7 episodes

College sports are at an inflection point. What’s been a stubbornly constant institution for the better part of a century is finally changing, and fast. The NCAA that many of us grew up with is already gone.

In its place, we have a new version of college sports, and it doesn’t look much like the old days. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry that keeps on growing with each passing year.

That money isn’t all staying put, though. It’s on the move, and it looks like it might keep moving all the way to a revolutionary shift in college sports.

Find out where it’s headed, here on The Option.

The Option Podcast Cross Streets Media

    • Sports
    • 5.0 • 14 Ratings

College sports are at an inflection point. What’s been a stubbornly constant institution for the better part of a century is finally changing, and fast. The NCAA that many of us grew up with is already gone.

In its place, we have a new version of college sports, and it doesn’t look much like the old days. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry that keeps on growing with each passing year.

That money isn’t all staying put, though. It’s on the move, and it looks like it might keep moving all the way to a revolutionary shift in college sports.

Find out where it’s headed, here on The Option.

    Episode 6: The End Game

    Episode 6: The End Game

    Ugh. I do hate goodbyes. But we had to tie a bow on all this sooner or later, didn’t we? 
    I’m sure we’ll have everything solved by the end of the next ~30 minutes.
    So come on down for the grand finale. We’re almost there. 
    This is The Option, from Cross Streets Media. 
    Guests featured (in order):
    Andy Coats: Lead Attorney, NCAA v. Board of Regents
    Nicole Auerbach: Senior Writer, College Football, The Athletic
    Sarah Fields: Professor, University of Colorado Denver
    J.A. Adande: Director of Sports Journalism, Northwestern University
    Jeffrey Kessler: Lead Attorney, NCAA v. Alston
    Paul McDonald: Lead Attorney, NCAA v. Johnson
    Ben Portnoy: College Sports Reporter, Sports Business Journal
    Rick Karcher: Professor, Eastern Michigan University
    Ben Strauss: Sports and Media Reporter, Washington Post
    Damon Stoudamire: Head Basketball Coach, Georgia Tech
    Ellen Staurowsky: Professor, Ithaca College
    Dennis Deninger: Professor, Syracuse University
    Eamonn Brennan: College Basketball Writer, Buzzer
    Host: Michael HendricksProducers: Joe Engelbrekt & Dean MetherellCover Art: Sam Ball

    • 35 min
    Episode 5: Majority Rule

    Episode 5: Majority Rule

    College sports contain multitudes. Nearly all of the coverage is devoted to what we tend to call the "revenue sports," and except for this time of year right now, what that really means is D1 football. 
    But what about everybody else? There are literally hundreds of thousands of college athletes across the country who we tend not to hear from. There's this giant conversation happening around them, and they barely get a word in. 
    So listen up. They've got something to say, here on The Option from Cross Streets Media. 
    Guests featured (in order):
    Abbey Forbes: Tennis Player, UNC Chapel Hill
    Grant House: Swimmer, Arizona State
    Amanda Christovich: Reporter, Front Office Sports
    Jaime Gordon: CEO, American Volleyball Coaches Association
    Christine Brennan: Columnist, USA Today
    Victoria Jackson: Professor, Arizona State University
    Host: Michael HendricksProducers: Joe Engelbrekt & Dean MetherellCover Art: Sam Ball

    • 22 min
    Episode 4: The Way Back

    Episode 4: The Way Back

    Every now and then, you have to press the ol’ rewind button to get up to speed. 
    It’s clarifying. We already got a lot out of that trip back to 1984, right? What’s another eight decades or so? 
    Teddy Roosevelt’s a gracious host. He’ll show us a good time. 
    So let’s head on back – way back – here on The Option from Cross Streets Media. 
    Guests featured (in order):
    Dennis Deninger: Professor, Syracuse University
    Ellen Staurowsky: Professor, Ithaca College
    Ben Strauss: Sports and Media Reporter, Washington Post
    Nicole Auerbach: Senior Writer, College Football, The Athletic
    Chase Griffin: Quarterback, UCLA
    J.A. Adande: Director of Sports Journalism, Northwestern University
    Theo John: NBA G-League Player
    Laine Higgins: Reporter, Wall Street Journal
    Host: Michael HendricksProducers: Joe Engelbrekt & Dean MetherellCover Art: Sam Ball

    • 22 min
    Episode 3: Hail Charlie

    Episode 3: Hail Charlie

    Instead of a Hail Mary, it’s a Hail Charlie. Get it? Like the football play?
    Its namesake is the ambitious new head of the NCAA, a guy named Charlie Baker, whose most recent experience was running the state of Massachusetts. So, in that sense, it’s a heave alright.
    But now that Baker’s in the chair, he’s bringing some changes to college sports. A lot of changes, actually, and he’s still hoping on a whole lot more. 
    We’ll tell you all about ‘em, here on The Option from Cross Streets Media. 
    Guests featured (in order):
    Amy Perko: CEO, Knight Commission
    Matt Stout: Reporter, Boston Globe
    Blake Lawrence: CEO, Opendorse
    Ross Dellenger: Senior College Football Reporter, Yahoo! Sports
    Andy Schwarz: Economist, OSKR
    Rick Karcher: Professor, Eastern Michigan University
    Jay Bilas: College Basketball Analyst, ESPN
    Host: Michael HendricksProducers: Joe Engelbrekt & Dean MetherellCover Art: Sam Ball

    • 26 min
    Episode 2: Pocket Pressure

    Episode 2: Pocket Pressure

    Remember 1984? Us too. What a year. Hit after hit after hit: Ghostbusters. Born in the USA. NCAA v. Board of Regents.
    What do you mean you don’t remember that last one? The landmark antitrust lawsuit that turned college sports upside down forever? Still no? For real? 
    Well, in that case. You’re prolly gonna want to listen to this episode STAT. We’ll get you up to speed. 
    This is The Option, from Cross Streets Media. 
     
    Guests featured (in order):
    Amanda Christovich: Reporter, Front Office Sports
    Andy Coats: Lead Attorney, NCAA v. Board of Regents
    Andy Zimbalist: President, Drake Group
    Amy Perko: CEO, Knight Commission
    Jaime Gordon: CEO, American Volleyball Coaches Association
    Victoria Jackson: Professor, Arizona State University
    Jay Bilas: College Basketball Analyst, ESPN
    Sarah Fields: Professor, University of Colorado Denver
    Host: Michael HendricksProducers: Joe Engelbrekt & Dean MetherellCover Art: Sam Ball

    • 28 min
    Episode 1: Amateur Hour

    Episode 1: Amateur Hour

    The NCAA has four letters, three divisions, a thousand schools, and half a million student-athletes. It’s a lot. Too much, some say. 
     
    For as long as most of us have been alive, the organization’s been running the world of college sports. But that world is going through some changes right now. 
     
    More than ever, the ground is shifting beneath this pillar of bureaucracy. And, to their credit, the NCAA is starting to shift with it. 
     
    It’s a funny time to be covering college sports. “May you live in interesting times,” right? Well. Here we are. 
     
    This is The Option, from Cross Streets Media. For the next six episodes, we’ll try and explain these times, and what might be coming next. So sit down, stay a while. 
     
    Guests featured (in order):
    Jay Bilas: College Basketball Analyst, ESPN
    Jeffrey Kessler: Lead Attorney, NCAA v. Alston
    Andy Zimbalist: President, Drake Group
    Charles Grantham: Fmr. Executive Vice President, NBA Players’ Union
    Cody McDavis: Fmr. College Basketball Player, Univ. of Northern Colorado
    Bubba Cunningham: Director of Athletics, UNC Chapel Hill
    Jennifer Heppel: Commissioner, Patriot League
    Blake Lawrence: CEO, Opendorse
    Stewart Mandel: Editor-in Chief, College Football, The Athletic
    Jason Gay: Sports and Humor Columnist, Wall Street Journal
    Host: Michael HendricksProducers: Joe Engelbrekt & Dean MetherellCover Art: Sam Ball

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

ohhonaaay ,

Wonderful piece of media

Great podcast. Michael is so talented in weaving story. If you have any curiosity on the topic, this is your pod!

JBeanz84sd ,

A Must Listen For College Sports Fans

Michael does a great job weaving the story together. It has tons of good information and I love the mix of music, clips and interviews. Well done!

Wes134268 ,

Great sports pod by legit journalist

This is what AM radio used to be about. Hendricks is a great journalist which makes him an even better sports podcaster.

Thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Into the details and expert analysis. This is for people who want some serious and sharp info they can pull out either at the boardroom or just watching a game the pub. Frames the issues and connects dots ingeniously. Has experts on to talk shop.

5 stars. Looking forward to tuning in again!

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