1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly, and I'm Michael barn and I'm Mike Lynch. 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: And we're here Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays to explore the 4 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports. Talked to 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: some of the biggest players in the industry. So many 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,319 Speaker 1: questions today for body Armor co founder Mike Rappoli, well 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,920 Speaker 1: known across the sports, the beverage and just the broader 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: business industry at large. Mike, really good to have you 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: with us. Thanks you, guys, I appreciate it. Alright. So 10 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: let's start by talking about body Armor. This is a 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: product that you've invested a lot of time and money in. 12 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: It's catching on. Tell us where we are right now. 13 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: You've got some big athletes coming on board with you. 14 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: This is a competitive market set the landscape for us, Well, 15 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: it wasn't competitive until we got in because Gatorade has 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: been such a dominant player for like fifty years in 17 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: the in the sports and category. But you know, I 18 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: thought it. In beverages, I started a brand called Biden 19 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: Water and Small Water with my partner Darius bike Off. 20 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: We had tremendous success and built an incredible companies sold 21 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: it to Coke for four point one billion dollars. And 22 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: you know, I vowed never to get back into the beverage, 23 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: the beverage industry again. Uh probably like a lot of 24 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: athletes that retire and say they're never going to come back, 25 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: and they come back, and usually we know how that goes. 26 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: Usually they failed. But uh, I got back in and 27 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: and I and I saw an opportunity to create a 28 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: better for sports drink. You know, everybody was drinking gatorade 29 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: and powerade and you know, and I was watching athletes 30 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: today drink the same beverage that I was drinking in 31 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: the eighties and nineties, and you know, everybody was going 32 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: healthier and better for you. And here is the same 33 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: sports drink that we're drinking, you know, fifty years later. 34 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: And you know, while I've watched athletes evolved with you know, 35 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: equipment and training and uniforms and nutrician you know, food 36 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: and and and beverage, you know, the sports drink category 37 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: just stayed the same. So I decided to do something 38 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: crazy and had a better forew sport trick and that's 39 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: what Body Armor was launched. And you know, uh, probably 40 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 1: from two thousand eleven to two thousand fifteen, I was 41 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: probably cursing myself out said what the hell did I 42 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: do now? And uh um, And we've had some tremendous 43 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: success which we'll talk about for since two thousand sixteen, 44 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: and Coke invested in two thousand eighteen, and we're doing 45 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: great right now. What is the the guess the end 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: game is that do you plan to have your site 47 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: set for Gatorade? Maybe in uh down the road in 48 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: several years too for you to obtain that? Is that 49 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: something that you're looking at? Michael. When I first started, um, 50 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: you know this, this was a six billion dollar categories 51 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: now a seven billion dollar category, and Gatorade had like 52 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: an eighty eight five share in power. I had to 53 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: have the rest. So it was a market that there 54 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 1: was just two major players. So the goal was to 55 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: create a better for you sport drink. So body armors natural, 56 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: it's got electrolytes through potassium, coconut order, um, you know, 57 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: more more for today's athletes, not not artificial in high 58 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: sodium like Gatorade. So you know, my goal was, you know, 59 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: this is gonna be a premium sports drink. And my 60 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: goal was to be a ten share. If we can 61 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: get ten percent of share of the market, you know, 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 1: it's six billion or seven billion, that's six or seven 63 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: hundred million dollars. What's happened over the last three years. 64 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: Body arm is gonna be a billion dollars in retail dollars. 65 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: We're gonna wind up being a thirteen share this year, 66 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: where twenty share in convenience and we're now the number 67 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: two sports drink behind Gatorade UM and we're growing like 68 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: sevent So you know, where I thought it was gonna 69 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 1: be niche or premium, you know, and ten percent of 70 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: a big category really is a niche because it's a 71 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: you know, six or seven hundred million. You know, I 72 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: now have the goal, with the team of three incredible employees, 73 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, to be the number one sports rink in 74 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: two thousand twenty five. And and you know, it was 75 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: tougher to get to a one share than a ten share. 76 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: And if we can get to a fifty one share 77 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: or even really a forty five, show will be the 78 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: number one sports drink. And uh, you know, I think 79 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: that the next five years at sevent growth. Uh and 80 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: with our partnership with Coke, which we did cocent of 81 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: the company um in the August of two eighteen. You know, 82 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: with the distribution muscle and and and and our brand 83 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: and all the incredible team and passionate bottlers and retailers 84 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: that are really boored into the concept and consumers that are, 85 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: you know, picking up every day. I think it's a 86 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: I think it's just a matter of time, whether it's 87 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: two thousand four or two twenty six before Body Almers 88 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: did the one sport drinking Mike. This is Mike Lynch 89 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: up in Boston. I feel like you're one of my 90 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: roommates now because every time I open my refrigerator, I'm 91 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: going to see your image because my refrigerator is stuffed 92 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: with the Vitamin Water Smart Water. I opened the cabinet. 93 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: There's pirate's booty everywhere, is there? I am well. I 94 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: have a wife and three thirty year old daughters. Two 95 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: of them have boomerang back home, so I can't even 96 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: find like a little slot from my tiny little orange 97 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: juice in the morning. But you are all over our kitchen. 98 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: Is where do we? Where are we going from here? 99 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: With all these with all these health drinks, you know, 100 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: everyone wants electrolytes now and not just professional athletes, but 101 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: women that walk in the morning, people that go to 102 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: the gym. Um, are we going to grow this this product? 103 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: Or are we at the end now? You know? You know, Mike, 104 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: I think it's just starting. I think what we considered 105 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 1: you know, I'm fifty one years old. I don't know 106 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: how old you guys are, But what we considered the 107 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: health product when I was twenty is just is just 108 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: the new product today. You know, more more consumers are 109 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: going to TRIPOLDI than they are say McDonald's, you know more. 110 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: You know, what what was what was premium, it was 111 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: niche is now mainstreamable and scalable. Um, there's just a 112 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: shift in what It's not only what athletes want or 113 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: nutritionists or trainers, but like you said, what you know, 114 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 1: whether it's your your daughters at thirty years old or 115 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: or or to you and your wife. Now, I mean 116 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 1: this is just a new normal. I mean it's it's 117 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: it's what what consumers want, you know, you know, you know, 118 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: once consumers make that shift, they don't come back. So 119 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: many of these categories, many of these brands, um, you know, 120 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: you know, they're just starting to grow. I mean they 121 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: went from niche to premium to main, screamable to scalable. Um. 122 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: And it's not just body Armor which is doing it 123 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: against Gatoray, but you're you're seeing these scenes that weren't 124 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: around or these products that were around twenty years ago. 125 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: And look how big days come. I mean, look at 126 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: look look at tech. I mean, you know, look look 127 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 1: at what's happened in twenty five years in tech, whether 128 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: it's Google or Instagram or Microsoft. I mean, you know, 129 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: you know, that's what's happening with consumer brand. People want healthier, 130 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: people want better, but people still don't want to sacrifice taste. 131 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, our our palates are changing, are 132 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: are are are what we demand out of a product, 133 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: whether you go to stop a shop or you go 134 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: to public or you go to Walmart, a Costco or 135 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: cheven eleven or Sam's Oahua or Speedway is different than 136 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 1: what we demanded twenty five years ago. So there's a 137 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: shift in in in in consumer mind frame on food 138 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: and beverage to a healthier, better, but still great tasting product. 139 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: So Mike, uh, talk to me about the relationship with 140 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: Coca Cola, because you obviously have a together. You guys 141 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: have had a very lucrative relationship when it comes to 142 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: beverage companies. You've sold to them, but they also created 143 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,239 Speaker 1: power Aid, which for a long time was at least 144 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: a rival, and in some cases and you know better 145 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: than I it seemed like the main rival helped me 146 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: understand the strategy and the discussions you've had with them 147 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: about coming into body armor. Yeah, it's a it's a 148 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: great question, Jason. I mean, you know when when we 149 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: sold our company, vitam or Water in Small Water in 150 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven, you know, the company wasn't really 151 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: for sale. I mean, we had six hundred employees. We 152 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: were growing um, you know from you know, we started 153 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: the company at at a million in sales and in 154 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven we did seven hundred twelve million 155 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: in sales, and you know, we know we didn't run 156 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: a process. Co came in, we spoke uh Mutar Camp 157 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: was in new CEO. He had a vision for creating 158 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: you know, better for you brands with the Coca Cola system, 159 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: and we started to speak um to women. You know, 160 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: we shared a vision of of where consumers were headed 161 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,239 Speaker 1: for in the future. And that deal was struct it different. 162 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: I mean, they bought a hundred percent of the company 163 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: and we were going to run it, um my partner 164 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: and I for the next three years. And you know, 165 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: I think what I found out that was that you know, 166 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: being a private company and and and having control and 167 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: being able to make the decisions um and being able 168 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: to make quick decisions without bureaucracy, and and and and 169 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: a big company with a hundred eighty billion dollar market 170 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: cap was a lot more difficult for me as it 171 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: was for the company. One of the things about being 172 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: a private company or a smaller companies is being able 173 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 1: to move quickly and be nimble and and and and 174 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: and just make changes on the fly. You know, I 175 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: always say in the sports from we call a lot 176 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,839 Speaker 1: of audibles. As a as an entrepreneur and as a 177 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: business leader of a private company, you know, sometimes you 178 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: you focus more on survival than growth. And in the 179 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: first five years of any company really is survival. And 180 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 1: um it didn't really work out for us, but it 181 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: worked out great for Coke, I mean bid them. Watar 182 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: continues to be a big brand. Small Water has grown 183 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: ken fold since their investment. And then when I got 184 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 1: back into it at at body Armor, you know, about 185 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: two thousand seventeen eighteen, Coke kind of came by again. 186 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: The company wasn't for sale, and um, you know when 187 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: I spoke to him this time, it was, you know, 188 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: it was more than I felt like. You know, I 189 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: didn't I had some unfinished business here where I didn't 190 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: want to be. I didn't want to sell the company 191 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: and I didn't want to be a minorready stakeholder. I 192 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 1: still wanted to run the company. But I asked them 193 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: if they would be my partner and we could you know, 194 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: split you know, you know, we could use that distribution system, 195 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: which they did, and we could you know, and we 196 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: could work together. But they owned fifteen percent of the company, 197 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: and they paid a two billion dollar valuation back then. Um, 198 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: you know, when the company was about two hundred million 199 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: dollars and you know, next year will probably be a 200 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: billion dollars in revenue. So UM, I think the great 201 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 1: news is that they they made a great investment. Uh, 202 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: the company's growing and and the company's probably worked a 203 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: lot more than two billion dollars right now. So it's 204 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: been a great partnership with Coke. And um, uh, you know, 205 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: I like the majority roll a lot better than I 206 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: like the man ality rolled to be honest with you. Well, 207 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: if I may follow, just help me understand though, from 208 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: a product perspective, how this drives with power power rate 209 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: is built more like Gatorade electro lights through sodium. Um 210 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: it I mean the formula between Powerade and Gatorade or identical. Um. 211 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: You know some artificial ingredients. Um uh, you know sodium electrolytes. 212 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 1: I think athletes get enough sodium from their diet. So 213 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: we have potassiumpact electrolytes. We have natural colors, natural flavors, 214 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: naturals from sweeteners. We have ten percent coconut water. We 215 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: came out with a product called uh. They have Parade 216 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: zero and Gatorade zero, which has artificial sweetener. We've come 217 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: out with a product that you know, barely anybody knows. 218 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: It's called body on our Light. It's flavored with Stevie 219 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: and ariththole. That are two natural sweeteners. Um. It's twenty 220 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: calorie for bottle, two grams of sugar, and and it's breakthrough. 221 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: It tastes unbelievable. You get all the electro light, all 222 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: the vitamins, all the antioxidants of our baste product, but 223 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 1: with only twenty calories and two grams of sugar. And 224 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 1: you know, I'm drinking a watermelon light right now in 225 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: tropical coconut and regular coconut and peach mango, and and 226 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 1: the product is breakthrough. In all the years of meat 227 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: doing consumer brands, I can tell you that Spotting on 228 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: the Light is probably the best UH brand creation and 229 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: concept I've ever worked on with my team. And we're 230 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,559 Speaker 1: really really excited right now. You know those we're a 231 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: thirteen share or twelve share. Body Armor Light is a 232 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: one point five share, So we have tremendous runway. People 233 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: looking for you know, lower sugar, lower calories, electro lights, vitamins, antioxidants, 234 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: but they don't always want the high calories in the 235 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: high sugar or and they definitely don't want artificial like gatory. 236 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: One of the key components to your business, obviously are 237 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: the athletes and their investment. The late Great Kobe Bryant 238 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: was one of the investors with you. Now his wife 239 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: has taken over. Can you talk about that how the 240 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: athletes play a big role in your business, you know, 241 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: and and and and it's great a question, Michael. I 242 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: mean in in two thousand, two thousand one, um, we 243 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot of money at Vitamore and Small Water. 244 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: So I said, listen, I can't pay with Coke and 245 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: PEPSI and all these other endorsement companies can pay. But 246 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: what I can do since I'm were a private company, 247 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: And one thing I did for all my employees was 248 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 1: I gave everybody's stock options at Vitimore and Small Water 249 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: because I couldn't pay like the salaries. If you were 250 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: making a hundred thousand, I can only pay you seventy five. 251 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: If you're making one fifty, I can only pay you 252 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: one twenty. But I gave you an opportunity if you 253 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: believe they're our vision a company and were options. So 254 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: I took that model and I started using it to athletes. 255 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: And whether it was Shaquille O'Neil or Brian Urlacher or 256 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: David Wright, UM, you know, we we we gave these 257 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: athletes a lower amount of cash, but we gave them 258 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,839 Speaker 1: ownership in the company. And up in New England we 259 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: had David Ortiz, Big Poppy and David Wright New York 260 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: and UM. And it was a great model because these 261 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 1: athletes didn't really have endorsement deals or ownership deals like this. 262 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: So David Ortiz or David Wright or Brian Arlaca were 263 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: able to go around and say, hey, I don't a 264 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: piece of body armor. And when we sold, they made 265 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: millions and millions of dollars on you know, they might 266 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: have taken fifty less than endorsement, but five years later 267 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: they made you know, twenty times their money. And yes, 268 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: it could have been zero, but it wasn't. And and 269 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: I really think that we started that equity model UM, 270 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 1: which I'm really proud of. And and when I went 271 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: over to you know, when I came over and and 272 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: and created UM body armor, you know, I didn't even 273 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: think about that model right away. But I started becoming 274 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 1: friendly with Kobe in you know seven when in two 275 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: thousand seven when we used them invit him or whatever, 276 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: we him and Lebron after we were sold to Coke, 277 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: and you know, at the times I ran into him, 278 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 1: he was very inquisitive. You can tell he had a 279 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: business mind. And then when he when he when he 280 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 1: started when he took cared as achilles um, it was 281 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: probably the first time in his life that he couldn't 282 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: play sports, you know, twenty hours a day, so he 283 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: needed an outlet and he started cold calling people and 284 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: talking to people. So I went from you know, talking 285 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: to him once a month to talking to him to 286 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: two or three hours a day for a long long time. 287 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: And you know, when Kobe invested in body armor, you know, 288 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: and and he helped me. His fingerprints are all over 289 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: body alm when you look at it, you know his vision. 290 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: You know, he was giving me, I'm trying to create 291 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: a better few sports drink and here is my future. 292 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: My partner, Kobe Bryant, who's one of the all time 293 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: athletes of all time, giving me advice about nutrition for athletes, 294 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: hydration for athletes. And he wasn't only speaking as a 295 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: thirty five year old iconic athlete. He had teammates that were, 296 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: you know, twenty years old. That's another generation and a 297 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: half younger than him. And he was looking to see 298 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: what they ate drank. Then he had children, you know, 299 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: and he was telling me what what what what what 300 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: Vanessa would buy for the kids. So he gave me 301 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: an incredible perspective. And you know, he gave me a 302 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: check he wanted to write, you know, he wrote me 303 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: a multimillion dollar check, which is the world. It's out 304 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: there and you know, and um, we built this together. 305 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, and and it was real money 306 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: with real equity, and he had he had, he had 307 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: was at stake. It wasn't just an option deal. And uh, 308 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: you know it turned out to be a beautiful friendship, 309 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: of beautiful brotherhood. And obviously two thousand twenty has been 310 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: so tough for everybody. But you know, you know, losing 311 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: a great friend like Kobe and and and someone you know, 312 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, my mantra in my head has 313 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: has been you know, I was doing this with Kobe 314 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: for the last eight years. And you know, now I 315 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: talked to Vanessa, talked to her last week. I speak 316 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: to her at least three times a month and check 317 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: in and we talked business. She's now then the before shareholder. 318 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: And you know, my mind frame has gone from you know, 319 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: doing this with Kobe now for Kobe and and Vanessa 320 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: and Kobe's three children here UM are are are my focus. 321 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: And uh the brand is doing really good. And Vanessa's 322 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: really excited about body Armor. And you know, Kobe saw 323 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: a vision for body Armor before any athlete. He gave 324 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: us so much credibility when he joined UM. But more importantly, UM, 325 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: when I look at body Armer I'm looking at a 326 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: bottle right now. I see Kobe and his advice and 327 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: his teachings, and you know, he's the only guy that 328 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: I could text at two thirty in the morning and 329 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: and get a response to to thirty two. Um, and 330 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: I missed that. I missed that a lot, Mike, what 331 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: is your research share focus groups tell you? Are they 332 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: concurrent with what the professional athletes are saying, like, for instance, 333 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: what Kobe was telling you. Uh that they line up 334 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: with what your average athlete who goes to the gym 335 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: or just plays weekend sports their needs as well. Yeah, 336 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: you're you're either gonna like this a lot, he's gonna 337 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: hate this. I've never done a phote this group of 338 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: my life. I don't believe in focus groups. Um. I 339 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: think that it's consumers who tell you what they think 340 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: you want to hear, and at the end of the day, 341 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: they're not really being as transparent as you think. My 342 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: focus groups are. When I walk into a deli and 343 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: I see somebody picked up a body armor and I say, oh, man, 344 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: is that a new product? Yeah, oh my god, I 345 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 1: you I've been drinking it and why are you drinking 346 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: and how you're doing it? So when I walk into 347 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: a target and I see a mom pick up two 348 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 1: eight packs of body armor, or even if you picks 349 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: up my competition, I ask a why Gatorade. Um. We 350 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: have three people in the company, and we have two 351 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: hundred people in the field, and we do a lot 352 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: of field marketing, which demos and samplings. Obviously with COVID 353 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: unfortunately that shifted a little bit over the last six months. 354 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: But we have survey forms when people taste the product 355 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: that we have people that come over I've never tried it, 356 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 1: and we get we gauged their reaction, and then we 357 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: have people who come over the booth sometimes like oh 358 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: my god, I love this. We used to during Gatoray 359 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 1: for the last fifteen years. This is all my kids 360 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: trink right now. Very similar to what Mike said about 361 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: his daughters. And you know, body armor inviting water and 362 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: small water. So you know it's it's it's maybe a 363 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: little you know, unorthodox, um, but I uh, I really 364 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: go you know, you know, Malcolm Gladwell has a book blink. Um. 365 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: I probably lived by that feloscy making a quick decision 366 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: and going more with good instinct versus over you know, 367 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: over information. I mean, by the time many of these 368 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:29,719 Speaker 1: big companies get all the information that consumers want, they 369 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: probably already missed the one. They probably already missed the product. 370 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: So I'm not I'm not. I'm not a big believer 371 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: in focus groups and uh um if if we ever 372 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: do them, I don't even want to know my results, 373 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: to be honest with you. All right, So, Mike, one 374 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: adventure potential venture that you're involved in very close to 375 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: home here for us in the Tri State are even 376 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: closer to home for you. I believe you're out in 377 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: Long Island and that's the New York Mets. Uh you 378 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: are reportedly and I think this is pretty much confirmed 379 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: part of a group that includes a well known uh 380 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: former New York baseball player a rod Alex Rodriguez. What's 381 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: the status? Tell us about this bid? I actually you're 382 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: gonna ask me about horse racing something the breeder stuff 383 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: classic and being in the Kentucky Derby and Pino Rosso 384 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: but uh no, but you know, we're very much in 385 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: the thick of it. Um. You know, um, working with 386 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: Alex and Jennifer has been such a pleasure. Uh Vinny 387 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: Viola and his son Michael, Um, you know who now 388 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: you know, you know us for a part of the 389 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: ownership group that is interested. Um, it's been an incredible 390 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: process the last four or five six months. UM, you know, 391 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: you know, you know we're in the race. UM. You 392 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: know our own horses is you know we have a 393 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: shot to win it. Um, we know it's got some 394 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: great competition. The Mets brand, asset and the team. UM 395 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: is a amazing I've been a Met fan since, uh 396 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: since my aunt took me in my first baseball game 397 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: when I was nineteen, in nineteen seventy six, when I 398 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 1: was six years old, UM, and I fell in love 399 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,439 Speaker 1: with the lovable losers back then of the seventies and uh, 400 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: you know whether it was Pat Zachary or Willie montag 401 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: Yez or Lemmy Randall, Lie Missilli or Joe young Blood. 402 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:23,479 Speaker 1: And I've been a fan eighties six. I was a 403 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: freshman in college. I was seventeen years old. And you 404 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: know that team inspired me business wise as far as 405 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 1: you know, perseverance and determination and swagger and you know, 406 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: doing things and winning a World Series and uh, you 407 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,360 Speaker 1: know it was always a dream to get involved. And 408 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: you know, you know, as I as I got a 409 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: little older, I didn't think it was gonna have a 410 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: chance of happening. And and I really got to give 411 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: Jennifer an Alex. I mean they they seek me out, 412 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: and I had some great conversations, and I'm so impressed 413 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: with both their passion and their leadership and and what 414 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, you know, thinking about what Alex and Jennifer 415 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: could bring to Major League Baseball is honestly, if I'm 416 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: another major League Baseball owner or if I'm Manford, you 417 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: know what these two can do for baseball. I mean 418 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: Jennifer as a woman owner, Uh, she's bigger than the sports. 419 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: She's iconic. I mean, she's amazing, and she's so into this. 420 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: It's like like, oh my god. I mean she's been 421 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: my boss the last five months. She's great and and 422 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: and and Alex is this guy, I mean baseball of life. 423 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: I mean, I am so impressed with him. You know, 424 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: Baseball might have slowed his career down, because I think 425 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: this guy would have been and he will be a 426 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,719 Speaker 1: great entrepreneur, a great CEO. He's going to be successful 427 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: in so much And and I think, you know, very 428 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: similar when I met Kobe, Like I was like, you know, 429 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: you can have this twenty year NBA career, but you're 430 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 1: gonna do a lot more outside. And unfortunately it didn't happen, 431 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: and for very very sad reasons, but that Kobe went 432 00:21:58,200 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: an Emmy, and that Kobe went an Oscar, and that 433 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 1: Kobe owns a company that's worked probably you know body 434 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: almost probably worth close to ten billion right now, like 435 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: oh my god, like like that Alex and Jennifer in 436 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,719 Speaker 1: the same situation here and and you know, you know, 437 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: Vinnie and Michael Viola and myself, we're excited. So um, 438 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: we're in this. I mean, we're in this. We think 439 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 1: it's we think we are the best ownership group for 440 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: not only New York Baseball, but maybe New York sports 441 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: and definitely a Major League baseball Well, the odds for 442 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: you guys trying to get this, I mean, you guys 443 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: can be the uncal Mo in this. See why I 444 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 1: worked that in there? That was I threw that in there. 445 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: I'll get to that in a second. Yeah, I mean 446 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 1: it's because you have j Lo and you have a 447 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: rod very high profile players in this that could be 448 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: the thing that gets you over the goal line for 449 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: the Mets. Yeah, you know, you know, my Michael, I 450 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: I really think it's a great story. And it's Vinny 451 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: is born um and and Vinny Viola is super super 452 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: successful financial guy, owns for two financial Uh. Um, you 453 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,640 Speaker 1: know Trump wanted him to be the Secretary of the Army. 454 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: He's a West Point guy. Uh. I mean there's no one. 455 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: I can't think of anyone I respect more than Vinnie 456 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: viol Er and um, you know I look up to 457 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:24,439 Speaker 1: him as an older brother. Uh. He's from Brooklyn. Um, 458 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: Jennifer is from the Bronx Um. A lot of people 459 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: don't know Alex was born in Manhattan, Washington Heights before 460 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:33,959 Speaker 1: he moved back to the Dominican And and and and 461 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: you have you know micro Poli myself who was born 462 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 1: in Queen's You know, so we got four of the 463 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: five boroughs covered. Uh. And Staton Nowland is a super 464 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: borow but it's uh sometimes people think st now is 465 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: part of New Jersey, but that's another story. Um. So 466 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: so so you have four owners from four different boroughs, 467 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 1: you know. And and and listen, we all know that 468 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: every family, every individual, every city has gone through so 469 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: much with with the pandemic. But New York was the 470 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 1: epicenter for a long long time and so many people 471 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: have fled the city, whether they've gone south, or they've 472 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: gone to New England, or they're up in you know, 473 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: New Hampshire, they are somewhere in you know, upstate New York. 474 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: You know, while everybody's running out of the city. Um, 475 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 1: you've got four people whose roots and core is New 476 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: York City and the Five Boroughs. And we want, we 477 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: want to run back to New York City. We want 478 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 1: to we want to help the city get back, and 479 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: not just Queens, but Manhattan and Brooklyn and the Bronx 480 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,399 Speaker 1: and and the surrounding areas. And and we think we 481 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: can give not only baseball a needed jolt, uh but 482 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:44,479 Speaker 1: New York City and need a jolt. And you know, 483 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: and look at I look at the other ownership groups 484 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: in New York. This is this is gonna be a 485 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: really really, really really fun ownership group that's not just 486 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 1: gonna have met fans rootings from but other sports fans 487 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: rootings forms. Mike il bring up the elephant in the room, 488 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: and this has been brought up before in the previous 489 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: negotiations of Alex uh. I think it's done a wonderful 490 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: job since he served a suspension in but you need 491 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 1: twenty three out of thirty votes from the other owners. 492 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: Do you think there's too many old school guys that 493 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:15,480 Speaker 1: were still hold that over Alex's head when it comes 494 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: to owning a part of the New York Mets. You know, 495 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: I don't think so. I mean, listen that you know, 496 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:24,679 Speaker 1: everybody evolves as a person, and you know, you know, 497 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: you know Alex for what Alex has been through from 498 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: Washington Heights to Dominican to growing up in Miami to 499 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: being a phenomen at fifteen, sixteen, seventeen years old. Uh, 500 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 1: you know SI six home runs. Um. I think he's 501 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 1: been amazing his post career. Um. You know, he's such 502 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: an incredible entrepreneur, such a great business leader, you know 503 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: real estate. Uh, you know what he's doing on ESPN 504 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 1: right now. He's got so many incredible business ventures. Him 505 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: and Jennifer have been amazing. Uh. You know, listen, you know, 506 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 1: I mean everybody he's going to have certain things in 507 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: their life that you know, they wish they can take 508 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: back at twenty or twenty five or thirty or thirty 509 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: five or forty. Um. I think, you know, I think 510 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 1: everyone deserves second chances. I don't even know if this 511 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,199 Speaker 1: is a second chance for Alex. Um he's just a 512 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 1: great guy. And you know what, he's going to be 513 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: a great face for baseball, a great owner for baseball. 514 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 1: And uh, I don't think it's going to be an 515 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: issue with I mean, you know, listen, you know, I 516 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: mean not you know, there might be some of the 517 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:30,199 Speaker 1: people and that are competing for this that you know 518 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: also have you know a track work it that's not 519 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,239 Speaker 1: the most attractive in the world. I mean, you know, 520 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: so it's it's uh, you know, you know it. I 521 00:26:37,160 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: don't think it's going to be initiative like I think 522 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: he's uh, you know, he's on ESPN. Uh, he does 523 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: the Sunday Night Baseball. I think he's great and uh 524 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: and and and and this is the new Alex Rodriguez 525 00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: at forty five years old, not seventeen, not twenty seven, 526 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: and not thirty seven. I gotta jump in because I 527 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 1: gotta bring up Uncle Mo. And I gotta bring up 528 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 1: your success in the Breeders Cup. You win at anything 529 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: you put your mind too. And Uncle Mo. By the way, 530 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: in case people are not familiar with horse racing, he 531 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 1: was one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby unfortunately 532 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: he had to be scratched. But he is now? Is 533 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,200 Speaker 1: he still a stunt out there? Is he has? He? Has? 534 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: He been siring out there? Is he? What is he is? 535 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 1: He is? Is he still doing his sire out there? 536 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: Is he? Is he? No? No, no, no, no, no, Michael, 537 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: he he is? I mean Uncle Moe was? I mean 538 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: I listen, I phoned with horse racing as a sixteen 539 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: year old kid. Um, once in a while, I would 540 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 1: cut out of school. Uh I hope the Major League 541 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,360 Speaker 1: Baseball and was don't hold that against me, by the way, um, 542 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: but the uh I cut out of school When I 543 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,440 Speaker 1: was sixteen, I would take twenty dollars from my my 544 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: dad's uh pants pocket and twenty offs my mom. Uh person, 545 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: I'd went to the track, and you want to be 546 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,239 Speaker 1: you wanna talk about being? Uh an entrepreneur. I had 547 00:27:58,240 --> 00:27:59,920 Speaker 1: to come back with forty dollars, so I would bet 548 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: dollars A raised three bucks a race, and I had 549 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 1: to win money. So I fell in love with horse racing. 550 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: It was just sixteen year old kid, and I always 551 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 1: dreamed about having a great race loss. And uh, uncle 552 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: Mo was an undefeated three year old I'm sorry undefeated 553 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 1: two year old, he was three for three. He went 554 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 1: three races in dominating fashion, won the Clips Award, which 555 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:22,439 Speaker 1: is Champion two year old. And then he had a 556 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: rare liver disease and he was the favorite in the 557 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 1: Kentucky Derby and I had to scratch my horse in 558 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,360 Speaker 1: the Kentucky Derby, which was really tough. He went on, 559 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: came back once some races at the end of the year, 560 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 1: and uh he went on to be a stallion. Um 561 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 1: his stud see now is a hundred twenty five thousand dollars. Um. 562 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: I have three partners with him, so I I have 563 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:44,840 Speaker 1: I have a staken him, but with three equal partners, 564 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: and uh he breeds two hundred times a year at 565 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 1: a hundred twenty five thousand. So you guys are sports business. 566 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: You guys can get the calculator out there. And uh 567 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:58,040 Speaker 1: Uncle mo is uh I checked. I check in on 568 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: Uncle moll every morning, and then I checked out my wife. 569 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: So he's pretty special. And he's been a great stallion. 570 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,040 Speaker 1: He's uh, he's got Grade one winners for me and 571 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: everybody else. And he's one of the hottest stallions out there. 572 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,520 Speaker 1: And you know at post Uncle mo, I've I've been 573 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 1: fortunate enough to running four Kentucky Derby's with six different horses. 574 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: A couple of races I had too and never came 575 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: in better than nine. But you know, we we we 576 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: bring family and friends. And I don't know if you 577 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:28,320 Speaker 1: guys know my background. I'm just a queen's kid, you know. St. 578 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: Margaret's Grammar School, Holy Cross High School, Change John's University. 579 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: I had a speller stellar to two point two grade 580 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:37,200 Speaker 1: point average. Don't if you guys knew that, it's pretty impressive. 581 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: Um and sports management. My mom was a seamsits my 582 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: dad was a waiter. So I mean, I wake up 583 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: every day as blessed as can be and thank God 584 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: and and uh and I'm enjoying, you know. And I 585 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: had been rosso win the Classic with my partner any 586 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 1: Viola last year and that was a big thrill. And 587 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: you know, I'm I'm I'm working hard, but I'm having 588 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: a lot of fun, having a lot of fun. Michael, 589 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 1: that's uncle moment a mom like seriously, all right, well, 590 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 1: micro Poli, what a treat to catch up with you. 591 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. The co founder of body Armor 592 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:13,680 Speaker 1: so much more, owner of a police stables. Maybe someday 593 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: soon the co owner of the New York Mets. And uh, 594 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,239 Speaker 1: keep an eye on this guy. If you don't know 595 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: who he is before listening to this, you're gonna be 596 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 1: googling like crazy and you're gonna be putting a Google 597 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: alert for his latest news in the world of business 598 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: and the world of sports. Thank you so much, Mike. 599 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: Thanks guys, have a great day. I appreciate it. By 600 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 1: all right, thank you. You can catch our podcast right 601 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: here every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'm Jason Kelly on 602 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: Twitter at Jason Kelly News, and I'm Michael Bar at 603 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 1: Big Bar Sports. And I'm Mike Lynch and I still 604 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: will see micro Poli's face every time I opened my 605 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,959 Speaker 1: refresher rating. And you can catch me at Lynch w CDV. 606 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 607 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:54,840 Speaker 1: around the world.