RCX Sports has been building a youth sports platform around pro-league partnerships—now it’s scaling with new investment. In this conversation, host Alex Sherman sits down with Eli Manning and RCX Sports CEO/founder Izell Reese to break down the acquisition by Brand Velocity Group (BVG), how the business works, and the bigger question: can private equity and “keep it affordable” youth sports actually coexist?

They explain RCX’s model as a services-and-licensed-gear engine supporting local organizations like Parks & Recs and YMCAs, while licensing pro league branding for uniforms and equipment—what Reese describes as “Little League baseball meets fanatics.”

Eli frames the investment thesis in human terms: access, life lessons, and grassroots community reach—plus the built-in fandom flywheel when kids play under real NFL team logos at a young age.

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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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