𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝟰 | 𝗗𝗣 & 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗵𝗲𝗲

In this episode, David and Tim sit down with Keith Gill, Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, for an open and wide-ranging conversation on the future of college sports. Gill shares his perspective on the College Football Playoff expansion, the transfer portal, and reflects on his own journey as a student-athlete at Duke University.

Before Gill joins the show, DP & McGhee break down some of the hottest topics in sports business:
⛳ PGA TOUR initiative: CEO Brian Rolapp establishes a new Future Competition Committee, with Tiger Woods as chair
⚾ MLB’s evolving media strategy: Netflix secures streaming rights to the Home Run Derby
🏀 NBA ownership moves: Finalization of the Celtics and Trail Blazers team sales
👏 WNBA milestone: Record-setting league attendance

And, a tribute to a motorsports marketing legend, Humpy Wheeler. 🏁

A jam-packed episode covering pro leagues, media, and the ever-changing college sports landscape.

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁, 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁?

Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business.

Episode 123 | DP & McGhee

In this episode, David Paro and Tim McGhee kick things off with their signature Spotlight on Sponsorships before diving into big stories across the sports business landscape. They wrap things up with a conversation with Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and CEO of Winners Alliance.

✨ Spotlight on Sponsorships
🏟️ Olympic Venue Naming Rights – LA2028 makes history by selling venue naming rights, while iconic sites like Dodger Stadium and the Rose Bowl remain untouched.
🚗 NASCAR Series Title Change – O’Reilly Auto Parts replaces Xfinity as the title sponsor of NASCAR’s second series, creating a strong endemic fit.
🪖 USAA & NFL – USAA renews its long-standing partnership with the NFL, with DP highlighting Tim’s role in the original deal.

📑 Around the Leagues
🏒 NHL CBA Quietly Renewed – A major labor milestone passes with little fanfare.
🏈 Football Headlines – Updates on the Brian Flores discrimination case, more turbulence within the NFLPA, and NCAA sanctions for Michigan football.

🎾 Guest Spotlight: Ahmad Nassar
David and Tim welcome Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the PTPA and CEO of Winners Alliance. He shares:

• The PTPA’s mission to give tennis players a stronger collective voice and improve their careers both on and off the court.

• The difference and similarities between various players associations.

• His experience as a leader at NFL Players, Inc.

Wait, What?
Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business.

Episode 122 | DP & McGhee
Co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee open with a sharp look at recent headline-making moves in sports media. They break down the NFL’s $2.5B stake in ESPN—part of a massive $25B valuation—and Fox Sports’ strategic investment in IndyCar, exploring how these deals could reshape the sports broadcast and rights landscape.
The discussion then tackles the troubling persistence of sexism and misogyny in sports. DP & McGhee address incidents like sex toys being thrown onto the court at WNBA games, and examine both the progress and pushback faced by Jen Pawol, MLB’s first female umpire, who recently made history in Atlanta.
This week’s guest is Liz DiLullo Brown, EVP and Chief Marketing & Business Relationships Officer for Little League International. Liz shares insights from the just-completed Little League Softball World Series and previews the Little League World Series, beginning August 13 in Williamsport, PA. She explains how Little League is evolving to stay culturally relevant and details the organization’s growing partnership with Major League Baseball to inspire the next generation of athletes.
𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀. 𝗢𝗰𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲. 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 & 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.
𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁, 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁?

Episode 121 | DP & McGhee

In this Legends Series episode of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee, co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee sit down with industry pioneer Frank Vuono — a true architect of the modern sports marketing era. From supercharging the NFL’s licensing operation in the 1980s to co-founding ISI and 16W Marketing, Frank shares hard-earned insights and behind-the-scenes stories from a remarkable career spent working with some of the biggest names in sports.

But first, DP & McGhee run through another wild week in sports:

⚽ MLS Mashup: No vote yet on switching to the international soccer calendar — plus Messi and Jordi Alba face suspensions after skipping the All-Star Game.
🧠 NFL HQ Shooting & CTE: A tragic incident at the NFL’s office building leads to broader questions around mental health and its connection to CTE — a thread picked up from last week's powerful convo with Leonard Marshall.
⚾ Legends Lost: Honoring two icons — baseball great Ryne Sandberg and wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan.
💥 Bryce vs. The Boss: Bryce Harper stirs the pot again, this time calling out MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business.
Bold conversations. Real legends. Only on Wait, What?

Episode 120 | DP & McGhee

In this wide-ranging episode, co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee sit down with former New York Giants star Leonard Marshall. Known for his dominant play on the field, Marshall opens up about his legendary NFL career, his championship days in New York, and his impressive post-football business ventures. But before welcoming Leonard, the hosts take a lap around the world of sports and culture with their trademark wit and insight.

Here’s what they cover:

🎸 RIP to a Rock Icon
The hosts reflect on the passing of Ozzy Osbourne and his cultural impact well beyond music.

🏀 WNBA Making Waves

• The All-Star Game fashion statement: players sported T-shirts calling for a new CBA

• Questions around the quality of play in the game itself

• Paige Bueckers goes public with her relationship with former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd

• How WNBA players are strategically messaging their demands for progress

🏌️ Open Championship Recap
Scottie Scheffler adds another major to his résumé with a win at The Open.

🏈 NFLPA in Flux
More drama within the NFL Players Association as internal upheaval continues.

💬 Then it’s time to go deep with Leonard Marshall — NFL great, business leader, and true renaissance man.

Tune in for a blend of sports nostalgia, breaking headlines, and sharp commentary that only DP & McGhee can deliver.
Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business.
Bold conversations, powered by Wait, What?

Episode 119 | DP & McGhee

DP & McGhee return with a wide-ranging look at the latest in sports and sports business — from the All-Star Game to a possible showdown in MLB labor talks.

They also break down the shocking indictment of Oak View Group Founder & CEO, Tim Leiweke, and what it means for the future of OVG and other management firms.

Also in this episode:
🌭 Joey Chestnut’s wildest records
🎾 Wimbledon on and off the court
🏆 Chelsea’s Club World Cup beatdown of PSG
🏁 Shane van Gisbergen keeps dominating road courses

From labor disputes to competitive eating, it’s all in play.

Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business.
Bold conversations, fresh from the pod — this is Wait, What?

Episode 118 | DP & McGhee

🎙️ Hot Takes on Hot Dogs
Co-hosts David Paro and Tim McGhee kick off with the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, praising Joey Chestnut’s continued dominance while diving into the controversy surrounding the women’s winner’s disqualification.

⭐ WNBA All-Star Pay & Player Power Moves
The hosts spotlight the modest All-Star bonuses for WNBA players and the Players Association’s rejection of the league’s initial CBA proposal. Plus, they dig into a potential conflict of interest as Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart wear multiple hats—as union leaders and co-founders of the rival Unrivaled league.

🏁 NASCAR in the Windy City
David recaps the Chicago Street Race, won by Shane van Gisbergen, and debates whether the event has staying power on NASCAR’s calendar.

📺 Politics, Paramount & CBS Sports
The show takes a turn toward politics, reacting to Paramount’s $16.5M settlement with Donald Trump and asking what it could mean for CBS Sports’ brand partners.

🇨🇦 Bills Mafia Border Woes?
Could Canadian Bills fans bail on games this season? Tim flags some cross-border red tape that might hit home attendance.

🥎 Feature Interview: Vanessa Taveras – Athletes Unlimited
Vanessa Taveras, Chief Partnerships Officer at Athletes Unlimited, joins to talk about:
• The surge in women’s sports
• What makes the AU Softball league unique
• How she pitches AU to brands looking for authentic, athlete-first platforms

🎧 A jam-packed episode that blends hot dogs, fast laps, political shakeups, and the future of women-led sports leagues.

Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business. Don’t miss this episode of Wait, What?

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝟳 | 𝗗𝗣 & 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗵𝗲𝗲

This week, DP & McGhee sit down with Scott Carmichael, founder and CEO of Prodigy Search — one of the most trusted names in executive search across sports. From Lakers ball boy to front-office insider, Scott shares what’s changed in the hiring game and what’s next for leadership in sports.

Also: It’s July 1 — which means birthdays, Bonilla, and a few curveballs from the sports business world.

🎙️ Scott Carmichael on
His path from ball boy to CEO
How the search business has evolved
What hiring companies and candidates often get wrong
The next wave of leadership in sports

🎂 July 1 Highlights
Debbie Harry turns 80
NIL anniversary — how college sports changed 💰
Bobby Bonilla Day (yes, again) ⚾💸
A nod to Red Dawn, the first PG-13 movie 🎬

📈 SportsBiz Rundown
Malik Beasley investigation 🕵️‍♂️
WNBA expansion updates 🏀
Big sponsorships from AARP, MGM, and PayPal 🤝
FIFA Club World Cup status check 🌍⚽

🎥 David reviews the F1 movie
Start your engines — it’s a hit. 🏎️🔥

Fast Takes. Smart Analysis. Always at the intersection of sports and business. Don’t miss this episode of Wait, What?

Episode 116 | DP & McGhee
This week, we tackle the biggest headlines in the sports business — from NBA expansion rumors to Wrexham’s stunning $475M valuation — and then sit down with Julie Giese, President of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race.

We cover:
• Julie’s path from Watkins Glen to Phoenix to the heart of Chicago
• How NASCAR brought racing to city streets — and pulled it off
• What it really takes to grow a career in sports

Plus:
• $10B Lakers valuation — and what it means for expansion fees
• Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance at Pocono
• Manchester United ticket prices on the rise
• Who scored (and who slid) in the NBA & NHL Finals TV#s
• Haliburton’s injury and the Pacers’ outlook

🎧 Fast takes. Smart analysis. Always at the intersection of sports and business.
Don’t miss this episode of Wait, What?

115 | DP & McGhee

What's behind the headlines in sports this week? DP & McGhee serve up another fast-paced rundown of the latest in the business of sport:

 PGA TOUR Enterprises makes a power move, naming Brian Rolapp (former NFL media chief) as CEO. What does this mean for the future of the TOUR and any potential reunification with players on the LIV Tour?

 Scott O’Neil and Chris Heck are back together—this time at LIV Golf.

 JJ Spaun stuns the field and captures the U.S. Open—we look at what his win means.

 FIFA Club World Cup struggles to sell tickets in the U.S.—Was this a complete miss by FIFA?

 WNBA is in talks with ION for renewing media rights. Should the players be at the table?

 NASCAR was in Mexico City—What was the reception? You'll hear a few different narratives.

🎧 Fast takes. Smart analysis. Always at the intersection of sports and business. Don’t miss this episode of Wait, What?