CNBC Sport

CNBC's Lillian Rizzo joins Alex Sherman on what may really be behind the Justice Department's antitrust investigation into the NFL. Then, Alex speaks with Shelly Cayette-Weston, President of Business Operations for the Charlotte Hornets, about how the organization is strengthening its business foundation while building a winning culture on and off the court.

She details what the president of business operations role looks like for an NBA franchise, from overseeing ticket sales, sponsorships, operations, and community engagement to leading fan experience strategy across more than 150 events at Spectrum Center each year. She also explains how the Hornets are measuring progress through attendance growth, business performance, and deeper community connection.

Alex and Shelly also explore why the Hornets’ recent gains are about more than improved on-court play. Shelly points to long-term ownership vision, fan re-engagement, market growth in Charlotte, and major investments like the $245 million Spectrum Center renovation as key drivers of momentum. She also discusses the changing regional sports media landscape, and how the organization is thinking about future revenue growth across ticketing, premium experiences, partnerships, and media rights.

Topics discussed:

 01:57 Hornets attendance growth, franchise momentum, and building a winning culture

 03:08 Lessons Shelly Cayette-Weston brought from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Charlotte

 05:18 Why business performance is not solely dependent on wins and losses

 06:53 How fan engagement, legacy fans, and the Spectrum Center renovation boosted attendance

 07:39 The Hornets’ revenue strategy across ticket sales, sponsorships, premium, and media

 10:08 The collapse of the regional sports network model and what it means for local NBA rights

 11:29 What is next for the Hornets, including the Novant Health practice facility and long-term fan experience plans

 12:47 Why the franchise believes its young core and draft capital position it for sustainable growth

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Dom Chu joins Alex Sherman to break down the latest storylines heading into the Masters. Then, Lindsey Vonn joins Alex to share how she’s recovering physically and mentally after a major crash—and what it could mean for the final chapter of her ski racing career. They also dig into longevity in elite sports, why Olympic athletes struggle financially, and how storytelling and women’s sports investing are changing the game.

Lindsey Vonn sits down with Alex Sherman for a candid conversation about recovery, resilience, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in an Olympic sport. Lindsey opens up about where she is in rehab—moving from a wheelchair to crutches—and how she’s balancing patience, progress, and the uncertainty of what comes next.

They discuss the realities of returning from a severe injury, including the impact of multiple surgeries, cartilage damage, and the steps still ahead (including hardware removal and an ACL replacement). Lindsey also shares her mindset around risk and crashing in downhill skiing—and why she focuses on progress rather than fear.

The conversation expands into the bigger picture of longevity in sports, with reflections on athletes competing at older ages and what motivation, physical readiness, and personal drive look like later in a career. They touch on Tiger Woods’ comeback efforts, as well as examples like Tom Brady and Lewis Hamilton, and what inspiration (and caution) can come from watching other elite competitors push the timeline.

In the second half, Lindsey gets into the business side of skiing and Olympic sports: how few athletes can truly make a sustainable living, what she learned early from her father about building a career beyond results, and what she believes could help the sport grow. Her take is clear: sports are entertainment, and athletes who can tell their story—especially through social media—can build deeper fan connection, visibility, and long-term earning power.

Lindsey also shares why she’s passionate about investing in women’s sports, why she believed the category was undervalued, and how cultural momentum is finally “moving the needle” across leagues and athletes. She talks about taking a personal, values-driven approach to partnerships and mentions a campaign with InVivid focused on educating people about antibodies and immune health.

 

Timestamps (select moments)

01:56 Why she doesn’t want her crash to be the final chapter—and what’s still ahead medically

03:03 Recovery outlook, fasciotomy concerns, and regaining function

04:26 Risk, crashing, and why she doesn’t dwell on fear

06:07 Longevity in sports: Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, and competing later in life

08:03 The economics of ski racing and why most athletes can’t earn a strong living

09:57 How athletes can grow their sport through storytelling and social media

11:07 Values-driven partnerships, sponsorship longevity, and the InVivid antibodies campaign

12:56 Investing in women’s sports and why the category has been undervalued

Links & Resources

Otter.ai transcription: https://otter.ai

 

 

 

 

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Landon Donovan sits down with Alex Sherman for a wide-ranging conversation on the 2026 World Cup, the business and visibility challenges facing Major League Soccer, and the personal realities behind elite performance—including depression, therapy, and the pressure to be “on” at all times.

Key topics covered

Why the 2026 World Cup could be a true “before and after” moment for American soccer (and why it could also be overhyped)

What a “successful” World Cup looks like for the USMNT: a deep run plus iconic moments that change public perception

How MLS stacks up against top European leagues—and what billionaire ownership could mean if spending and ambition rise

The MLS–Apple TV model: what worked, what limited reach, and why broader promotion still matters for a growing league

Donovan’s book motivations: moving beyond highlight-reel memoirs to talk honestly about depression, family, and identity

A candid look at depressive episodes, including a drug-induced crisis and how meditation helped him survive it

Youth soccer in the U.S.: “pay-to-play,” win-first culture, broken incentives—and Donovan’s stated mission to change it

Timestamps

10:26 — Why 2026 could reshape U.S. soccer, and a 1994 World Cup flashback

10:28 — What “success” looks like for the USMNT (deep run + iconic moments)

10:30 — MLS ownership, spending power, and what exposure to the World Cup can unlock

10:31 — MLS vs. Europe: where the league stands today

10:36 — The MLS–Apple TV deal and the challenge of reach vs. revenue

10:37 — Why Donovan wrote a book—and why mental health is central to it

10:43 — Depression, suicidal thoughts, and the role of therapy and meditation

10:47 — Retirement, ownership interest, and why youth soccer reform is his “next frontier”

 

Resources mentioned

Stream Major League Soccer on Apple TV

MLS viewing FAQ and details on watching matches

Lincoln City FC (club Donovan mentions investing in)

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Legendary Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim sits down with Alex Sherman a few days before March Madness to break down the realities of NIL, the transfer portal, and the shifting power structure in college basketball. Boeheim argues the sport has, in many ways, improved on the court—older rosters, more talent staying in school, and an influx of international players—but says meaningful regulation (contracts, salary caps, transfer limits) is still needed to prevent the system from spinning further out of control. 

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Tyler Reddick joins Alex Sherman to unpack a red-hot start to the NASCAR season—three straight wins—and what’s actually behind the momentum. Reddick explains how experience at specific tracks and lessons from previous near-misses helped him execute when it mattered, including reflecting on coming up just short in the Daytona 500 and using prior failures as motivation to close races out.

A big focus of the conversation is 23XI Racing’s leadership—and the reality of what it’s like to drive for an ownership group that includes Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Reddick shares a favorite Jordan moment that turned into real performance fuel, and he pushes back on the idea that Jordan is “just the money,” describing how both Jordan and Hamlin contribute leadership, perspective, and hands-on involvement (including Hamlin’s role in building out the team’s “Airspeed” facility).

They also zoom out to the business of NASCAR: what a winning streak can do for sponsorship conversations, why partner exposure matters as much as prize money, and how driver compensation can vary widely depending on contract structure (salary vs. winnings/purse-heavy deals). Reddick addresses whether any fallout lingered after 23XI’s lawsuit against NASCAR and the eventual settlement, and he explains why, from his seat, things stayed professional at the track and the relationship is moving forward.

Finally, Reddick weighs in on NASCAR’s current trajectory amid leadership changes and shifting motorsports attention, including the role of the Next Gen car and why tire strategy (and Goodyear’s changes) can significantly impact racing quality. The episode closes with a look at AI: while Reddick doesn’t use AI in-car, he says teams are exploring how AI might help them process overwhelming amounts of performance and race data more efficiently over time.

 01:30 Michael Jordan’s “jab” that motivated Reddick to improve on superspeedways

 03:05 How Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin actually lead at 23XI Racing

 05:13 23XI’s lawsuit vs. NASCAR, the settlement, and whether anything lingers

 06:44 Winning streak economics: sponsors, exposure, and new partnership interest

 08:06 How driver pay works: salary vs. winnings and contract structure

 09:33 NASCAR’s direction, leadership change, Next Gen car, and why tires matter

 11:21 AI in NASCAR: using AI to sort racing data (and why it’s still early)

 13:29 Phoenix sendoff and Michael Jordan’s leadership style

 

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