Jim Cavale, Chairman of Athletes.org - SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Chief Business Officer of Sinclair Broadcast Group, J.R. McCabe.McCabe joined Sinclair, Inc. in the fall of 2020 and currently serves as Chief Business Officer, Consumer Products. In this role, McCabe is proving the tremendous growth potential of the convergence of media, sports, and entertainment. He is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of consumer products strategies, driving enterprise-wide revenue growth, and enhancing the company's market position. McCabe also co-leads Sinclair’s Media for Equity business. McCabe’s strategic vision and dealmaking skills have driven Sinclair's expanding footprint in the sports arena, most recently in tennis which, through the company’s Tennis Enterprises initiative, partnered with the ATP, WTA and top US tournaments to deliver a landmark multi-year partnership deal for the sport with Verizon. His work continues to further the company’s evolution as a leader in the industry. McCabe currently serves on the Microsoft Industry Customer Advisory Board for Media and Entertainment.Prior to joining Sinclair, McCabe and his partners built a competitive gameplay and esports portfolio that included Poker Central and Estars Studios. Using data to drive strategic decisions, McCabe has monetized and accelerated new business models by combining assets, forging partnerships, and making acquisitions. When he assumed his role at Poker Central, he quickly realized its potential to be the brand umbrella for experiential events, a TV and video studio, asset holdings, and the first-of-its-kind subscription VOD channel, PokerGO. Previously, McCabe served as SVP/Head of Video at Time Inc. and Chief Video Officer at Meredith Corporation, where as an intrapreneur, he created new businesses that pioneered how to leverage digital video to capitalize on the IP of a diverse portfolio of legacy brands. McCabe also launched Parents TV, the first national video network aimed at parents. While in his role, the first-ever of its kind at a major corporation, McCabe and his team outperformed revenue targets, hitting more than a billion streams, and tripling reach through deals with Amazon, Microsoft, Hulu, Yahoo, and more. McCabe has also held several sales executive positions, including VP, Eastern Sales Manager for CBS Paramount Television and SVP, Program Partnerships and Sales for Universal Studios. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing from James Madison University.J.R. McCabe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-r-mccabe-0040995/

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the CEO, PATH Talent & Co-Host, Roommates Show, Matt Hillman. Hillman has been the CEO of PATH Talent since 2024 and co-hosts the Roommates Show with NBA stars Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks. Under his leadership, PATH Talent has seen significant growth and success in the talent acquisition industry. Hillman has actively invested in companies such as Dapper Labs, WinZO, FaZe Clan, PlayVS, and The Lemon Perfect Company. Additionally, Hillman is a creator and co-host of the Lightharted Podcast and holds advisory roles at EarBuds and Drop Labs. Hillman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from Carnegie Mellon University, where he also played basketball and participated in over 50 college games. Matt Hillman:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilovemattyice/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilovemattyice/?hl=enX: https://x.com/matthillman_

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Chairman of Athletes.org, Jim Cavale.Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Cavale found early success on both the baseball diamond and basketball court at Christian Brothers Academy. Cavale’s athletic journey took him south to the University of Montevallo, where he played baseball on scholarship. While his dreams of turning pro did not materialize, a new passion emerged: blending sports and entrepreneurship.During college, Cavale founded NextSpex—an audio-video streaming platform that evolved into a recruiting network connecting high school athletes with college coaches. Along the way, he grew into adulthood, marrying his wife Yazmin, an entrepreneur in the beauty industry, and together they built their family.In August 2023, Cavale transitioned from his role as CEO of INFLCR, remaining a shareholder at Teamworks, to launch Athletes.org (AO). AO is pioneering the organization of college athletes into sport- and conference-specific chapters, providing on-demand support, a collective voice, and group licensing NIL opportunities—innovations reshaping the future of college athletics. As the industry evolves, Cavale is committed to ensuring that college athletes have a meaningful say in its direction.Jim Cavale:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcavale/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimcavaleX: https://x.com/jimcavale?s=20

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Deputy CEO & Chief Real Estate Officer of the USL, Justin Papadakis.Papadakis oversees critical areas such as league expansion, stadium and real estate development, digital media, technology, and finance. Under his leadership, the USL has launched initiatives, including the development of stadium-anchored entertainment districts and the introduction of new professional and pre-professional leagues, with a focus on community impact and fan engagement.He earned a Juris Doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and a dual degree in Public Policy and Economics from Duke University, where he also played as a goalkeeper for the Blue Devils men’s soccer team. Papadakis’s passion for soccer and expertise in real estate have positioned him as a key figure in shaping the future of the sport in the U.S., emphasizing consensus-building, innovation, and sustainable community development.Justin Papadakis:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-papadakis-9b466522/X: https://x.com/justinpapadakis

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Creator and CEO of BCSlots, Brian Christopher.Christopher is the award-winning casino gaming content creator, with over 1 Billion video views. He plays slots daily in casinos & online on his BCSlots, BCBets and BCSpins channels, showing 8 Million monthly viewers how to have a great time with an entertainment budget. He runs the most insightful knowledge platform, Flip The Switch where he informs and educates the player community on every aspect of the gambling world.A respected innovator in the industry, Christopher designed the BCSlots at Plaza space Downtown Las Vegas, co-created the Brian Christopher’s Pop’N Pays More (SBC Slot Collaboration of the Year) and Brian Christopher's World Cruise slot machines with Gaming Arts, launched themed BCSlots Cruises with Carnival, and is a casino Ambassador of BetMGM.Christopher is the proud recipient of the Streamer of the Year Award presented by SBC, the Media Visibility Award presented by the Harvey Milk Foundation, and the Voices for Smokefree Air Award presented by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. He has been a Featured Speaker at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), Indian Gaming Association (IGA), Canadian Gaming Summit, NEXT Summit, EGR Power US Summit and AGS GameON, and is the Host of the annual EKG Slot Awards Show in Las Vegas.Brian Christopher:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrianChristopherSlotsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@BCSlotsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/BCSlotsBCSlots: https://www.bcslots.com/

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Senior Director of Business Development and Innovation at ESPN, Zack Malet.Malet negotiates and manages ESPN’s existing and new 3rd-party business agreements, with a specific focus on strategic innovation, emerging media, revenue, gaming and technology partnerships. Since joining ESPN in 2012, he worked in Disney Platform Distribution where he managed distribution of Disney properties (including ABC, ESPN, Disney+) with cable and streaming partners and in ESPN’s programming and acquisitions’ content strategy and college sports groups. His work within ESPN BD & Innovation includes the launch of ESPN’s 1st VR partnership with Meta, 1st sports travel tour “ESPN Experiences”, 1st FAST Network “ESPN8 The Ocho”, pioneering Emmy award-winning Disney/ ESPN’s Animated Telecasts (e.g. NHL Big City Greens Classic, Toy Story Funday Football), and negotiating new deals with EA Sports, COSM Immersive Venues, Sony/ Beyond Sports, Vivid Seats, WSC Sports and others. He is a proud member of the The Village for Families & Children Board of Directors, and volunteers with Fetching Hearts, Double Dog Rescue, and, through ESPN, worked with Connecticut Special Olympics, NYC Marathon, Peace Players International, and the Boys & Girls Clubs.Malet graduated from Brown University as an Economics and Urban Studies major and a member of the Track & Field team and earned a Masters degree from Georgetown University’s SIM program.Zack Malet:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackmalet/

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the CEO & Co-Founder of ShotTracker, Davyeon Ross.Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Ross came to the United States on a basketball scholarship to Benedictine College, where he was a four-year letterman and earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with minors in business and mathematics. He later completed his MBA at MidAmerica Nazarene University.Ross is best known as the co-founder and President of DDSports, the company behind ShotTracker—a groundbreaking sensor-based analytics platform that delivers real-time basketball statistics. ShotTracker has been adopted by major universities and professional organizations, transforming how coaches, players, and fans engage with the game. Under his leadership, ShotTracker secured high-profile partnerships, including with the Big 12 Conference, ESPN, Verizon, and Evertz.Before ShotTracker, Ross founded AthletixNation, a multimedia sports content platform, and later Digital Sports Ventures, which was acquired by Digital Broadcasting Group. His entrepreneurial journey has been marked by successful exits and recognition, including being named to Ingram’s Magazine’s “20 in their Twenties” and “40 under 40” lists.Beyond his ventures, Ross is deeply committed to fostering innovation and equity. He leads the Coalition Venture Studio, an initiative featured by Forbes, aimed at closing the venture capital gap for Black entrepreneurs by building strategic partnerships with VCs, corporations, and brands. He also serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Keystone Innovation District, Benedictine College, and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, working to connect diverse communities and drive inclusive economic growth.Ross’s career exemplifies a passion for technology, sports, and community impact, making him a prominent figure in both the Kansas City entrepreneurial landscape and the broader sports-tech industry.Davyeon Ross:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davyeonross/X: https://x.com/davyeonrossInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davyeonross/ShotTracker: https://shottracker.com/

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the COO & Co-Founder of Vetri Restaurant Group, Jeff Benjamin.After graduating from The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Benjamin met Marc Vetri in New York City while working in the food industry. When Marc decided to return to his native Philadelphia to open Vetri Cucina, he tapped Benjamin to be his business partner and general manager—and the rest is history.Today, Benjamin serves as co-founder of Vetri Cucina, and has worked alongside Marc to open many restaurants in the past 25 years including Fiorella, Fiore Rosso and MVP located in the Philadelphia area, and Osteria Fiorella and Vetri Cucina in Las Vegas. Benjamin is the co-founder and a board member of the Vetri Community Partnership. In 2015, he published his first book, Front of the House: Restaurant Manners, Misbehaviors & Secrets, a behind-the-scenes look at the details that go into an evening out. In addition to operating restaurants, Benjamin enjoys helping entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry through angel investing and consultation. Benjamin recently released, "Extra Innings: A Memoir of Fathers, Sons, Fandom, and Fate" which explores the relationships between generations and the passion of being a sports fan, and the bond between a father and son through their shared love for the Chicago Cubs. Benjamin intertwines themes of family, faith, social justice, and personal growth.Currently he is an investor and sits on the boards of Federal Donuts, a quick serve restaurant company, and Simply Good Jars, a CPG salad product for the foodservice and grocery industry.Benjamin lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Melissa, and has two daughters. When not working, he can be found spending time with his family and rooting for his beloved sports teams, the Cubs and 76ers.Jeff Benjamin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-benjamin-57472a132/X: @RkBenji

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed Randy Pritzker, the former CEO of Omicron Group.Pritzker is the former CEO of Omicron Consulting, a company specializing in application development, network services, and hardware/software reselling. During his tenure, he launched initiatives like XMLabs to provide specialized consulting services. Pritzker graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in marketing. Beyond his corporate career, Pritzker has served as a high school basketball referee, demonstrating his commitment to community involvement and sportsmanship.

On this episode of the SeventySix Capital Sports Leadership Show, Wayne Kimmel interviewed the Executive Chairman of Playfly Sports and Venture Partner at SeventySix Capital, Michael Schreiber. Schreiber brings his operational experience and media competency to the SeventySix Capital team as it continues to invest in the convergence of the physical and digital worlds in sports, where media serves as the glue between the two. Additionally, he uses his expansive network to grow SeventySix Capital’s strategic investor base and enhances the team’s media, digital, and television relationships.Schreiber is the Executive Chairman of Playfly the company he founded in 2020 with the backing of Sinclair Broadcast Group and Access Holdings. Playfly has four key business divisions - media, properties, technology and global partnerships. As the CEO of Playfly, Schreiber completed more than 10 acquisitions, and the employee count grew to more than 1,000 people. Playfly works with more than 2,000 brand partners, which include professional teams and college athletics departments such as Auburn, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, USC, Villanova, Virginia, and Virginia Tech.Schreiber served as the Chief Content Officer at Fortune 500 company Altice USA and President of Altice USA News. He was a founding member of Altice USA, part of their first management team, their 2017 IPO, and a key stakeholder in their acquisition of Cheddar. As president, Schreiber had direct oversight of its 13 networks and 600+ people. Prior to joining Altice USA, he spent 14 years at NBCUniversal and Comcast in several commercial, operating and revenue roles, including SVP of Content at Comcast, and VP of Business Development & Strategy at NBCUniversal Digital Distribution. During his time at Comcast NBCUniversal, Schreiber helped partner in the development, formation and launch of Hulu in 2007. He was also involved in some of the media industry's first digital distribution deals with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and Apple. He also has board experience, competency in revenue and value generation, and turn-around and restructuring skills via his time as an Altice executive. He graduated from the University of Virginia, has a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and attended an executive education program at Harvard Business School.Michael Schreiber:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-schreiber-4b262a1/X: https://x.com/maschreiberModernizing the Business of College Sports Report