cover of episode The Other Game: How Athletes Become Brands

The Other Game: How Athletes Become Brands

2024/12/11
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DealBook Summit

People
B
Bomani Jones
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Hope Solo
J
Jesse Palmer
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Jordan Chiles
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Justin Tuck
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Napheesa Collier
R
Renee Montgomery
Topics
Justin Tuck:退役NFL球员在职业生涯期间就积极规划未来,利用业余时间拓展人脉和学习机会,为转型做准备。他认为,在纽约这样充满机会的城市,充分利用运动员的品牌效应,积极拓展人脉,学习不同领域的知识,为未来的发展奠定基础至关重要。 Jordan Chiles:运动员需要不断学习和提升自我,才能更好地打造个人品牌。体操运动员的职业发展与其他运动项目有所不同,他们需要通过不断学习和教育来提升自身能力,才能更好地把握机会,打造个人品牌。同时,她也强调了个人品牌建设中的真实性和持续学习的重要性。 Jesse Palmer:运动员退役后,面临的一大挑战是如何找到新的激情和动力,来替代运动生涯中的竞争感和成就感。他认为,在退役后,运动员需要找到新的目标和挑战,才能保持积极性和动力,而个人品牌建设是其中一个重要的途径。 Renee Montgomery:WNBA的快速发展和竞争激烈程度,让她依然保持着高度的竞争状态。她认为,WNBA的快速发展和商业化程度的提高,使得运动员面临着更大的竞争压力,但也提供了更多发展机会。她将自身在WNBA的经历与商业发展相结合,展现了运动员在商业领域的竞争力和发展潜力。 Napheesa Collier:她通过在Unrivaled的成功和品牌合作中获得成就感,保持竞争状态。她认为,在职业生涯结束后,运动员仍然可以通过其他方式保持竞争状态,例如创业和品牌合作,并从中获得成就感和满足感。 Hope Solo:建立和发展个人品牌需要强大的支持系统,这对于运动员的心理健康和职业发展至关重要。她分享了自己的经验,强调了拥有一个积极的支持系统对于运动员克服困难,保持身心健康,以及成功打造个人品牌的重要性。 Bomani Jones:社交媒体的演变改变了人们打造个人品牌的方式,运动员需要适应新的环境和规则。他认为,社交媒体的演变使得运动员的个人品牌建设更加复杂,需要运动员适应新的规则和环境,并利用社交媒体的优势来打造个人品牌。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Justin Tuck find football relatively easy compared to other aspects of his life?

Justin Tuck found football easy because the X's and O's of the game were straightforward for him. He used his downtime to explore opportunities in New York City, meeting with hedge fund managers and real estate agents, which he found more challenging and fulfilling.

How does Jordan Chiles view the role of education in building her brand as a gymnast?

Jordan Chiles emphasizes the importance of education in her branding journey. She believes that as a gymnast, she had to educate herself about her sport and her personal brand. She highlights the challenges of navigating her career, such as flipping on a four-inch piece of wood and dealing with international competitions, as part of her educational process.

Why did Renee Montgomery transition from being a player to an owner in the WNBA?

Renee Montgomery transitioned from a player to an owner in the WNBA because of her desire to improve the team's culture and marketing. She felt that the previous ownership didn't adequately represent the players, and she wanted to create a better environment for the athletes. Her wife initially suggested the idea of buying the team, which led to her becoming a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream.

How does Hope Solo feel about social media and its role in her brand?

Hope Solo initially viewed social media as toxic and exhausting, especially during her soccer career. She felt it distracted players and created unnecessary pressure. However, she has since come to appreciate its benefits, particularly in allowing athletes to control their own narratives and build their brands authentically.

What does Bomani Jones think about the evolution of social media and its impact on branding?

Bomani Jones believes that social media has evolved from a platform where fans could see celebrities as regular people to a space where regular people try to act like celebrities. He notes that social media has become a language for corporations and a branding tool, but it has also made athletes less interesting from a distance due to the pressure to be politically correct and safe in their branding.

How does Napheesa Collier balance her social media presence with her personal brand?

Napheesa Collier finds social media exhausting but necessary for her brand. She carefully selects brand partnerships that align with her values and interests, such as supporting women's health through her partnership with Opal. She believes that being authentic and choosing partnerships that resonate with her personal beliefs is key to maintaining her brand.

What challenges do athletes face with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals?

Athletes face challenges with NIL deals, including the potential for team dynamics to be affected by financial disparities among players. Some players may receive lucrative deals while others do not, leading to feelings of inequality. Additionally, the constant need to recruit and retain players due to the transfer portal and NIL deals has made coaching more challenging.

How does Jesse Palmer approach authenticity in his various roles, from sports to entertainment?

Jesse Palmer emphasizes authenticity in all his roles, whether as a sports analyst, reality TV host, or entrepreneur. He believes that being true to himself and his passions, whether in football, The Bachelor, or his clothing line, is crucial for maintaining his brand and connecting with his audience.

What is the premise of Napheesa Collier's basketball league, Unrivaled?

Unrivaled is a three-on-three basketball league featuring the best women's basketball players in the world. The league aims to provide a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and build their brands. It offers the highest average team salary in women's sports and gives players equity in the league, creating a unique and competitive environment.

Chapters
The panel started by asking each athlete to describe their brand in one word, leading to a discussion on authenticity and the varied opportunities athletes face outside of sports. The discussion touched upon the challenges of transitioning from sports to other professions and the importance of education and self-discovery in building a personal brand.
  • Athletes offered diverse one-word descriptions for their brands (money, self, truth, education, opportunity, exhausting), reflecting the multifaceted nature of personal branding.
  • The importance of authenticity in branding was highlighted.
  • Athletes discussed the opportunities and challenges of transitioning from sports to other fields, including planning for the future during athletic careers.

Shownotes Transcript

A panel of athletes discuss their career journeys, from sports to building their brands. The discussion is moderated by Jess Sims, host at The Athletic.

Participants:

  • Jordan Chiles, gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnast
  • Napheesa Collier, forward for the Minnesota Lynx and co-founder of Unrivaled
  • Bomani Jones, host of “The Right Time with Bomani Jones”
  • Renee Montgomery, co-owner and vice president of the Atlanta Dream and two-time W.N.B.A. champion
  • Jesse Palmer, television host and entrepreneur
  • Hope Solo, World Cup and Olympic champion and activist
  • Justin Tuck, retired N.F.L. player and managing director in private wealth management at Goldman Sachs

The conversation was recorded at the annual DealBook Summit and recorded live in front of an audience at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Read more about highlights from the day at https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/04/business/dealbook-summit-news

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