Arn Tellem: Hoop Dreams & Driving Detroit's Future

Arn Tellem’s bold voice didn’t miraculously appear overnight. It took a path all his own, from aspiring sports announcer to a successful sports agent, Tellem took his big ideas to the Detroit Pistons where he is the team’s Vice Chair and a key player in shaping Detroit’s future. In this episode, you’ll learn why Tellem shows his emotions, the depth of his commitment to community service in building a better Detroit, and how three key partnerships are shaping his world: on the court, in the community, and in his own home. 1:34 - Arn talks about how he initially thought he could have a career as a sports announcer.2:03 - An article by Jerry Kapstein first inspires Arn to think about a potential career in sports management.2:55 - Arn discusses the impact of the movie Jerry McGuire, which was inspired by his success story as a sports agent.5:19 - At the end of 1988, Arn decides to leave the law firm he's been with for nine years to set up a sports management firm.7:27 - Arn talks about being inspired by the Pistons commitment to the revitalization of Detroit, and how that factored into his decision to relocate, despite having no historical connections to the city.8:08 - Arn expresses his admiration for Detroit's sense of community: how people of different backgrounds and beliefs share a desire to make the city a better place.9:07 - Bob Riney points out the two characteristics of Arn's he most admires: Arn’s willingness to show his emotions, and his confidence in letting people know where he stands politically.10:32 - Arn tells Bob how he looks out for his clients’ interests 24/7, a principle that he believes has led to his success as an agent.12:31 - Bob and Arn talk about their marriages to strong, independent women, and how those partnerships have helped both their careers.14:22 - Arn outlines the Pistons partnership with Henry Ford Health, and how both organizations share a commitment to Detroit's continued revitalization.18:16 - Arn talks about some of the up-and-coming star athletes in the Pistons’ lineup, and his optimism about the team's future success.