Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special episode of the SBC Audio Experience, host Riley Sager sits down with Hall of Fame Sportswriter J.A. Adande, who was recently added to the lineup of instructors for the 2024 Sports Business Classroom Business of Basketball Immersive Experience, set to take place from July 14-20 during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

In this episode, Riley and J.A. discuss:

• J.A.’s biggest surprise when he entered the sports industry
• Advice for SBC students in an ever-changing industry 
• What to expect at this year’s Immersive Experience in Las Vegas
• What J.A. suggests students should do when putting together a portfolio

Currently serving as the Director of Sports Journalism at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Adande has covered a multitude of prestigious events including the Olympic Games, Wimbledon, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, and the NBA Finals. Adande is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Journalism. His dedication to mentorship and education underscores his commitment to fostering the next generation of sports industry leaders.

Don't miss out on this engaging discussion about the intersection of sports journalism and the basketball industry, and how J.A. Adande's insights will undoubtedly enrich the Business of Basketball Immersive Experience.

Learn more: sportsbusinessclassroom.com

Welcome to episode 103 of the Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience podcast, where we dive into the world of sports media and broadcasting with Justin Termine, the esteemed voice of NBA Today on SiriusXM NBA Radio. Broadcasting live from HallPass Studios, Justin joins our Alumni Host Riley Sager for an insightful conversation packed with insider insights and career reflections.
In this episode, Riley and Justin discuss:

• Opportunities Justin took that led him to his current role
• What it's been like to have a passion for your craft for so long
• The impact technology has made in the world of Sports Media & Broadcast
• Why should listeners enroll in SBC’s Business of Basketball Immersive Experience

Justin attended Emerson College in Boston, where he majored in Broadcast Journalism and got a taste of the big leagues. From there he worked his way up through different Emcee roles in the industry, while starting his current position at Sirius XM in 2005 and has worked there for the past 18 years. At Sirius XM, Justin also hosts live from NBA All-Star Games, Finals, Drafts, Combines, and the Las Vegas Summer League while working with current and former players.

Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through Justin Termine's path to broadcasting excellence, a testament to resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication to the craft. 

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If you have any interest in attending the Business of Basketball Immersive Experience program taking place July 14-20, 2024 during the Las Vegas Summer, be sure to register as soon as possible as space is limited.

Learn more: sportsbusinessclassroom.com

Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience is back with a brand new “Professional Series” hosted by Howard Beck. Howard (previously with Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, NY Times) is joined by ESPN writer Kevin Pelton. Kevin brings advanced experience in basketball analytics. Kevin brings advanced experience in basketball analytics, including past work with the Indiana Pacers and supersonics.com.

In this episode Howard and Kevin discuss:

• The new age of stats and analytics in basketball
• How to assess team offense and defense from a statistical analytics perspective?
• Dean Oliver’s 4 factors of offense and defense
• Scoring efficiency and how to judge high usage players?
• How to measure team success past a win-loss record?
• Advice for anyone looking to increase their knowledge about NBA data and analytics

Kevin Pelton joined ESPN as an NBA writer in 2013. He is a contributor to ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast and the co-host of the Fabulous Peltoncast podcast. Previously, Pelton served as an author for BasketballProspectus.com since the site’s inception in 2007 through 2012. He also served as a statistical consultant to the Indiana Pacers from 2010-12. We are excited to have Kevin join the podcast and share his knowledge on the analytical side of basketball.

In today's episode we sit down with Shea Dawson, Director of Athlete & Community Relations for the incredibly popular sports network Overtime. Prior to joining Overtime, Shea was the manager of player programs and team services for the Philadelphia 76ers, a position where she frequently interacted with NBA superstars such as Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Jimmy Butler.In this episode we discuss:What Shea calls the "Shea Dawson Experience" How she jump-started her career in the NBAHer “year of YES” and how this impacted herHow being intentional can lead to new opportunitiesShea Dawson is a strong operations professional with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Robert Morris University. Shea is skilled in Player/Athlete Development, Interpersonal Skills, and Servant Leadership. She is devoted to giving her clients and peers the “Shea Dawson Experience”, and also posts #Sheahacks on her social media platforms to give motivation to anyone who needs the inspiration. Her mentors consist of George Raveling, Gary Charles, Liron Fanan, Elton Brand, Todd Wright, Warren LeGarie, Albert Hall, and Sergio Millas. Connect with Shea on social to follow her journey @overtimeshea! 

In today's episode, we sat down with your favorite NBA player's favorite photographer, Cassy Athena.In this episode we will talk about:How she turned her passion into her career in the world of basketballThe importance of building genuine relationships to stand out & how to maintain themHow social media shaped her business which has led to some of the biggest stars reposting her picturesTalks about how she found her purpose by building her brand Cassy's daily grind and what it takes to make it in the industry Cassy Athena is a professional NBA photographer and entrepreneur, & has overcome some pretty remarkable things along the way. Her work has been published in Sports Illustrated, Samsung, Billboard, Red Bull, Fox Sports, Dime Magazine, Slam Magazine, NBA, Under Armour, Nike, Jordan Brand, Monster Headphones & more. She has worked exclusively with the biggest NBA athletes & has helped with branding/marketing to many athletes and entertainers. It wasn't only LeBron James, who drew nearly two million likes on Instagram for balling out at Chris Brickley's basketball runs in New York City; Cassy Athena was there, like always, capturing the magic. She even followed Steph Curry & his family at the 2016 NBA Star Game in Toronto for Under Armour. Connect with Cassy on social and follow her journey @cassyathenaphoto! 

For our second episode, we sat down with the Director of Communications of the Los Angeles Clippers Dennis Rogers!In this episode, we will talk about:Dennis’s rise from graduate basketball assistant at Mississippi State to Director of Communications of the Los Angeles ClippersThe importance of being willing to do whatever it takes to work in sportsThe many roles Dennis has experienced in basketballDennis’s day to day lifestyle with the ClippersDennis is currently the Director of Communications of the Los Angeles Clippers. He also worked with the Clippers’ digital media team as Digital Media Director. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Communications with the New Orleans Hornets from 2003-2012. He has also been assisting with the NBA Summer League since its inception in 2003 as a Communications and Digital Media Specialist. 

In our very first episode, we sat down with motivational speaker, bestselling author, and sports entrepreneur Jake Kelfer.  In this episode, we will talk about:Jake's journey to working in sportsHow he wrote 2 bestselling books by 25The importance of defining success on your own termsThe "Go Big or Go Home" mentality that led to Jake creating a secondary NBA combine that has helped over 70+ draft prospects sign their first contractWhy Jake speaks on happiness and successTips on how to stand out in the job market and elevate your sports careerJake Kelfer is a lifestyle entrepreneur and life elevator. He is the bestselling author of Elevate Beyond and Elevate Your Network, a high-energy motivational speaker on a mission to inspire millions of people to achieve personal success and happiness. He is the founder of the Professional Basketball Combine which helps NBA draft prospects turn their dreams of playing pro basketball into their reality. He and his work have been featured on Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NBC Sports, USA Today, Bleacher Report and many other major media outlets. Connect with Jake on social @jakekelfer! 

Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience is back with another episode of our “SBC Alumni Takeover Series," and this time we have a new host, SBC Alum Alicia Solomon! Alicia is joined by MajorWavez Lab founder & designer, Ruben Barraza. Ruben is a major creator in the fashion space and has built his own sneaker customizing experience in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. MajorWavez offers classroom-style experiences for the public to get a taste of the designing and creative process for customizing their very own sneakers. Ruben was one of the most popular attractions at NBA Summer League in the past year with players and fans flocking to take part in the custom sneaker process. In this episode, Alicia and Ruben discuss:

• How Ruben turned his hobby and interest in sneakers and fashion into a successful business model
• The marketing strategies needed in different markets
• Ruben's experience at NBA Summer League and how it elevated his business
• Advice for anyone looking to break into the sports, fashion, and sneaker space

Prior to starting MajorWavez, Ruben worked retail for Guess and Urban Outfitters. While working in the retail space, he was customizing shoes as a hobby and showed potential as something more when notable designer Salehe Bembury reached out for a collaboration. This opportunity led to Ruben customizing shoes for the likes of A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, and many others. Ruben finally turned his hobby into MajorWavez, opening his first experience-based store in Los Angeles. After watching the growth soar, Ruben has expanded his operations out to a second location in Las Vegas and hosts popup workshops at different events around the country. Ruben shares his big plans ahead in this episode and we are thrilled to have him as a friend of SBC.

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On this episode of the Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience “Alumni Takeover” series, host Arthur McKibben is joined by Chief Operating Officer for UNLV’s Sports Innovation Initiative, Jay Vickers. Vickers, is a senior leader with more than 20 years of experience in the areas of management, fundraising, sales, marketing, and customer service with a proven record of measurable outcomes. A graduate of Notre Dame, Vickers was a member of the Fighting Irish football team from 1996-2000 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
In this episode, Arthur and Jay discuss:

• What Jay’s current role as Chief Operating Officer entails
• Advice for listeners looking to gain exposure to elite athletes, sports teams, and front-office opportunities
• What having awareness of good leadership looks like
• The biggest challenges a person could face trying to have a career in sports

Before working in intercollegiate athletics, Vickers gained several years of experience as a marketing manager with an extensive background in customer service, sales, marketing, and management at numerous major corporations including Pfizer and Hershey’s. He is a founding member of Game Changers United, the U.S. Soccer Federation Board for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and leads the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee internship program partnership with UNLV. As a results-oriented leader, Vickers has had success at two Mountain West programs, Fresno State and UNLV, in the PAC-12 at Arizona, in the BIG 10 at Wisconsin, and in the MAC at Northern Illinois University. He has a comprehensive understanding of the role of higher education external divisions aligning with institutional priorities while increasing private philanthropy. We are thrilled to feature him on the podcast and can’t wait for you to hear the valuable insights he has to offer.

On this episode of the Sports Business Classroom Audio Experience “Alumni Takeover” series, host Arthur McKibben is joined by Financial Advisor & President of Victory Everyday, Rick Paulsen. Rick was a legendary student-athlete who made his mark as a star basketball and baseball player at St. Mary's High School, followed by a collegiate basketball career at the University of the Pacific. He was a three-time All-League and All-City player, leading the Rams to three consecutive Valley Oak League championships. Rick received many honors and accolades, including being named the MVP of the City of Stockton in his junior and senior years and making the All-Northern California team twice. In this episode, Arthur and Rick discuss:

• Rick’s transition from athlete to entrepreneur
• Advice for listeners who are looking to work with professional athletes
• The challenges of working in the sports industry
• Rick’s 10 Steps of Success

After his collegiate athletic career, Rick became a highly successful businessman, specializing in life insurance for families, athletes, and business owners; and has been a member of New York Life's Chairman's Council for 33 consecutive years. Rick's coaching style emphasizes teaching life lessons through sports, helping him have a positive impact on many young athletes. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Rick is a respected community leader and coach, donating his time and expertise to many local charities. Rick is also a board member of the University of the Pacific School of Business, Pacific Athletic Foundation, and Dameron Community Hospital. Rick's contagious unselfishness and positive attitude continue to inspire those around him to strive for greatness in all aspects of life.

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