The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about the state of baseball (including the sorry state of the Yankees) and break down Paramount's massive new deal with the UFC. Then, they speak with Allyson Felix about how she parlayed her legendary track and field career into unexpected activism in the world of business. Felix tells the hosts why it was important for her to stand up for mothers' rights in her fight against Nike and how speaking up – and changing the company's policies – ignited an entrepreneurial zeal to change the business of shoes (via her company Saysh) and talent management (her firm Always Alpha).

You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about Stanford’s surprising pick for its new athletic director, and the drama taking place at the NFL Players Association. Then, they speak with DeMaurice Smith about his time as the Executive Director of the NFLPA and his new book, "Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America's Game," which gives an inside look at the league. Smith dishes on the NFL’s 2011 lockout, lessons learned about leadership and negotiation from other union bosses, and what it was like sitting across the negotiating table from giants like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly speak with Haley Rosen about why she founded “Just Women’s Sports,” the media company focused solely on – you guessed it – women's sports. Rosen tells the hosts how she got investors to see the coverage as a real business and not a charity, how she is both creating and leveraging this moment of fandom for women’s sports, and why she thinks the media industry needs to “feel incredible urgency” to keep this moment going.

You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez tells Jason Kelly about his plans for celebrating his 50th birthday. Then, they speak with Mayor Muriel Bowser about the biggest sports deal in Washington, D.C.’s history. Bowser tells the hosts what lies ahead for a D.C. Council vote on the deal to bring the Washington Commanders to RFK Stadium, how she got Ted Leonsis to keep the Washington Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics in the nations’ capital, and why sports and politics go together. 

You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez tells Jason Kelly about his experience at the MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta. Then, they speak with Sam Kennedy about his “bold decision making” as President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox. Kennedy tells the hosts how he handles tough decisions like trading Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, why buying Liverpool FC is proof that “there's really no bad ideas,” and why he decided to invest in the PGA Tour.

You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez tells Jason Kelly how he’s feeling leading up to his first press conference as the owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx at the NBA’s Summer League, and what he’s looking forward to at the MLB All-Star Game next week. Then, they speak with Will Ahmed about how he came to found the fitness tracker Whoop. Ahmed tells the hosts the unique way he got early adapters Michael Phelps and LeBron James to try his product, which investor he was most excited to bring on board, and what it’s like competing with giants like Nike and Apple.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez tells Jason Kelly how he has felt since finalizing his ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. Then, they speak with Michelle Wie West about what she learned during her impressive golf career. West tells the hosts why she was excited to invest in Togethxr to promote women’s golf, why she sees potential in the new simulator golf league TGL, and what she learned from her father-in-law, the late NBA great Jerry West.

You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with iconic football coach Bill Belichick and Bridgewater's legendary founder Ray Dalio about their guiding principles for success. Belichick tells the hosts how he was inspired by Dalio’s book “Principles” to write “The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football,” and why he’s excited for a new challenge coaching at the University of North Carolina. Dalio meanwhile recounts how his principles have become tools that can be applied across industries.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with David Blitzer, Blackstone’s chairman and the co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, about how his teams use data and analytics to improve fan experience. In this conversation, which was taped in front of an audience at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Blitzer tells the hosts how a “failed athlete” came to be the first person to own teams in all five major American sports leagues, what he’s doing to invest in the “massively fragmented” world of youth sports and why having a favorite sports team is like having a favorite child. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Magic Johnson, the iconic point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. In their conversation, taped in front of a live audience at the Milken Global Conference, Johnson reveals what he’s learned from his “greatest deal,” becoming part of the Washington Commanders ownership group. He also explains why pitching himself as a partner to the Starbucks board was the hardest thing he’s ever done, and how much it meant to win an Olympic gold medal alongside Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.