The Varsity

Paul Rabil, co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League, joins John for a deep dive into the PLL’s new five-year media rights deal with ESPN, which includes an equity stake from the network. Rabil charts the PLL’s growth trajectory, teases expansion plans, and explains why the 2028 Olympics could be a turning point for lacrosse as a global sport.

Alexi Lalas, Fox Sports analyst and former American soccer star, swings by the pod for a wide-ranging discussion about the accelerated growth of soccer in the U.S. Alexis lays out the MLS roadmap to global relevance, celebrates the rise of the NWSL, and explains why he’s bullish on the 2026 World Cup—and what this all means for the future of the sport in the U.S.

CNBC’s Alex Sherman returns to the pod to gab about the biggest forces reshaping sports media—from the streaming ambitions of Amazon, Google, and Netflix, to the accelerating collapse of linear TV, epitomized by the dual Comcast and WBD divorces. They also size up the precarious futures of F1, UFC, and MLB media rights—and what comes next for the ever-evolving sports landscape.

The legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins John for a rollicking discussion about the future of motorsport. He delves into NASCAR’s expansion into Mexico City and the opportunities of international racing; shares his thoughts on F1’s hospitality and accessibility compared to NASCAR; discusses Amazon Prime’s gripping four-part documentary series on his father; and much more.

LightShed’s Rich Greenfield joins John to break down the myriad implications of Zaslav’s WBD spin-off. With both Comcast and WBD laying down a roadmap for exiting the linear era, Rich weighs in on whether Disney and Paramount will follow suit. Then they chart the fate of TNT and WBD’s sports rights—and why WBD will likely avoid any major sports acquisitions for the foreseeable future.

Len Perna, founder of the executive search firm TurnkeyZRG, joins John for a wide-ranging conversation on the shifting landscape of college sports. They unpack the fallout from the NCAA’s landmark House settlement, trends in athletic director hires, the real estate gold rush on campuses, and why the next wave of roles might be titled ‘C.E.O. of Athletics.’

ESPN’s Don Van Natta returns to the pod with the scoop on a new FBI investigation into OneTeam Partners—the licensing company backed by the NFL and MLB player associations and RedBird Capital. Van Natta breaks down the opaque finances, the major players under scrutiny, and why some insiders suspect a potential Trump linkage. Then they dig into the growing threat of an MLB work stoppage next season as the owners and league’s unions clash over salary cap reforms.

Chris Eubanks, TNT’s French Open analyst (and professional tennis player, himself) joins the pod to discuss the state of tennis in the U.S. He unpacks the surge of homegrown talent, the media’s role in turning players into personalities, and what it’ll take to bring casual fans into the fold. Eubanks also shares what it’s like to straddle the broadcast booth and the court.

ESPN’s Seth Wickersham joins John to break down all of his remarkable inside reporting from last week’s NFL owners meetings in Minnesota. They discuss what it all portends for the league, before turning to Seth’s forthcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback. Finally, they dig into all the latest drama surrounding Bill Belichick.

CBS Sports’ Pete Radovich joins John for an in-depth conversation about the UEFA Champions League. Pete reflects on the evolution of CBS’s coverage, the challenge of preserving its distinctive vibe amid personnel changes, and how they’ve optimized social media to deepen fan engagement. Then he previews the upcoming Champions League finals between PSG and Inter Milan—and their special watch-along event with David Beckham on Paramount+.