In this episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we have an awesome informational interview with recent On-Field Player turned Off-Field Player, the one and only, Hind Abdelouahid. A Sacramento native, Hind comes from a family of athletes and an upbringing from her family's roots in France. Hind's father, Tariq Abdul-Wahad moved to the U.S. to play college basketball, later becoming the first French player to play in the NBA when he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 1997. Tariq's impact on the game pioneered the influx of the French NBA stars we see today such as Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum, and the young French players recently selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. Following his basketball career, Tariq would help Hind in her On-Field Player journey in the sport of tennis. Hind started tennis in her early teens which is considered relatively late to begin playing the sport in her words. However, she trained and worked her way to earn a tennis scholarship to Saint Mary's College while also competing on the pro circuit playing in different countries all over the world. As of 2023, Hind stepped away from tennis to pursue her other passion, social media content. Hind has gained a following through her content creation on Instagram and TikTok through UGC (User-Generated Content) brand marketing and sports content. In a full circle moment, her social media skills led to her landing a seasonal internship with the same team that drafted her father as a Digital Intern. In perfect timing to highlight Hind's French-American upbringing, we chat with Hind about the excitement of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the storylines people are looking forward to following later this summer. Hind has made a smooth transition from being an On-Field Player turned Off-Field Player within an entire calendar year possessing a great talent for content creation through social media as she continues to set the bar high. In an action packed informational interview, we talk with Hind about Paris 2024, being raised by a pro athlete, pursuing a career in pro tennis, and her natural ability in the social media landscape as an OFP. Follow Hind on her socials down below: https://www.instagram.com/hindou/ https://www.tiktok.com/@itshindou2 https://www.linkedin.com/in/hind-abdelouahid-30a7ba208/

In this episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we have another informational interview feature with the Chris Johnson, Director of Ticket Sales for upstart pro-soccer team, USL Naples. A Chicago-native, Chris began his journey in sports through the game of basketball where he has made a life of being a goal-driven individual. One of those goals was being a Division 1 college basketball player, which he accomplished while at Northern Illinois University where he graduated with both his bachelor's and master's degree. He would later become one of the top Group Sales Account Managers with the Sacramento Kings, which would later lead to an opportunity of a lifetime for Chris in his young career. In March 2024, Chris made the move to Naples, Florida where he joined USL Naples, an expansion team set to compete in USL League One at the start of the 2025 season. Chris shares his journey so far helping the team in the ticket sales department leading up to their maiden season. The game of soccer is growing at a massive rate in the U.S. with the increase popularity of the MLS, the USL conglomerate, and the hype toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Chris looks to make history in his new found role with USL Naples as he continues to progress in his journey as an OFP. To connect with Chris Johnson on LinkedIn, click the link down below: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-johnson-64937621b/

In this episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we chat with upcoming University of Nevada, Reno journalism graduate, Kailee Bryant as we bring you another edition of the "Free Agent Series" where we highlight and promote soon-to-be/recent college graduates looking to pursue a career in the sports industry and are on the job hunt. Kailee Bryant is a Roseville, California native who will be graduating this May from the University of Nevada, Reno. Inspired by the career of legendary sportscaster, Erin Andrews, Kailee focused her studies at Nevada in broadcasting and sports journalism. During her time as a student, she played an integral role in the Nevada Wolf Pack Athletics program where she was the Social Media and Digital Intern, with her most notable work being the host of "Wolf Pack Weekly," highlighting the weekly achievements of Nevada's athletic success throughout the Mountain West Conference. Kailee has also developed a leadership acumen at Nevada where she was president of the Reynolds School of Journalism student board along with being a campus ambassador for the university. Kailee has had a passion for sports while growing up on the outskirts of Sacramento obtaining a passion for basketball, track & field, and baseball as sports have had a deep connection in the Bryant family household. After speaking with Kailee on the podcast in my second episode of the Free Agent Series, I recommend her to be hired by any sports organization that has openings to help fulfill the needed talents that Kailee possesses as a rising OFP. Connect and reach out to Kailee Bryant on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kailee-bryant-94a622253/

After a one month hiatus, the Off-Field Players Podcast returns for episode 30. In this episode, I do a review on the new Netflix series NASCAR: Full Speed.  @NASCAR  and  @Netflix FINALLY come together to do a possible one off series that gives NASCAR's answer to what Drive To Survive is to  @Formula1 . NASCAR: Full Speed is a series that highlights the journey for 9 of the 16 drivers who qualified for the 2023 NASCAR Playoffs with the hopes of becoming NASCAR Cup Series champion. The series takes a focus on the competitive spirit of NASCAR drivers, their personal lives, backstories of their beginnings in becoming a superstar in the racing world, and their ups and downs throughout the grueling 10 race postseason to capture NASCAR glory. Could this lead to Netflix having a full-time deal with NASCAR for a bigger production?

In this milestone episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we close out 2023 with an informational interview with the President of NASCAR, Steve Phelps. NASCAR celebrated their 75th Anniversary season this year where race fans experienced monumental moments that has taken the sport to another level both on and off the track. The vision and intelligence of Steve Phelps has enhanced the sport of NASCAR to new horizons from sending a car to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, going back to NASCAR's beginnings with the All-Star Race at the famous North Wilkesboro Speedway, and having the first ever NASCAR street circuit race on the streets of Chicago.

Phelps' journey to becoming the President of the highest form of motorsports in North America began with his upbringing in the state of Vermont with a passion to combine his love of sports with his knowledge of business. This would lead to an opportunity to work in the NFL before transitioning to NASCAR. In having a determined, innovative, and hardworking spirit, Steve Phelps embodies the persona of being a role model in the sports industry as an off-field player and continues to help the next generation see that there are opportunities for success when done the right way. This was a milestone interview for me as the host of the Off-Field Players Podcast as me and Steve Phelps reflect on the 75th season of NASCAR and share what the future holds for the sport going forward.

In this episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we continue our discussion in recapping the Las Vegas Grand Prix as I give my thoughts on what went right, what went wrong, and what can be improved for next year.

In this episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we go into detail on Formula 1's most anticipated and extraordinary race that have planned for in recent years, the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Formula 1 makes their return to Sin City for the first time in just over 40 years. However, this time around, the best drivers in the world will be racing on the famous Las Vegas Strip. With an event as monumental as the Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to up be, it will be curious to know if the race will live up to the hype of Formula 1 ones all-over the world, and if this race can have the same energy and excitement for the upcoming years as Vegas begins the start of what is a nine-year agreement for the event to take place.

In this episode of the Off-Field Players Podcast, we do a study and projection on who should be the first million dollar salary player in the WNBA. In 2023, the WNBA set milestone records across the league with ticket sales, viewership, social media growth, and marketability for their star players. With a league that was the brain child of former NBA commissioner, the late David Stern, the WNBA has had ups and downs since its foundation in 1997. However, we are now living in a time where women professional sports leagues are no longer an afterthought. As the game of basketball continues to grow globally, so do the opportunities for women to work in sports and the deserved exposure for women athletes who play in a league like the WNBA. As the popularity grows for the league, so should the salaries of the players who succeed at the highest level of professional basketball. With all the data, research, and history that I have conducted in making this episode, I share my prediction on who I believe should be the first million dollar salary player in the WNBA as the league continues to grow at an exponential rate as an OFP.