1/19: Behind the Bowl

Coming off a remarkable Cognizant Classic, executive director Todd Fleming talks about not only carrying the torch for a marquee event on the PGA calendar, but how he aims to grow it into something even bigger.

National Football Foundation CEO Steve Hatchell talks about his organization's efforts to grow the sport of football and incentivize academic excellence.

The countdown is on to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and this week we have some fantastic perspective from a city that is going to be a centerpiece of the event. Philadelphia will host a match on July 4th, 2026, which also happens to be the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Meg Kane, who is Philly's Host City Executive, breaks down what has happened so far and what is ahead.

Pete Ward has seen it all since joining the Colts organization in 1981. From the move from Baltimore to Indianapolis, to the Super Bowl XLI win, to watching franchise values soar into the billions. Ward talks with Rick this week about 40+ years with the same NFL franchise. 

Ray Martinez was the Assistant Chief, and Chief of Police, from 1979 until 2014 in Miami and Miami Beach. He is now the man in charge of the Miami Host Committee for the 2026 World Cup. Martinez provides his perspective on safety, challenges and impact of preparing to host an event of this magnitude.

Super Bowl LVIII is (obviously) our main focus this week and we have a great guest to provide some fascinating perspective. Mark Trestman spent 20 years as an assistant coach on NFL sidelines, and was the Bears head coach in 2013 and 2014. He also coached on the biggest stage in the CFL, winning the Grey Cup three times as a head coach.

This week we welcome a guest that has seen it all across the world of sports. From working as a stuntman in his family's racing thrill show to running the Indy Motor Speedway to his current role as Executive Director of the PGA's Presidents Cup, Joie Chitwood tells about the flaming hurdles he's jumped through at every stop.

We have a guest this week that can talk on a variety of topics related to sports business. John Wildhack spent more than 30 years at ESPN before being named the 11th A.D. at Syracuse in 2016. Wildhack talks about the pressing issues across college sports and the vital bond between TV and his teams

This week, we go in depth with the Executive Director of the College Football Playoff, Bill Hancock. Hancock describes how CFB playoff expansion was accompanied by a complete buy-in from all parties and explores his career that includes a unique trifecta in college sports.

This week, we take an incredible journey into the mind of CFB & NFL legend Ricky Williams. Williams breaks down all of the ups and downs of his career and what is next in his life. Rick also gives his top things to look forward to in sports business, technology and philanthropy in 2024.