Tag: Q&A

Rob-Manfred
Rob Manfred
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Rob Manfred

Rob Manfred

When Rob Manfred was named commissioner of Major League Baseball in 2014, he took on the role of leading the game into an uncertain future. But his history with MLB made him an ideal choice. From 1998–2012 he was executive vice-president for labor relations and human resources, negotiating three new labor agreements. He later served as executive vice-president for economics and league affairs, and chief operating officer. Now he faces a host of issues that confront pro baseball including negotiating a new player contract, reducing the length of games and engaging the next generation of fans. He has also taken a strong interest in the league’s special events, abandoning a traditional rotation for hosting the All-Star Game. In this interview with SportsTravel’s Jason Gewirtz, Manfred discusses the league’s special events,…

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Posted On : By : Jason Gewirtz
Sean-McManus-ret
Sean McManus
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Sean McManus

Sean McManus

Since being named chairman of CBS Sports in 2011, Sean McManus has overseen all operations across CBS Sports properties. That has included negotiations for high-profile events such as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the PGA Tour and Thursday and Sunday NFL games, as well as the rebranding of CBS Sports Network. Since joining CBS in 1996, he has held a variety of key roles, including president of both CBS Sports and CBS News from 2005–2011. In April, CBS and Turner announced an eight-year, $8.8 billion contract extension for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament through 2032 that includes all digital rights to the championship. And in February, the NFL awarded CBS a new package of Thursday night games as well. In this interview with SportsTravel’s Jason Gewirtz, McManus discusses the NCAA renewal…

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Posted On : By : Jason Gewirtz
Janet-Evans
Janet Evans
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Janet Evans

Janet Evans

When it comes to understanding the athlete experience at a major international competition, Janet Evans knows of what she speaks. In 1987, at the age of 15, she broke world swimming records in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle. At the 1988 Olympics, she won three gold medals, then followed in 1992 with another gold and a silver. At the 1996 Games she failed to medal, but nonetheless became part of Olympic history by handing the torch to Muhhamad Ali in one of the Games’ most iconic moments. Today, she is vice-chair and director of athlete relations for the LA 2024 bid committee, and has taken on the charge of making sure athletes’ voices are heard as Los Angeles competes against Paris, Rome and Budapest. In this interview with SportsTravel’s Jason Gewirtz, Evans discusses the role of athletes in the bid, her start in swimming and the power of the Olympic movement.…

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Posted On : By : Jason Gewirtz
Leigh-Sternberg
Leigh Sternberg
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Leigh Steinberg

Leigh Steinberg

There was a time when it seemed every top pick in the NFL draft was represented by Leigh Steinberg. And that wasn’t too far from the truth. At the height of his career through the 1990s, Steinberg represented eight first picks and several dozen first-rounders. When Cameron Crowe was doing research for “Jerry Maguire,” it was Steinberg he followed around to study. But Steinberg’s career faced a serious setback after a public battle with alcohol that cost him his agent certification. Sober for six years and having regained his certificate, he now represents University of Memphis star Paxton Lynch in the 2016 draft. He also has formed Steinberg Ventures to raise money for products that can prevent concussions, an issue on which he has advocated for years. In this interview with SportsTravel’s Jason Gewirtz, Steinberg discusses the impact of concussions, making “Jerry Maguire”…

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Posted On : By : Jason Gewirtz
1602-Ari-Fleisher
Ari Fleischer
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Ari Fleischer

Ari Fleischer

There seems to be no shortage of sports-related scandals. Major League Baseball has been battling issues over player steroid use for years. International federations are being investigated by governments. Even underinflated footballs have caused a stir. But when those types of incidents occur, Ari Fleischer is there to help. As White House press secretary under President George W. Bush from 2001–2003, he oversaw communications for the administration’s share of crises, including the 9/11 attack. When he left, he moved to New York and formed Ari Fleischer Sports Communications to provide media training and crisis response to sports clients that have included leagues and teams and, recently, Peyton Manning in his fight against HGH-use allegations. In this interview with SportsTravel’s Jason Gewirtz, Fleischer discusses how his business began, the advice he offers athletes most and why everyone lost in Deflategate.…

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Posted On : By : Jason Gewirtz
1601-Steve-Simon
Steve Simon
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Steve Simon

Steve Simon

After 27 years with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Steve Simon wasn’t expecting to get the call he got late last year. But when Stacey Allaster stepped down as CEO of the WTA, the board of the professional women’s tennis tour had only one candidate in mind. Simon had helped grow the Indian Wells event into the largest tennis tournament in the world outside the Grand Slams. A college tennis player at Long Beach State, Simon joined the event in a sales role in 1989 and in 2004 became tournament director and COO. Now he will be in charge of overseeing a star-filled tour with a lengthy calendar that has caused many top players to wear down with injuries as the season progresses. In this interview with SportsTravel’s Jason Gewirtz, Simon discusses his plans for the schedule, the WTA’s future and how he once wrote his way into Wimbledon.…

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Posted On : By : Jason Gewirtz
1512-Phil-Keoghan
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Phil Keoghan

Phil Keoghan

After 14 years of hosting “The Amazing Race” on CBS, you would think that Phil Keoghan has had enough adventure. The show, where teams travel around the world completing tasks with the winners getting $1 million, has sent him around the world multiple times in 27 seasons. But there is always another story to tell. In 2009, the New Zealand–born Keoghan and a friend cycled across the United States and made a film about it as a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research. Now he is telling the story of the 1928 Tour de France and the first English-speaking team to ride. To do it, he retraced the route on a vintage bicycle, a journey of more than 3,000 miles that will be captured in the…

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Posted On : By : Staff
Leven, President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands, poses for a portrait during the 2010 Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit in New York
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Ed O’Hara

Ed O’Hara

There was a time when a sports organization looking for a change would create a new logo and call it good. But those days are long gone. Today, it’s all about the brand and how it’s communicated, from logos and merchandise to social media and fan engagement. Since he founded SME in 1989, Ed O’Hara has been at the forefront of that messaging, working with a roster of clients that have benefited from his firm’s take on branding. Among the groups that have worked with SME are the NFL, the NBA, the NHL, the NCAA, MLB, the New York Yankees, the Pac-12, the ACC and events such as the Kentucky Derby and the America’s Cup. O’Hara will be speaking at TEAMS ’15 on his approach to branding…

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Posted On : By : Staff
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Derek Bouchard-Hall

Derek Bouchard-Hall

It is always difficult to replace a CEO who has become a fixture of the organization. But when Derek Bouchard-Hall was selected to replace the retiring Steve Johnson at USA Cycling in June, the national governing body found a person with an ideal background to move the sport forward. After earning degrees from Princeton and Stanford, Bouchard-Hall raced from 1994–2002, winning the 2000 U.S. Pro Criterium and competing that year at the Olympics. He later earned an MBA from Harvard and worked for McKinsey, a management consulting firm. Since 2011, he served as a key executive at online cycling retailer Wiggle. Now, the 45-year-old is settling in to his new post at USA Cycling, with strong opinions about the toughest issues facing the sport…

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David Baker

David Baker

David Baker has had a lengthy career in politics and sports, two areas that are serving him well in his current role as president and CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The former mayor of Irvine, California, and commissioner of the Arena Football League took over leadership of the hall of fame in 2014. Now he is leading the charge for a major development that, once complete, will transform the hall into an entertainment and residential zone that will include a four-star hotel and conference center. Another $10 million is expected to be spent to renovate the stadium on the grounds as well. As the game faces challenges off the field, Baker is making sure the on-the-field performances serve as inspiration for generations to come. In this interview…

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Posted On : By : Staff
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