Broadcasting from Paris during the French Open, Brad Gilbert joins Alex Sherman to unpack the business of tennis through three lenses: playing, coaching, and broadcasting—plus what’s really happening behind the scenes right now at Roland Garros.

Gilbert argues tennis is in a healthy place globally, but remains star-driven—especially in the U.S. market. From there, the conversation moves into the divergent dynamics of the men’s and women’s tours, why combined events matter, and whether tennis should eventually operate as a single unified tour.

A major theme is player power: Gilbert revisits the ATP’s modern structure, explains why independent-contractor status makes collective bargaining difficult, and lays out what unions could change—particularly for players ranked outside the top tier who are paying their own travel, coaching, and support-team expenses. The episode also connects those economics to youth development and the pressure on families to “go all in” early, with Gilbert emphasizing balance and education even for elite prospects.

Later, Sherman digs into the coaching marketplace—how coaches get hired, what contracts actually look like in tennis, and why relationships can end quickly in a results-driven environment. Gilbert also reflects on his broadcasting career, including the end of his long ESPN relationship and his current work with Tennis Channel and his podcast.

Key topics covered:

• The state of tennis today and why it’s still a global, star-driven sport
• Men’s vs. women’s tour dynamics and the value of combined events
• One tour vs. two: the case for ATP/WTA alignment—and the complications
• Why player unions matter, and how prize money debates tie to power and governance
• The economic squeeze on players outside the top 100 (and why Slams matter most)
• Youth tennis pathways: academy pressure vs. education and long-term development
• The business of coaching: week-to-week realities, incentives, and “bigger better deal” moves
• Broadcasting career shifts: ESPN contract ending, Tennis Channel, and new media projects
• French Open outlook, including conditions, favorites, and how heat can change outcomes

Timestamps:

• 01:57 Men’s vs. women’s tour health and the impact of combined events
• 02:55 Should ATP and WTA merge—and what would it take?
• 03:48 Player protest context, prize money, and why unions change leverage
• 05:32 Who benefits most from higher payouts (and why rankings matter)
• 07:04 Youth tennis development, risk, and the case for balance + education
• 10:32 The business of coaching: how deals form and how coaches get paid
• 13:32 Why some coaching relationships last—and others end fast
• 14:29 Broadcasting business: ESPN departure and career transitions
• 17:15 Tennis Channel work, podcasting, and building audience in new ways
• 18:10 French Open predictions, heat-wave impacts, and betting-style “field” logic

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What you’ll hear in this episode

• Why the Jazz chose an organizational reset—and how owners weigh “push forward” vs. “scale back” when assets, caps, and timelines collide
• The incentives (and controversy) behind tanking, including Utah’s NBA fine and what the league may change next
• How a top lottery pick can reshape an NBA franchise faster than almost any other sport
• Why Ryan Smith prioritizes passion-fit in sports ownership (and why he stepped away from soccer)
• The Utah Mammoth’s early momentum: building a new fanbase, culture, and “firsts” from the ground up
• A behind-the-scenes look at a unique shared hub for pro basketball and hockey—including community access and integrated sports medicine
• The future of regional sports networks: reach vs. revenue, direct-to-consumer streaming, free over-the-air broadcasts, and what comes next for NBA local rights

Timestamps

• 01:44 — Why the Jazz chose a full reset and stockpiled draft assets
• 03:33 — Tanking incentives, the NBA fine, and whether the league should intervene
• 07:29 — Draft lottery reform ideas (including “flat odds”) and unintended consequences
• 10:03 — No. 2 pick stakes and whether “Utah ties” matter in draft decisions
• 13:06 — The Jazz/Mammoth shared facility vision: practice, corporate hub, and community access
• 15:35 — What surprised Ryan about owning an NHL team and why Utah embraced hockey fast
• 18:30 — Expansion mindset in sports ownership and why it’s “addicting”
• 20:25 — Why Smith exited soccer ownership: timing, focus, and personal passion
• 22:24 — Jazz Plus, local broadcast reach, and how regional sports media may evolve
• 28:16 — The biggest surprise of sports ownership: fandom, live events, and city impact

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Ronda Rousey joins Alex Sherman to unpack the economics of MMA, why UFC fighter pay remains a structural issue, and how the streaming era could reshape the business of fighting. Starting from the realities faced by lower-tier athletes—minimum per-fight guarantees, coach percentages, and taxes—Rousey explains how quickly “big league” fighting can still add up to poverty-level income. She argues the core problem is leverage: without credible alternatives to the UFC, fighters are stuck with take-it-or-leave-it contracts.

Rousey outlines why she believes streaming is the inflection point. In her view, streamers can pay upfront for premium fight content in a way that reduces reliance on traditional pay-per-view mechanics—and makes it feasible to build meaningful competition. She describes her push to work with MVP and why she sees Netflix as the only platform big enough to truly challenge the UFC at scale.

The conversation also covers Rousey’s upcoming return to fighting against Gina Carano—how the matchup idea originated, why early UFC talks didn’t ultimately land, and how the modern distribution shift changed the opportunity set. Rousey contrasts the classic pay-per-view structure (earning a share per view) with the newer streaming-first deal model, noting she can’t disclose exact numbers yet but expects details to be publicized after the fight.

Beyond the money, Rousey makes the case that fight promotions win when they sell stories, not just belts or brands—pointing to how major streaming events can draw massive attention when audiences care about the fighters involved. She also reflects on the overlap between combat sports and entertainment, her path through WWE and acting, and the mindset she brings to competition—whether she likes an opponent or not.

Key topics covered

• Minimum UFC pay math and why three fights a year can still be “poverty level”
• Why competition (not just incremental raises) is the leverage fighters need
• How the streaming model changes MMA economics and upfront rights payments
• Why Rousey believes fewer, bigger “can’t-miss” cards could outperform oversaturation
• Pay-per-view incentives vs. streaming deal structures for top fighters
• Storytelling, star power, and why audiences tune in to fighters—not just titles
• WWE culture vs. MMA culture, and the entertainment skill set behind pro fighting

Timestamps

• 01:31 Why minimum per-fight pay can translate into “poverty level” annually
• 01:48 Rousey’s fix: competition and a real alternative to the UFC
• 03:25 Oversaturation vs. “can’t-miss” marquee fights (fewer events, stacked cards)
• 04:36 How the Gina Carano comeback idea came together
• 06:13 How pay-per-view fighter compensation works (per-view share)
• 06:43 Streaming-era pay models and why specific numbers can’t be shared yet
• 08:43 Relationship with Dana White vs. the UFC as a company
• 11:49 Why fighting and acting careers overlap (MMA as entertainment)
• 13:13 WWE vs. UFC: collaborative show-building vs. adversarial competition
• 14:06 Is this a one-time return—or a second chapter?

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