The sport of Lacrosse gets headline billing in our latest episode as USA Lacrosse CEO Marc Riccio joins DP & McGhee to talk about the growth of the sport, the upcoming Women’s World Championships and the chances we’ll see lacrosse in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Once again, the show takes up the biggest story in golf since the development of the mashie niblick, LIV Golf. It has roiled the golf world, with geopolitical implications and ongoing impact on players, broadcasters, sponsors and fans. Additional topics include the NBA Finals, Apple TV+ and MLS’s blockbuster announcement, and more.

With just two weeks before NASCAR makes the leap from Fox Sports to NBC, DP & McGhee are joined by NASCAR on NBC commentator, Jeff Burton.  A 21-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, Burton talks about the differences between when he raced and the experience his son Harrison is having as a Cup Series Driver today. He also talks in great depth about the importance of sponsors and how the drivers, fans and sponsors all benefit from each other. Also discussed on episode 22: the crazy money being thrown around by LIV Golf, the disappointing NBA Finals ratings (to date), Jersey Mike’s at Roland Garros, and Dan Snyder’s continued troubles.  

At the opening of every episode of "Wait...What?," it is stated that the podcast takes a “sometimes serious” look at the business of sports.  That was definitely the case this week as DP & McGhee discuss the sports world’s response to the horrible tragedy in Uvalde, TX.  As the show continues, your co-hosts talk about this past weekend's Indy 500 (raced in front of a capacity crowd at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) and also lobby for media credentials, shuttle tickets and housing for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As we enter the conference finals stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL’s Chief Business Officer, Keith Wachtel, joins the #sportsbiz chat to talk about how sponsors, betting opportunities, and the new broadcast partners have created more and deeper fan engagement opportunities.

DP & McGhee cover a lot of ground in their 20th episode.  They start by discussing the upcoming NCAA Lacrosse Championships and segue into the historic agreement that guarantees pay equity in US Soccer.  They then discuss the recently completed PGA Championship and the sponsorship fallout for players choosing to play in the upcoming LIV Golf events.

Seasoned sponsorship marketer, Mike McCann then joins the program to talk about Amazon’s approach to sponsorships, including the strategy behind their unique naming rights deal of Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena.

DP & McGhee are joined on this episode by Donald Dell, the legendary sports marketer who was one of the industry’s true pioneers.  Dell talks about the evolution of the sports marketing industry from its beginnings over 50 years ago to the global business it has become, and drops a lot of knowledge about persistence, relationships and, yes, tennis. The hosts also talk about the latest news in the LIV Golf/PGA TOUR saga, the “sportswashing” being done by the Saudi government to attract top athletes and events, and then transition to a discussion about the prospects for continued growth in women’s sports.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we seek to shine a light on this important topic by welcoming Suraj Batheja, co-founder and COO of The Manifest Company. Suraj provides some excellent advice on how to practice mindfulness and the importance of taking care of your mental health. DP & McGhee open the chat on F1's continued success, including the success of the inaugural Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, Liberty Media's Q1 earnings and the upcoming media rights deal. David continues to be skeptical about Tom Brady's transition from the field to the broadcast booth following Fox Sports' big investment in the GOAT. Other topics touched on include a few old standbys, cricket and NIL, and the incredible finish in the Kentucky Derby.

DP & McGhee open the show talking about the future of the NCAA as it seeks to find its next leader following the recent announcement that current president, Mark Emmert, will be stepping down. The pair also discuss the size and scope of the sport of cricket as it continues to make inroads in the US, and after talking about the recently completed NFL draft and the success seen by the NHL's new media partners, your co-hosts introduce this week’s guest, Kelly Flatow of the NBA. Kelly has had a long and storied career in sports and entertainment, and she provides great insight into how the NBA managed through “The Bubble," its plans for growth, and the league's commitment to social justice issues, among other topics.

What can we say, we love alliteration. Ty Tumminia, former Commissioner of the Premier Hockey Federation, talks about her long and storied career in minor league baseball and women’s hockey, growing up in a baseball family and her bullish outlook on women's sports. DP & McGhee talk about the rapidly changing world of digital media, including the impact Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter might have on the sports business, and how Netflix’s recent challenges could impact their sports strategy.  The hosts also talk about the All England Club’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from this year’s Wimbledon.  The discussion wraps up with about the growth of Las Vegas as a home to major league teams and host to big-time sports events.

Howard Schacter, Chief Communications Officer for MariMed, a vertically integrated marijuana company, joins DP & McGhee to talk about the state of the cannabis industry. He also gives the real 411 on 4/20 and talks about some of the great campaigns he's executed over the course of his storied career. Tim and David also dish on the USFL, Jackie Robinson Day, the upcoming Chelsea sale and 70s stadium rock. They also look at one of the unintended consequences of NIL, namely tax bills some student-athletes didn't see coming.

With the NBA playoffs tipping off this week, Peter Feigin, president of the defending champion, Milwaukee Bucks, joins DP & McGhee for this week’s episode. Feigin discusses how winning a championship has helped the Bucks build a global brand in countries like the Philippines. He also talks about the importance of speaking truth to power when it comes to issues of social justice and race relations. No discussion about the Bucks would be complete without mentioning Giannis Antetokounmpo and Peter lets us in on how he reacted when the team re-signed the Greek Freak to a Super Max contract. DP & McGhee also talk Buffalo Bills new stadium deal, The Masters and NCAA viewership.  And, of course, McGhee goes out on a limb to make very specific prediction about the NBA playoffs.