36 min
E2: Lou Canellis: Discussing the NFL STADIUM BUSINESS & Living the Sports Commentary Dream 2000 Percent Raise
-
- Entrepreneurship
In this second episode of “2000 Percent Raise,” guest Lou Canellis, an American sports commentator, TV host, news personality and restaurant owner, shares the poignant story of his upbringing that made him the success he is today.
Well known as a host of all five of the TV shows that the Chicago Bears own and produce, and his postgame chats earlier in his career with Michael Jordan, Lou talks about hard work and following a dream.
He starts by thanking his parents, who sacrificed much to give him a good life. His mom, who recently passed away, worked for 38 years as a Chicago public school teacher, and his dad ran a dry cleaning business that was in the family for 60 years. His father would get up every day at 5:30 and work until 7 p.m., even until the time he was in the final stages of cancer and had to have his leg amputated from the knee down.
“I wanted to make them both proud,” Lou shares as he describes his rise to success from a high school boy whose dream was to play pro baseball to the well-known sports commentator he is today. “Only .5 percent make it to the pros so you have to have ultimate respect for those who do. The other 99.5 percent better have a back-up plan.”
Lou decided, “If I’m not going to play it, let’s make a few bucks broadcasting it.”
Topics covered in this interview:
–The “business of NFL stadiums” and the Chicago Bears moving to Arlington Heights, at an old horse track.
–How important it is for a franchise to “own their own home” and be able to make revenue from it, which can be used to create a Superbowl winner, as noted by John.
–The importance of having a strong work ethic.
–Lou and John both share the impact of losing their mothers.
–The way Lou built a strong and trusting relationship with Michael Jordan, “the best athlete of all times,” later being invited to his workouts.
–Lou’s “inspired Greek” restaurant, Avli, which was started after two of his other restaurants failed and what he learned from those experiences.
–Both John, who is also an investor in restaurants, and Lou, share the importance of having the right operator.
–Key insights Lou brings to the restaurant investment:
Understanding what people in Chicago love How to create the right menu Targeting an audience Knowing where to build–”location, location, location” What types of employees to hire –Lou’s favorite line in the movie Wall Street: “Money never sleeps,” which he elaborates upon and ties in with doing what you love. He quotes Steve Jobs, “If you haven’t found what you love in life, keep looking.”
About Lou Canellis
Lou is an American sports commentator and news personality working as a sports
anchor at WFLD and FOX 32 News in Chicago, Illinois.
He shares his enthusiasm about sports with Chicagoans every day on FOX 32 News at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Lou has followed local teams his entire life and has an extensive sports background.
In addition to his work on FOX Chicago, Lou is “living the dream” with the Chicago Bears.
He is the TV host for all five of the TV shows the Bears own and produce. Lou anchors Bears Game Day Live and Bears Game Night Live on FOX Sunday mornings and Sunday nights, along with Bears Recap and Bears Blitz on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on Comcast Sportsnet.
Lou has been going to Bears games since he was four-years-old, and has been a season ticket holder since he was six-years-old. Lou's expertise on the Bears can also be heard on the Roe Conn Show on WLS Radio, 890AM, Mondays and Fridays.
Lou’s first dream job was as a member of the Chicago Bulls broadcasts on TV and radio. He worked on the sidelines and is well-known for his postgame chats with Michael Jordan.
Lou is also an expert on real estate, hosting the TV show "Making Money in Real Estate”.
A Loyola University graduate, Lou considers himself a "South Sider," having been born and raised in Oak Lawn.
Follow Lou:
In this second episode of “2000 Percent Raise,” guest Lou Canellis, an American sports commentator, TV host, news personality and restaurant owner, shares the poignant story of his upbringing that made him the success he is today.
Well known as a host of all five of the TV shows that the Chicago Bears own and produce, and his postgame chats earlier in his career with Michael Jordan, Lou talks about hard work and following a dream.
He starts by thanking his parents, who sacrificed much to give him a good life. His mom, who recently passed away, worked for 38 years as a Chicago public school teacher, and his dad ran a dry cleaning business that was in the family for 60 years. His father would get up every day at 5:30 and work until 7 p.m., even until the time he was in the final stages of cancer and had to have his leg amputated from the knee down.
“I wanted to make them both proud,” Lou shares as he describes his rise to success from a high school boy whose dream was to play pro baseball to the well-known sports commentator he is today. “Only .5 percent make it to the pros so you have to have ultimate respect for those who do. The other 99.5 percent better have a back-up plan.”
Lou decided, “If I’m not going to play it, let’s make a few bucks broadcasting it.”
Topics covered in this interview:
–The “business of NFL stadiums” and the Chicago Bears moving to Arlington Heights, at an old horse track.
–How important it is for a franchise to “own their own home” and be able to make revenue from it, which can be used to create a Superbowl winner, as noted by John.
–The importance of having a strong work ethic.
–Lou and John both share the impact of losing their mothers.
–The way Lou built a strong and trusting relationship with Michael Jordan, “the best athlete of all times,” later being invited to his workouts.
–Lou’s “inspired Greek” restaurant, Avli, which was started after two of his other restaurants failed and what he learned from those experiences.
–Both John, who is also an investor in restaurants, and Lou, share the importance of having the right operator.
–Key insights Lou brings to the restaurant investment:
Understanding what people in Chicago love How to create the right menu Targeting an audience Knowing where to build–”location, location, location” What types of employees to hire –Lou’s favorite line in the movie Wall Street: “Money never sleeps,” which he elaborates upon and ties in with doing what you love. He quotes Steve Jobs, “If you haven’t found what you love in life, keep looking.”
About Lou Canellis
Lou is an American sports commentator and news personality working as a sports
anchor at WFLD and FOX 32 News in Chicago, Illinois.
He shares his enthusiasm about sports with Chicagoans every day on FOX 32 News at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Lou has followed local teams his entire life and has an extensive sports background.
In addition to his work on FOX Chicago, Lou is “living the dream” with the Chicago Bears.
He is the TV host for all five of the TV shows the Bears own and produce. Lou anchors Bears Game Day Live and Bears Game Night Live on FOX Sunday mornings and Sunday nights, along with Bears Recap and Bears Blitz on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays on Comcast Sportsnet.
Lou has been going to Bears games since he was four-years-old, and has been a season ticket holder since he was six-years-old. Lou's expertise on the Bears can also be heard on the Roe Conn Show on WLS Radio, 890AM, Mondays and Fridays.
Lou’s first dream job was as a member of the Chicago Bulls broadcasts on TV and radio. He worked on the sidelines and is well-known for his postgame chats with Michael Jordan.
Lou is also an expert on real estate, hosting the TV show "Making Money in Real Estate”.
A Loyola University graduate, Lou considers himself a "South Sider," having been born and raised in Oak Lawn.
Follow Lou:
36 min