The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes

The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes

More than 400% growth in just five years. So how did a backyard game become one of the biggest business stories in sports? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Rusty Howes, founder of Pickleball Channel, for an inside look at the explosive growth of America's fastest-growing sport. From producing some of the sport’s earliest media coverage to documenting pickleball’s remarkable growth, Howes gives us the inside story of the game’s popularity and rapid expansion. They talk about private equity, media, professional tours, equipment manufacturers, and the role youth sports play in opening up new opportunities and growing pains for the sport. The conversation wraps with a look at the future of pickleball and what comes next for an industry centered around a multigenerational model with building community as its north star.

Beyond the Ballcap: Bruce Popko on New Era, Global Sports Business and Building an Iconic Brand

What does it take to build one of the world's most recognizable sports brands? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Popko, President of New Era Cap, the Buffalo-based company that has become a global leader in licensed sports headwear and apparel. Popko discusses New Era's remarkable growth from a fourth-generation family business into a worldwide brand with operations spanning 16 countries and partnerships across every major professional sports league. He explains how the company's acquisition of ’47, an American lifestyle brand strengthened its position in the marketplace while allowing both brands to maintain distinct identities. The conversation explores the intersection of sports, fashion and entertainment, including the evolution of licensed merchandise and celebrity collaborations, including the legendary story of Spike Lee asking for the creation of a red NY Yankees ballcap. They talk about product placement and how fans increasingly use apparel as a form of self-expression. Popko also shares insights into emerging opportunities in college athletics, NIL, global expansion, golf, entertainment licensing and the future of sports merchandising as leagues, brands and media companies continue to collaborate in new ways.

A Runner's Journey: Bruce Kidd on Sport, Social Change and the Power of an Athlete's Voice

What responsibility do athletes have beyond competition? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Bruce Kidd, one of Canada's most celebrated distance runners, a former Olympian, scholar, author, and Officer of the Order of Canada. Kidd reflects on his remarkable journey from a teenager discovering a talent for running in Toronto to representing Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Along the way, he shares how sport became much more than competition, serving as a lens through which he explored politics, economics, culture, and social change. During his decades-long efforts to challenge racism, sexism, and inequality in sport, he experienced how athletes can use their platforms to create meaningful change and why sports remain one of society's most powerful mirrors. Kidd also addresses two issues currently driving his advocacy work: the rapid expansion of sports betting and its impact on athletes and fans, and the ongoing debate surrounding sex testing and eligibility policies in international sport. The episode concludes with a discussion of Kidd's memoir, A Runner's Journey, which chronicles his athletic career, academic work, and lifelong commitment to making sport more inclusive and equitable.

Building Sports Careers Online: Dr. Lynn Lashbrook on NIL, Networking and Sports Management Worldwide

What does it take to turn a passion for sports into a career? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, founder and president of Sports Management Worldwide, a global sports education company that has helped more than 30,000 graduates from 164 countries pursue careers throughout the sports industry. Lashbrook shares his remarkable journey from athlete, coach, and university administrator to sports agent and entrepreneur, explaining how a chance encounter with the early internet and the release of Jerry Maguire helped inspire a business that has connected aspiring sports professionals with opportunities around the world. Unlike traditional sports management programs, Sports Management Worldwide delivers its curriculum entirely online through courses taught by industry professionals in sports. Lashbrook explains how the organization's global classroom model connects students from around the world with executives, agents, scouts, broadcasters and analysts, creating opportunities that extend far beyond a traditional campus experience. Lashbrook also offers an insider's perspective on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), calling it one of the most significant transformations in modern sports. He discusses how NIL is creating new opportunities for athletes, families, advisors and aspiring sports professionals while reshaping college athletics.

Is Dance a Sport? Tony Bellissimo Says Absolutely.

What happens when a multi-sport athlete discovers that his greatest talent is on the dance floor rather than on the field or the ice? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome Buffalo native Tony Bellissimo, a professional dancer, choreographer, actor and educator whose career has taken him from local sports fields and dance studios to some of the biggest stages in entertainment. Bellissimo shares how growing up playing hockey, lacrosse and soccer helped shape the discipline, competitiveness and work ethic that ultimately propelled him into the professional dance world. Along the way, he has performed alongside some of music's biggest stars, including Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Chris Brown, while building a career that has taken him around the world. The conversation explores the athletic demands of professional dance, the realities of auditioning and competing at the highest level, and why Bellissimo believes dance deserves a place alongside traditional sports when discussing performance, training and physical excellence. Bellissimo also reflects on his recent experience working on the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, where he fulfilled a lifelong dream by performing in scenes inspired by the legendary "Thriller" music video. Most importantly, he shares lessons about perseverance, mentorship, and helping young people discover the passions that can shape the course of their lives.