Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C - Fordham Gabelli School of Business

Did Chinese Swimmers Get a Break from Doping Enforcement?

It was recently revealed that nearly half of China’s swimming team tested positive for a banned substance just months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but the athletes were still allowed to compete. Apparently, China's Anti-Doping Agency concluded that the swimmers ingested the performance-enhancing prescription heart drug known as TMZ, unwittingly and did not enforce sanctions.
Shockingly, the international agency known as the World Anti-doping Agency declined to challenge the decision, allowing the alleged offenders to compete and collect up to half a dozen medals for China. How can this be tolerated? Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

The Copa America Mess in Miami

The final match in this important regional soccer tournament turned out to be an embarrassment for host country United States when some fans entered the stadium without tickets, causing delays, health concerns for fans waiting in the stifling heat and damage to the facility. Why did this happen? And what can be done before the U.S. hosts the bulk of the 2026 World Cup tournament? Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Contracting with FIFA: We Know Who Has the Leverage

When negotiating contracts, the question: ”Who has the leverage?” is critical. The world of sports is no exception, and powerful sports organizations often have the leverage to negotiate contracts that give them significant advantages. FIFA’s recently negotiated contract with MetLife Stadium, which secured it as the venue for the final match of the 2026 Men’s World Cup, provides a great illustration of this phenomenon, and the ways in which sports organizations gain the upper hand when brokering massive deals. Tune in to this edition of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. to learn more.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Doping in Sports - A Different Perspective: A Conversation with Alexander Hutchison, Ph.D.

Is doping in sports defensible in certain situations? Are the rules prohibiting performance-enhancing drugs too restrictive and impractical? This is not a commonly held perspective in lieu of the present views of athletes and international sports organizations, but a new book by this episode’s guest, Alexander Hutchison, Ph.D., editor-in-chief: Current Protocols, tries to refute the common wisdom. Whether you agree with his views or not, this episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C. interviews Hutchison, providing an outlet for his ideas on reforming this system. It makes for interesting listening. Tune in now.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

The NCAA Settlement is Not the End of the Fight for College Sports

The announcement of a settlement of three class action antitrust cases filed against the NCAA and the major conferences may end the immediate cases, but many issues remain open before the issue of athlete compensation and labor rights is resolved. Professor Mark Conrad explains in the latest ”Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C” episode.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Immersive Technology and Sports: A Conversation with James Giglio, Founder of MVP Interactive

For this episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C, we dive into what is known as “immersive technology” and how this kind of delivery system can rethink how sports teams and brands can engage with fans. Prof. C. interviewed James Giglio, the founder and CEO of MVP Interactive, a firm that engages in using immersive technology in the sports area. It is a fascinating guide into the latest sphere of sports and technology. Enjoy!
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

The NCAA at a Crossroads - A Death Knell or New Beginning?

With multiple lawsuits, unionization efforts by college students, and state laws allowing students to sign NIL deals, the NCAA has been pummeled in the courts, the states, the National Labor Relations Board, and the court of public opinion. In this episode of the Sports Business Podcast with Prof. C., he examines the mounting challenges this venerable organization faces, and the ways in which it could solve its problems and reform college athletics. Hard decisions will have to be made and purists won’t like it, but, as Professor Conrad explains, a brave new world will await the NCAA, like it or not. Tune in!
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

The Valieva Case is Finally Put to Rest (Well, Not Exactly)

After a two-year saga, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an international body established in 1984 to settle disputes related to sport through arbitration, rendered its verdict in the case of Russian Olympic figure skater Kamila Valieva, who was at the center of the 2022 Winter Olympic doping scandal. It concluded that Valieva had violated anti-doping rules, by testing positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine, and banned her from competition for four years, while prohibiting the Russian team from claiming the gold medal it had won during the competition. Although the Court of Arbitration’s verdict was direct and final, the domino effect it’s had on the teams of other nations that placed second, third, and fourth in the competition—the U.S., Japan, and Canada—has revealed a level of bureaucracy that puts the Court in question due to its inability to deal with the fallout from its decision. Hear ProfessorMark Conrad, J.D., weigh in on the consequences of the Court’s actions and how it is affecting the athletes and teams that were involved in this much publicized case. Tune in Now!
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Content Streaming and Social Engagement: A Conversation with Greg Butler, CEO of ZuCasa

In today’s rapidly evolving sports business environment, the ways in which technology is being used to attract and retain fans and to monetize “the product,” is shifting at an unprecedented pace. While broadcast media and cable television, once dominated the way fans “consumed” sports, they are now being enticed through rich content and streaming media that offers the opportunity to experience sporting events that were once out of reach, to do it at a lower cost, and to share in the experience with others. In this episode, of the Sports Business Podcast, Professor Mark Conrad, J.D., interviews Greg Butler, CEO of ZuCasa, a company that provides video streaming and social engagement solutions in the OTT gaming and medical space. As an example of the types of opportunities that are emerging, Butler describes his company’s partnership with Zee Entertainment in India for the ILT20 cricket tournaments, which allowed viewers to be able to watch cricket on their phones or on their televisions or computers at a distance, while sharing the experience. As this type of content viewing and sharing takes off, Butler notes that there are limitless possibilities in what people will be able to watch together, but also huge considerations in areas such as licensing and the need to build new business models. Tune in for this enlightening discussion!
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”

Athletes and Taxes, Part II: The Ohtani Case with Tax Expert Robert Raiola

On podcast episode 6, we discussed taxes with Robert Raiola, an expert in the field, who has worked with over 100 professional athletes across the five major sports. He enlightened us on some of the ins and outs of dealing with the numbers, rates, and different types and scales of taxes that athletes pay. That podcast was recorded before Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, deferred $700 million contract was signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In podcast 7, Mr. Raiola has graciously agreed to join us again to discuss the tax implications of Ohtani’s unusual contract. Tune in to hear this fascinating discussion.
Host: Mark ConradProducer: Victoria IlanoAdditional Production: Jeffrey HaynesArtwork: Pamela V. WhiteMarketing: Michelle MillerMusic: ”MarcusWay/Energetic Pop Punk/Tribe of Noise”