Skin in the Game

The lines between sports, media, and entertainment have officially disappeared—and athletes are now at the center of it all. This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Lars Bengston, Head of Agency at HardScope, to explore how the next generation of athletes are becoming media brands. From his early days at Vice during its explosive growth, to co-creating Some Good News with John Krasinski, Lars shares a front-row perspective on how storytelling, authenticity, and platform-native content are reshaping the sports landscape. The conversation dives into the rise of athlete-creators, the impact of NIL, and why today’s players don’t need traditional media to tell their stories—or build their businesses.

This week on Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with former U.S. Men’s National Team standout Eddie Lewis to explore how innovation and technology are reshaping the future of soccer. After a 15-year professional career that included the World Cup and time in England, Lewis talks about the moment that changed everything. He found a way to get more meaningful reps and started to see real improvement in his game. That insight became the foundation for TOCA—now the largest operator of indoor soccer centers in North America. Lewis breaks down how technology, data, and deliberate practice are transforming player development at every level—from youth athletes chasing scholarships to professionals refining elite skills. He also dives into the evolution of TOCA Social, a bold new concept blending soccer, gaming, and hospitality into an immersive fan experience—often compared to “Topgolf for soccer.” Along the way, the conversation touches on youth sports specialization, the global state of the game, and why the U.S. still has ground to make up—especially in a sport where the eye to foot skills don’t really translate from anywhere else. This is a conversation about innovation, opportunity, and what it really takes to grow soccer—from player development to how people connect with the game in the first place.

This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome longtime New York lead sports columnist and author Mike Vaccaro for one of our deepest dives into one of the most chaotic and influential eras in sports history. Drawing from The Bosses of the Bronx, Vaccaro unpacks the reality behind the legend of George Steinbrenner — a figure so outsized that even the wildest stories…are true. From media manipulation to nonstop headlines and Billy Martin drama to multi-billion-dollar brand building, this conversation explores how Steinbrenner turned the New York Yankees into a 365-day story — and why every day felt like breaking news. Steinbrenner didn’t care if he was on the first page, the last page, or anywhere in between. This episode dissects why that was so important. It’s a conversation about leadership, ego, storytelling, and the business of attention — and what today’s sports world has lost as ownership shifts from personalities to corporations.

What happens when a city invests in sports, entertainment, and the fan experience? This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei welcome Len Komoroski, longtime executive with Rock Entertainment Group and former CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. Komoroski helped lead the transformation of Cleveland’s downtown sports district—anchored by Rocket Arena and Progressive Field—into one of the most vibrant entertainment corridors in the country. What began as a struggling arena and team in the early 2000s evolved into a sports and entertainment ecosystem hosting hundreds of events annually and generating major economic activity for the city. In this conversation, Len explains how arenas can become catalysts for urban revitalization, why fan experience matters as much as the game itself, and what Rust Belt cities like Buffalo, Hamilton, Detroit, and Cleveland can learn from each other.

Author and journalist Bonnie Tsui joins Skin In The Game for a fascinating conversation about the science, story, and meaning of muscle. Drawing from her book On Muscle, Tsui explores how strength shapes not just athletic performance, but identity, longevity, and human connection. From her childhood immersed in swimming and martial arts to learning to surf later in life, she shares how movement has influenced every chapter of her journey. The conversation spans cutting-edge research on muscle memory and aging, the mind-body connection, and why strength training may be one of the most important investments we can make in our long-term health. Tsui also reflects on the cultural and historical perceptions of strength—from ancient Greece to modern fitness—and how those ideas continue to evolve. At its core, this episode is about possibility. Whether you’re an athlete or just getting started, Tsui reminds us that it’s never too late to build strength, find joy in movement, and redefine what our bodies are capable of.

This week on Skin in the Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with journalist and author Danny Funt to discuss the explosive growth of sports gambling and what it means for fans, athletes, and the future of the games themselves. Funt’s new book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling, takes an investigative look into an industry that has rapidly reshaped sports culture. Funt talks about today’s sports fans and the barrage of advertising and in-game betting opportunities to the rise of VIP gamblers and mounting concerns around addiction, integrity, and athlete safety. The leagues may be cashing in, but at what cost? This episode challenges the idea that sports betting is just entertainment, raising important questions about regulation, responsibility, and whether the very thing that makes sports special is being changed in the process.

In this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman sits down with Rick Nadeau of Nadeau Sports to explore what it really takes to grow the game of hockey. Drawing on his experience with Madison Square Garden and his work advising teams and leagues, Nadeau breaks down how fan development starts at the grassroots level—creating meaningful, accessible entry points for young athletes and their families. With renewed excitement coming out of international competition, including the Olympics, hockey has a major opportunity to expand its reach—but only if the sport can meet that interest with access. From rising participation in girls’ hockey to the need for more affordable, flexible pathways beyond elite travel teams, this conversation highlights both the momentum and the challenges facing the sport. At its core, the future of hockey depends on opening the door for those not yet in the game.

Fencing may be one of the oldest Olympic sports, but in the United States it is experiencing a modern surge in growth. This week on Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, and Brad Suchorski, Director of Membership Service and Growth, to explore how the national governing body is expanding the sport across the country. From grassroots programs to elite Olympic competition, Andrews and Suchorski explain how USA Fencing manages everything connected to the sport in the United States — including more than 750 clubs and a growing membership base. The conversation dives into the business strategy of growing the sport, including marketing campaigns that introduce new audiences to fencing, how they examine and launch clubs in emerging markets, and how experiential programs like Fencing Across America allow people to try the sport for themselves. While the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles may seem far off, Andrews and Suchorski explain how USA Fencing is already preparing for the games. Finally, are you curious about trying something new? Visit usafencing.org to find a club near you!

Rodeo may have deep roots in the American West, but today it’s becoming a global sports business, with a focus on equity in the sport. In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei are joined by Sean Gleason, CEO and Commissioner of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), and Linsay Rosser-Sumpter, Commissioner of Premier Women’s Rodeo (PWR). The conversation explores the explosive growth of rodeo, including sold-out events at Madison Square Garden, major television deals and the expanding global footprint of professional bull riding. Gleason explains how PBR evolved from a small group of riders investing $1,000 each into a global sports property alongside UFC and WWE. Rosser-Sumter shares how Premier Women’s Rodeo, with the support of PBR, is creating long-overdue opportunities for female athletes centered around increased prize money, competitive disciplines, and bringing women’s rodeo to national television. Whether you are a rodeo fan or just rodeo-curious, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with sports journalist Oren Weisfeld, author of The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse, to explore how Canada transformed from producing the occasional NBA player into a global basketball force. From immigration policy under Pierre Trudeau to the grassroots AAU movement, Weisfeld explains how culture, access, infrastructure, and commercialization shaped a new era of Canadian hoops. The group dives into the “Carter Effect” in Toronto, the Raptors’ 2019 championship, the rise of privatized youth sports, cost of elite development, and the influence of current AAU programs. Canada invented basketball, but for decades, it didn’t dominate it. That’s had a cultural and financial impact on the sport. This is a conversation about what happens when a country finally embraces the game it helped invent.

Recorded live at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Ellicottville, New York, this Olympic Special of Skin In The Game explores what it truly takes to compete at the highest level in sport. Hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with three-time Paralympic gold medalist Adam Page, training center director Miguel Azcarate, and sports performance coach Dr. Jason Rich for a powerful conversation about sacrifice, deliberate practice, pressure, and mental resilience. Airing during the Olympic Closing Ceremonies and just days before the Paralympics begin, this episode bridges both worlds and reminds us how greatness is built and the price it takes for a chance at the podium.

Entrepreneur and sports memorabilia pioneer Brandon Steiner joins Skin In The Game for a conversation about building businesses, preserving sports history and turning passion into purpose. Steiner shares the entrepreneurial mindset that fueled his rise from a childhood spent working in a bagel factory to creating one of the most influential memorabilia businesses in sports. He reflects on decades of working with elite athletes, navigating fame and fortune and learning that success isn’t about chasing money—but about chasing the things that make the money. The conversation centers on Steiner’s latest work transforming iconic stadiums into tangible memories for fans, including his ambitious project at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York. From salvaging turf, signage, and locker-room artifacts to understanding what Bills fans truly value, Steiner explains the responsibility that comes with preserving a place so deeply tied to community identity. Along the way, Steiner talks about leadership, mentorship, generational differences in the workplace, and why empathy, curiosity, and growth are essential to long-term success. This conversation will resonate with anyone who understands that sports live far beyond the scoreboard, and that the places where they’re played hold real meaning.

Former NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith joins Skin In The Game for a candid, wide-ranging conversation with hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei about power, labor, and the true business of professional football. Drawing from his new book Turf Wars: The Fight for the Soul of America’s Game, Smith takes listeners inside nearly 15 years of battles with the NFL — from collective bargaining and player safety to race, money, media, and the hidden forces that shape the league fans love. His unfiltered view explains why he never saw himself as a “football fan,” how that perspective shaped his leadership and why protecting players often meant challenging the very game itself. Smith reflects on concussion protocols, workers’ compensation, union leadership, and the uneasy relationship between sports entertainment and journalism. Along the way, he makes the case that the NFL is not just a sports league — it’s a mirror of American labor, politics, and accountability. This episode asks hard questions: Who really benefits from the football business and who pays the price?

What happens after you achieve the dream? In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic bobsled gold medalist and founder of Mesler Performance Group, for a deeply honest conversation about success, identity, and life after elite competition. Mesler reflects on his journey from Western New York to Olympic gold in 2010, the pressure and danger of competing at the highest level, and the unexpected emotional challenges that followed the peak of his athletic career. He is candid about his struggle with depression years after retiring from competition and the moment he realized that achievement alone was no longer enough. Now an executive performance coach and nonprofit founder, Mesler shares how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership, fulfillment, and sustainable performance. This conversation extends far beyond sports. Whether you’re an athlete, a business leader, or someone navigating a major life transition, Mesler offers powerful insight into what it really means to perform, and live, at your best. The following program contains mature content, including conversations about suicide, self-harm and mental health challenges.If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. In Canada, call or text 988, the Suicide Crisis Helpline.

What does it really take to build a winning sports organization? In this episode of Skin In The Game, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei sit down with Craig Custance, author of The Franchise: The Business of Building Winning Teams and Head of Creative Development at The Athletic, for a deep dive into leadership behind the scenes of professional hockey. Custance draws on years of reporting and unprecedented access to NHL general managers, owners, and executives to explore how championship teams are actually built, far beyond what fans see on the ice. The conversation spans front-office decision-making, ownership dynamics, organizational culture, and the personal toll of leadership at the highest level of sport. While rooted in hockey, this conversation resonates far beyond sports. Custance shows how the principles that drive winning teams — trust, clarity, accountability, and long-term thinking — apply just as directly to business, media, and organizational leadership. Whether you’re a sports executive, a business leader, or simply fascinated by how high-performing teams operate, this episode offers rare insight into what happens where championships are truly won.

In this episode of Skin in the Game, award-winning investigative journalist Rick Westhead joins John and Tim for a powerful and deeply reported conversation about his book “We Breed Lions” and the culture of junior hockey in Canada.

In this episode of Skin in the Game, John and Tim dive into the psychology, history, and surprising power of trash talk with journalist and author Rafi Kohan, whose latest book explores how a few well-timed words can shape competition, performance, and culture. From Larry Bird and Michael Jordan to Tiger Woods and modern-day MMA, Kohan explains how trash talk isn’t just bravado — it’s a deeply human form of communication rooted in psychology, identity, and strategy. They explore why trash talk surged in the 1990s, how it intersects with race and cultural perception, why it can sharpen elite performance, or unravel it, and how the same lessons apply beyond sports to parenting, leadership, and everyday life. Along the way, Kohan shares stories from locker rooms, comedy stages, military training grounds, and global arenas, revealing why this “risky pleasure” remains one of the most fascinating elements of competition.

This episode of Skin In The Game explores the influence and leadership that impacts the future of sports. In the first half of the episode, hosts John Cimperman and Tim O’Shei are joined by Josh Barnett of Sports Business Journal, the premier business-to-business publication in the sports industry. Barnett walks through SBJ’s Influence 125, a look at the most influential people in sports over the past 25 years. He explains how the list was created, why it isn’t ranked, and how influence shows up across ownership, media, technology, marketing, and league leadership. The conversation examines iconic figures like Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones, Robert Kraft, and Gary Bettman, while also considering the impact of on-air talent, global audiences, and emerging influence in women’s sports. Then the episode features an encore presentation of a standout conversation with Troy Vincent, Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL. Vincent shares how the league’s investment in flag football is expanding access, affordability, and opportunity — especially for girls and young women. He discusses the growth of sanctioned varsity high-school programs, college scholarships, and the road to flag football’s Olympic debut at LA28. Vincent also reflects on mentorship, leadership, and the responsibility athletes and leagues have to use their platforms for social impact, including his work addressing gender-based violence through the Vincent Commission.

Lake Placid has long been synonymous with Olympic history, but today it’s also a case study in how sport, tourism, and economic development work hand in hand. In this episode, John Cimperman sits down with Darcy Norfolk Rowe, Director of Communications for the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), to explore the business and impact of winter sports in New York State.

Golf is more than a game. It’s an economic engine, a job creator, a tourism magnet, and a powerful steward of green space. In this episode, John and Tim unpack the findings of New York State’s new Golf Impact Study with guests Gina Rizzi and Tom Kaplan, revealing a side of the sport most people never think about. The conversation begins with the dollars-and-cents impact: how golf supports local economies, drives tourism in both Western New York and Southern Ontario, and sustains thousands of jobs across public and private courses. But the discussion quickly turns to a surprising and important theme, legislation. Gina and Tom break down how regulation, environmental policy, and rising operational costs are reshaping the golf industry, and why having a “seat at the table” in Albany is critical to protecting both courses and the golfers who rely on them. Golf may look simply like a walk in the grass with a bag of clubs. But as this conversation shows, its impact runs far deeper.

What began in 2006 as two brothers with a van, a camera, and a belief that overlooked sports deserved real coverage has grown into a powerhouse that streams 50,000 events a year across more than 25 sports, from wrestling and track to cheer, motorsports, and elite global hockey. FloSports CEO and co-founder Mark Floreani and content producer Mark Bader join John and Tim for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating disruptors in sports media. Mark shares how FloSports identified the “long-tail” opportunity long before streaming was mainstream, building a direct-to-consumer model around the idea that passion, not size, defines a great sports audience. Bader takes listeners inside the culture that powers FloSports. It’s a staff made up of true athletes and insiders who live the sports they cover, telling stories from the inside out and elevating communities often ignored by traditional broadcasters. The conversation dives into the company’s meteoric rise in wrestling, the boom in women's wrestling and youth participation, the growing universe of dirt-track racing, and the massive expansion of FloHockey, including rights to the AHL, ECHL, USHL, OHL, and QMJHL.