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Skin in the Game

2024 Year in Review and 2025 Predictions

Published January 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM EST

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Mariann Do

This week, John and Tim celebrate 2024 and usher in 2025 with a compilation of Skin in the Game's favorite moments from previous episodes and predict the most significant sports business topics in the coming year. You're going to want to go back and listen to each episode in its entirety. Remember, whether we are die-hard sports fans or just live in a great sports town, we all have Skin in the Game.

Skin in the Game | Season 1

Latest Episodes

What Have We Lost? David Macfarlane on the Business of Modern Sports

This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman and Tim O'Shei welcome acclaimed Canadian author David Macfarlane to discuss his latest book, On Sports. From the overnight explosion of sports gambling and billion-dollar revenues to a growing emphasis on entertainment over athletic excellence, Macfarlane claims that today’s sports have fundamentally changed fan experience.
The Business Behind Pickleball’s Boom with Rusty Howes

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

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

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

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.
Is Dance a Sport? Tony Bellissimo Says Absolutely.

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.
A Lifetime on Ice: Bonnie Shea on Hockey, Longevity & Purpose

This week on Skin In The Game, John Cimperman sits down with Bonnie Shea — an early pioneer of women’s hockey in Minnesota — to talk about her lifelong relationship with the sport, the barriers she faced growing up in the “State of Hockey,” and how she rediscovered the game at age 40 after decades away from organized play.
The Business of Sports Cards: Inside the Explosive Growth of Collectibles with Tracy Hackler

This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Tracy Hackler, Senior Brand Manager at Panini America, to explore the evolution of the sports collectibles industry—from vintage baseball cards to modern-day “golden ticket” chase cards and blockchain collectibles.
Beyond the Field: Soccer, Trust, and Opportunity for Newcomer Youth

This week on Skin in the Game, John and Tim sit down with Jennifer Tepper, Executive Director of Soccer Without Borders, and Bruno Contreras, Program Director in Massachusetts.
Athletes as Media Brands: The Future of Sports Storytelling with Lars Bengston

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.