Episode 143 | DP & McGhee return with their third episode of the year and dive headfirst into the rapidly evolving—and increasingly complicated—world of college sports. From championship glory to courtroom drama, the hosts break down the biggest stories shaping the collegiate landscape before welcoming a true industry luminary for a wide-ranging conversation on sports marketing, leadership, and legacy.

🏆 College Football Championship Recap — Indiana completes a perfect 16–0 season with a title-game victory over Miami, powered by another standout performance from Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
⚖️ NIL Meets the Courtroom — Duke University files suit alleging quarterback Darian Mensah breached his contract, raising new questions about enforcement and accountability in the NIL era.
🎲 NCAA Basketball Betting Scandal — The latest gambling controversy puts integrity, oversight, and athlete vulnerability back in the spotlight.
🕵️ Federal Scrutiny on Agents — The FTC steps in to examine agent conduct with student-athletes, signaling potential regulatory shifts ahead.

⚾🏀 CBA Watch: MLB & WNBA Negotiations — The hosts dig into the shifting labor landscape across MLB (in light of Kyle Tucker's signing with Dodgers), and WNBA.

🎙️ Guest Spotlight: Mike Reisman — The hosts are joined by sports marketing luminary Mike Reisman, founder and former managing partner of Velocity Sports & Entertainment (later part of MKTG). Mike reflects on building culture, navigating change in the industry, and the meaningful work he continues to do to honor his wife’s legacy.

As always, DP & McGhee blend sharp analysis with real-world experience to make sense of a sports business landscape that never stops changing.

Wait, What?

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

Episode 142 | In Episode 2 of Season 5, David and Tim roll with the changes as several major 2026 storylines continue to take shape across the sports business landscape.

🏁 NASCAR made a headline-grabbing move by announcing a return to the Chase format to determine its champion. David also points out why NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell being front and center for the announcement matters more than it might seem.

⛳ Big golf news as Brooks Koepka confirmed his intention to return to the PGA TOUR. But for Koepka — and others considering a move back from LIV Golf — the financial and contractual costs won’t be insignificant.

🏀 The guys agree that the WNBA’s decision to delay the free agency period is another encouraging sign in what continues to be a productive and thoughtful labor negotiation process.

And finally… Let’s Go Bears.

Wait, What?

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

Episode 141 | Season 5 of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP and McGhee kicks off with the annual tradition: Prediction Day. David and Tim look back at their 2025 calls to see what held up, what missed, and what changed—then turn their attention forward with a fresh set of bold (and occasionally risky) predictions for 2026, all against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving sports business landscape.

🔄 Season 5 opens with DP & McGhee reviewing last year’s predictions and setting the table for their 2026 outlook

🏁 A major NASCAR leadership shakeup as Commissioner Steve Phelps steps down following the release of unflattering internal communications tied to the settled 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit

⛳ Golf’s power dynamics shift as Brooks Koepka announces his departure from LIV Golf—and what it could signal for the future of the breakaway league

📺 Live sports continue to dominate as the hosts unpack the staggering stat that 96 of the top 100 U.S. TV broadcasts in 2025 were sporting events

🔮 Looking ahead with bold predictions and big-picture thinking on what 2026 may hold for leagues, media, brands, and the business of sports

A season-opening episode that blends accountability, insight, and forward-looking analysis—classic DP & McGhee.

Wait, What?

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

Episode 140 | In this episode of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee, David and Tim open with a wide-ranging look at the evolving power structure of college football — from conference brinkmanship and private equity to leadership dynamics at the highest levels of the sport.

The conversation then shifts to purpose and impact with Flo Bryan, Chief Corporate Alliance Officer at Make-A-Wish, exploring how sports marketing principles can drive meaningful outcomes well beyond the field.

In this episode:
🏈 A deep dive into college football power dynamics, leadership, and institutional credibility
🔥 Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark vs. Notre Dame, calling Pete Bevacqua’s comments “egregious” and escalating conference rhetoric
💼 The Big 12’s credit deal with RedBird Capital and Weatherford Capital — and what it signals for the future of conferences
💰 Utah’s reported $500M private equity deal with Otro Capital and its broader implications for college athletics
🚨 The latest University of Michigan football scandal, with head coach Sherrone Moore fired for cause
🎤 Vanderbilt QB and Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia’s outburst at the Heisman voting academy — and the apology that followed
🏁 The NASCAR settlement with two teams and why it could reshape the sport’s competitive and business landscape

🌟 Featured conversation with Flo Bryan (Make-A-Wish):
• Her career spanning sports and nonprofit leadership
• The intersection of sports marketing and cause marketing
• Applying lessons from elite sports organizations to drive impact in the nonprofit world

From boardrooms to locker rooms to wish-granting, this episode examines what it truly means to lead from ahead in modern sports — and beyond.

Wait, What?

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

Episode 139 |

David and Tim roll out their first-ever special episode to break down the high-stakes antitrust case recently settled between Front Row Motorsports, 23XI Racing, and NASCAR.

They’re joined by Sports Business Journal motorsports insider Adam Stern, who had a front-row seat to every twist and turn after spending nearly two weeks inside the courtroom.

Adam delivers fresh insight into how the settlement came together before pulling listeners inside the trial itself — unpacking pivotal testimony, unexpected revelations, and the strategic maneuvers that shaped both sides’ cases.

He closes with a forward-looking assessment of what this outcome means for NASCAR, its teams, and the broader future of the sport.

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

𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩, 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩?

Episode 138 |

DP & McGhee are fired up to welcome Michael Payne, the former head of marketing for the International Olympic Committee and author of the new book Fast Tracks and Dark Deals, for a deep dive into his 50-year journey through the global sports industry. Payne shares stories from the Olympic movement, his high-stakes work with Bernie Ecclestone at Formula 1, and encounters with sports business giants including past guests Rob Prazmark and Terence Burns.

Before his segment, the guys run through a lively mix of soccer, college football, and sponsorship headlines.

🎭 A FIFA Draw That Drew…Criticism
A breakdown of the widely panned made-for-TV FIFA Draw — plus more than one laugh at the Great One, Wayne Gretzky.

⚽ MLS Cup Delivers the Beautiful Game
A look at the Inter Miami vs. Vancouver Whitecaps clash and why it reaffirmed soccer’s timeless appeal.

🏈 College Football Playoff Frustration
David and Tim discuss the upcoming CFP and Notre Dame’s reasonable disappointment at being left out of the top 12, but question their decision to opt out of a bowl game appearance.

💼 Spotlight on Sponsorships
Quick hits on:

• PayPal’s new NFL partnership

• Toyota Gazoo Racing becoming new title partner of Haas F1, replacing DP's former employer, MoneyGram

• The first-ever college jersey patch sponsor

🏅 Michael Payne Joins the Show
Five decades of lessons from the man who helped build the modern Olympic commercial model — and later navigated the high-stakes world of Formula 1.

—

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

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟳 | In this episode of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee, David and Tim welcome sports business leader Sarah Cummins, CEO of World Sevens Football. Sarah shares her dynamic career journey—from an early internship with the New York Mets to influential roles at WWE, the USTA, and New York Road Runners—before taking the helm of an ambitious new women’s soccer property.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, innovation, and what it takes to build a sports brand from the ground up.

Before Sarah joins, DP & McGhee dive into the latest headlines:

🏈 Lane Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss — The guys break down Kiffin’s departure, his long history of abrupt exits and firings, and what this move means for the SEC and college football landscape.
🏎️ NASCAR vs. 23XI & Front Row Motorsports Trial — An update on the legal battle, the financial stakes, and whether a settlement might be brewing.
⚽ MLS Cup Heads to South Florida — A marquee Messi vs. Müller showdown and what it means for MLS’s visibility and momentum.
📺 MLB’s New Media Rights Deal — DP gives a crisp overview of the newly announced package and its implications for teams, fans, and broadcasters.

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

Episode 136 | In this episode of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee, the guys welcome Campus Multimedia Founder & CEO Karl Mawhinney for a deep dive into how brands can authentically connect with K–12 schools across the country.

Karl shares how lessons from his collegiate sports career translate to elementary, middle, and high school environments — and how his platform, SponsorPlace, supports principals, administrators, and athletic directors navigating today’s rapidly changing landscape.

Before Karl joins, DP & McGhee tackle a busy week in sports business news:

⚽ MLS Shakes Things Up — The league unveils a major shift as it prepares to align with the global football calendar in 2027.
📺 A More Accessible MLS — A tweak to the Apple TV deal expected to make match access easier for supporters.
🛰️ Disney & YouTubeTV Make Peace — David breathes a sigh of relief as ESPN and other Disney networks return to the platform.
🏀 NBA All-Star Game Tweaks — Both hosts cautiously praise the updated format, though Tim questions how international stars may be affected.
🎲 Another Betting Scandal? — The guys weigh in on a developing story tied to alleged gambling activity in Turkish football.

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

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟱 | In this episode of Wait, What? Sportsbiz Chat with DP & McGhee, the guys cover a full slate of breaking stories — and a powerful conversation with one of NASCAR’s most respected executives. From gambling scandals to leadership legacies, they explore what it really means to “lead from ahead.”

🎰 𝗠𝗟𝗕’𝘀 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘆 — and what it means for the league’s integrity

📺 𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 — what went wrong and what’s next

🏈 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗲’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 on the NFL

🏟️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗.𝗖. 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀

🏁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻, 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗯𝗯𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀: 

• The winning culture Joe Gibbs has built over 30+ years 

• What makes JGR stand apart in the NASCAR landscape 

• His take on the current and future NASCAR championship format

Leadership, integrity, and culture — it’s all on the track in this week’s Wait, What?Smart takes. Occasional nonsense. Always at the corner of Sports & Business.

𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟭𝟯𝟰 | David and Tim are in full nostalgia mode this week as they count down their 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. From classics to cult favorites, there’s some overlap, plenty of surprises, and a few shocking omissions — you’ll have to tune in to hear which films made their lists.

In between cinematic debates, the guys dive into some of the biggest stories in sports business this week:

⚾ 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽-𝗨𝗽: A championship that delivered both on the field and in the ratings — why this one was a win for MLB.🏁 𝗡𝗔𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗥 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆: Kyle Larson clinches his second Cup Series title, capping an extraordinary season, and denying Denny Hamlin is much-coveted championship.

🏈 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗹: Another week, another firing — this time Auburn parts ways with Hugh Freeze.

⛳𝗟𝗜𝗩 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗳 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: New developments from the still-upstart tour and what it means for golf’s future.

🏀 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲: An Atlanta Hawks executive accused of embezzlement.

📺 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵: David shares his personal stake in the Disney vs. YouTube TV dispute, with insights on how these standoffs impact fans and networks alike.

🎬 Whether you’re a movie buff or a sportsbiz junkie, this episode is a fun mix of nostalgia, news, and no-holds-barred opinions from DP & McGhee.

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