The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with David Blitzer, Blackstone’s chairman and the co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, about how his teams use data and analytics to improve fan experience. In this conversation, which was taped in front of an audience at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Blitzer tells the hosts how a “failed athlete” came to be the first...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Magic Johnson, the iconic point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. In their conversation, taped in front of a live audience at the Milken Global Conference, Johnson reveals what he’s learned from his “greatest deal,” becoming part of the Washington Commanders ownership group. He also explains why pitching himself as a partner to the Starbucks boa...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Susie Wolff, the managing director of F1 Academy, about how she’s helping more female racers try to advance into the ranks of Formula One. In this conversation, Wolff tells the hosts how she got all ten F1 teams to support cars in F1 Academy, why she wanted to sign makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury and what she hopes viewers will learn from watching Netflix&rs...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Washington Commanders Owner Josh Harris about how he was able to bring the team back to the RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. In this conversation, Harris tells the hosts how he was also able to negotiate a deal with Comcast for the Philadelphia 76ers’ new arena, why his team was able to perform so much better on the NFL Players Association report card this y...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, about her firm’s newly launched fund, “Project Level,” devoted to investing in women’s sports. In this conversation, which was taped in front of an audience at Bloomberg’s Invest conference, Hobson tells the hosts why she decided to personally invest in the Chicago White Sox ...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly sit down with Georgia Tech Athletics Director J Batt to discuss the current upheaval in college athletics. In their conversation, taped in front of a live audience during March Madness, Batt explains how his athletics department is helping students navigate new rules around “name, image and likeness,” the transfer portal and potential revenue-sharing opportunit...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about McLaren Racing’s success at the Miami Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finishing first and second on the podium. Then, they speak with Zak Brown about how McLaren Racing came back from the brink of bankruptcy to be a winning team. Brown tells the hosts how he and his drivers deal with media scrutiny, why Netflix and Brad Pitt are crucial to ...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about the new Washington Commanders stadium deal and the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. Then, they speak with Jennifer Epstein about what it’s like to build a team from scratch with the NWSL’s latest expansion team: Boston Legacy FC. Epstein tells the hosts what she learned from her family’s ownership of the Boston Celtics, how she’s inspired by th...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about the potential #1 pick in the NFL draft and Alex's report from sitting court-side in LA at a star-studded Timberwolves/Lakers Game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Then, they speak with Christine Dorfler about how she’s rising to the economy’s challenges as the NFL’s chief financial officer. Dorfler tells the hosts how a recession could affect the NFL&rsq...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about Rory McIlroy’s historic win at the 2025 Masters at Augusta National. Then, they speak with Richard Jefferson about how he made the transition from NBA star forward to ESPN analyst. Jefferson tells the hosts why work ethic is important to him, the lessons he learned from being robbed by his former manager, and why he’s never been more nervous than at ...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about two big records: Alex Ovechkin topping Wayne Gretzky’s legendary scoring record in the NHL, and Geno Auriemma’s 12th NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship win as coach at the University of Connecticut. Then, they speak with Jessica Berman about how she has helped revolutionize the National Women’s Soccer League for the last three years as ...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about Major League Baseball’s opening weekend and the new torpedo bat everyone is talking about. Then, they speak with Tom Garfinkel about the business empire he leads as President and CEO of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium. Garfinkel tells the hosts why his partnership with Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross, is so special, how he was able to negotiate a 10-...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Mike Repole about how he built two beverage empires with Vitamin Water and BodyArmor. Repole tells the hosts why it’s important for him to share equity with everyone at his company, how he worked with huge investors like Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady, and why he thinks it’s important for entrepreneurs to fail.

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In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with the New York Yankees’ Assistant General Manager, Jean Afterman. Afterman explains how she helped change the game by helping to introduce Japanese players to the MLB, what she learned from legendary Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, and the advice her mother gave her to start off every negotiation on the strongest foot.

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In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Katlyn Gao about how she founded a whole new women's professional sports league: League One Volleyball. Gao tells the hosts why LOVB chose their six inaugural team markets, how she got investors like Jayson Tatum and Candace Parker on board, and why women’s volleyball is uniquely situated to take off in the United States.

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In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Johnny Damon about his career highlights with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Damon tells the hosts the surprising reason why he doesn't agree with the Yankees' new facial hair policy, the reason it’s important to really know your teammates if you want to win a World Series, and what he’s learned about running a business since founding A...

In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Laura Rutledge about how she built a career as a host for ESPN and the SEC Network. Rutledge tells the hosts about how the new name, image, and likeness rules are affecting when college football players are ready to go pro, how she organizes herself covering football and golf, and what she thought about Tom Brady's turn on the mic calling games.

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In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly sit with Ted Leonsis, founder of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, to discuss how he came to dominate the Washington DC sports scene. Leonsis shares what he learned from the “world’s worst deal” at AOL and how he’s helping the US capital become a “super city” by investing in its teams.

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