson’s WNBA coach, two-time champion Becky Hammon, makes $1 million a year — a figure that tops all active players and coaches in the league.

In the college game, Staley stands to make $2.1 million in base salary this season. That number can only go up as added incentives to sweep SEC and NCAA awards total another $600,000.

In the third season of a historic seven-year deal valued at $22.4 million, Staley’s decision to coach college basketball during her pro playing career has set her and others up for bigger bucks than they could ever imagine.

Still, the dream merchant is not just selling student-athletes on what they could achieve at South Carolina. Rather, she’s looking to break open the floodgates on just how big and lucrative the women’s game can get.

“I like it,” said Staley. “It’s a challenge.”

A Dollar & a Dream

In 1992, Dawn Staley’s biggest challenge when it came to basketball was taking on Pat Summit’s Tennessee Volunteers in the prior season’s National Championship Game.

By the time Staley graduated from Virginia, she had a communications degree and the school scoring record to show for it. What she didn’t have was a paying job close to home. All those accolades left her unemployed in America, where basketball was concerned, taking the ACC assist leader to seasonal work abroad.

In 2023, Dawn returned to Europe. Taking her Gamecocks with her, the No. 6 team in America took over Paris through a 100-71 shellacking of No. 10 Notre Dame. While Staley’s squad won the game, both rosters benefitted from a team trip to France.

Additionally, Staley’s muscle played a part in having two African-American coaches tip off the college season not just abroad but broadcast for fans everywhere.

The revolution was televised as Rebecca Lobo, a teammate of Staley in the 1996 Olympics, and Andraya Carter, a player Staley coached against upon arriving at SC, called the game for ESPN.

The setting was special. The stage was familiar. This season alone, Staley’s squad will play on ESPN networks 10 times.

Not only will her young roster need to show and prove on the court, but fans will have to tune in to put pressure on industry execs to invest more money in the women’s game.

“We need more networks to compete for our talents,” said Staley. “Our television deal is up with ESPN. ESPN’s done a great job giving us a platform to grow and take us where we are now.”

Competition is where the game thrives and where Staley finds herself.

Last spring, Staley’s squad lost at the hot hands of Caitlin Clark. While the Final Four exit ended the Gamecock’s quest to repeat, it exploded opportunity for the women’s game as Iowa and Louisana State put on a Natty for the ages — and the record books.

The battle between Clark and Angel Reese captivated the country, drawing in 9.9 million viewers. For comparison, that outing outperformed Game 1 of the 2023 MLB World Series. For reference, Fox is currently under contract with the MLB for $5.1 billion for said broadcast rights.

C. Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos via Getty Images

As women’s college basketball begins its most anticipated season, perhaps ever, Staley sees more than just the ten players on the court but all of the broadcast partners capable of taking the game to a whole new level. Because the current contract with ESPN expires in 2024, the stakes are higher this season for all involved.

“We need other networks to show our worth,” said Staley. “ESPN knows our worth, but if there’s no competition? You’re not going to throw hundreds of millions of dollars at our sport if nobody’s competing for us in that space.”

It’s a fight she finds herself in the middle of despite being financially secure.

It’s a fight taking place in the middle of a season with hoop dreams of the team and individual variety all afloat.

Money, Power, Respect

Throughout her Hall of Famer career, Dawn Staley has ascended titles without shifting shapes.

Still standing only 5’6, she’s a giant in the game that competes at the highest level with coaches, countries, and institutions. The open market opportunities of NIL mixed with the big bucks shelled out to higher profile programs make Dawn’s dream merchant mantra a tougher sell than years past.

When recruiting the country’s top talent, Staley is extremely cognizant of the fact that picking a college to play basketball at is a financial decision that affects not only WNBA dreams but also the immediate earnings for families and the players themselves.

Because of funds, collectives, and NIL markets, a top-tier student-athlete often makes a high-level financial decision at only 18 years of age.

“I get the pull on the money,” said Staley. “If someone’s offering you $200,000, and that’s something you’ve never seen, and your family has to work ten years to get that in your bank account? I get it; I truly understand that part of it. Go for it; I am not mad at all. But I also don’t want to devalue what we bring to the table and the experience that you would have under me and our coaching staff.”

It’s a wild world for players and peers of the Hall of Fame coach. Because Staley’s seen the women’s game grow from playing in empty fieldhouses to selling out football stadiums, the promise of education and exposure still has to compete with promises of cold, hard cash.

“People are probably offering them a lot more money to lure them,” Staley said. “But the lessons that you get [here] are invaluable.”

Always in the weeds and on the grind, Staley is fighting hard to ensure that South Carolina has the same financial resources as the power programs she competes with.

“I look at the NIL space as a challenge,” said Staley. “We may not have the most, but I want to be competitive when it comes to recruiting young people. I don’t want that to be the factor if someone beats us out by $25,000 or $50,000. I don’t want that to be the determining factor.”

When the floodgates first opened on NIL, it was truly the wild, wild west where coaches could chase bags for their players. That all stopped a year ago when the NCAA changed the rules on the fly.

“The NCAA completely stopped us last October,” said Staley. “We had to shut everything down from me going out there and saying, ‘Hey, can you come do an all-team deal at South Carolina?'”

Because the NCAA no longer allows Staley and other coaches to find and facilitate NIL deals, the funding for players is fragmented and often of great variance from athlete to athlete and school to school.

Thus, the equity Dawn’s built over her illustrious legacy across brands does not bear the financial fruit it could for her players. This matters much on campus and in recruiting.

“As coaches, we have access to so many sponsors and relationships with companies,” Staley said.

This proves truer for Staley than most. Because of her resume on the sideline and on the court, she has the gravitas to appear in an Under Armour commercial with Aaliyah Boston and sit on the stage at Nike’s World Basketball Festival. Still, the Hall of Fame point guard has to play the background in earning for her athletes.

Because of this, she has to rely on the resources provided by the university that in SEC country usually go to the gridiron.

“There are things called collectives now, and we have to work through the collectives,” Staley said. “Collectives do a lot of work for football because they’re the main breadwinners, and I get that. But when we’ve had as much success as we’ve had at the University of South Carolina? We should be rolling in it, and we’re not.”

Once again, the 2x National Champion has to rely on her resume. One that adorns almost every accolade as a player and one that’s placed a handful of hopefuls in the WNBA.

“The things that we equip our players with will more than bring in the money that they deserve,” said Staley. “But they just gotta come to South Carolina first to get there.”

Next Up

When Dawn Staley took her tri-state swag to the SEC, few could’ve predicted record-setting coaching contracts and multiple National Championships.

Upending a women’s basketball scene long dominated by the likes of UConn and Tennessee, Staley serves as a disciplinarian and player’s coach all at once, not too different from that of Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.

The biggest difference for Staley compared to the top tier of recruiters across all college sports is that she played professionally — and exceptionally — earning respect and reverence that few coaches across from her can match.

This type of esteem connects with parents and players alike.

C. Morgan Engel / NCAA Photos via Getty Images

“When you go into people’s living rooms and tell them that they’ll graduate?” said Staley. “They’re working to get to the next level. When you dangle that in front of them? They work a little bit harder.”

When looking for hard work, look no further than MiLaysia Fulwiley. When looking for the perfect place to take her talents, Staley’s program made perfect sense.

“I picked South Carolina because I wanted to be coached by somebody who’d been in my position before,” Fulwiley told Boardroom.

Already a viral sensation one game into her college career, Fulwiley exploded in Paris and across social media. Going coast to coast in France, the revered recruit went around the world and around her back, laying in a jellyroll lay-up that had everyone from Magic Johnson to Jamal Crawford singing her praises.

“It felt unbelievable when I heard that Kevin Durant shared my video,” Fulwiely said. “Seeing NBA stars and people who play basketball giving my move credit? It means a lot.”

While the freshman phenom owes her talent and hard work to the heralded highlight, getting seen on such a stage is a shoutout to Staley.

The program built by Dawn in Columbia, mixed with the pressure she’s put on the NCAA and ESPN, all funnel toward bigger platforms for the girls she coaches like Fulwiley.

In high school, the McDonald’s All-American was courted by coaches nationwide. She chose SC not just because of its proximity to home, but the character and resume only Staley could offer. Since arriving on campus, the flashy point guard has learned from a WNBA legend who played the same position.

Just the same, Fulwiley’s received coaching from Staley’s staff on thriving in the new open market of endorsements.

“She had multiple people come and talk to us about our NIL deals,” said Fulwiley. “We also have NIL companies in our program called Garnett Trust. She tells us to stay focused on basketball, and the NIL will play its part.”

So far, so good. Represented by Excel Sports Management, Fulwiley will continue to thrive off the court thanks to the work she’s putting in on the court.

Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images

Leading the No. 2 recruiting class in all of the women’s college basketball, Fulwiley will run the show for Staley, which is green where age is concerned.

“We’ve got a little different team,” said Staley. “We’re super talented but not much on-court experience.”

All the while, Staley will continue to fight the good fight for women’s basketball. Just like her early days at Temple while playing point for the Charlotte Sting, the dream merchant is sacrificing sleep so that these girls can make more money and more noise than anyone ever imagined.

“Every season brings on a different challenge no matter who you have,” said Staley.

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]]> Dawn Staley: The Dream Merchant of Women’s Basketball %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Dawn Staley has dominated hoops in professional and amateur ranks. What registers as wins as those worlds merge? Boardroom Talks,College Basketball,Dawn Staley,Milaysia Fulwiley,Nike,NIL,South Carolina Gamecocks,Under Armour,WNBA,Dawn Staley Loading Portrait of Dawn Staley Dawn Staley #24,Guard for the University of Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team poses for a portrait during the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference college basketballl season circa January 1991 at the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. (Photo by Damian Strohmeyer/Allsport/Getty Images) Dawn Staley #5 19 Jun 2001: Dawn Staley #5 of the Charlotte Sting reacts to the action during the game against the Los Angeles Sparks at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. The Sparks defeated the Sting 73-69. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Jeff Gross /Allsport NCAA Women’s Basketball – 2006 Atlantic 10 Final – Temple vs George Washington Colonials – March 6, 2006 Head coach Dawn Staley cuts down the nets on her third consecutive A-10 title. The Temple Lady Owls defeated the George Washington Colonials 59 to 54 to capture their third straight A-10 title on 03/06/2006 at the SJU Fieldhouse in Philadelphia. (Photo by Joseph Labolito/Getty Images) University of South Carolina vs Mississippi State University, 2017 NCAA National Championship College Basketball: NCAA Finals: South Carolina A'ja Wilson (22) and coach Dawn Staley victorious holding NCAA Championship plaque with players after winning game vs Mississippi State at American Airlines Center. Dallas, TX 4/2/2017 CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: SI798 TK1 ) LSU v South Carolina COLUMBIA, SC - FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates with Aliyah Boston #4 near the end of their game against the LSU Tigers at Colonial Life Arena on February 12, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina. South Carolina won 88-64. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – National Championship MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 03: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks sits on the Sportscenter set after defeating the UConn Huskies during the championship game of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on April 3, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – National Championship MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 03: Aliyah Boston #4 and Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrate after their win over the Connecticut Huskies during the championship game of the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament at Target Center on April 3, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) Aflac Oui-Play: South Carolina v Notre Dame PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 06: Milaysia Fulwiley of South Carolina reacts during the Aflac Oui Play match between South Carolina and Notre Dame at Halle Georges Carpentier on November 06, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images) The ETCs: Dawn Staley and the Superstar Formula https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-dawn-staley-nike-world-basketball/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:50:40 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=82337 Legendary University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley sat down for a special episode of “The ETCs” where she breaks down the common variables of a hoops superstar, the future of college basketball, and

The post The ETCs: Dawn Staley and the Superstar Formula appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Legendary University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley sat down for a special episode of “The ETCs” where she breaks down the common variables of a hoops superstar, the future of college basketball, and more.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

As the 2023-24 women’s NCAA basketball season tips off, Dawn Staley and the University of South Carolina are looking to rebuild a dynasty. Having graduated her full team of starters, Staley will work with a new crop of talent as they look to reclaim their spot atop the NCAA mountain.

Earlier this fall, Staley sat down with Eddie Gonzalez and The ETCs at the Nike World Basketball Festival. The two-time national championship-winning coach discusses how her program has become known for its production of superstars in players like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston. She breaks down the competitive landscape of vying for recruits in a world with NIL. Additionally, she forecasts Boston’s WNBA future, placing her bets as her emergence of one of the most important players in the game.

More From The ETCs
From KD to Sabrina and beyond, here’s what the biggest names in the game have to say
Check it out!

Additionally, Staley unpacks some of the bigger issues surrounding the women’s game and how the recent evolution of big-name talent has built it as a big business. She discusses what’s next for network rights around college hoops and the WNBA. And, lastly, Staley makes her case for her signature shoe as the greatest of all time at Nike.

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]]> Dawn Staley Breaks Down the Superstar Formula %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Dawn Staley sat down with Eddie Gonzalez for a special episode of The ETCs where she breaks down hoops stardom, the game's future, and more. A'ja Wilson,Aliyah Boston,basketball,Boardroom Talks,Dawn Staley,South Carolina Gamecocks,dawn staley Athletes.org Loading Bronny James & the Birth of the Nike NIL Basketball Jersey https://boardroom.tv/bronny-james-nike-nil-basketball-jersey-caitlin-clark/ Sat, 04 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=82393 The Fresh Prince of LA is leveraging his Swoosh sponsorship for one of college basketball's first player-led launches at retail. Is it a sign of more to come?

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]]> The Fresh Prince of LA is leveraging his Swoosh sponsorship for one of college basketball’s first player-led launches at retail. Is it a sign of more to come?

Bronny James is in class, in season, and in stores.

The famous freshman at the University of Southern California is not just an acclaimed recruit and son of The Chosen One but also among Nike Basketball’s inaugural class of NIL athletes. Since signing with the Swoosh as a senior at Sierra Canyon in 2022, he’s double-downed on his Beaverton brand loyalty by balling for the Nike-endorsed school down the road.

Since 1993, the USC basketball team has been outfitted by the Oregon-based company, dressing the likes of Lisa Leslie, DeMar DeRozan, and Nick Young. While each amateur athlete went on to ink sneaker deals with the Swoosh as pros, the NIL era and family ties have made James Jr. a shoo-in to work with the $156 billion brand in an official capacity.

Today, the partnership bears fruit in the form of his No. 6 Trojans jersey being released at retail with his historic name and number on the back.

Bronny Nike NIL
Image courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods
Bronny Nike NIL
Image courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods

Following a short-sleeved t-shirt of the same styling that sold out immediately at Nike, this is a first for the Swoosh in college hoops and a quick-turn test on scaling a business.

Notably, this $90 replica jersey triples the price point of the $30 tee.

Currently sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods in both home and away styles, the NIL Nike jersey is a big step for Bronny and his Swoosh sponsor. Historically, rules around amateurism have allowed big brands to sell jerseys worn by popular players in the NCAA ranks without their names attached and all the money split between the brand, vendor, and school.

This season, Nike’s new approach to NIL in the hoops space has both Bronny James and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark cashing in on their likeness. It may seem simple, but it’s more nuanced than one might think.

While college football got into the NIL jersey space through Fanatics in 2022, college basketball has operated a year behind. There are multiple reasons for the lag and more personalized approach.

Bronny Nike NIL
Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In recent years, female hoopers have led the charge in the NIL sneaker space. What few have had is synergy with their school sponsor.

Azzi Fudd, Flau’jae Johnson, Angel Reese, and Hailey Van Lith all have strong social followings and impressive footwear deals. However, all the above-mentioned stars have signed shoe contracts with brands that do not outfit their universities.

Because of this, Flau’jae can post in Puma but plays in Nike. The same can be said for Fudd, who helps face the Curry Brand but hits the hardwood in Storrs in the school-sponsored Swoosh.

This savvy yet disruptive approach allows private labels such as Urban Champs, ProSphere, and the Retro Brand to produce replica jerseys, but not in one-to-one fashion like that of Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour, who outfit teams.

In 2023, Nike may have found the through line for being everywhere at once.

Stars such as James Jr. and Clark can endorse both licensed fan gear and performance footwear not just on social media but also in televised games that tip the scale. Such was seen in the 2023 NCAA Women’s Championship Game, in which Iowa and LSU brought in 9.9 million viewers.

Clark, who also signed with Nike in 2022, is both a catalyst and recipient for much of this movement.

This year, Clark is embarking on her fourth season at Iowa, allowing a fanfare and NIL presence that’s grown over time.

Notably, her viral tournament run amplified her notoriety both IRL in Iowa and around the world online. Her passionate personality and aspirational game make her the focal point of Nike’s NIL efforts in the women’s game, though she’s not alone.

In accordance with Bronny and Caitlin, recent Nike NIL signees Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins will also have their jerseys sold this season. Each athlete plays at a Swoosh-sponsored school, allowing such an opportunity to occur.

Bronny Nike NIL
Ron Jenkins / Getty Images
Bronny Nike NIL
Image courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods

Additionally, Jordan Brand NIL athlete Kiki Rice is seeing her jersey sold thanks to playing at the Jumpman-endorsed UCLA. Down the road from Kiki in LA, Bronny brings a fanfare that’s still slightly different from his NIL peers.

Aside from televised outings, Bronny boasts 7.6 million Instagram followers and a storybook narrative. His NIL opportunities are endless, not only wearing the family name on his back but the family brand on his feet.

To top it all off, he does so in Los Angeles, a “college town” with over 18.5 million residents surrounding his school’s quaint campus. While the USC Trojans may compete with the UCLA Bruins for local fanfare, the market Bronny plays in dwarfs that of other NCAA programs and most NBA teams at that.

The fact that Bronny could either pop as a freshman or stay for multiple seasons both build equity in his NIL brand. In college, continuity is king — or queen.

Across the arena, female college athletes have ascended in the NIL space not just due to prolific play but also the fact that WNBA age requirements keep the best players in school for multiple seasons. This rule, right or wrong, does allow athletes to connect on campus and on television for years at a time.

There was an era when this trend influenced both fanfare and fan gear in the men’s game.

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Thirty years ago, the Nike basketball boom began officially when the Swoosh signed the University of North Carolina to a four-year, $4.7 million endorsement deal. A year later, the University of Michigan followed suit, signing with Nike for a six-year deal worth $8 million.

At that time, The Washington Post reported that NCAA schools generated $2.5 billion in retail product sales.

All the while, Nike NCAA basketball jerseys were proliferating programs across the country and reaching the backs of A-list celebrities. You could catch 2Pac sporting a Jeff Capel No. 5 Duke jersey or Ma$e making money in an Antwan Jamison No. 33 UNC tank.

While one would see Nike embroidered on the front of each jersey, they wouldn’t see the player’s surname who made it popular on the back. This reflected the earnings on the product and in each paid party’s bank account.

As sales soared and unofficial endorsements made millions for big brands and large schools, the numbers only increased.

By 1997, North Carolina renewed their Swoosh sponsorship by signing on with Nike for another $11.6 million over five years. The trend continued among programs even as college jerseys took a backseat in pop culture. In 2019, Michigan announced a deal with Nike and Jordan Brand worth $169 million over the course of 15 years.

At that time, it was reported as the richest deal in all college sports. Only four years later, times have changed in some sense, considering the advent of NIL and the rise of roundball’s royal family. Interestingly enough, the irony of the Nike NIL basketball jersey is its arrival on the back of an already financially secure star.

Bronny Nike NIL
Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In a sense, Bronny becomes the trojan horse at USC, ushering in an era of potential player profit if this retail release registers with fans. It’s undoubtedly an opportunity undersized and underserved college stars such as Mateen Cleaves or Ed Cota would’ve loved when they cut down nets and covered magazines.

Although NIL deals from footwear companies seem shrewd and select in their infancy, it’s an opportunity to test the waters for brands and ballers alike. The quick printing logistics of basketball jerseys, the rise of social media shopping, and the foothold of campus spirit stores provide pathways to see if a co-branded business model actually exists.

From headphones to footwear, NIL has been big bread for athletes on the rise. Even so, the enormous market of licensed fan gear has gone overlooked in an official capacity because the brands, brand partners, and school sponsorships rarely align.

As Bronny James partakes in USC’s season opener on Monday night, the stars will align where dollars and dunks are concerned. Even so, there’s still uncertainty about whether he will start or come off the bench for his first college game.

What is certain is that he won’t be the only one in the arena wearing a No. 6 jersey, blessed by his name on the back and a Swoosh on the chest.

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]]> Bronny James & the Birth of the Nike NIL Basketball Jersey - Boardroom Bronny is leveraging his NIL deal with Nike for one of college basketball's first player-led launches at retail. Is it a sign of more to come? Boardroom Talks,Bronny James,LeBron James,Nike,NIL,USC Trojans,Bronny Nike NIL 23NIKMNCSCCRMSBRNUSC Image courtesy of Dick's Sporting Goods 23NIKMNCSCWHTBRNNUSC Image courtesy of Dick's Sporting Goods COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OCT 19 USC Trojan HoopLA Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images South Carolina v Iowa Ron Jenkins / Getty Images 23NIKUNCWBKCLRK22IOW Image courtesy of Dick's Sporting Goods Loading COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OCT 19 USC Trojan HoopLA Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Celebrating the 2023 WNBA Finals With Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum & The ETCs https://boardroom.tv/wnba-finals-sabrina-ionescu-kelsey-the-etcs/ Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:40:26 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=79691 As the action returns, get hyped for another Aces-Liberty clash with the best moments from Boardroom’s “The ETCs” starring the superteams’ respective All-Star point guards. The 2023 WNBA Finals reached a fever pitch on

The post Celebrating the 2023 WNBA Finals With Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum & The ETCs appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> As the action returns, get hyped for another Aces-Liberty clash with the best moments from Boardroom’s “The ETCs” starring the superteams’ respective All-Star point guards.

The 2023 WNBA Finals reached a fever pitch on Oct. 15 when a sold-out crowd nearly jettisoned the Barclays Center roof into low Earth orbit as the New York Liberty exacted an 87-73 victory in a must-win Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces. Dealing out the dimes was none other than Sabrina Ionescu, the All-WNBA point guard whose 11 assists nearly doubled any other player’s total.

Leading all scorers? Kelsey Plum, whose 29 weren’t enough to seal a second straight championship for visiting Vegas.

A couple of savvy, slick point guards trading jabs on their sport’s biggest stage is nothing new, but this tete-a-tete was also a bit poetic: These two both appeared as co-hosts this year alongside Eddie Gonzalez on episodes of Boardroom’s “The ETCs.”

The timing couldn’t have been better.

Ahead of tipoff in Game 4 on Wednesday night, hear from two of the W’s best on what it takes to build a winner — and be sure to subscribe to “The ETCs” on the podcast platform of your choice.

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Sabrina Ionescu

Click here to download and listen to the full episode.

Recruiting a Liberty superteam

I knew as soon as the [2022] season ended, there’s gonna be a big free agency for us. It was something — you know, we had talked to [Breanna Stewart] last year and tried to get her as well. She’s from New York, and so, you know, let the season play on, and as soon as the offseason hit, you know, our team was talking to her, our owners, organization, and so I knew it was a possibility. And then she came out, visited, it was public knowledge, so at that point, I was able to reach out to her, talk to her.

So, Jonquel [Jones] came and Stewie came and then Courtney Vandersloot came, so now, it’s kind of the talk of the town. It’s what everyone’s talking about, but it’s something that we definitely had to work to be able to recruit those type of players in New York.

Sealing the deal

It was like the day before, she was sending these emojis, and when you’re on the team, you don’t wanna press them too much and do too much — let players make the decision with their families, because it’s a big decision. She was drafted there, won MVPs, just won a championship there, so I know it was a big decision.

You don’t want to press too much, but you also don’t want to go radio silent, you know, they feel like they aren’t welcome there, and so I wasn’t trying to find the middle ground in being able to reach out. So, the day before I thought it could happen, but until I see it on ESPN and on my timeline, that “breaking news,” I didn’t believe it. So, I saw it and I was just so happy.

Sabrina’s Playoff State of Mind
Go behind the scenes with Sabrina Ionescu as she prepares for Game 2 of the New York Liberty’s playoff semifinal series at Barclays Center.
Let’s Go!

What it takes to win in 2023

I think everyone will feel that pressure, and for me, I always wanted to win. I was wanting to win a championship last year, granted I knew that we didn’t have the team to be able to do so, and now we do.

There’s just this level of hard work, and dedication that you have to put in, and that can’t come two or three weeks into the season. You gotta figure that out from the beginning. It’s gonna take a lot of hard work, sacrifice — some players aren’t going to be able to shoot 30 shots a game now because you’re looking over and you’ve got Jonquel, Stewie, like, we’re gonna have to be able to really work together and get to know each other really quickly on the court.

But I think when everyone’s bought into wanting to win, anything can happen and people will sacrifice and do what’s best for the team.

Kelsey Plum

Click here to download and listen to the full episode.

Is there a “defending champion’s mindset?”

You know, to be honest, like, that’s not the way my brain works. I don’t care. It’s a very free way to live. Just very unattached.

Las Vegas as a true sports city

Oh, Vegas is poppin’, and it’s so much more than the Strip. The community loves their sports, loves winning, and you can see that in the way they show up and show out for all their teams.

So, I feel like anyone that’s coming here is gonna be successful because of the community that’s around, you know? And it’s really cool to see how it’s grown and continues to grow. Shout-out to the Knights for bringing that home. We want to create a winning culture here, and it’s a privilege to play in Las Vegas.

The locals want basketball, want baseball. Obviously, I’m not an expert, the traffic might suck, but other than that, I think it’s really exciting and it does great for bringing in revenue to the city. We want income, you know what I’m saying? Jobs. It does nothing but help us. So, as a taxpaying local, I can tell you I’m all for it.

Are the WNBA’s Superteams Built to Last?
Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung takes a closer look at the star-studded Aces and Liberty rosters to determine what they’ll need to do — and avoid — in order to stay elite for years to come.
Check it Out!

Does a WNBA champ even have to be “super”?

So, I have a lot of thoughts. It’s so funny because at the start of last season, we were picked fifth. So, take Candace [Parker] and [Alysha Clark] off the roster — that don’t sound like a superteam to me — and then we ended up winning. We lost Dearica, but we gained Candace and Alysha.

It’s just so interesting to me because I look at some of the great teams in WNBA history: Like, for me, watching Minnesota, they won four championships. Was that a superteam? What about LA with Candace and Alana [Beard] and Nneka [Ogumwike] and [Chelsea Gray] and [Kristi] Toliver, like, was that a superteam? Obviously, you look back to Houston when they won their championships, were they a superteam, or where they just really good players that got better every year?

For example, we’re doing well, winning games by whatever margin, and I’m like, I just appreciate that my teammates went and worked in the offseason and got better. Can that be the narrative?

Personally, until we win another championship and then go on that third season, what are we talking about? We won one championship. Like, everyone, let’s calm down.

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]]> WNBA Finals 2023 w/ Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, & The ETCs %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% As the WNBA Finals returns, ready with the best moments from Boardroom's "The ETCs" starring the superteams' respective All-Star point guards basketball,Boardroom Talks,Kelsey Plum,Las Vegas Aces,New York Liberty,Sabrina Ionescu,WNBA,wnba finals Loading The ETCs: Chet Holmgren is Ready for the League https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-nike-world-basketball-festival-chet-holmgren/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 18:00:22 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=78518 Chet Holmgren will get his first pro minutes this NBA season. First, he sat down with Eddie Gonzalez to discuss playing pickup with KD, his favorite sneakers, and more. Chet Holmgren got his NBA

The post The ETCs: Chet Holmgren is Ready for the League appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Chet Holmgren will get his first pro minutes this NBA season. First, he sat down with Eddie Gonzalez to discuss playing pickup with KD, his favorite sneakers, and more.

Chet Holmgren got his NBA career started with the biggest challenge of his basketball life. A year later, he’s ready to pick up where he left off.

He’s been head-down with on-court prep. However, he is looking forward to the opportunity to grow in the league he’s been building toward since he was a kid. As the preseason is about to begin, Holmgren is eager for the opportunity to play with a team and resume the real challenges of elite basketball.

Picking up some one-on-one reps with the likes of Kevin Durant, Holmgren welcomed the hustle as compared to his endless days putting up shots and running drills on his own through his rehab.

“Cones are never going to steal the ball from you,” he joked with The ETCs host, Eddie Gonzalez.  

@boardroom

Chet Holmgren on working out with Kevin Durant. 🤝

♬ original sound – Boardroom

Eddie caught up with Chet as part of a series of conversations to break down “Basketball & Beyond.” The chat took place at the Nike World Basketball Festival, which brought out the biggest names in hoops and hip-hop to celebrate the intersection of sports and culture. Everyone from Durant, Sabrina Ionescu, and Travis Scott pulled up to NYC’s iconic Lincoln Center for the event.

Together, they addressed a range of topics, including:

  • Chet’s preseason hustle
  • His hopes for the upcoming NBA season
  • His favorite Nike footwear

And much more. Check it out.

@boardroom

Certified sneakerhead, Chet Holmgren.

♬ original sound – Boardroom

Want More of The ETCs?

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]]> The ETCs: Chet Holmgren is Ready for the League - Boardroom At the Nike World Basketball Festival in NYC, rising OKC star Chet Holmgren sat down for a very special episode of The ETCs. Boardroom Talks,Chet Holmgren,NBA,Chet Holmgren Boardroom Launches ‘Basketball & Beyond’ at 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival https://boardroom.tv/boardroom-nike-basketball-and-beyond/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:49:45 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77863 Boardroom's Eddie Gonzalez will sit down for an exclusive conversation with some of Nike's elite basketball talent at the NYC event.

The post Boardroom Launches ‘Basketball & Beyond’ at 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Boardroom’s Eddie Gonzalez will sit down for a wide-ranging, exclusive conversation with some of Nike’s elite basketball talent live at the NYC event.

Some of basketball‘s brightest emerging stars are coming to New York City’s Lincoln Center.

The 2023 Nike World Basketball Festival tips off on Friday, Sept. 15. The weekend’s event spotlights some of the most promising talent of the sport’s next generation. The Swoosh customized a court in one of Manhattan’s most magical locations and will host a weekend-long tournament featuring 80 of the best boys and girls high school hoopers. The event serves as the culmination of Nike’s VS tournaments that took place throughout the summer.

In addition to the high school hoops tournament, Boardroom is teaming up with Nike for an exclusive conversation with Nike basketball talent. Eddie Gonzalez, co-host of The ETCs with Kevin Durant, will sit down with some Nike’s biggest basketball names to break down “Basketball & Beyond.”

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Together, they’ll chop it up and dive into a wide range of topics, including sneaker culture, sports business, and the global impact of the game. Additionally, the conversations will explore how basketball has influenced music, entertainment, and pop culture — and vice versa.

The WNBA and college ballers will share their visions for what’s next in their journeys — both on and off the court — and the future they envision for the sport that unites us all.

The weekend will also include a number of activations exploring the intersections of basketball and culture. Additionally, Nike announced that it will partner with the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts to expand youth access to the arts, capped by a long-term $2 million grant.

The conversations will take place live at the Nike World Basketball Forum from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16. Keep your eyes on Boardroom for exclusive content from the sit downs in the coming weeks.

Want More Hoops?

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]]> Loading Boardroom Guests Reflect on Key Moments of Clarity https://boardroom.tv/boardroom-cierto-moment-of-clarity/ Mon, 04 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=77017 In partnership with Cierto, Boardroom's Rich Kleiman asks his 'Out of Office' guests about the key moments on their journey that helped them to clarify the path forward.

The post Boardroom Guests Reflect on Key Moments of Clarity appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> In partnership with Cierto, Boardroom’s Rich Kleiman asks his ‘Out of Office’ guests about the key moments on their journey that helped them to clarify the path forward.

Every successful individual can point to one or two key moments in their lives that changed their trajectory forever.

On recent episodes of Boardroom’s Out of Office show, in a segment sponsored by Cierto, Rich Kleiman asked his guests about what they labeled as their own moments of clarity. These are the pivotal “lightbulb” moments they had about their career which defined everything that happened in their pathway thereafter.

Let’s break them down.

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Terence Crawford

The undisputed welterweight champ reflected on how it took him unpacking the convoluted contracts to learn that he needed to ask questions in order to truly understand what was possible as a fighter. He breaks down that moment and how it impacted his relationship with his then-promoter and how he approaches new deals moving forward.

David Adelman

“I have this unique mix of ADD and OCD … I needed an environment to be able to float in that,” Adelman reflected.

When the serial entrepreneur and the minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils realized that he was, in his words, “unemployable,” he realized he was unable to work in a traditional environment and had to take his future in his own hands.

Rich Kleiman

In 1999, Rich was figuring out what was next. It wasn’t until he linked with Mark Ronson, who was one of New York’s hottest DJs at the time, that he could see a pathway where he could blend his skills to help someone else and to build his own business. As Ronson’s manager, he got a peek into a world in which he’s been building ever since.

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]]> Loading Terence Crawford Gets Real on Corruption, Contracts & Breaking the Bank in Boxing https://boardroom.tv/terence-crawford-boxing-business-rich-kleiman/ Sat, 19 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=76244 Boxing’s pound-for-pound king got candid about how money really flows through the fight game on Boardroom’s “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman. When the subject turned to the messy, chaotic business of boxing, Terence

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]]> Boxing’s pound-for-pound king got candid about how money really flows through the fight game on Boardroom’s “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

When the subject turned to the messy, chaotic business of boxing, Terence Crawford put it bluntly.

“Boxing is one of the most corrupt sports there is,” the undisputed welterweight champion told Rich Kleiman on the latest episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office.”

Click here to listen to the full episode.

“We’ll take a $5 million guarantee not knowing that there’s $30 million that we missed,” Bud said, admitting that he used to trust the process of contract negotiations without being so hands-on himself.

“I used to be that guy. ‘Let me take this [money] and just do my job. Let me sign this contract and get this guarantee.’ But once you get older and once you start noticing that you’re in control of your own business, ‘Okay, so, let me see the contracts. Let me see what’s really coming in,'” he said.

As soon as Bud took that greater level of control over his own fight finances, he saw a problematic pattern that rarely placed the fighters first.

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“Once I started asking those type of questions or learning a little bit here and there, then it became a problem between me and my old promoter,” he said in reference to Bob Arum’s Top Rank, “and at that point in time, I knew it was time to go.”

But Crawford didn’t just leave the Top Rank stable for enigmatic manager Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions. Since PBC is technically an event series rather than a promotion — Haymon is a manager and federal law says he can’t also promote — the undisputed champ is taking after Floyd Mayweather and getting into the business for himself.

After all, no one has the luxury of pretending that’s not where the real money is made in the sport of boxing.

“I don’t see [Floyd] trying to give the game to the younger fighters because he’s a promoter now. I can’t give everybody the game if I’m one of them now,” Bud said.

Poetically enough, Al Haymon famously managed Mayweather before the all-time legend ascended to become a billion-dollar industry unto himself.

“It’s a business at the end of the day. So, if they made all this money on our backs as fighters and now I’m a promoter, I’m gonna do the same thing that they once was doing and just say, ‘It’s just the game of the business.'”

Click here to listen and subscribe to Boardroom’s “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman and “The ETCs” with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez.

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]]> Terence Crawford Gets Real on Money & Corruption in Boxing %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% Watch pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford get candid about the business of the fight game on Boardroom's "Out of Office" with Rich Kleiman. Boardroom Talks,boxing,Contracts,media,Podcast,Rich Kleiman,Terence Crawford,terence crawford Loading TikTok Google Reportedly Developing AI That Gives Life Advice https://boardroom.tv/headline-to-go/08-17-2023-google-ai-advice-barbie-utopia-bad-bunny-adidas/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=headline-to-go&p=76147 The post Google Reportedly Developing AI That Gives Life Advice appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The post Google Reportedly Developing AI That Gives Life Advice appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> How Terence Crawford Became King of the Fight Game https://boardroom.tv/terence-crawford-out-of-office/ Wed, 16 Aug 2023 15:51:24 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=76123 Undisputed welterweight champ Terence Crawford joins “Out of Office” to discuss making history against Errol Spence, mastering the politics of the boxing business, and staying true to Omaha. Click here to listen to the

The post How Terence Crawford Became King of the Fight Game appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Undisputed welterweight champ Terence Crawford joins “Out of Office” to discuss making history against Errol Spence, mastering the politics of the boxing business, and staying true to Omaha.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

One of the most feverish debates in boxing? Who’s No. 1 pound for pound — or what that phrase even means in the first place.

In the case of Terence Crawford, there’s no debate. Following his rip-roaringly dominant TKO victory over Errol Spence Jr. on July 29 in Las Vegas, the man called “Bud” was alone at the top of the heap. What’s more, he became the first men’s fighter to be a four-belt undisputed champion in two different weight divisions.

In pummeling his opponent until the referee could no longer refrain from intervening in Round 9, Crawford made it look easy. And while he’s never once lost as a professional, the path to glory in the sweet science wasn’t a straight one — in conversation with Rich Kleiman on Boardroom’s “Out of Office,” Bud was quick to note some early, hard lessons he had to learn about the business of boxing.

Now undisputed two times over, this midwestern kid is uniquely prepared to appreciate reaching such an unprecedented summit.

Other highlights of this episode of “Out of Office” include:

  • The perks of fighting in Vegas versus New York
  • How music and hip-hop culture have influenced him, including his fight night walkout with Eminem
  • Why he still lives in the same Omaha neighborhood despite his global success
  • Bud’s thoughts on boxing promoters and becoming one himself
  • Keeping his family the No. 1 priority

Click here to listen and subscribe to Boardroom’s “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman and “The ETCs” with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez.

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]]> How Terence Crawford Became King of the Fight Game - Boardroom Terence Crawford joins Out of Office to discuss making history against Errol Spence, mastering the politics of the boxing business, and more. Best Of Boardroom 2023,Boardroom Talks,boxing,media,Podcast,Rich Kleiman,sports business,Terence Crawford,terence crawford David Adelman: From Housing to Hoops https://boardroom.tv/david-adelman-from-housing-to-hoops/ Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=75432 The serial entrepreneur and minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers joins Rich Kleiman on “Out of Office.” He discusses his hustle, getting into the business of professional sports, and more. Click here to listen to

The post David Adelman: From Housing to Hoops appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The serial entrepreneur and minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers joins Rich Kleiman on “Out of Office.” He discusses his hustle, getting into the business of professional sports, and more.

Click here to listen to the full episode

Looking back on his career as an entrepreneur, David Adelman realized that it was really the only viable path for him. “I’m not employable,” he told Rich Kleiman on this week’s episode of Out of Office. “I have this unique mix of ADD and OCD. I’m really good at things for a short time, and I needed an environment to be able to float in that.”

After making his first real estate investment when he was 13, cashing in his bar mitzvah money for the biggest building in his mentor’s fleet of campus apartments, Adelman harnessed his hustle. The CEO of Campus Apartments used his vision to scale a local business to a national endeavor. He is also the founder of Darco Capital and co-founder of FS Investments.

And last year, he made one of his dreams a reality. He joined Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment as a limited partner, taking a stake in the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Devils, Crystal Palace, and more.

“Being a hometown guy in your hometown is next level.”

The two discuss a wide range of topics, including:

  • The highs and lows of sports ownership
  • What inspired him to venture out beyond his core business
  • Balancing the demands of multiple businesses
  • His decades-long friendship with Michael Rubin and how that led to his involvement in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
  • The 76ers’ proposal for a new arena

…and much more.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

More ‘Out of Office:’

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]]> David Adelman: From Housing to Hoops - Boardroom David Adelman joins “Out of Office” to discuss his hustle, getting into the business of professional sports, and more. .TV,Boardroom Talks,David Adelman,Executives,Michael Rubin,NBA,Philadelphia 76ers,David Adelman The ETCs: Kelsey Plum Pulls Up https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kelsey-plum/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:01:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=75108 In the run-up to the WNBA All-Star Game, Eddie Gonzalez sat down with Las Vegas Aces standout Kelsey Plum to discuss the business of building a brand, her epic résumé, and much more. Click

The post The ETCs: Kelsey Plum Pulls Up appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> In the run-up to the WNBA All-Star Game, Eddie Gonzalez sat down with Las Vegas Aces standout Kelsey Plum to discuss the business of building a brand, her epic résumé, and much more.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

“You have the most impressive résumé of anyone we’ve had, including Kevin.”

While no stranger to a hot take, host Eddie Gonzalez’s introduction to this episode’s guest on The ETCs, WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum, is no hyperbole. The 2022 WNBA Champion has assembled a laundry list of accolades through the years, including but not limited to:

  • 2022 Olympics Gold Medalist
  • 2022 WNBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 2022 All-WNBA First Team
  • 2021 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year
  • 2018, 2019 Turkish Super League champion
  • 2017 first overall WNBA draft pick
  • All-time NCAA women’s basketball leading scorer (career and single season)

The list goes on.

In the run-up to her 2023 WNBA All-Star Game appearance, Plum sat down with Gonzalez for a very special conversation. The duo discussed how Plum’s collegiate records gave her a reputation she wanted to shake as she entered the league, the vibe of Las Vegas as a sports town, and the narratives around what it means to be a “superteam.” They also break down the dynamics of playing in the 3V3 Tournament and why “building a brand” can just mean showing up and performing at your best.

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]]> The ETCs: Kelsey Plum Pulls Up - Boardroom In the run-up to the WNBA All-Star Game, Eddie Gonzalez sat down with Las Vegas Aces standout Kelsey Plum for a special episode of 'The ETCs.' .TV,Best Of Boardroom 2023,Boardroom Talks,Kelsey Plum,Olympics,sports business,WNBA,WNBA All-Star Game,Kelsey Plum How Bay Frazier Leveled Up the Business of Basketball https://boardroom.tv/bay-frazier-out-of-office/ Wed, 31 May 2023 14:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=70602 Bay Frazier, VaynerBasketball’s first-ever President and CEO, sits down with Rich Kleiman on ‘Out of Office.’ Together, they talk about the business of basketball and his instrumental role in advising Carmelo Anthony as he

The post How Bay Frazier Leveled Up the Business of Basketball appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Bay Frazier, VaynerBasketball’s first-ever President and CEO, sits down with Rich Kleiman on ‘Out of Office.’ Together, they talk about the business of basketball and his instrumental role in advising Carmelo Anthony as he built an empire on and off the court.

Click here to listen to the full episode

Bay Frazier has worked side-by-side with Carmelo Anthony for years, helping to architect one of the most aspirational business empires among NBA stars. Now, the newly appointed President and CEO of the next evolution of VaynerSports — VaynerBasketball — sits down for one of his first-ever interviews.

In this week’s episode of Out of Office, Rich Kleiman welcomes a man who “if you are in the industry [of basketball], you know well. But if you are a consumer or a fan of the industry, you may not know at all, and that is by design.”

Together, they dive deep into the business of basketball. Frazier was deeply embedded in the Baltimore basketball scene, watching Len Bias, Reggie Lewis, and Muggsy Bogues as he was growing up. But it was a chance meeting with a young hooper that changed his trajectory. Carmelo Anthony was a rising star, and when he was 15, Frazier escorted him to put on show after show for college coaches.

During that time, he crossed paths with some of the biggest names in the business, including NBA super-agent Bill Duffy and Nike exec Sonny Vaccaro. As Frazier learned a new playbook — the Xs and Os of business — he prepared to serve alongside Anthony, who was launching his Hall of Fame career. However, along the way, Frazier blazed a new path for the right-hand man as his impact laid in his invisibility.

Now, he seeks to bring that one-of-a-kind experience to usher the next generations of ballers in his new position as the head of VaynerBasketball.

Rich and Bay sit down for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the following:

  • The Baltimore basketball scene
  • Frazier’s mentors and how they taught him the architecture of building the business beyond the court
  • The advice he gives to younger players about navigating the difficult decisions they’ll confront
  • The evolution of business opportunities for student-athletes under NIL and how social media plays a critical role
  • How he linked up with the VaynerSports crew and the boxes he had to confirm were checked before taking the position as VaynerBasketball’s first President and CEO

… and much more.

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]]> How Bay Frazier Leveled Up the Business of Basketball - Boardroom Bay Frazier helped Carmelo craft his business. Now, he's launching a new chapter as the first President & CEO of VaynerBasketball. .TV,basketball,Boardroom Talks,Carmelo Anthony,NBA,NIL,sports business,VaynerSports,Bay Frazier Nigel Sylvester Disrupts BMX on His Own Terms https://boardroom.tv/nigel-sylvester-bmx-out-of-office/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:53:48 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=67663 From the first time he hopped on a bike at four years old and through his BMX career, Nigel Sylvester has done things his way. The multi-hyphenate sits down with Rich Kleiman for a

The post Nigel Sylvester Disrupts BMX on His Own Terms appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> From the first time he hopped on a bike at four years old and through his BMX career, Nigel Sylvester has done things his way. The multi-hyphenate sits down with Rich Kleiman for a special episode of “Out of Office.” Plus, we’re giving away a pair of Sylvester’s signature Jordans and a signed copy of his book.

Click here to listen to the full episode

From Miami to Barcelona, BMX athlete Nigel Sylvester is everywhere. He has ridden his bike to countless brand deals, all while disrupting a sport on his own terms. And it wasn’t until he broke his wrist that Sylvester saw what was truly possible.

In this week’s episode of “Out of Office,“ Rich Kleiman sits down with his friend to discuss how he’s built his personal brand in a sport where he has always stood out. From hopping on a tricycle at age four and accidentally performing his first trick, to curating his content series and subsequent book, Go, Sylvester feels like he’s manifested the life he’s living.

“When I first got on my bicycle, I didn’t know it would get to where it is now,” Nigel said. “I dreamt about it and wanted something like what it looks like now, but I didn’t know exactly what it was going to be. It’s a blessing.”

The two dive into Sylvester’s unique career in BMX that has taken him to where he is today. Topics include:

  • How he leverages YouTube and social media platforms to capitalize on some of his best professional moments
  • His plethora of partnerships
  • Working with Nike and designing his custom Air Ship
  • Crafting his passion projects
  • Building his lasting legacy

…and much more.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez, and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> Nigel Sylvester Is Disrupting BMX On His Own Terms %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% From BMX athlete to experienced entrepreneur, Nigel Sylvester has manifested a dream he never knew to have. .TV,BMX,Boardroom Talks,Entrepreneurship,Nigel Sylvester,Nike,Nigel Sylvester BMX The ETCs: Kevin Durant Reveals His NBA MVP https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kevin-durant-nba-mvp/ Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:50:31 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=67219 In a very special bonus episode of The ETCs, Kevin Durant tells the audience who he thinks deserves to join the exclusive MVP club for the 2022-23 NBA season. Click here to listen to

The post The ETCs: Kevin Durant Reveals His NBA MVP appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> In a very special bonus episode of The ETCs, Kevin Durant tells the audience who he thinks deserves to join the exclusive MVP club for the 2022-23 NBA season.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

We’re just barely into the first round, and the NBA playoffs are already Must See TV. From road warriors to unlikely heroes, the first round has a little something for everyone. However, there’s still an unsettled score from the regular season: Who will take home this season’s MVP award? For the first time ever, this season’s trophy will be named after an original GOAT, Michael Jordan. Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez dive into the MVP conversation in this week’s very special extra episode of The ETCs.

However, the conversation itself isn’t an easy one. “We’re having more and more players go, ‘I don’t know what the MVP is!'” Eddie points out to the former MVP. “Is that how you feel? That’s how I feel, as a fan.”

Will Nikola Jokić join the elite club of three-time MVPs? He leads this year’s frontrunners, which also include Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. As KD points out, one of the key variables that makes the award difficult to define is the amount of talent across the league. The duo also dissects how the conversation around the MVP race and the constant conversation on social media has changed the nature of the award. Without the mystique that shrouds both athletes and their accolades, what does it all mean today?

Through it all, the importance of an MVP award to a player’s legacy endures.

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]]> The ETCs: Kevin Durant Reveals His NBA MVP - Boardroom In this very special episode of "The ETCs," Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez reveal their selections for the 2022-23 NBA MVP award. .TV,Boardroom Talks,Giannis Antetokounmpo,Jayson Tatum,Joel Embiid,Kevin Durant,NBA MVP,Nikola Jokić,Kevin Durant MVP How Steve Rifkind Signed Wu-Tang, Fat Joe & Hip-hop’s Biggest Stars https://boardroom.tv/steve-rifkind-out-of-office/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=66713 The founder of SRC Records joins Rich Kleiman on “Out of Office” to reflect on signing Wu Tang and some of hip-hop's biggest acts, the intangibles of success, and more.

The post How Steve Rifkind Signed Wu-Tang, Fat Joe & Hip-hop’s Biggest Stars appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The founder of SRC Records joins Rich Kleiman on “Out of Office” to reflect on signing Wu Tang and some of hip-hop’s biggest acts, the intangibles of success, and more.

Click here to listen to the full episode

When Rich Kleiman looks back on his own career journey, there is one name he recalls as being instrumental in seeing what he was trying to do as a manager: Steve Rifkind. At the time, Kleiman and New York DJ Mark Ronson were hitting the major labels in search of a deal. While Ronson was well known on the club circuit and had begun to make a name for himself in the industry at large, fewer observers were acknowledging Rich’s unique contributions as a manager as readily.

“The first time we met, you said, ‘The two of you have something special,” Kleiman recalls in the introduction to this week’s guest on Boardroom’s “Out of Office.”

“I couldn’t believe you acknowledged me. You said, “The two of you guys have to stay together, that’s what the magic is. Right here is the magic. So, let’s talk about a deal.”

At the time, Steve Rifkind was the head of Loud Records. Although their deal didn’t end up coming to life, Rifkind made Kleiman and Ronson hopeful about the future of the industry.

As he looks back on his career, Rifkind highlights how he developed his eye and ear for top talent and the evolution of the industry.

On this week’s episode, the two long-time friends chop it up about a wide range of topics, including:

  • Signing legendary acts like Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Akon, and more
  • Fat Joe‘s unparalleled talents as an A&R exec
  • Creating a label amidst hip-hop’s golden era of Bad Boy, Roc-A-Fella, and more
  • How today’s dependency on analytics eliminates some of the key skills necessary to spot new talent

…and much more.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> How Steve Rifkind Signed Wu-Tang & Hip-Hop's Biggest Stars The founder of SRC Records joins “Out of Office” to reflect on signing Wu Tang, the intangibles of success, and more. .TV,A&R,Boardroom Talks,Fat Joe,Hip-hop,labels,Steve Rifkind,Wu-Tang Clan,Steve Rifkind The ETCs: KD Speaks on Sneaker Legacies & Hip-hop’s Heavy Hitters https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-sneakers-hip-hop-michael-jordan/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=66382 On this week’s episode of “The ETCs,” Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez chop it up about everything off the court, from the eternal influence of Michael Jordan at Nike to who would win a

The post The ETCs: KD Speaks on Sneaker Legacies & Hip-hop’s Heavy Hitters appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> On this week’s episode of “The ETCs,” Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez chop it up about everything off the court, from the eternal influence of Michael Jordan at Nike to who would win a mythical Lil Wayne-50 Cent VERZUZ.

From Michael Jordan to Travis Scott, Kevin Durant respects the shoe game. In this week’s episode of “The ETCs,” he breaks down some of his favorite styles to wear off the court. However, the conversation quickly turns to the KD signature shoe.

As he approaches his 16th namesake design, the importance of having one’s own shoe isn’t lost on Kevin, and that sense is only solidified when he sees other athletes breaking out the KD silhouette. Each shoe marks a year of his professional memory, after all.

“The 7s are the ones in particular — when I see those … I have emotions when I see the 3s or the 4s, [but] I didn’t play in the 7s. I got injured that year so I didn’t really get to put it on the court like that. It’s still a good-looking shoe,” he tells co-host Eddie Gonzalez.

With the playoffs tipping off, this tends to be the time of year when fans get a preview of the newest Nike model. However, when it comes to the KD16, the Suns star gets a coy: “That’s been a trend, huh? I don’t know yet, everything’s been pushed back with COVID and shipping and everything, I really don’t know exactly when they’re coming out.”

Click here to listen to the full episode.

KD and Eddie dive into a deep set of topics in this week’s episode, including:

  • The upcoming Air Jordan 1 Travis Scott low-top release
  • Who would win in a mythical 50 Cent vs Lil Wayne VERZUZ
  • Movies they’re dying to see, including Air and Creed 3
  • How Michael Jordan wrote a whole new script at Nike
  • The resurgence of Cam’Ron and Ma$e and their sports takeover

Click here to listen and subscribe to Boardroom’s “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> The ETCs: KD on Sneaker Legacies & Hip-hop's Heavy Hitters %%page%% Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez chop it up on who would win a Lil Wayne-50 Cent VERZUZ, the eternal sneaker influence of MJ, and more. .TV,50 Cent,Best Of Boardroom 2023,Boardroom Talks,Kevin Durant,Lil Wayne,Michael Jordan,Nike,Nike KD15,sneakers,The ETCs The ETCs: Kevin Durant Steps Out in Phoenix https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kevin-durant-returns-phoenix/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:59:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=65609 After a recent injury, Kevin Durant is back on the court and back in front of the camera for the newest episode of "The ETCs." He and Eddie Gonzalez break down his return, Dillon Brooks, and much more.

The post The ETCs: Kevin Durant Steps Out in Phoenix appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> After a recent injury, Kevin Durant is back on the court for Phoenix and back in front of the camera for the newest episode of “The ETCs.” He and Eddie Gonzalez break down his return, Dillon Brooks, and much more.

“I knew the fans would understand that stuff happens, and I would be out there as quickly as I can. Everybody was just patiently waiting for me to play.”

On March 29, Kevin Durant gave Phoenix fans what they wanted. He stepped onto the court at the Footprint Center for his first game in a Suns home jersey. A stumble in pregame warmups the night of his scheduled debut led to a high ankle sprain that kept KD on the bench for three weeks. His much-anticipated home court appearance led to a W for the Suns, who are an undefeated 6-0 when he takes the court in purple and orange.

He broke down what it’s been like to transition to a new team and battle an injury simultaneously. As the Suns quest towards the playoffs, KD isn’t too caught up on their seed; he’s just eager to see what the postseason holds.

In this week’s episode, KD and Eddie dive into a deep set of topics:

  • Dillon Brooks in his villain era
  • The highlights of the NCAA Tournament
  • Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, and the 2023 Basketball Hall of Fame class
  • The University of Texas’ commitment to Rodney Terry
  • The evolution of the NBA since the ’90s

And much more.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

The post The ETCs: Kevin Durant Steps Out in Phoenix appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The ETCs: Kevin Durant Steps Out in Phoenix - Boardroom In the latest episode of "The ETCs," Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez discuss KD's return to the hardwood in Phoenix, Rodney Terry, and more. .TV,Basketball Hall of Fame,Boardroom Talks,Dirk Nowitzki,Kevin Durant,NBA,Pau Gasol,Phoenix Suns,Rodney Terry,Texas Longhorns,Kevin Durant Phoenix The ETCs: Kevin Durant Forecasts Bronny’s Future https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kevin-durant-bronny-james/ Wed, 15 Mar 2023 11:49:01 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=63029 On this week’s episode of “The ETCs,” Kevin Durant checks in from Phoenix. He & Eddie Gonzalez break down everything from Bronny James’ next steps to their most anticipated albums of 2023. The future

The post The ETCs: Kevin Durant Forecasts Bronny’s Future appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> On this week’s episode of “The ETCs,” Kevin Durant checks in from Phoenix. He & Eddie Gonzalez break down everything from Bronny James’ next steps to their most anticipated albums of 2023.

The future of basketball is here. With the tip-off of the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments and the upcoming McDonald’s All-American game, the next generation’s stars are taking over the national stage.

One of those standouts? Well, he has a familiar name.

“I’ve seen Bronny laying the ball up a couple years ago,” Kevin Durant recalls on this week’s episode of The ETCs. “… I feel like we been watching him since he was two, three years old. So, to see where he is now, I’m rooting for him. Hopefully, he gets to play with LeBron at some point.”

KD and Eddie Gonzalez break it all down, offering their thoughts as to how Bronny James should navigate the next chapter in his path toward the NBA.

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But that’s only the beginning. The guys go deep on a wide range of topics this week as they kick back in The Valley, including:

  • The likelihood of Drake calling it quits and the concepts of legacy and longevity
  • The rise of Lil Yachty and the next chapter in his sonic story
  • KD’s relationship with the media
  • The NBA’s celebrity fanbase and Swagger star O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s observation that KD may have picked the wrong purple
  • Which album they’re most excited for in 2023

And much more!

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]]> The ETCs: KD Forecasts the Future of Bronny James%%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% On "The ETCs," KD checks in with Eddie Gonzalez on everything from next steps for Bronny James to their most-anticipated albums of 2023. .TV,Boardroom Talks,Drake,Hip-hop,Kevin Durant,media,NBA,Phoenix Suns,Podcast,bronny james Loading How Ashlyn Harris Found a New Beginning in Retirement https://boardroom.tv/ashlyn-harris-out-of-office/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=62172 Ashlyn Harris, the two-time World Cup champion and current Global Creative Advisor for Gotham FC, sits down with Rich Kleiman in this week's very special episode of Out of Office.

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]]> Ashlyn Harris, the two-time World Cup champion and current Global Creative Advisor for Gotham FC, sits down with Rich Kleiman in this week’s very special episode of Out of Office.

Click here to listen to the full episode

Ashlyn Harris was riding high on a World Cup win in 2015. Then, she got on a commercial flight home … in a middle seat.

For any casual fan, it’s impossible to wrap your mind around the disconnect; champagne achievements on a beer budget. This was the norm for Harris and her US women’s national team teammates.

“I put a video online just looking somewhere to plug my phone in. I couldn’t even find an outlet. You’re talking about some of the best players in the world who generate a ton of revenue for US soccer. And they just did not care,” the retired NWSL star and Gotham FC‘s first-ever Global Creative Advisor told Rich Kleiman on the most recent episode of Out of Office.

After retiring from the sport she loved, Harris got a new beginning. In her new role, Harris’s vision is crystal clear: do what needs to be done to get the women of Gotham FC — and the sport of soccer, more broadly — what they deserve. “I want to see things I’m designing in shops here, people wearing it as a lifestyle brand… That’s my job.” On Tuesday, the club released their new home kits, and based on the hype they’ve created already, the vision seems to be working.

The two discuss a wide range of topics, including:

  • The fight for equitable pay with US Soccer
  • Her life with her wife, Ali Krieger, and raising two children
  • Life in retirement and her groundbreaking new role with Gotham FC
  • The next generation of the USWNT

…and much more.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> How Ashlyn Harris Found a New Beginning in Retirement Retired USWNT & NWSL star Ashlyn Harris discusses life off the pitch, her new role, and her continued fight for women to get their due. .TV,ashlyn harris,Boardroom Talks,NJ/NY Gotham FC,USWNT,Women's Sports,Ashlyn Harris Loading The ETCs Takes Over The Valley https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kevin-durant-phoenix-suns-trade/ Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:00:09 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=61218 As Kevin Durant gets settled in Phoenix, he and Eddie Gonzalez sit down to discuss the trade and more on the latest episode of “The ETCs.” “Every day I play, it means something to

The post The ETCs Takes Over The Valley appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> As Kevin Durant gets settled in Phoenix, he and Eddie Gonzalez sit down to discuss the trade and more on the latest episode of “The ETCs.”

“Every day I play, it means something to me,” KD reflected. “… I feel like I can do what I do anywhere. I feel like I can operate in any environment and still be myself. So, I’m looking forward to doing that here.”

And so Kevin Durant begins his next chapter in Phoenix. Having been traded for the first time in his illustrious career, he talks about the process with Eddie — from the late-night conversations that led to the deal’s completion, to the process of uprooting his whole life to The Valley.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

In this week’s episode of “The ETCs,” KD and Eddie dive into a wide range of topics, including:

  • The anatomy of a trade
  • The end of his time in Brooklyn and a reflection on what could’ve been
  • KD’s expectations for his new team and the next chapter
  • How the NBA might fix All-Star Weekend
  • The unexpected Mac McClung moment
  • A nostalgic look back at some old-school hoops and how KD thinks he would stack up against some of the best of years gone by

And much more!

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]]> Kevin Durant & "The ETCs" Take Over The Valley %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% As Kevin Durant gets settled in Phoenix, he and Eddie Gonzalez sit down to discuss the trade and more on the latest episode of "The ETCs." .TV,basketball,Boardroom Talks,Brooklyn Nets,Kevin Durant,Mac McClung,media,Phoenix Suns,Podcast,Shaquille O'Neal,kevin durant phoenix Loading The ETCs: Sabrina Ionescu Subs In https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-sabrina-ionescu-subs-in/ Wed, 22 Feb 2023 19:01:41 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=60891 Sabrina Ionescu sits down with Eddie Gonzalez to guest host this week’s episode of The ETCs. In this week’s episode of The ETCs, Eddie Gonzalez want to keep things moving. To do so, he’s

The post The ETCs: Sabrina Ionescu Subs In appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Sabrina Ionescu sits down with Eddie Gonzalez to guest host this week’s episode of The ETCs.

In this week’s episode of The ETCs, Eddie Gonzalez want to keep things moving. To do so, he’s tapped a very special cohost, who he introduces by saying:

“I’m joined by the best basketball player we’ve ever had on this show…”

While Kevin’s a bit tied up making the move to Phoenix, Eddie is joined on The ETCs by WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

Sabrina takes a break from her rigorous offseason schedule to tap in on the mic, and no topic is out of bounds. The two break down:

  • The business of college basketball and how the game may change amid the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement
  • The emergence of the New York Liberty’s super team, which added Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot in a star-studded free agency period
  • The routines she struck in her first healthy WNBA offseason
  • NBA trade deadline moves and her thoughts on what’s next for some of the league’s biggest stars
  • Her new role as the Director of Athletic Culture at her alma mater, the University of Oregon
  • The creative process behind her Nike PE
  • How TikTok has taken over her playlists

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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The post The ETCs: Sabrina Ionescu Subs In appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The ETCs: Sabrina Ionescu Subs In - Boardroom On this week's episode of the ETCs, Eddie Gonzalez taps in WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu while KD finalizes his move to The Valley. .TV,Boardroom Talks,NBA,New York Liberty,Oregon Ducks,Sabrina Ionescu,WNBA,Sabrina Ionescu the etcs Loading The ETCs: The Longevity of LeBron James & Drake’s Dominance https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-drake-dominance-lebron-longevity/ Mon, 30 Jan 2023 16:32:43 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=58193 In the first episode of “The ETCs” in 2023, Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez discuss the evolution of All-Star Weekend, the Drake shows at the Apollo, and the return of some of KD’s favorite

The post The ETCs: The Longevity of LeBron James & Drake’s Dominance appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> In the first episode of “The ETCs” in 2023, Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez discuss the evolution of All-Star Weekend, the Drake shows at the Apollo, and the return of some of KD’s favorite shows.

The turn of the calendar has introduced some fresh challenges for Kevin Durant. A sprained MCL has led to an extended recovery period, but despite the injury, he was in good spirits as he met up with Eddie Gonzalez for the most recent episode of The ETCs. The two pick up where they left off and chop it up about all things hoops, music (Drake in particular), and television.

In this week’s episode, the 13-time All-Star reflects on the evolution of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend and what the honor means for emerging young stars like Nic Claxton and Lauri Markkanen. The show taped just hours after the league announced revisions to how teams would be selected for the upcoming game, and the version sounded really familiar to loyal viewers.

Additionally, The ETCs reflects on Drake, and the recent moves of one of their favorite artists of all time, including his two-night run at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

KD and Eddie dive into a deep set of topics in this week’s episode, including:

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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The post The ETCs: The Longevity of LeBron James & Drake’s Dominance appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The ETCs: Drake, His Dominance, & LeBron's Longevity In the latest episode of "The ETCs," Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez discuss Drake, LeBron James's longevity, and much more. .TV,BMF,Boardroom Talks,Drake,J. Cole,Joe Burrow,Kevin Durant,NBA All-Star Game,NFL,television,The ETCs Drake Loading How Big Was Kevin Durant’s Favorite Movie of 2022? https://boardroom.tv/the-batman-kevin-durant-2022/ Fri, 30 Dec 2022 20:25:03 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=54804 Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez sat down on “The ETCs” to discuss their top picks of the year in entertainment. Which movie reigned supreme for KD? When contemplating a year that’s come and gone,

The post How Big Was Kevin Durant’s Favorite Movie of 2022? appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez sat down on “The ETCs” to discuss their top picks of the year in entertainment. Which movie reigned supreme for KD?

When contemplating a year that’s come and gone, it’s always fun to reflect on some of the top moments in entertainment. Box office hits and flops, top charting albums and songs, and award nominees and snubs. No one can deny a good movie and we’ve had a handful of game-changers hit the theatres this year, but which one did Kevin Durant say took the top spot on his list?

When asked by co-host Eddie Gonzalez about his favorite movie of the year on the latest episode of Boardroom’s “The ETCs,” KD didn’t hesitate to respond:

“[The] Batman.”

The DC/Warner Bros. film premiered on March 4, 2022, and earned approximately 770.8 million USD from the box office. Starring Robert Pattinson (Twilight, The Lighthouse, Tenet) alongside X-Men: First Class and Big Little Lies breakout star Zoë Kravitz, The Batman became the second-biggest North American box office debut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Box Office Mojo notes that The Batman grossed $134 million domestically in its opening weekend, plus another $120 million internationally, the second-best opening since the start of the pandemic behind only Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures’ Spider-Man: No Way Home. The Batman boasts the fourth-biggest domestic debut of any film featuring Gotham City’s Dark Knight following 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($166 million), 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises ($160.9 million), 2008’s The Dark Knight ($158.4 million).

All told, its $369,345,583 domestic gross and $770,836,163 worldwide gross to date both rank No. 7 among all film releases in 2022. In fact, here’s a fun detail: The Matt Reeves-directed DC Comics adaptation earned more money in its opening weekend than Denis Villeneuve’s Dune remake earned during its entire box office run.

(If you’re jonesing, both films are now available to stream on HBO Max.)

Mike Marsland/WireImage

The Batman also earned a few major award nominations, including three Critics Choice Awards nods for Best Visual Effects, Best Hair and Makeup, and Best Original Score for Michael Giacchino‘s music, but KD may ultimately be happiest to hear the news that the blockbuster has already been greenlit for a direct sequel. The news was revealed during Warner Bros. Pictures’ ComicCon presentation by director Reeves, but no further details were shared, as reported by Variety. As Esquire later, Pattinson will be returning as the cowl-clad Bruce Wayne. While an official release date has not been revealed, fans can assume that the showtime will be between now and… 2027?

“I will go on record and say that it will be less than five years,” The Batman producer Dylan Clark said during an interview with ComicBook when asked about timing for the highly-anticipated sequel.

In the interim, Reeves teased the idea of possible HBO Max spinoffs to hold fans over.

“We are already telling other stories in the streaming space, we’re doing stuff on HBO Max, we’re doing a Penguin show with Colin [Farrell], which is gonna be super cool,” Reeves told The Independent. “And we’re working on some other stuff, too, but we have started talking about another movie.”

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The post How Big Was Kevin Durant’s Favorite Movie of 2022? appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> How Big Was Kevin Durant's Favorite Movie of 2022? %%sep%% %%sitename%% Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez sat down to discuss their top picks of the year in entertainment -- which movie reigned supreme for KD? Boardroom Talks,film,Kevin Durant,media,The Batman GettyImages-1372422851 Cropped Mike Marsland/WireImage Loading Kevin Durant Reveals his Top 5 Albums of 2022 https://boardroom.tv/kevin-durant-top-five-albums-of-2022/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 17:08:37 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=53912 On the latest episode of Boardroom’s The ETCs, KD revealed his favorite albums of the year including Her Loss, Back for Everything, and 7 Shots. Kevin Durant has always been a fan of hip-hop,

The post Kevin Durant Reveals his Top 5 Albums of 2022 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> On the latest episode of Boardroom’s The ETCs, KD revealed his favorite albums of the year including Her Loss, Back for Everything, and 7 Shots.

Kevin Durant has always been a fan of hip-hop, so, of course, there is no better way to round out the year than with a list of his top five albums. While sitting down with Eddie Gonzalez for the latest episode of The ETCs, the Boardroom co-founder shared with his audience his top picks of 2022.

5. Kodak Black, Back for Everything

“Short album with 11 songs [and] got joints that I still listen to to this day on here,” Durant praised Kodak Black’s 2022 Back for Everything release. Though he admitted that he didn’t become a true “Kodak stan” until 2018, when Durant first heard the rapper’s 2016 song “Skrt,” which was produced by SkipOnDaBeat, he was immediately intrigued by the Florida-born artist’s flow and cadence. “I was like, ‘Yeah, this young boy got it.’”

Kodak Black’s fourth studio album topped Billboard’s Artist 100 charts and earned a second-place spot debut on Billboard’s album charts. His “Super Gremlin” single became a standout start amongst the tracks, which eventually landed it in the No. 4 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs. Back for Everything boasts production from acclaimed super-producer Zaytoven with “Elite Vision” and a sample from Flo Rida’s “On and On” in “Usain Boo.”

4. Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights

Eddie Gonzalez recalled hearing Steve Lacy’s Gemini Rights throughout the summer while he visited his basketball co-host at his Los Angeles home. Durant noted that the album was “easy to listen to” due to its short length with a total of 10 songs in a 35-minute span. “You can play this over and over again; every vibe is different,” Durant said. “I love this album.”

Known for his ability to create a medley of smooth sonics from psychedelic funk to contemporary R&B, Steve Lacy gave his fans the music they’ve been waiting for with the release of his second studio album Gemini Rights. Following his 2019 debut Apollo XXI solo album, Gemini Rights was released via RCA Records and the former The Internet guitarist did not disappoint with the fusion of retro-inspired melodies and a crystal clear evolution of his musical palette. 

In October 2022, Lacy’s breakthrough single from the album “Bad Habit” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, following four consecutive weeks at the No. 2 spot. This marked the singer’s first No. 1 hit and his first entry onto the charts. “Bad Habit” was written and produced solely by Lacy himself.

3. 38 Spesh, 7 Shots

The 37-year-old Rochester, NY, native made it on KD’s albums of the year list and that’s no surprise. Dropping in September 2022, 7 Shots boasted features from Freeway, Ransom, and more, with production from The Heatmakerz, Thanos Beats, Jimmy Dukes, and others. The eight-track album, which is the third installment of his SHOT EP saga, contains songs “Painful” featuring Freeway and Che Noir, the feature-less track “Find It Out,” and “Can’t Show Love, Pt. 2.”

Gonzalez had the pleasure of meeting the artist himself and described him as “real cool,” with “Sal’s Pizza” taking the top spot as his favorite verse of the year. Durant added, “His metaphors [are] crazy,” while noting that The Heatmakerz-produced “Eye on Money” was his favorite track from the album. Following the 7 Shots solo project, 38 Spesh collaborated with Harry Fraud for a joint album. Titled Beyond Belief, it included features from Wiz Khalifa, Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, and Jim Jones.

2. Drake/21 Savage, Her Loss

A bout with the coronavirus may have delayed the drop date for the joint Drake and 21 Savage project Her Loss, but it only made fans more rabid for its release. The album brought a guest appearance from Travis Scott and a litany of caption-worthy lyrics, not to mention a Billboard 200 No. 1 debut, all while charting each of the 16 tracks on the Billboard Hot 100 during its first week.

Still not familiar with the project? If you’re on TikTok, chances are you’ve heard “21, can you do sum’ for me?,” as a trending sound and you can credit that to the intro of the album’s breakout single, “Rich Flex.”

The songs were set to debut live during Drizzy’s show at the Appollo, but the quest for perfection delayed things once again, and the two are set to take the stage after the turn of the calendar. It’s no surprise that this album rose nearly to the top for KD, who has never been shy about his Drake appreciation. Durant pinned the collab as the perfect soundtrack for any moment.

“I play it during shootarounds before games. I play it everywhere, actually. Top to bottom, you already know,” he added. 

No. 1 – Future, I Never Liked You

Durant’s top album of the year goes to — Future’s I Never Liked You. The rapper’s ninth studio album, which features a total of 16 songs, dropped on April 29 and it’s been a steady burn for the Atlanta rapper ever since. The album boasts features from Drake, Tems, Ye, Young Thug, and Gunna. According to Billboard, Future logs the highest one-week title count on the Hot 100 since Taylor Swift placed 26 on Nov. 27, 2021, while Drake still holds the record for the most concurrent Hot 100 entries at 27.

“Every song. I wouldn’t say he had any misses on here,” KD noted. “[His] transparency. He’s honest. He’s vulnerable, confident, aggressive. He really is authentic with his music, you know?”

With the Drake and Tems feature on “Wait for U,” Kevin found one of his favorite tracks of the year — and he wasn’t alone. The song charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was included on a wide range of year-end best-of lists. In May 2022, all 16 tracks from I Never Liked You found their way onto the Billboard Hot 100, including the Drake-Tems featured track taking the lead and “Puffin on Zootiez” following at No. 4 and “712PM” at No. 8.

Final Thoughts

The year provided a steady soundtrack that extended beyond just the top five. KD and Eddie handed out some additional flowers to the songs that kept them moving. While KD is hesitant to isolate his top song, he has a few in the running.

In addition to “Wait for U,” he calls out New England breakthrough rapper BIA’s “London” featuring J. Cole. “BIA as a rapper is beyond elite,” he boasted about the “Whole Lotta Money” femcee. “I don’t wanna hear about her being a woman. She transcends all that shit. She can rap better than anybody. Man or woman. She’s tough, and then [with] J. Cole, that verse is up there for verse of the year.” 

KD’s Honorable Mentions:

  • No Rest for the Wicked by Ransom  
  • The Shadow in the Shade by Sy Ari Da Kid 
  • Tana Talk 4 by Benny the Butcher 

What will rise to the top in 2023? Only time will tell, but you know that Eddie and Kevin Durant will have opinions and their pulse at the heart of hip-hop and music culture. Be sure to tune into each episode of The ETCs.

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The post Kevin Durant Reveals his Top 5 Albums of 2022 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant Reveals his Top 5 Albums of 2022 - Boardroom On the latest episode of "The ETCs," KD revealed his favorite albums of 2022 including "Her Loss," "Back for Everything," and "7 Shots." 21 Savage,Boardroom Talks,Drake,Future,Kevin Durant,Kodak Black,Music,Steve Lacy,top albums 2022 Loading The ETCs: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, & the Future of the NFL  https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-tom-brady-aaron-rodgers-future-nfl/ Wed, 30 Nov 2022 21:26:47 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=51741 Kevin Durant sits down with Eddie Gonzalez for the newest episode of “The ETCs” to discuss his ever-changing role on the court, the sunsetting careers of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, the future of

The post The ETCs: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, & the Future of the NFL  appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant sits down with Eddie Gonzalez for the newest episode of “The ETCs” to discuss his ever-changing role on the court, the sunsetting careers of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, the future of the NFL, and much more.

Coming off a 45-point performance, Kevin Durant is feeling good.

“I feel like I could do so much out there to affect the game,” he tells co-host Eddie Gonzalez on this week’s episode of The ETCs. “It’s just like every game it could be different for me and I think that’s just fun in itself, just having to adapt to different situations.

“As I get older, [I] learn the game more and master who I am on the floor. I think that’s why I’ve been having such a fun time regardless of the situation.”

KD and Eddie unpack Durant’s biggest night on the court so far this season and what it means as the Nets head into the holidays.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

In addition to breaking down his own performance, the co-hosts dive into a deep set of topics, including:

  • Franz Wagner’s smooth game
  • The KD15 Producer Pack
  • The Washington Commanders‘ path to the playoffs
  • The future of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers
  • What they’re watching…or not watching, as the case might be
  • The upcoming conference rival match-ups against the Celtics and the Raptors

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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The post The ETCs: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, & the Future of the NFL  appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> %%title%% %%page%% In this episode of The ETCs, KD breaks down his 45-point night out at the Barclays, Tom Brady & Aaron Rodgers, and the future of the NFL. .TV,Aaron Rodgers,Boardroom Talks,Boston Celtics,Franz Wagner,Kevin Durant,Nike KD15,television,Tom Brady,Washington Commanders,the etcs nfl Loading Kevin Durant, Virgil Abloh & the 1-of-1 Off-White Nike KD15 PE https://boardroom.tv/kevin-durant-virgil-abloh-off-white-nike-kd15/ Sun, 27 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=51257 Kevin Durant has been rotating a rarity on the court made solely for the Nets sniper — get the inside story on this Nike homage to the late, great Virgil Abloh. On the opening

The post Kevin Durant, Virgil Abloh & the 1-of-1 Off-White Nike KD15 PE appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant has been rotating a rarity on the court made solely for the Nets sniper — get the inside story on this Nike homage to the late, great Virgil Abloh.

On the opening night of the 2022-23 NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets were surrounded by questions. When it came to the team’s superstar, Kevin Durant, one inquiry reigned supreme.

What are those?

Hosting the New Orleans Pelicans at Barclays back in October, No. 7 led all scorers in an homage to “The 10.”

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Paying tribute to the late Virgil Abloh’s acclaimed 2017 Nike Air Presto collaboration, the recently released Nike KD15 shoe transformed into an on-court colorway characterized by a black base and sail caging.

An exposed foam tongue, orange eye stays, and icy white lacing all honored Virgil’s vision of inverting nostalgic Nikes by simply turning the uppers inside out.

Since starting the season in said style, the Off-White homage has become a staple of his on-court rotation, from road runs to home stretches.

In fact, they’ve been so common to Kevin that fans and friends started to wonder if they were actually due for a retail release.

Sadly, the answer is no.

“They’re 1-of-1s,” KD told co-host Eddie Gonzalez on the latest episode of Boardroom’s “The ETCs.”

Continuing an onslaught of Nike KD15 colorways — led by an April unveiling and this fall’s “Producer Pack” — this Presto pair plays off KD’s ongoing appreciation for the Off-White x Nike partnership set to continue in formal fashion with more releases in 2023.

Over the years, Durant has worn Off-White Air Jordan 1, Converse Chuck Taylor, and Air Force 1 collaborations off of the court.

In many ways, the previously released Nike KD13 sneaker drew inspiration from the Off-White x Nike Blazer by featuring a sidewall Swoosh that overlapped both the upper and the midsole. This creative kinship continues on Kevin’s player-exclusive Nike KD15.

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

“We all obviously have respect for Virgil and they knew how much I respect the Off-White collection,” KD said. “The team [at Nike] color up a lot of my PEs, my on-court joints that don’t hit retail that are just for me.”

Famously, the original Nike Air Presto from 2000 was deemed ‘the t-shirt for your feet’ and came in sizing XXS through XL rather than the traditional numeric sizing.

Once released as a retro and restyled by Abloh, the Off-White Presto was released in an extremely limited fashion in standard sizing with a 14 being the biggest produced at retail.

Since KD wears a size 18, this on-court colorway keeps the style alive in a familiar fashion while being made exclusively for No. 7 himself.

“When I first saw them, I didn’t even know that they were coming,” says KD. “Once I saw the tongue, they reminded me of the Off-White Prestos. I love them, man. Seeing them from the TV, they just look like Prestos.”

Click here to listen to the full episode.

This season, Durant has worn a handful of Nike KD15 colorways on the court, with more pairs set to hit the hardwood (and retail shelves) as the season goes on. Additionally, Durant was recently caught warming up in his old Nike KD3 model before a road game in Portland — eerily close to the Nike campus in Beaverton — adding fuel to the fire that a retro release is on the way.

Aesthetically, the design language of the KD15 and KD3 both play to the low-top look and function that’s sweeping the industry and aligns with Durant’s fluid game.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“I wanted a lower shoe,” Durant told Boardroom’s Nick DePaula when speaking on the KD15 in April.

“I wanted to go back to that style I had with the 6, the 4, and the 3. I wanted to feel like I was lower to the ground. The last few shoes were high tops, and I wanted to just change it up.”

Already 15 signature styles deep, the Nike KD collection consists of longevity that only Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant can claim on the court.

In fact, he’s surpassed some of his heroes and peers where the number of signature shoes is concerned.

As the man in size 18s creeps closer and closer to the 20 mark where namesake models are concerned, he’s becoming increasingly aware of his legacy and collectibility where footwear is concerned.

From old favorites like the “Nerf” KD4 to new classics like this Off-White homage, Durant may favor Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1s off the court, but he’s all about his sigil footwear franchise.

“I’m about to start collecting my own stuff,” says KD, alluding to his love of his 1-of-1 Off-White PE.

“I might make another pair for me.”

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The post Kevin Durant, Virgil Abloh & the 1-of-1 Off-White Nike KD15 PE appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant, Virgil Abloh & the 1-of-1 Off-White Nike KD15 %%page%% Kevin Durant has been rotating a rarity on the court made solely for him -- get the inside story on this KD15 homage to the late Virgil Abloh Air Jordan 1,Boardroom Talks,fashion,Kevin Durant,Nike,Nike Air Force 1,Nike Air Presto,Nike KD,Nike KD15,Off-White,sneakers,Virgil Abloh,KD15 New Orleans Pelicans v Brooklyn Nets photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images Brooklyn Nets v Portland Trail Blazers photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Brooklyn Nets v Sacramento Kings photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Loading The ETCs: The NBA’s Next Stars & Defining “Relevance” https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-nbas-next-stars/ Tue, 22 Nov 2022 17:02:27 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=50852 Kevin Durant sits down with Eddie Gonzalez for the newest episode of “The ETCs” to discuss Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the future stars of the NBA, those Off-White KD15s, and much more. The Brooklyn Nets

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]]> Kevin Durant sits down with Eddie Gonzalez for the newest episode of “The ETCs” to discuss Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the future stars of the NBA, those Off-White KD15s, and much more.

The Brooklyn Nets are back at The Barclays after an extended west coast swing. Although the trip ended on a W, it wasn’t without its struggles.

In this week’s episode of The ETCs, Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez meet up in KD’s home. KD kicks things off by taking a moment to reflect on the viral conversation that he had with Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. He clarifies his intentions behind the discussion regarding his teammates.

“It’s just the fact that we’re all trying to do more to help the group based on the circumstances,” Durant said. “So, when it doesn’t look good, like getting up 150 points: don’t get too upset about what’s going on right now because look, we all trying and then…what happened in the next game?” [Spoiler alert: The Nets beat the Trailblazers 109-107 to close out the road trip].

KD also discusses the come-up of the team’s young talent, including Ben Simmons and Yuta Watanabe, and dives deeper into what the team’s future might look like as they continue to gel as a unit.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

In addition to the home team, KD and Eddie dive into a deep set of topics, including:

  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the next generation of NBA All-Stars
  • The surprising early success of the Sacramento Kings
  • Upcoming new music from SZA
  • 21 Savage, Nas, and the definition of “relevance”
  • The future of Twitter
  • The story behind the 1-of-1 Off-White KD15 PEs.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> %%title%% %%page%% In this episode of The ETCs, KD and Eddie reflect on the next stars of the NBA, the story behind the 1-of-1 Off-White PE, & more. .TV,Boardroom Talks,Brooklyn Nets,Kevin Durant,Nas,NBA,Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,SZA,Yuta Watanabe,NBA Next Stars Loading How Will Welch & GQ Are Redefining Masculinity https://boardroom.tv/how-will-welch-gq-are-redefining-masculinity/ Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:44:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=50213 GQ’s Global Editorial Director and Editor in Chief of GQ US sat down with Rich Kleiman for the most recent episode of “Out of Office” to discuss the iconic magazine’s global brand, the evolution

The post How Will Welch & GQ Are Redefining Masculinity appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> GQ’s Global Editorial Director and Editor in Chief of GQ US sat down with Rich Kleiman for the most recent episode of “Out of Office” to discuss the iconic magazine’s global brand, the evolution of masculinity, and much more.

This week, newsstands across the globe are flooded with the collection of GQ’s iconic Men of the Year covers. In the United States, this year’s selection includes Formula 1 sensation Max Verstappen, comeback actor of the year Brendan Fraser, and Zoë Kravitz. Collectively, the three covers demonstrate the range of GQ’s reach and holistically echo the vision that the magazine’s Global Editorial Director and Editor in Chief of GQ U.S. Will Welch has for the legacy brand.

Click here to listen to the full episode

Since Welch took over his current position in 2021, he has sought to intertwine the global brand. However, at the center of it all — and he would argue at the center of “culture,” more generally — lies fashion.

“Everyone wants to be seen as creative, and fashion is where all that can come together,” Welch told Rich Kleiman on the most recent episode of Out of Office.

The two long-time friends discuss a wide range of topics including:

  • The creation of a global vision for GQ
  • The evolution of men’s fashion
  • The process of selecting GQ’s “Men of the Year”
  • The ever-changing standards for masculinity and its evolution in the post-Me Too era
  • The need for re-imagined leadership
  • The future of GQ Sports

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> How Will Welch & GQ Are Redefining Masculinity - Boardroom GQ's Will Welch joins Rich Kleiman on "Out of Office" to discuss the iconic creation of a global brand, the evolution of masculinity, & more. .TV,Boardroom Talks,fashion,GQ,media,Rich Kleiman,Will Welch,Will Welch Loading The ETCs: Drake, Luka Dončić, and the Evolution of Greatness https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kevin-durant-eddie-gonzalez-nov-11/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 17:01:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=49730 Kevin Durant sits down with Eddie Gonzalez for the newest episode of “The ETCs” to discuss “Her Loss,” the Commanders up for sale, and much more. It’s been a big week in Brooklyn. The

The post The ETCs: Drake, Luka Dončić, and the Evolution of Greatness appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant sits down with Eddie Gonzalez for the newest episode of “The ETCs” to discuss “Her Loss,” the Commanders up for sale, and much more.

It’s been a big week in Brooklyn. The Nets welcomed their new coach, Jacque Vaughn, and kicked off the team’s next chapter with a big win against the New York Knicks.

In this week’s episode of The ETCs, Kevin Durant and Eddie Gonzalez catch up in KD’s new abode to reflect on the transition and everything else happening in the sports and cultural zeitgeist.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

The two cover a wide range of topics, including:

  • Drake‘s certified GOAT status following the release of the 21 Savage collab, Her Loss
  • Who KD would like to see as the next owner of the Washington Commanders
  • The success of the Philadelphia Union
  • The evolution of Luka Dončić‘s game
  • Jacque Vaughn‘s come up in the Nets organization
  • Their hopes for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Lastly, KD makes a personal plea to Rihanna and SZA:  “I’m sick of your shit, just drop the shit!”

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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The post The ETCs: Drake, Luka Dončić, and the Evolution of Greatness appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> %%title%% In this episode of The ETCs, KD & Eddie reflect on the Nets' new chapter, Drake, the evolution of Luka Dončić's game, and more. .TV,Black Panther,Boardroom Talks,Drake,Kevin Durant,Luka Dončić,Philadelphia Union,Rihanna,SZA,Washington Commanders,The ETCs Drake Loading How Shaun White Transformed Snowboarding from a Sport to a Lifestyle https://boardroom.tv/shaun-white-out-of-office/ Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:01:31 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=49201 The three-time Olympic gold medalist joins Rich Kleiman on “Out of Office” to reflect on life post-competition, the development of his active lifestyle brand WHITESPACE, and more. In many ways, Shaun White has been

The post How Shaun White Transformed Snowboarding from a Sport to a Lifestyle appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> The three-time Olympic gold medalist joins Rich Kleiman on “Out of Office” to reflect on life post-competition, the development of his active lifestyle brand WHITESPACE, and more.

In many ways, Shaun White has been preparing for this next chapter for his whole career.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist, 15-time X-Games gold medalist, and entrepreneur retired from competitive snowboarding at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, but through his storied professional career, he transformed the brand of professional snowboarding from a sport to a lifestyle.

In the most recent episode of Out of Office, White sat down with Rich Kleiman to discuss his journey from his first endorsement at seven years old to a chance encounter with a Louis Vuitton-dripping Virgil Abloh at the top of Mammoth Mountain.

Click here to listen to the full episode

In the lead-up to his final run, White launched his new venture: WHITESPACE. The active lifestyle brand seeks to translate seamlessly from the mountain to ápres, reflecting White’s own busy life. After a soft launch before the Olympics, the company officially debuted this fall in partnership with Backcountry.com. For the multi-talented White, running a start-up fashion label is just one of many post-career projects he has lined up.

“I’m working on a documentary, and they’re doing the editing over in Brooklyn, so I just pop in every day,” White said of the discovery+ docuseries he’s working on with The Last Dance producer Mike Tollin.

While White will undoubtedly miss the rush of being a professional athlete, he discusses the respite from the perennial risk of injury that followed him for nearly three decades. Now, his eyes are on the next chapter.

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The post How Shaun White Transformed Snowboarding from a Sport to a Lifestyle appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> %%title%% %%page%% Shaun White joins Rich Kleiman on "Out of Office" to discuss his life post-competition, his new active lifestyle brand WHITESPACE, and more. .TV,Boardroom Talks,Entrepreneurship,fashion,Shaun White,sports business,Shaun White Loading Steven Victor: The Rap Game Enzo Ferrari | Out of Office https://boardroom.tv/steven-victor-out-of-office/ Wed, 02 Nov 2022 16:00:10 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=39088 Victor Victor Worldwide’s founder joined Rich Kleiman’s “Out of Office” to discuss racing Ferraris, the late Pop Smoke, and his journey to becoming one of the most heralded names in music. Click here to

The post Steven Victor: The Rap Game Enzo Ferrari | Out of Office appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Victor Victor Worldwide’s founder joined Rich Kleiman’s “Out of Office” to discuss racing Ferraris, the late Pop Smoke, and his journey to becoming one of the most heralded names in music.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

Steven Victor is on auto-pilot as he walks into his office at Universal Music Group’s Symphony House Tower headquarters.

Victor — headphones in, rearranging the space slightly — is surrounded by multi-platinum plaques, a blown-up poster from his Billboard shoot alongside Pusha T, Pharrell Williams, and Nigo, and a diamond-encrusted dog sitting in a glass — the go-to symbol of his label imprint, Victor Victor Worldwide.

But none of that gets a jolt out of Victor as much as when Boardroom and 35V co-founder and CEO Rich Kleiman asks him about his summer spent racing Ferraris.

“There’s two things: This summer, I went to race Ferraris in Italy. I did this event with Monza,” Victor clarified, leaning forward on the couch. “Ferrari does these courses where you go and learn how to drive on a track and then you complete a set of schools. Once you complete the schools, you can race Challenge cars. There’s about 10 races a year and you compete against other Ferrari members in your group.”

On the latest edition of Boardroom’s “Out Of Office,” Kleiman then poses the we’re-all-wondering question: How does one even become a “Ferrari member?”

“You gotta pay,” Victor says with a laugh. “You get invited, but then you have to buy a whole lot of Ferraris and you have to buy a race car.”

Kleiman asks the natural follow-up: “You have your own race car?”

“No, but I got one coming next year,” Victor smirks.

Kleiman and Victor notably go way back, having worked in this very building before — Kleiman during his time at Roc Nation, Victor while working as Pusha T’s manager.  Since then, Victor has gone on to become the COO of G.O.O.D. Music, help break Grammy-nominated artists, and create his own imprint, Victor Victor Worldwide.

In a wide-ranging “Out of Office” conversation, the pair reunited to discuss Victor’s rubber-burning hobby, the importance of his relationship with the late Pop Smoke, and his journey to becoming one of the most heralded names in music.

Growing up in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn amid the golden era of hip-hop in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Victor was fairly sheltered. The second of two children to Haitian immigrant parents — his older sister, Melissa Victor, is the Head of Publicity at Epic Records — Steven recalled his imagination running increasingly wild as he’d listen to his father play country music, his mom play reggae, and Melissa play Mobb Deep around the house.

After some adolescent boundary-pushing, Victor’s family sent him to Hargrave Military Academy, a private boarding school in Chatham, Virginia. There, he locked in on his academics and avoided trouble, securing admission to the prestigious Morehouse College. He quickly realized it was not what he wanted, but despite the challenges, Victor stuck it out for four years and graduated with degrees in English and psychology.

All the while, he had inclinations toward music. But making inroads in the recording industry itself felt unattainable.

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“I always had this opinion of the music industry that you had to have musical ability to work in it. Whether it was [that] you could sing, rap, produce, write, or direct,” Victor said. “I always thought you had to have some sort of talent like that until my friend got an internship with Bad Boy — he wasn’t doing anything creative, but he was in the room.”

During his junior year at Morehouse, Victor had a roommate whose father ran an imprint label called University under the Interscope and Universal umbrella that was home to popular acts like Dru Hill and Mýa. Victor saw his opportunity. He asked his roommate for an intro to his dad, Haqq Islam, who would give Victor his first shot as an intern.

The seed had been planted, and it would grow when Victor met a member of the label’s PR department named Junior Suriel.

“Where I was interning, I was down the hall from [Junior’s] office and he’d have a bunch of artists going in and out,” Victor said. “I’d see DJ Clue. I’d see Jay-Z. So, I just walked into his office one day and I’m like, ‘yo, let me get an internship.’ And he was just, like, ‘cool.’”

Victor would do all he could for the opportunity — coordinating schedules, assisting on photo shoots, and doing just about whatever was necessary to keep things rolling. 

“I was a huge Clipse and Pharrell fan, and I became friendly with Pharrell’s assistant — one day I was just like, ‘yo, introduce me to Pharrell. I want to work with him, do PR for Star Trak.’ And she’s like, ‘Pharrell’s not going to speak to you,'” he recalled with a laugh.

But as fate would have it, the young lady would tell Victor that Clipse was in need of a publicist and that she could get him on the phone with one half of Clipse: Pusha T.

“He called me the next day and I just got on the phone with him and I was like, ‘this is what you should be doing,’ and I just went off on, like, a 20-minute rant. At the end of the rant, I was like, ‘yo, just hire me and I’ll work for free,” he said, “and if you like what I’m doing, then you can figure out some sort of pay structure.'”

Pusha T bought it and hired Victor as the Clipse’s publicist, and later offered him the opportunity to become the duo’s co-manager alongside Suave House founder Tony Draper, whom Victor credits for much of the development of his own business acumen.

After Clipse broke up in 2010, Push eventually landed at G.O.O.D. Music, Kanye West’s joint venture with Universal Music Group; Victor himself later joined as an A&R executive. The two would later take over the management of G.O.O.D. Music’s catalog entirely as President and COO, respectively, in 2015. They would go on to sign acts like Desiigner and help push songs like “Panda” to RIAA-certified triple-platinum heights, but all the while Victor was steadily fleshing out his own management roster at the time, signing a series of producers and beginning to work with artists like The-Dream and Tyga full-time under the William Victor Management Group banner.

As his initial contract was soon to expire and it became time to negotiate, a fateful call came from Michelle Anthony, Executive VP at UMG. She said five unforgettable words: “Lucian wants to meet you.”

When the most powerful man in music — at the time and still — comes calling, there’s only one answer, so Victor met with UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge.

“I want you to work for me,” he recalled the exec saying. “We’re going to create a position for you and I’m going to give you your own company.”

Welcome to Victor Victor Worldwide.

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His Universal deal would be one of the first under “The Center,” a collection of labels, executives, and partnerships that operated within the core of UMG that reported directly to Grainge. He could sign any artist with his own budget and decide what to do with them within the UMG family tree. It wasn’t long before it became all about Victor Victor Worldwide (which was originally called “Victor Records” until RCA, the sole proprietor of that trademark, sent a cease-and-desist).

Along the road of signing acts and establishing the new label, Victor was then met with yet another opportunity in 2017: working as a label head at Def Jam under Paul Rosenberg. It wasn’t ultimately the right fit, but on his way out of Def Jam, longtime friend and producer Rico Beats in the office right next door was aggressively pushing the music of an unknown kid from Victor’s old neighborhood, Canarsie.

His name was Bashar Barakah Jackson, also known as Pop Smoke. At the time, Pop was still developing his sound and hadn’t begun gravitating toward drill music. “In 12 months, this kid will change your life,” Rico insisted in a text message to Victor.

Victor signed Pop Smoke to Victor Victor Worldwide and took him to market, shopping him to UMG’s family of labels first before settling in with Republic Records. Not even six months later, following a couple of well-received singles and mixtapes, Pop Smoke was already being touted as the next “King of New York.” All the trust paid off as two of the smoky-voiced rapper’s anthems, “Welcome To The Party” and “Dior,” took over the city streets in the summer of 2019. Soon, Pop Smoke would become the face of the Chicago-born, UK-influenced Brooklyn drill scene.

But on Feb. 19, 2020, months before the release of his debut album, Victor awoke in the middle of the night in an LA hotel room to a call from his wife. “You need to call [Victor Victor Director of Artist Management] Shivam [Pandya] right now, because everybody is trying to get in touch with you,” she said.

As Victor recollects, “I called and he was just hysterical. ‘You gotta get to the hospital, you gotta get to the hospital, Pop’s been shot.‘”

Pop Smoke was declared dead shortly after arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after being shot in a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, California. He was 20 years old.

It was a shocking loss. A distraught Victor was left not knowing which way was up.

50 Cent, who saw so much of his younger self in Pop Smoke, took it upon himself to prevent Victor from sulking. He insisted that he had to finish up Pop’s upcoming album and release it to the public.

“You’re being selfish. You can’t let your emotions and this depressed state stop you from executing the plans you had, because just three weeks ago, you guys were in my office talking about taking over the world,” Victor recalled the Queens rapper saying. “Who’s gonna keep his legacy going? Who’s gonna make sure his music comes out so that he takes care of his family?”

Victor was a man of his word, delivering Pop Smoke’s debut studio LP, Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, in July 2020. It would go on to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, go double-Platinum, become the first posthumous debut album to top the Billboard charts, and lead to a 2021 Grammy nomination for “Dior” as Best Rap Song.

He’d helped Pop across the finish line.

Even if the man himself wasn’t here to see it.

As of August 2022, Victor Victor’s roster features a mix of veterans (Pusha T, Ski Mask the Slump God, Pop Smoke’s estate), up-and-comers (Weiland, Autumn and Reyanna Marie), and producers (CashMoneyAP, YoungKio), and a man Victor jokingly calls his “son,” 16yrold, the first artist signed under VVW.

His most recent signing, however, doesn’t fit into any of those categories. Rather, he’s one of the most storied and influential Japanese designers in popular culture today: Nigo, who co-produced an album for the label earlier this year entitled I Know Nigo!

A longtime creative who’s responsible for founding streetwear giant BAPE and more recently becoming KENZO’s Artistic Director, Victor convinced Nigo to design VVW’s official logo.

As Victor said in summation of his vision: “Everything I’m doing, there has to be some of me in it creatively.”

And while this whole operation is officially worldwide, there’s no need to wonder whether Steven Victor is pure New York. When posed with the age-old question about naming the top-five rappers of all time, Victor kept things local:

Pop Smoke, Biggie Smalls, 2Pac, Fabolous, Jay-Z, and Jadakiss.

You can take him all the way to Tokyo. But the hitmaker’s heart stays in Canarsie.

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The post Steven Victor: The Rap Game Enzo Ferrari | Out of Office appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> %%title%% %%page%% Steven Victor joins "Out of Office” to discuss Ferraris, Pop Smoke, and his journey to becoming one of the most acclaimed names in music. .TV,Auto Racing,Boardroom Talks,Clipse,Def Jam,Ferrari,Hip-hop,Music,music business,Pop Smoke,Pusha T,Rich Kleiman,Universal Music Group,steven victor Loading Loading Loading Kevin Durant, Eddie Gonzalez & ‘The ETCs’ Return for Season 3 https://boardroom.tv/the-etcs-podcast-season-3-premiere/ Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:00:12 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?p=46725 As his 16th NBA season arrives, KD catches up with Eddie Gonzalez on the Season 3 premiere of “The ETCs” to discuss his offseason, Draymond Green, Russell Westbrook, and his new dog, Seven. Kevin

The post Kevin Durant, Eddie Gonzalez & ‘The ETCs’ Return for Season 3 appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> As his 16th NBA season arrives, KD catches up with Eddie Gonzalez on the Season 3 premiere of “The ETCs” to discuss his offseason, Draymond Green, Russell Westbrook, and his new dog, Seven.

Kevin Durant is locked in for the 2022-23 NBA season.

The Brooklyn Nets star sits down with Eddie Gonzalez at the team’s practice facility for the Season 3 premiere of “The ETCs.” As he stares down his 16th season in the league, Durant reflects on his offseason preparation, playing with a young crop of new teammates, and what it’s been like to begin to build with Ben Simmons.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

Next, he and Eddie discuss the next major professional milestone on the horizon as he quests toward 30,000 points. The benchmark will put him among distinguished company, and KD reflects on what this may mean for his own legacy — but first, he looks toward the Nets’ Oct. 19 tipoff against the Pelicans and his boundless respect for Zion Williamson.

KD looks beyond his own team to discuss Draymond Green, Jordan Poole, and the drama in Golden State. He unpacks how so many talking heads seem to misunderstand the “culture of the NBA.” He offers his take on this season’s freshman class and looks overseas at the lore of Victor Wembanyama.

It’s not all hoops, as the two discuss the newest Lil Baby release, It’s Only Me, and KD’s biggest offseason acquisition: his new dog, Seven.

Click here to listen and subscribe to “The ETCs” with KD and Eddie and “Out of Office” with Rich Kleiman.

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]]> %%title%% Kevin Durant reflects on his 16th season, 30,000 points, and the fact and fiction of "NBA Culture" on the Season 3 premiere of "The ETCs." .TV,basketball,Boardroom Talks,Draymond Green,Jordan Poole,Kevin Durant,Lil Baby,NBA,Podcast,Russell Westbrook,Zion Williamson,The ETCs podcast Loading Kevin Durant Remembers His Epic NBA Draft Night https://boardroom.tv/kevin-durant-2007-nba-draft/ Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:30:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=34250 On Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast, KD takes us back to June 28, 2007 at Madison Square Garden, a night in which his life would change forever. Click here to listen to the full episode.

The post Kevin Durant Remembers His Epic NBA Draft Night appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> On Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast, KD takes us back to June 28, 2007 at Madison Square Garden, a night in which his life would change forever.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

As far as draft night suits go, Kevin Durant’s was rather modest, much like the man himself: A dark-gray getup with a burnt orange tie and pocket square to pay homage to his beloved University of Texas. The Seattle Supersonics’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft would never again look as unassuming, going on to win the Rookie of the Year award that season to kick off what would grow into a legendary career. 

Even 15 years later, the memories of that night still excite KD. 

“Your whole life, you hear about it,” Durant said of the ’07 draft on the latest episode of “The ETCs” podcast. “You want to be able to take care of your family and new city, new money, buy whatever you want, you know, to live as a grown-up now.”

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Durant was looking forward to seeing Thursday night’s 2022 draft and seeing so many young lives changed in an instant. 

“It’s always good to see young players coming to the league and fulfilling their dreams of being an NBA player,” Durant said. “Stepping to being a millionaire, that’s a huge lifestyle change. I get excited to see these dudes get that opportunity.”

But even with that excitement looking forward to the future, one can’t help but look back at Durant’s draft, and all of the potential in the building that night as well. Hindsight says Durant should have been the clear No. 1 overall pick; on the night, Greg Oden was ultimately the top selection courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers. And while there was a reasonable amount of debate, the big man out of Ohio State was prevailing considered the safest bet.

Injuries would derail Oden’s career, shattering what could have been. And while Durant may have once wished he’d been No. 1 that night, that feeling has waned and KD has moved on. 

“I understood that pick,” KD said. “Greg was a monster. He was just a dominant big, so if it was somebody in my position or something, maybe [I’d still be upset], but I felt like that was a can’t-miss pick at that time.” 

Notably, KD did work out with the Blazers. According to the man himself, it went well. 

For the most part.  

“They said it was the best workout that they had,” Durant said. “I mean, they probably were gassing. I remember air-balling a couple threes. I remember being tired as hell on a few drills, but yeah, that process was fun, man. You go from living in a dorm room to now being almost recruited by NBA teams. It was dope.”

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The post Kevin Durant Remembers His Epic NBA Draft Night appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kevin Durant on His Epic 2007 NBA Draft Night %%page%% %%sep%% %%sitename%% On Boardroom's "The ETCs" podcast, KD takes us back to the 2007 NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden, a night in which his life changed forever basketball,Boardroom Talks,Kevin Durant,NBA,NBA Draft,Podcast,Seattle Supersonics,2007 nba draft Loading Loading Ronnie Fieg: The Sweet Life https://boardroom.tv/ronnie-fieg-kith/ Wed, 15 Jun 2022 14:45:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=33422 Kith founder Ronnie Fieg sat down with Rich Kleiman on the latest “Out of Office” to discuss his entrepreneurial hustle, the evolution of his brand, and what the future may hold. Click here to

The post Ronnie Fieg: The Sweet Life appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kith founder Ronnie Fieg sat down with Rich Kleiman on the latest “Out of Office” to discuss his entrepreneurial hustle, the evolution of his brand, and what the future may hold.

Click here to listen to the full episode

On a vibrantly warm, sunny morning in a massive, museum-like office inside an immaculate new building along the Williamsburg waterfront, Kith founder and creative director Ronnie Fieg held court in a white button-down shirt, navy shorts, a white baseball cap, white Kith socks, and navy and white New Balances.

Fieg notes that it took 18 months for Kith to design the enormous, modern, well-appointed space spanning an entire floor on Kent Avenue, and another 18 months to build it.

“We actually took the lease on the space before the company could afford it, just hoping and knowing that we could grow into the space,” he told Boardroom co-founder and CEO Rich Kleiman for the “Out Of Office” podcast.

“I’m really happy how it turned out. This is one of my favorite accomplishments so far,” he said.

As he celebrates his 40th birthday on June 15, Fieg discussed building Kith into a wildly popular fashion and lifestyle brand everyone wants to collaborate with, growing from a stock boy to a revered generational tastemaker, and learning to evolve and adapt within an ever-changing industry landscape.

The entrepreneurial evolution of Ronnie Fieg began on his 13th birthday when he started working at New York City’s David Z Shoes (the David Z in question is Fieg’s mother’s cousin.) Growing up in Queens in the 1980s and ’90s, Fieg described it as an era in which you had to form your own opinion about things. Toiling in store basements for hours on end to be able to afford the items he wanted, Fieg gained precious personal experience and the ability to view all the newest products as they arrived, enabling him to form his own opinions and tastes at a far earlier age than most.

“When I hit the floor, I started selling product and seeing why people liked what they liked and what they gravitated to,” he said, “that was my favorite part of my career. My taste for product started so early that I still love the same things I loved then. Didn’t change. What I loved then, I still love today. Obviously, it evolved, but that stayed constant.”

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Fieg started working full-time 23 years ago and has been logging 80-hour weeks ever since. He attended both Nassau Community College on Long Island and Baruch College in Manhattan, but ultimately left before graduating because he felt like he was in school for the wrong reasons.

He had always had something else in mind. And while Fieg said his father never really understood the concept of being an entrepreneur, his mother was a dreamer.

“My mom really wished for me to pursue my dreams and my dad was always like, take the safer bet, have a steady job, and do the best you can,” he said.

Fieg spent 15 years working for David Z, advancing his way up to store clerk, store manager, and ultimately the company’s head buyer by age 25. His goal was to key a transition from brown shoes and boots — which used to rule New York City — into more of an athletic footwear business.

One of Fieg’s biggest breaks came in 2007 while working at David Z on a collaboration with Asics to design three pairs of Gel Lyte IIIs that would come to be called “The 252 Pack.” The collab garnered interest from a local writer who ended up getting Fieg onto the cover of the Pursuit section of the Wall Street Journal.

“I want to offer a universe to people. That’s eventually the goal, right? I want to build a world where people go and have fun the way they would to Disney World or Disneyland.”

Fieg was biking to work on the second day the shoe was released when he got a call from his mom.

“She was crying on the phone, freaking out that it was on the cover of the paper,” Fieg recalled. “I didn’t even know. I was pulling up to the store, and then all of a sudden, I see the line wrapping around the block. I’ve never really seen that in my business before. It was shocking.”

In the aftermath, Fieg grew friendly with writers, editors, and bloggers within the growing footwear scene who helped him stay up on the next trends or products. As he became closer with them, they started taking interest in what he was doing and covering his products and projects that he curated as a buyer.

“That was,” he said, “the beginning of my career in design.”

In 2010, after designing on his own for a few years while still working for David Z, Fieg saw a need in New York City for a different type of shop; a welcoming, experiential space where enthusiasts could come and hang out. That’s why Fieg started Kith, opening two small retail footwear shops in 2011 in the back of existing retail locations of streetwear brand Atrium, one in Brooklyn and another in SoHo.

It was there that Kith quickly began to make a name for itself.

Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

“I took a huge pay cut,” Fieg said. “I was making a salary and I left to take half, and I was really worried about whether or not it would be successful in the beginning, like any other business that opens for the first time.”

Patrons started coming and hanging out, he said, and fans increasingly called for Kith to expand and become a standalone fashion entity; Fieg responded in 2012 by doing precisely that. Notably, Fieg prides himself on never taking outside money to fund his projects, ensuring that he can run a fully self-owned, self-made, self-sustaining operation. It was a sacrifice he’s made for a long time for himself and his family, he said, pouring everything back into the business.

“That’s the entrepreneurial spirit, and New York, I guess — like a New York hustler’s mentality of being so afraid to lose it,” Fieg said. “This business is tough, man. It’s cutthroat, having to weather a lot of different eras in technology and experiences and brands that come out of nowhere.

“When I speak on it with my friends, I compare it to how LeBron has weathered so many different superstars in his time in the league and how he’s still consistent and does what he does. And you can count on him. You trust him to do what he does.”

Fieg has always strived to make Kith into a trustworthy brand that remains true and consistent even as it grows over time. This project was never about becoming No. 1, but rather channeling his competitive energy and spirit to measure what he’s doing now against what he’s done in the past, making sure the brand never gets stale or stagnant — to try always to be the best version of Kith while also being disruptive, which Fieg said is in the company’s DNA.

He told Kleiman that Kith not only has to cater to the consumer who’s been with the brand for all 11 years, but for someone also just discovering the company now, creating a product assortment where every item has evolved in that decade-plus.

“It’s always a test,” Fieg continued. “Can you make it better? Can it continue to get better? And being the consumer, always having been the consumer of the product that we’re building, has allowed me to keep a consistent eye on the progress that we’ve made.”

Fieg and Kith have always been inspired by trips around the world he’s made, starting with a 2013 visit to Miami that led to a capsule collection called the ECP — East Coast Project — with a Knicks-meets-Dolphins colorway. There have now been over 15 such trips, from Tokyo and Brazil to Wyoming and Paris, where concepts and collections are born and friends are invited along to enjoy the journey.

“I’ve worked my whole life, so I’m trying to include my friends in the wins, seeing people enjoy product around me that we work so hard on. That’s a great feeling,” Fieg said. “So I love incorporating these trips within my business, to be able to launch product through an experiential trip and wearing the product in the setting it was designed for.”

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Footwear News

Like Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Nautica before him, Fieg has used Kith’s experiential ethos as a differentiating factor in setting the brand apart in a cramped, crowded, and competitive space.

“They were set designers for worlds that they built, and their clothing fit within the set,” he said. “That’s a different type of emotional connection that you have to brands like those who weren’t on the internet, but you were seeing those products in magazines, on commercials, on television, and then you chop them within bigger concessions in department stores. And it let your imagination roam.”

Fieg’s had to create both the physical stores and the online spaces in a way that still permitted fans to feel like they were hanging out in a relaxed atmosphere while enabling them to engage with (and ultimately love) the product just as much as he does.

Kith Treats, a fully formed global franchise selling ice cream and frozen yogurt at retail locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Miami, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Paris, London, and Tokyo, provides an extension of that experiential mindset. It’s an accessible entryway into the broader brand for consumers of all ages and backgrounds.

“I stood there the first day that we opened in the first Brooklyn space and just watched the first 100 people,” Fieg said, “and every single person took the first bite and smiled. That’s how I knew it was the right thing to do, whether it made money or not.”

Kith plans to open its first standalone ice cream parlor in the near future, Fieg said, further extending the brand as he strives to offer a universe to people, building out a space for everyone to enjoy.

“I want to offer a universe to people. That’s eventually the goal, right? I want to build a world where people go and have fun the way they would to Disney World or Disneyland,” he said, “where ‘this is where I’m going to spend my time today.’ For me, it’s always needing to be one step ahead to make people feel like we’re invested in their time.”

Kith’s many brand collaborations, from Supreme and Coca-Cola to Looney Tunes and BMW, are a major part of how Fieg balances the work he’s put in for 27 years with fun and fulfillment. Kith worked with LeBron James on a custom pair of Nike LeBron 15s that the superstar wore for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game (at which he’d win MVP honors). There were both on and off-court versions of the shoe, in addition to a documentary that Fieg produced. In a book celebrating Kith’s 10-year anniversary, there was a photo of James in those shoes soaring for a dunk.

It’s a moment, Fieg said, that he’ll look back on his whole life and say he can’t believe that they got to work together.

“My taste for product started so early that I still love the same things I loved then. Didn’t change. What I loved then, I still love today.”

“I got to get to know LeBron on a really personal level, what he likes, what he doesn’t like, and what makes him tick,” Fieg said. “Not many people will have that opportunity and that’s something that I will forever cherish.”

Those collaborations aggregate to the wins Fieg said he needs to remind him why he’s running such a demanding, taxing business, something he still calls extremely difficult and challenging.

“People may assume it’s all fun and games,” he said, “but 75% of it is not fun at all. And the 25% that is fun needs to outweigh the 75% of my time that I spend on operations, logistics, finance, and all of those things that are not fun at all. Those wins need to be really big to remind me of why I do that.”

And no win compared to his collab with the New York Knicks last year.

Kith not only designed the team’s black 2021-22 Nike City Edition uniforms, but the court itself at Madison Square Garden and a 17-piece Nike capsule collection.

“That’s my single greatest feeling in my whole life, replacing the Knicks logo with Kith in the same font over the basketball on that vintage logo,” Fieg said. “The company is like my child. I remember the first time I met John Starks. Some of my childhood heroes, those were the biggest starstruck moments for me.”

Fieg and his wife, Shira, now have a child of their own, a 16-month-old daughter. And ironically, he said that if there was any business he can make sure she avoids, retail would probably be one of them. But if she really wanted that life, she’d have to learn and work her way up from the bottom, just like Ronnie did.

At 10 physical stores right this second, expansion will come gradually for Kith so the importance of the experience can continue to take precedence. Fortunately, continuing to exist as a private, self-funded company means there’s no undue pressure to expand rapidly, allowing Fieg to grow the operation at his own pace.

Now, on his 40th birthday, Ronnie Fieg has never looked at the 27 years he’s spent in the industry as work despite such a huge chunk of his life having been devoted to it. He’s looked at his accomplishments more as an evolution than anything else, as maximizing the potential to improve every single day. That approach has allowed the brand and its visionary to chart the next several decades as deliberately as they please.

Through immense and intense effort, everyone seems to want to exist in Fieg’s orbit in the worlds he’s so carefully crafted. And like any good universe, it’s a fact of natural law that this one will keep expanding.

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]]> Loading Ronnie Fieg & Joshua Schulman Host an Intimate Dinner to Celebrate the Opening of KITH, designed by Snarkitecture Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images 35th Annual Footwear News Achievement Awards – Inside Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Footwear News Adam Sandler: The Cinematic Hoop King https://boardroom.tv/adam-sandler-out-of-office/ Thu, 02 Jun 2022 14:33:35 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=32270 The actor joins Rich Kleiman to talk about his new Netflix film “Hustle” and how LeBron James helped him convince some of the NBA’s biggest stars to take their talents to the big screen.

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]]> The actor joins Rich Kleiman to talk about his new Netflix film “Hustle” and how LeBron James helped him convince some of the NBA’s biggest stars to take their talents to the big screen.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

For Adam Sandler, ball has always been life.

“I love the game. I love what it did for me growing up. Not just playing, but watching,” Sandler told Rich Kleiman on this week’s episode of the “Out of Office.”

As a kid, Sandler found himself on the court as much as possible, playing on what he describes as “every team who would take me.” With the more minutes he logged, his confidence soared. Unfortunately, so too did the quality of his competition.

“Before you had to be strong, I was pretty good because I could hit my shots. Then when the guys started getting stronger and banging and stuff, then I started being like, ‘ooh, maybe I’m not meant for this.'”

Although his hoop dreams were dashed, he still gets to live them out in his newest Netflix film, Hustle. To make the film, he tapped in the biggest name in the sport to help him create something truly special. In this week’s episode of the podcast, Sandler discusses the evolution of his career, what it’s like to work with LeBron James, and how hiring NBA stars lightens up your production time.

Coming up in the industry, Sandler became famous for his comedic roles. From Billy Madison to Happy Gilmore, he’s responsible for the quotable characters of a generation. But in recent years, he has shed his funny-guy stamp and adopted more dramatic roles.

Hustle allows Sandler to blend his two loves: acting and hoops. But he wasn’t satisfied to make just any film.

“I see movies, I see a baseball movie, a guy playing a baseball player. I see him throw the ball and I go, oh my God, he doesn’t play baseball and he’s playing a superstar,” Sandler said.

He was intentional about avoiding that. And when he got LeBron and his production company to sign on, he opened the doors to make something “raw and real.” He told Kleiman that he aimed to make things “like what you see on a playground and what you see when the superstars actually play together. [We wanted to create] the feeling of that.”

With an all-star cast that includes Juancho Hernangomez and Anthony Edwards, they were able to do just that. “We tried to be as smooth as we can. The guys in it all did it legit.”

Plus, with their finely tuned skills, most shots took just one take.

Sandler himself got to play a familiar role with a similar level of art imitating life. As Stanley, he channeled one of his greatest role models of all time.

“My dad is Stanley,” he said. “He was Stanley Sandler and everybody loved my dad and he coached all my teams.”

“And I thought of him a lot when I was doing Stanley. He always gave himself to whoever he was coaching … He just was like, ‘how do I make this one particular guy think straight, push him the hardest I can push him, and know that he’s got someone who loves him backing him up.’ That was kind of like my dad.”

And his coaching in the film also translated to coaching these pros on the ins and outs of acting. However, he’s quick to note it wasn’t a difficult task.

“They made it,” he said. “Because they take it serious, it made our jobs easier.”

When he’s not on set, Sandler can still be found with a ball in his hands. Kleiman recalls passing him on Madison Ave while Sandler was practicing his handles on the sidewalk.

“I got a good life, man. I lucked out,” Sandler said. “I get to think of something. I get to write it. I get to do it.”

At 55, Adam Sandler is on top of his game.

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]]> Adam Sandler: The Cinematic Hoop King - Boardroom Adam Sandler joins this week's episode of the "Out of Office" podcast where he talks about his rise as the silver screen's hoop king Adam Sandler,basketball,Boardroom Talks,LeBron James,Netflix,Adam Sandler Loading Out of Office: Adam Sandler https://boardroom.tv/out-of-office-adam-sandler/ Thu, 02 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=podcast-episode&p=32415 The iconic actor and comedian joins Rich Kleiman on the “Out of Office” podcast to discuss his die-hard hoop fandom, working with LeBron James, and his new movie Hustle. Click here to listen to

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]]> The iconic actor and comedian joins Rich Kleiman on the “Out of Office” podcast to discuss his die-hard hoop fandom, working with LeBron James, and his new movie Hustle.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

Adam Sandler is an all-timer when it comes to the sacred art of the pickup game. And yes, he’s found the time between runs to make a couple of movies, too.

On the latest episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office” podcast, the four-time Emmy-nominated actor and three-time Grammy-nominated comedian sits down with Rich Kleiman to talk all things hoops — including his new movie, Hustle, in which he portrays a struggling basketball scout that might just have discovered the next superstar (who happens to be portrayed by real-life Utah Jazz big man Juancho Hernangomez).

Hustle premieres in select theaters on June 3 and on Netflix on June 8.

Other topics on today’s episode of “Out of Office” include:

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]]> Loading Out of Office: Rich & Gianni Take Their Talents to South Beach https://boardroom.tv/rich-gianni-take-miami/ Wed, 11 May 2022 14:00:52 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=podcast-episode&p=30544 Rich Kleiman and Gianni Harrell discuss Miami Grand Prix, Kendrick Lamar, and more on the latest episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office” podcast. Click here to listen to the full episode. The first-ever Formula

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]]> Rich Kleiman and Gianni Harrell discuss Miami Grand Prix, Kendrick Lamar, and more on the latest episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office” podcast.

Click here to listen to the full episode.

The first-ever Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix is in the books. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took home the title, beating out this season’s emerging rival, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, by mere seconds. The stars came out in drones to capture the inaugural race.

Rich Kleiman and Gianni Harrel, co-hosts of Boardroom’s Out of Office podcast, were in the mix as they discuss in this week’s episode. From parties to the main event, they made the most of their short time in Miami. And for part of it, they even cruised around town like a modern-day version of the Three Amigos with the one only Spike Lee.

“Shout out Spike. It was like three generations of chilling,” Rich recalls.

In its first year, the Miami GP pulled out all the stops. In addition to the race itself, a number of brands launched glistening pop-ups. Major Food Group — the mastermind behind Sadelle, Carbone, and many other NYC staples — launched Carbone by the Beach. The three-night pop-up created a New York gala vibe on the sands of Miami. The pop-up even featured performances by Wyclef Jean, Kygo, and Nas.

Looking back on it, Gianni put it succinctly: “They killed it. They took it to another level from a branding sense …. Elite.”

From LeBron James to David Beckham, Serena Williams to Bad Bunny, Rich and G caught up with a number of people at the spectacle in South Beach.

Also this week, Rich and Gianni have a spirited discussion about Kendrick Lamar’s newest single, which came out in advance of his May 13 drop of Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. The corresponding video leans on some big names, including Kobe Bryant, Nipsey Hussle, and Kanye West, through deepfake technology. After some extended back and forth, they settle on common ground: Kendrick’s impact on hip-hop is outsized, and he continues to push boundaries of art and lyricism that set a new standard for those around him.

Throughout the remainder of their time in the office, Rich and Gianni address a host of other topics, including their ideal locations for a WNBA expansion team, Rich’s experience at the Robinhood fundraiser, and how media continues to struggle in capturing people’s attention in the long-term amidst the saturation of the 24-hour news cycle.

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]]> Loading Kyrie Irving’s Endless Possibilities https://boardroom.tv/kyrie-irving-the-etcs/ Wed, 04 May 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=29748 After a difficult ending to a strange season, Kyrie Irving returned to Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast to reflect on what’s next in his NBA journey. Click here to listen to the full episode Dribbling

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]]> After a difficult ending to a strange season, Kyrie Irving returned to Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast to reflect on what’s next in his NBA journey.

Click here to listen to the full episode

Dribbling the basketball is perhaps the most basic of the core skills on the court. The earliest drills in development are sharpening that skill, bouncing the ball on the ground, with control. Cones are laid out on any given blacktop as kids tap the ball onto the ground with repetition, slowly beginning to discern the requisite force to continue the action. 

In the beginning, kids can’t shoot like Steph or dunk like LeBron, but they can bounce the ball. 

But even dribbling has an unmatched complexity to it. The artistry of basketball lies within dribbling, the way a player takes the ball from one place to another on the court, combats any defender, and finds the position needed to complete whatever task in front of them. 

So there’s a certain irony that Kyrie Irving is widely regarded as the best-ever dribbler of the basketball — a man with a fascinating complexity beneath the surface, and a simple foundation that frames all of it. 

“I try to find a healthy balance with being authentically me,” Kyrie said on the latest episode of Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast. “Speaking honestly, but also just being conscientious of other people’s feelings.”

Kyrie had just wrapped up what may eventually be seen as his lost season. Fresh off joining the 50/40/90 club in 2021, and off an ankle turn that many felt cost him his second NBA championship, Kyrie seemed primed for another leap into historic territory as a player and championship contention as a team. 

But the world had other plans. 

A local vaccine mandate halted his 11th NBA season before it started, and his odyssey back onto the court clouded the Brooklyn Nets’ season instantly. 

“Did I feel like I was letting the world down or letting Nets fans down, letting my teammates down?” the seven-time All-Star asked aloud. “Yeah, part of that letdown feeling definitely seeped in.”

Kyrie remained steadfast in his belief: Not anti-vaccination or anti-medicine, just against an ultimatum that would force him to be vaccinated. 

“It completely caught me off guard,” Kyrie said. “I didn’t expect to come into the season with all of this being put on my plate.” 

But on his plate it was, and Kyrie quickly became the face of a political battle raging across the country. When he finally did return to the court as a part-time player only allowed to play on certain Nets road games, he held on to hope he would eventually be a full-time player again. 

“I was approaching the team almost every day or every week. Like, ‘Hey, is there any progress?’” he said. “Trying to get in touch with the mayor’s office, trying to get in touch with our political figures, our political leaders, to figure out how do we work around this? I talked to scientists, I talked to health professionals. I went down the checklist of, ‘Hey, is there any way that I can work around this?’”

In digging into the conundrum, Kyrie discovered entire communities of people being affected by vaccine mandates, losing jobs after their refusal to vaccinate. He doubled down, saying he wanted to stand up for those people. He eventually returned to the court full time in March when the vaccine mandate was amended to account for entertainers and athletes in New York City, coincidentally on the eve of the New York Yankees’ and Mets’ returns to the field. 

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But even when he was back, Kyrie never felt back this season. The ankle injury that knocked him out of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals had lingered all summer, so he was robbed of a full off-season of conditioning and training to further sharpen his already Ginsu sharp set of tools. 

“I didn’t start walking normal probably until like mid-September, so training camp was like my first time going up and down,” Kyrie said. “I knew it was gonna be a process for me to play again, but it would’ve been accelerated being around the guys and playing game speed.” 

“I’m usually sustaining a level of growth throughout the year, instead of trying to catch up with everybody that’s been playing for four or five months,” he added. Even late in the year, with astounding 50- and 60-point performances a week apart, he still wasn’t where he wanted to be. “There was nothing to lose there. It was only the journey to enjoy at that point.”

The Nets’ 2021-22 journey ended to the tune of a gut-wrenching sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but there is light at the end of the tunnel for Kyrie. At 30 years old, he enters a stage of his career he calls “slowly crawling into” his prime.

“I represent the mastery of basketball,” Kyrie said when asked if he’s mastered the sport. “Because I represent that, I’m always gonna be a student. You can call me a master, but I, myself, would probably just call myself a teacher of the game at this point.” 

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

For now, even representing the mastery of the sport, his focus is team success — and being a key cog in that machine. 

“Adding to my game now is really adding to my own personal resumé of being successfully dominant as a team and being one of the best players on that team,” Kyrie said. “If that means getting a few more assists, if that means taking a few less shots and being efficient with those shots, if it means taking more shots and being more efficient with that, if it means switching up my role, going from the one to the two or the two to the one, or being flexible for my coach to throw me in there to guard bigs at times, you know, even though it’s uncomfortable for me, I just really wanna be complete.” 

Now, it seems, with that goal in mind Kyrie realizes that dominance must happen off the court as well. And with Kevin Durant next to him, in an organization motivated to win from the very top-down, in a destination city, with the world in his hands it seems more possible than ever that those goals are possible.

“Having fun building relationships that don’t just extend on the court,” Kyrie said “It’s the trust off the court that helps us win games and helps us win championships.” 

Heading into an offseason full of questions and opportunities with a palette full of possibilities and free of a mandate, Kyrie Irving now has his chance to shape his world.

“I have so much time on my hands to think about it and plan and envision,” he said.

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The post Kyrie Irving’s Endless Possibilities appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Kyrie Irving's Endless Possibilities - Boardroom After a difficult ending to a strange season, Kyrie Irving returned to Boardroom's "The ETCs" podcast to reflect on what's next in his NBA journey. Click here to listen to the full episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDiRJOJfQgk Dribbling the basketball is perhaps the most basic of the core skil .TV,basketball,Boardroom Talks,NBA,kyrie Loading Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Three NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on in the final seconds of their 109-103 loss against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 23, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images). Loading Wes Moore: Lessons in Leadership https://boardroom.tv/wes-moore-leadership/ Wed, 27 Apr 2022 14:00:46 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=29095 Wes Moore has led a life that has taken him from warzones to the executive suite. He reflects on his path to a run for governor of Maryland in this week's "Out Of Office."

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]]> Wes Moore has led a life that has taken him from warzones to the executive suite. He reflects on his path to the Maryland gubernatorial race on this week’s “Out of Office.”

Click here to listen to the full episode.

When Wes Moore was four years old, he watched his father die. Having been denied proper healthcare, his young father returned home, only to collapse a few days and leave his wife alone with three young children. Despite being so young at the time, the memory remains vivid for the 43-year-old Moore.

Unsurprisingly, the pivotal moment shaped the course of Moore’s life thereafter. After spending his earliest years as a fourth-generation Maryland resident through his father’s side of the family, his mother moved Wes and his sisters north to the Bronx, where she’d spent her own formative years. She searched for solace, but her vibrant, smart, and vivacious son had plans to keep her on her toes.

As Moore looks back on his journey through the ups and downs of his education and his career, he points to one repetitive lesson arc that set him on the path to where he is today: the importance of leadership. The way that he metabolized those lessons took him from the military school to the top spot at one of New York City’s most impactful nonprofits. He reflects on it all and the lessons he’s learned on this week’s episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office” podcast with Rich Kleiman and Gianni Harrell.

When Wes was 14, Moore was sent away to military school. He had been enrolled in the elite Riverdale Country School — which boasts famous alumni ranging all the way from John F. Kennedy to Tracee Ellis Ross — but he struggled to stay out of trouble both at home in the Bronx and in the school’s hallowed halls.

“So, respectfully, [did] they kick your ass out of Riverdale and say, ‘Go get it together?'” Rich asked with a laugh.

“Respectfully, yes,” Moore is quick to answer.

Years later, when he was serving as the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, Moore was invited back to the campus to give a speech and received an honorary degree, which hangs proudly in his mother’s home to this day. When the head of school took him out, he asked Moore what could have been different to make him succeed. After thinking on the question for a moment, he responded, “I wish they had talked to me, not about me.”

For Moore, this early observation stuck. As he has navigated various challenges and opportunities in his own life, he adopted a desire to listen deeply and profoundly to the people with and for whom he was working as a core ethos of his approach to leadership.

Wes Moore at the opening of his gubernatorial campaign office in Prince George’s County, Maryland (Brian Stukes/Getty Images)

On his first day in the docks at military school, Moore recalls trying to sidestep the 5:30 a.m. wakeup (assisted by the blaring sounds of Guns ‘N Roses) by throwing his pillow over his head and asking for a later alarm. Quickly, he learned that the rules served a more profound purpose than he first thought, and that his responsibility to his squad was much greater than his desire for a few more minutes of shuteye.

While he is not so revisionist in his storytelling to characterize his time at the school as a cakewalk, he’s grateful for the lessons that he learned, specifically about leadership. “There was this graduated sense of responsibility,” Moore recalls. He felt a sense of accountability and was introduced to leadership responsibilities in a compounding way, which he credits with forming his skills as they are today.

Plus, he learned to communicate, both to his squad and to his superiors, generating a sense of personal and collective responsibility that promised to unlock success.

Fast forward years later, and it was this same sense of accountability to his squad — and his country — that led Moore to leave a cushy career where he was jointly pursuing a doctorate at Oxford and to enlist and deploy to Afghanistan. He told those around him that he was “drafted,” but the reality is that he submitted a by-name request in order to fulfill his sense of commitment.

He returned from combat to resume a version of the life he had left behind. While he sat in boardrooms throughout the day, he also wrote a book about a man who had the very same name as himself — The Other Wes Moore — but followed a very different life path that landed him in Jessup Correctional Institution, just 30 miles from where Moore lived at the time. The experience of examining their lives in tandem led him to adopt a more sophisticated understanding of people, more generally.

“We’re very quick to either congratulate or to castigate. And we don’t yet even fully understand the backgrounds of what we’re talking about.”

Wes Moore speaks onstage during the Robin Hood Benefit 2019 at New York’s Javits Center, 2019 (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Robin Hood Foundation)

This deep curiosity in people led him to the Robin Hood Foundation, which has the sweeping mission to elevate New Yorkers out of poverty.

The job — “the CEO of Disney,” as Rich joked — was complex. He worked with and for everyone, from the clients that the foundation served to the top-level donors. He routinely sought out opportunities to connect with people and provide a diverse population with a seat at the table, bringing them into the design process.

But after four years, he realized his journey’s next stop was a career in politics, one that offers a chance to effect change on an even more profound sort of scale.

He sees similarities in the life of a politician to all of the careers that he has previously held. “I don’t think that progress is partisan,” he says. “I think that when it comes to being a chief executive, like the thing that you have to be committed to is the people.”

With the gubernatorial race in full swing, he’s got his eye on the governor’s mansion as the next stop in a lifetime of leadership.

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The post Wes Moore: Lessons in Leadership appeared first on Boardroom.

]]> Maryland Gubernatorial Candidate Wes Moore Opens Campaign Office LANHAM, MARYLAND - MARCH 05: Maryland gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore stands onstage during a campaign office opening in Prince George's County on March 05, 2022 in Lanham, Maryland. Wes Moore is seeking the Democratic nomination for Maryland governor in 2022 and recieved the support of Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks. (Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images) Robin Hood Benefit 2019 NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Robin Hood CEO Wes Moore speaks onstage during the Robin Hood Benefit 2019 at Jacob Javitz Center on May 13, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Robin Hood Foundation) Loading JJ Redick Stays in the Game https://boardroom.tv/redick-the-etcs-old-man-and-the-three/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:00:33 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=27001 Podcasting gave the “The Old Man and the Three” co-host a new way to connect with the game he loves. On this week’s special episode of Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast, Redick reveals he’s only

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]]> Podcasting gave the “The Old Man and the Three” co-host a new way to connect with the game he loves. On this week’s special episode of Boardroom’s “The ETCs” podcast, Redick reveals he’s only getting started.

Click here to listen to the full episode

JJ Redick spent his entire life attacking one goal and achieving the dream of playing in the NBA. But even after one of the most prolific Duke careers in the history of college basketball, and a 15-year NBA career full of deep playoff runs, there’s a lot of life left after basketball. 

Thankfully, the sharpshooter started writing his next chapter before announcing his retirement from basketball last September. 

“I was curious if I could do something besides basketball,” JJ said on a special collaboration episode between “The ETCs with KD” podcast and Redick’s own flagship pod “The Old Man and the Three.” 

His media journey started during his career after being approached by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. In the summer of 2015, Woj was building his Yahoo Sports NBA offshoot, “The Vertical,” and tapped JJ for some first-person player content. JJ balked at the idea of writing, so Woj pitched a podcast. JJ was unfamiliar with the medium, but willing to give it a shot. By February 2016, the original iteration of “The JJ Redick Podcast” was born. 

The show is believed to be the first podcast hosted by an active professional athlete, and it sparked a revolution. JJ invited guests from around the league and entertainment to swap stories as he discussed his life as the starting shooting guard of the Los Angeles Clippers. 

“I think part of the appeal of the podcast, too, in current media space this really is the meat,” JJ said on the latest episode of “The ETCs” podcast. “We can really talk hoops. There’s no commercial breaks here, man.”

JJ eventually landed at The Ringer, where he met Tommy Alter, his current co-host and business partner. After three years there, JJ and Tommy ventured off to start their own media company, ThreeFourTwo Productions — appropriately named after the number of shots JJ takes in his shooting workout routine. 

ThreeFourTwo has four podcasts under its umbrella, with plans to expand “into the worlds of business, film, television, and food using the same targeted strategies that made ‘The Old Man and the Three’ a success.” JJ is a father of two with more time now than ever to be present with his family, but he’s keeping his options open even as he grows into a full-blown multimedia star. 

“I don’t know if my life is gonna be in media,” JJ said. “I’m just open to things, and I like what I’m doing right now. When I was playing, I had the greatest job in the world. It was my dream to play in the NBA.  And then, this has just been fun. It’s been rewarding, and I like doing it.”

And for a man who spent his life playing basketball, his new endeavor is still rooted in that love. 

“It’s just a conversation about basketball,” JJ said.  “About memories, stories, connections. A lot of guys I have on, we don’t know the guy before we even have him on. But they want to come on the show, we want to have them on the show. There’s an inherent respect. Peer-to-peer, so, having conversation like that is … Man, it’s fun. It’s enjoyable. Because I love basketball. I knew I loved basketball when I played. I didn’t realize how much I loved it ’til I retired.”

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]]> JJ Redick Stays in the Game - Boardroom On this week's episode of "The ETCs," JJ Redick discusses how podcasting was the perfect next step to stay connected to the game he loves. basketball,Boardroom Talks,JJ Redick,Kevin Durant,media,NBA,Podcast,redick Loading A Spartan’s Spirit: Joe De Sena https://boardroom.tv/joe-de-sena-spartan-race/ Wed, 30 Mar 2022 14:10:36 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=post&p=26052 The Spartan Race founder reflects on the hustle he absorbed growing up in a neighborhood run by gangsters and his path from pool boy to CEO of a global company on this week’s episode

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]]> The Spartan Race founder reflects on the hustle he absorbed growing up in a neighborhood run by gangsters and his path from pool boy to CEO of a global company on this week’s episode of “Out of Office.”

Click here to listen to the full episode.

Joe De Sena had a different kind of childhood.

“If you saw Goodfellas, my family lived in ground zero for that movie. Right in Howard Beach. … Everybody in the neighborhood was was either coming out of jail, going into jail, mixing cement, or making pizza. … The common thread amongst all of them was that they all hustled. Men, women, they woke up [and] they just got it done.

“If you weren’t hustling you were left behind.”

That hustler’s spirit imprinted on the kid from Queens. On this week’s episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office” podcast with Rich Kleiman, De Sena looks back on his winding journey from starting his first business at the age of 12 to launching a global company.

De Sena’s young life was guided, in part, by the action of his surroundings.

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“I woke up as a young child and went into my garage, and there were boxes of things. And I was like, gee, why do we have a thousand pairs of leather gloves in the garage? … ‘Stuff didn’t make it where it was supposed to go,’ my father used to say. “

His father was among the many men around him who were directly or tangentially involved in “the garbage business.”

When he was a preteen, his neighbor, who was the boss of an organized crime family, promised him $35 to clean some pools, but he had three rules:

  1. On time is late.
  2. If I’m paying you to clean the pool, you gotta go above and beyond.
  3. Never ask me for money. Don’t ask anybody for money. If you do a good job, you get paid.

The young De Sena took those to heart, developing the work ethic that has served as the cornerstone of his success ever since.

For De Sena, work became a point of consistency amidst a bit of chaos in his surroundings. It afforded him control that he struggled to find elsewhere. After his grandmother’s illness brought his own mom to one of New York’s only health food stores, she had a chance encounter that led her to become a devout vegan and yogi. Soon after, his parents’ marriage unraveled, and she moved to Ithaca.

Although he spent the bulk of his time upstate, De Sena returned to Queens each weekend to keep his business intact. And it wasn’t until it was nearly too late that he realized that despite his massive success in the pool cleaning business, he wanted to try out something a little more traditional.

“I had no interest in going to college. It wasn’t on the road map,” he recalls.

This proved true until a friend of his promised that his dad, a professor at the prestigious Cornell University, could get them in even in spite of their poor grades and worse SAT scores. Although the back door plan didn’t work out for De Sena, his sights were set on a new goal, and the fact that he was told that he couldn’t go was all he needed to ensure that he did.

His hustler’s mentality led him to take a roundabout route to his degree, but after a few years of auditing classes and making up for some lost time in the classroom, De Sena was accepted. However, he continued to keep his business bustling back in Queens.

A chance encounter led him to his next career move. De Sena had evolved his business from pools to bigger jobs. One day, he was retrieving a hefty payment from a local pharmacist, when he inquired about a stock tip. In minutes, his client orchestrated a purchase of some shares, and 24 hours later, De Sena was up $100,000.

He sold his pool business to the only two people who ever matched his work ethic: two Polish guys from the neighborhood, who continue to maintain the booming business to this day.

De Sena took his talents to Wall Street, where he leaned on the same skills that had driven his success. However, he was soon disenchanted by the greed that surrounded him. Kids were grinding and making stacks of cash, but their hunger for material wealth was voracious and could never be fully fed.

“Plus, I was getting chubby,” he recalls. A lifelong fitness fanatic, De Sena began to yearn for something different.

After selling his second venture, he moved to Vermont and started Spartan Race.

By 2019, the company was firing on all cylinders. He had just purchased his primary competitor, built out a huge business in Eastern Europe, and was ready to coast after years of tireless effort.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, his races had 400,000 registrants in 45 countries clamoring for their money back.

Since then, he’s been climbing his way back out and envisioning what’s next for the Spartan Race.

These days, De Sena can be seen on CNBC’s No Retreat Business Bootcamp, where he counsels entrepreneurs on the key skills for success. Recently, he traveled to the Ukraine border to transport resources to those suffering amidst the war.

While the last few years have bruised his Spartan spirit, De Sena is clear on one thing: it can never be broken.

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]]> Loading Loading Out of Office: Joe De Sena https://boardroom.tv/out-of-office-joe-de-sena/ Wed, 30 Mar 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://boardroom.tv/?post_type=podcast-episode&p=26077 Spartan Race and Death Race Co-founder and CEO Joe De Sena speaks with Rich Kleiman about his NYC upbringing and the path that led him to his entrepreneurship journey on “Out of Office.” Click

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]]> Spartan Race and Death Race Co-founder and CEO Joe De Sena speaks with Rich Kleiman about his NYC upbringing and the path that led him to his entrepreneurship journey on “Out of Office.”

Click here to listen to the full episode.

This week’s episode of Boardroom’s “Out of Office” podcast finds a couple of native New Yorkers keeping it local.

Spartan Race co-founder Joe De Sena explains to Rich Kleiman the ways in which the neighborhood that raised him resembled Goodfellas and how a fateful pool-cleaning opportunity laid the groundwork for his origin story as an entrepreneur. He ended up making stops at both Cornell University and the wide world of Wall Street, where the values he witnessed

His desire to pivot to something purer led to the creation of the Spartan Race, one of the world’s most popular obstacle course racing competitions.

Additional topics on the pod include how De Sena developed a strategy for building a brand, learning resilience in the face of setbacks, and No Retreat: Business Bootcamp, his new show on CNBC.

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