The Code To Winning - FROM SUPERBOWL WINNER IN ROOKIE YEAR: TO NFL AGENT || ROY LEWIS || EPISODE 066

Episode Date: October 23, 2025

Roy Lewis is a former NFL cornerback turned powerhouse agent and firefighter whose journey defines what it means to lead, serve, and win  on and off the field.   With over five years in the NFL, including time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, and became a Super Bowl XLIII Champion in his rookie season. Today, he brings that same discipline, leadership, and heart for excellence into his role as an NFL agent and firefighter in Phoenix, Arizona.   As the founder of VW Sports Agency, Roy is dedicated to empowering athletes with the knowledge, guidance, and representation they need to thrive beyond the game. His mission is simple, to help players build legacy, not just careers.   In this exclusive conversation, we dive into Roy’s transition from athlete to agent, the lessons learned from the NFL, and what it really takes to build character, not just success.

I guess my life is like most young people, right? You play sports when you're younger, right? Your parents wanted to get you involved. It wasn't until seventh grade that I actually started playing a sport of football. So I learned the game of football before. In high school, where I really kind of set in at, you know what, maybe I have an opportunity at this thing. You know what I mean?

As I started playing better and better, and I guess my play on the field would match what what was being said. You know what I mean? It's kind of like the perception versus reality type deal. And so it wasn't until my perception of myself and how well I was playing, I was like, you know what, damn? I'm really good. And then it went, so then I started to dominate the games in high school.

I would say, KG, I think what happened was my mentality shifted. And it was like all my decisions started to align with what I needed to do in order to become not only a Division I football player, but ultimately an NFL football player in the grand scheme of things. Even though it was so far away, I was only in high school, but all my decisions, I was just like, just firing on all cylinders. You've experienced something that most people, you know, can only dream of your first year in the NFL. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I've always just wondered, like, the mentality behind and the atmosphere when people are pursuing this prestigious achievement of winning a Super Bowl. What was it, like, on a day-to-day basis and a training ground, whether you lock-hrew and stuff like that? So to go into depth, man, to be honest, I had never experienced anything like what I experienced my rookie year in Pittsburgh with the Pittsburgh.

Is that defense? Just the team, just the energy. Coming from the University of Washington, my senior year, We weren't that successful. I remember we lost the last couple of games. I was just like, all right. Said, getting to Pittsburgh, Coach Tomlin, he revitalized me instantly.

It was like a family. From the owners, Mr. Rooney, all the way down to the maintenance man on the fabric. That's where they are. Did the coach say something different when you guys were in half-time, knowing that there was two quarters left to try and like instill a lot of like less nerves,

less pressure? Do you remember any of the words the coach said at that point in time? I'm very curious. and also transitioning and finding out about this new chapter in your life, from NFL player to NFL or football agent as well. Can you walk us through that transition? What made you decide that?

You know, Kiji, I think everybody wants to still be connected. Deal, I want to still be connected to the game. It was such a big part of my life. It still is a big part of my life. My son played football, constantly try to mentor and advocate for youth sports. And so this was my way of directly having an impact back on the game. to winning insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow. If you are curious and interested in learning a bit more about what happens behind the scenes of sports, I have the man in the studio today,

NFL champion, literally Super Bowl champion as well, played for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and their team from Seattle. I'm joking, the Seahawks. All right. So yes, the modern day Spencer Strassmo, if you've ever watched bowlers. So, Literally, NFL player turned into football agents. So the man, the myth, the very legend himself, we got Roy Lewis in the studio. How are you doing, brother? I feel good. Thank you for the answer.

It makes me feel like I'm on the baller's show. I enjoyed that. You know, I watched it back then. And so that's when I was on the phone with you yesterday, I'm like, oh, my gosh, like, hang on, NFL player turned into, like, agent. I've seen this thing before. There was a very, very good series. So, yes, I want to just touch base about just your experience. I often love people that have played sports at a professional.

level because it just takes a literal like you know certain level of mentality physical attribute but like can you walk us through your journey please yeah absolutely i mean i guess my life is like most young people right you play sports when you're younger right your parents want to get you involved um it wasn't until seventh grade that i actually started playing a sport of football so i learned the game of football but prior to football in seventh grade was uh t-ball third when I was three, you know, youth sports at the park. At St. Andrews Park in L.A., shout out of St. Andrews. That's where the ball has come from.

And then, oh, became a black belt. Yeah, became a black belt by the time I was 10 years old, so I learned how to dissect the body. My mom put us in there for discipline, but more so just taught me how to really understand spatial awareness and have discipline. And so in seventh grade, there's a group of young men in my middle school, and they played Pop Warner. And, you know, Pop Warner at that time was kind of clicking.

He was like, hey, man, you played Pop Warner. And so I wanted to play. They said I couldn't. So I told him, I had my mom sign me up, and I take all I got spots. And I literally played to every last one of those people in my Palm Warner, watched me play professionally. That's crazy. But the journey between then, when before you went to college and stuff, when did you realize,

hey, listen, you actually had the talent and you want to take it like at a different level as well? Was that all as like the motive and the reason behind it, too? I think, you know, in high school, where I really kind of, it kind of set in that, you know what? Maybe I have an opportunity at this thing. You know what I mean? As I started playing better and better,

and I guess my play on the field would match what was being said. You know what I mean? It's kind of like the perception versus reality type deal. And so it wasn't until my perception of myself and how well I was playing, I was like, you know what, damn? I'm actually really good. And then it went, so then I started to dominate the games in high school. You know what I mean?

My teammates, we were just dominate. And it was a football school at Narbonne and Sarah and SoCal in South Central L.A. But that's when I knew I was like, oh, yeah. I got a shout at this thing. And not only that, scholarship, right? Division I'm trying to get as high as I can, as fast as I can to the top. And so I started to mimic and watch gentlemen who were already there. I found like OVHS tapes, and I would just watch players from like Ohio State back in the day.

You know, Chris Gamble, Kiwan Ratliff from Florida. Like all those guys watched the actual VHS tape with the tracking button, watch their stances. And I was like, if I can mimic this, then I got a chance. And so that just kind of took me every step of the way as I got more and more athletic, became easier and easier, you know what I mean? And then when I got to college, I was like, oh, yeah, it's time. And you know, when you know, you know,

you have the coaches, you have the mentors. You have, I would say, KG, I think what happened was my mentality shifted and it was like all my decisions started to align with what I needed to do in order to become not only a Division I football, player but ultimately an NFL football player in the grand scheme of things even though it was so far away you know I was only in high school but all my decisions I was just like I'm just firing on all cylinders my workouts I'm going about things with people I'm meeting the guys that are recruited me um so it just worked out timing sometimes the universe just don't miss I love that so much and whether

you believe in a god or not like I always feel like higher power the universe like a higher energy something just are always a lying you like listen this thing had to happen in order for me to actually experience this thing as well because I'm very religious and I believe obviously like in a god and I think sometimes when I hear stories like that when you're like I just knew I know what you mean like you know exactly and I feel like we have a calling sometimes as well and so sometimes you know we end up like finding out at a later stage hey listen this is what I'm called to do this is my purpose and like glory to actually like inspire uplift and like add purpose and value people's lives as well so I couldn't agree more I agree man added value I think is probably the biggest

this deal, you know, everybody can add value. We all can take something and give something to one another on our daily journey. And so I look forward to that. And so when you start to receive that from multiple streams, like we have multiple streams of income, but you can receive multiple streams of positivity and multiple streams of excellence, multiple extremes of whatever it is, you absorb that good energy. Sky's truly the limit, man. Love that, love that.

I mean, you've experienced something that most people, you know, can only dream of. like in obviously i think it could have been like your your um your first year in the nfl you know with the pittsburgh steelers i just i've always just wondered like the mentality behind and the atmosphere when people are pursuing this um prestigious uh achievement of winning a super ball like what was it like on a day-to-day basis on a training ground whether you lock and stuff like that. So to go into depth, man, to be honest, I had never experienced anything like what I experienced my rookie year

in Pittsburgh with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That defense, just the team, just the energy. Coming from the University of Washington, my senior year, we weren't that successful. I remember we lost the last couple of games, and I was just like, all right, sit. Getting to Pittsburgh with Coach Tomlin, he revitalized me instantly.

It was like a family from the owners, Mr. Rooney. all the way down to the maintenance man, the fabric. That's what they are. And he meant every bit of it. Mr. Rooney knows every single individual who's ever worn a Pittsburgh uniform. That's how important you are to their organization.

I didn't know that as a young man. I'm just thinking it's just football. No, they brought me into a coach or they brought me into a family. They forged me into a professional. And so they would have us around the likes of all the Hall of Flamers are greats. You know, Mel Blunt, Mean Joe Green,

Lambert, Ham, J.T. Thomas, Franco Harris, these gentlemen were at our Welcome to Pittsburgh entry party. Just cool little nuances, little touches that that organization does, that keeps them here. That's the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, right? They created the Rooney Rule. There's a reason why men and women of color

get an opportunity to interview for head coaching positions in the NFL. Prior to the Rooney Rule, it wasn't, that was non-existent. So they are truly, advocate for trying to bolster a community. So getting to Pittsburgh, being around our family, they taught me how to be a family man, a professional. It was a warrior's mentality.

Everyone looked out for me. I mean, Troy looked out for me. Ike. Ryan Clark that you see daily on ESPN. I mean, these are all like older brothers, you know, that would just took me underneath my wing and showed me, this is how you survive in NFL. You know, this is how you play ball in the NFL.

This is what you do in the NFL. Here's the etiquette. Here's the unknowns, the unwrittens in NFL. And I'm going to teach you at a high level from a winning franchise. So you don't have any bad habits, Roy, you're going to come into the league with a clean slate and learn how to do it the right way. And it was so cool. I was so fortunate. The preparation, the attention, the detail.

How we went about our business, it was just, it was surreal. It was cool. And I'm sitting there and I'm experiencing this. And I'm like, this is happening to me. I'm just a kid from South Central LA from six years. Street, Figuero and 60th, you know, from 453 West 6th Street. So it was cool, man. Just being able to share that back with my family as I'm going through it.

And then as the season progresses, we keep getting better and better. And we keep winning and winning and winning. And next thing you know, it's in December and it's in late December and we're still winning. And you start to hear the talks about playoffs. And here I am. I've never had a playoff. In college, you either play well enough to get into a bowl game, and you play it and you go home or you don't, you go home.

And so now the season extended, they talk about the rookie wall, you know, and so how do you push through the rookie wall. It was because of veterans who taught me how to condition my body, how to take care of my body, how to put the right things in my body, how to treat my body right, you know, mind, body and sound, total wellness to help you sustain and survive because this is your first year. You used to plan what, 10, 12 games, Max? Welcome to the NFL.

This is 17. Let's go. 16, 17. right now, whether you're ready for it or not. And so they did a great job of just grooming me, man. The whole year was just one big journey. And it makes sense now because in hindsight, Coach Tomlin would always say, it's never about the destination kid.

It's about the journey. Wow. It's about the journey. And I vividly remember I'm saying quotes like that to us. I vividly remember him speaking to the team before my third preseason game. I think we're playing against the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. And he said, tonight, there's two types of people in life. Those that feel pressure and those that apply it.

Tonight, we're going to figure out which kind of person you are. Wow. And that resonated with me. I'm just like, you know, you get the bug. You know what I mean, KG? This was back in the day in the first world, the CBA originally came on her back in 2008. We still had the four-man wedge. So it was a true kickoff.

You can run down the field. And, I mean, you get blasted. That was football back then. And thank God the rules have changed now, right? for safety purposes to keep health, right? Because health is wealth and all information we'll find out about CTE, but it was a different time when I came in.

You know what I mean? If you're a gunner, if you're a wedge buster, you run down there, you got to bust the wedge, make something happen. I need a splash plate, Lewis. Get in there, you know what I mean? And so it was just a cool experience, man, to ride that wave and then to get to the playoffs.

And then you watch it happen. Teams start falling off. It's a whole different vibe in the playoffs. Were you guys a wild card team at that time or did you get the playoff position? Yeah, we had the playoff position. We had to play off position. So we had a buy. Perfect.

Great. Then the next week, we play. Oh, yeah. What number were you like in terms of like ranking? At that time, I believe we were the top seed because we played the Baltimore Ravens three times. And we played the AFC championship in Pittsburgh. Okay. We beat them in Pittsburgh.

We went back to pitch to Baltimore to beat him when San Antonio caught the ball on the goal line with his tiptoes facing outward towards the back towards the field. We caught that on another tiptoe catch by Santonio for the win. And then we played him again in the AFC championship. And that's when Ryan Clark had that nice killer hit on Willis McGahey here, which was, it was just a great play, man. He read his keys. Ryan is such a cerebral player. And he made the play. And Brett Kiesel picked the ball up and secured the win.

And so that's what catapulted us into the Super Bowl. And then after that, it was Media Week. And that was the whole dealing of itself, man, just, yeah, they're experiencing. And sometimes I don't give it enough credit, you know what I mean? Being able to talk to a gentleman like you, KG, or, you know, when people ask me about it, I'll bring it back up. But, you know, life moves on and you keep going and you just keep progressing, you keep evolving, you keep elevating. And it's just like, it's good to reminisce and go down that because it's shaped so much of me, right? it really has.

I think about that game. I think about the night before the game. I think about the meeting room. I think about the music that we listened to. When we turned off the lights and we closed our eyes and just start vibing to feel Collins. You know, and it was just, oh, you hear that? I can feel it coming in here tonight.

In a silent room, just visualize that. You could feel the electricity right now. Wow. And I mean, that was the conversation. It's time to go. You know what tomorrow means. We're here now. That was Coach Tomlin in the nutshell.

That is Coach Tom. That's why he is, but the longest winningest, you know, as far as having successful season coaches in the NFL. Unbelievable. 17, 18 years of never having a losing season. That's the philosophy. You just win by attrition. Every day you put the work in, you just chip away.

I don't care who we're looking. You don't matter who looking. We're just chipping. It's to steal the way. You're just going to keep chipping. But the reason why I like what you're saying is that football is one of those unique sports that every single person has to play their role. Of course you do get them.

So it's every someone where because you see in soccer you have 11 people on and off like football. You have your offensive. Yes. And you have your defensive and you have to have your kicker that has to have a good day. You're caught up. So it's like, oh my God, it's one of those things where you can't really say like, I dragged a team there.

Yes, you can have an exceptional thing, but every single piece of the puzzle or the piece of the, you know, is playing their significant role. So I often feel like it's one of the most team sports out there, you know, or team games that you can play in sports. So that's why I want to, you know, when you say that,

remind me, like I said, I never knew the sport and my dad's favorite movie is, remember the Titans? Oh, yeah. So when you spoke about the team atmosphere, you know, left side, strong side, left side, strong side.

And it just gives you chill. It does. They're going to win now. Now you're rooting for them, you know? So if you like just remember like that moment, the Super Bowl day and half time, I don't know what the score was. Well, are you guys losing or were you winning at that moment in time? At halftime, we went in to halftime ahead because James Harrison caught the interception right before halftime. 106 yard, I believe interception on the goal line.

Yeah, we're getting ready to blitz and Debo. Well, he, 106 yard. As a linebacker, it was the most insane play, once in a lifetime player. He catches the ball in the end zone from Kurt Warner. Larry Frist Drill, I don't know, the other receiver. Breston was on the backside, but switch release, James Harrison picks the ball right in his bear basket, and he's down the sideline, like the Incredible Hulk, just all brute strength. And then there's like elephants on parade, everybody's just cleaning a house.

Larry jumps out of bounds. he comes back in. It's the coolest thing you ever seen. Sometimes they'll replay it on NFL films. It's one of the great plays. But it was cool to witness that plan. I'm like, what is going? Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Yes, yes. It was just everything all in the same manner. So, yeah, it was cool. It was cool. It was just the experience alone. Yeah. Did the coach say something different when you guys went into half time, knowing that there was two quarters left to try and like instill a lot of,

like less nerves, less pressure. Do you remember any of the words the coach said at that point in time? No, I don't, but Coach Tomlin is, Coach Tomlin is not a man of many, many words in that regard. Coach Tomlin is a professional. He teaches you how to be, he teaches men how to be men, period, grown men.

We handle our job, we do our job. We perform at a high level. Right wrong or indifferent, I do my job. That's the way it is. And so I don't know what the conversation was, All I know, we were excited about James, James is out of breath. And we came back out, second half, and ultimately Ben, you know, Big Ben.

Oh, Big Ben. Yeah, Big Ben. That was, you know, that's his team. You know, he had just came off of the 2005 Super Bowl versus the Seattle Seahawks in Detroit at the Motor City Classic. Remember that? So they played the Seahawks three years prior. So now this is Ben's second run. And he's like, oh, yeah, new coach.

He won that one on the best. Bill Kauer. This time is with Tomlin. And so, Ben had a lot to do with. You had Heinz War. We had a lot of veterans. Casey Hampton. I can't even do a credit. Aaron Smith, Brett Kiesel, Larry Foote, James Ferrier,

Max Starks, Antonio Holmes, Heath Miller, was our kicker. Jeff Reed. I love you, Jeff. Jeff was awesome. We just had a good, we just had a good group of guys. As we all know, at least what I came to realize is that the good teams, the winning teams,

they're super close outside of football. They take care of one another. They look out for one another. And so I was immediately baptized into this brotherhood, to this fraternity, like, oh, this is the way that the NFL is. Every team is like this. Oh, I love that. Every team is like this. In my mind, you know what I mean?

And if it's not, then it's my goal to get there and try to create that type of culture because this is how it was forged. I come from the Pittsburgh Steelers. I mean, it's a good thing because it sets the bar so high. but then you don't know any other better. So you're just assuming that every single team has got that level of standard. And that's where everything is as well. 100%.

And you would see that. No matter where you went, it was like, it doesn't care. In Pittsburgh, the mentality was it doesn't matter what happens. We've already decided we've won the game. It's just a matter of us physically going out there to articulate it. But in our mind, we've played the game. We've won the game. It's a matter of what's going out there and doing it.

And that was our approach. And it would be funny because the game would be happening. and then the ball will bounce the different another way, and somehow a guy would get it. The oddest thing ever, that's why the ball is oblong, I guess. But the ball bounces weird in football. But it becomes cyclic. And like I said, it wasn't not only in Pittsburgh.

That was also in Seattle. When I got to Seattle, I got to Seattle only to be surrounded by another group of great individuals. T.J. Husman Zada, Dionne Branch, Dionne Grant, Matt Hasselback, Julius Jones, It's low for the tupu. So my entire football career, I've been around nothing but legends. That's amazing. And they've all mentored me. I've always been the youngest guy.

So they just take me along there. Lawyer Malloy, Marcus Dufant. Jordan Babineau, they would just grab me, pull me along, and kind of groom me, hey, man, this is how we go about our business here in the NFL. So I've been really, really fortunate to have those relationships because it makes me who I am today. Powerful. And then what's something in the life in the NFL that fans, don't get to see or like fully understand um you know what it's funny you say that because we talk

about this all the time i think the audience the fans they don't really understand it they're human we're human we have the same issues as you know normal families would have but sometimes we're scrutinize a little bit more you know what i mean i the case and point our example i would like to use is just think about on the holidays i tell families i say when you get around your family on holidays you guys get around family you guys get around family you You get to eat, have a great time, maybe watch a sporting event. Guess what? That gentleman who's performing is not with his family.

You get the benefit from him performing on the holiday. It's not for him. He's performing. That's his job. Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. These gentlemen, they're performing for their family. But you get the benefit.

So when guys get crucified by the media, you know, it hurts. I would say as athletes, we know we're kind of bread to have thick. skin, tougher skin, and kind of not be swayed by the media and just kind of stay in our own realm. But they're humans. We have feelings. We have to deal with the same issues that you have to, you know what I mean, as well. And so I think there will be a little bit more empathy, more consideration, more compassion in that regard. It couldn't hurt. Why not, right? But wouldn't you say then back then, obviously with the transformation of social media, especially over the last 10 years, has been super crazy where everyone's got access, people can

hide behind the keyboard and start bullying. Whereas back then it wasn't as accessible. You know what I'm saying? It was around the, I mean, MySpace was just about shit. I remember MySpace. I remember MySpace. Oh, MySpace was something special. Oh, geez, I remember MySpace.

I remember that. You could put the status with the, I think you could put like a song and people could, you look at that, write your little code in the background. It was a good time. The Twins were born then back then. It wasn't true. You don't know about the MySpace, bro. You love it.

MySpace, Facebook. But you know what, you're right. I think the evolution of social media, how we're moving in general and society. Everyone is moving towards this. I mean, of course, it's been opinionated news for years, but people now have a platform to say whatever they want without any checks and balances.

So what you get is the Wild Wild West. Everybody's just firing shots. Whatever can stick can stick. You know what I was saying, like we have, you know, a president who likes to say All press is good press. It don't matter what it is. So people are saying anything nowadays just to get some attention.

And sometimes some of the bad stuff is going to stick too. So it's just unfortunate in that capacity that we're there. But when it's used in the right manner, social media can be good. And speaking of presidents, I think I saw a picture with you in number 44. Oh, you know it. It's great. Barack. Oh, it's a beautiful.

That's my uncle, by the way, you know. Yeah, he's my uncle. Give me some of that. Yeah, I did my family genealage. I think it's about 200 cousins. It doesn't matter. We all found me. Kenya, Africa.

We all found me. I'm your brother too, brother. Yeah, there we go. Oh, we all connected. How was that experience? Because I think he was just inaugurated. I think children of nine, he took office January 20 or 2009. And at that time, I think he went to the White House.

So you could have been the first team that he had met after the one of Super Bowl, if I'm not mistaken. We were the first team after he was inaugurated. He got there in, what, in November? and then our election in November that year. So January 20th, January. Yeah.

And then we went February. We went February. So after the Subo, what a great experience. South Lawn, we did a community service project. I think we made upwards of like 85,000 care packages alongside wounded warriors. So men and women, former veterans out there on the South Lawn, preparing packages for current and active military men.

And we just did it like assembly line style. And Obama president, Barack Obama walked around and shook every single hand, took every single picture, answered every single question, and was not too cool for school, not too busy, took the time to hang out with us. He slipped like hay then as well, you know. Oh, yeah, he was smooth like butter, man back then. I got to show you some of the pictures. He wasn't stressed.

He had waves. You know what I mean? He was C-6. So it was a cool experience. And that was, what, my second time ever going to the White House? I went back when I was in middle school to lay the, um, he had the, um, he had wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery at the Tumina Unnomes Soldier. Wow.

So that was a cool experience. And who would have thought, you know, years, years later, I would be back there. At the Super Bowl champion. Yeah, right? Shaking hands was president. So I've been fortunate in life, you know, as I look back over things, you know, the creator's been good, no issues. Love that so much.

Now, now the exciting part that I want to talk about, as much as, yes, you've gained and so much experience and like life. lessons from playing from the NFL. I'm very curious and also transitioning and finding out about this new chapter in your life from NFL player to NFL or football agent as well. Can you walk us through that transition? What made you decide that? You know, Kiji, I think everybody wants to still be connected, right? Who doesn't want to still be connected? Like that for me was the ultimate deal. I wanted to still be connected to the game. It was such a big part of my life. It still is a big part of my life. My son played football. I constantly try to mentor and advocate for youth sports.

And so this was my way of directly having an impact back on the game. I can just give the players all the information that I wish I knew I had when I was playing. But before it was given to me, you know what I mean? So now I can just literally say, hey, here's what may happen. Let's be proactive. Hey, that's what they can't do. Let's be proactive. Hey, here's your leverage in this position. Hey, let's work this or here's your rights. Let's exercise this option. And so for me, becoming an NFL agent was like,

I'm finally in a position to give enough of myself and to give back enough knowledge where it can actually benefit the next person. It's time to go forward with this. Someone can use this and someone can be great with this. And they can be even greater, even faster. Because this is knowledge that I've acquired over a long, period of time. I'm giving it to my players in a condensed version right now. Hey, let's go do it.

And so that's the difference. That's the key. It's like, wow. Which year was that when you did that when you transitioned to that? I became an agent two seasons ago. Okay. And so, and it's been great. I just said, you know what? Hey, this is my time. This is what I want to do. And I set out to do it. My personal, my own former agent, excuse me, a gentleman by the name Cameron Foster out of Seattle area. range sports foster former foster kinney easily uh sports but um he was the one who kind of prompted me hey man i think you'd be good at this profession you know a former player you have a wealth of knowledge why not impart than a young man and i kind of took into consideration um pursued my passion as a fireman

that's what i wanted to do you know post college and just be a family man and then kind of dawned on me just kept scratching it me go back and i went back and uh aced it with flying colors and the rest has been it's been great KG I've had nothing but pure bliss being able to talk to young men about playing a game of football And I think it also makes such a massive difference knowing that somebody actually played Because sometimes the transition or when people are trying to jump in the field It's like those mentors are like listen go buy these are my real estate but the guy is bloody well renting a home Right right right right you know what I say and so obviously that's an extreme example I made but somebody that's actually played the game and it's been in the locker rooms as a witness the coaches and the stands that It makes it way easier because you can relate and you understand the steps, you know, from start to finish as well.

So I think it's easier because you're not only a mentor, but you can help somebody try and avoid something that you never got the chance to avoid by being that path to, you know, help them get the right trajectory. So I think just getting people that have experienced that thing makes a big difference, would you agree? Oh, 100%. I think immediately off the top, it's instant credibility. this gentleman has done exactly what I'm doing or trying to do. I should listen to them. And I give that same advice to the kids that I coach. Hey, stop taking advice from people who've done none of the things that you want to do.

Go find someone who's done what you want to do. Pick their brain. They will gladly and gracefully tell you everything. And so my job as an agent is to help my clients and educate them and their parents as whoever the wife's significant. But on potential pitfalls that they may or may not encounter along this journey. And why allow you to step on a landmine when I know it's coming? Hey, you don't want to go there, kid.

So I can help navigate them. I can help say, hey, we want to go this way. Or you might want to do this. You might want to train here. And so it works. And again, having that credibility of being out on the field, it's a brother bond. You know what it is. Anytime you bleed, sweat, cry, go through some stuff with some guys or in the same kind

of arena, it's all love. It rubs off the second you see you like, okay, he's a player. He's not just an agent. I'm not an attorney. I'm not a guy who just went to school to get the books. No, I'm a football player. I walk to walk out, talk to talk. We talk ex and O's first.

Then we talk about business. Boom. Because at the end of the day, my job is to keep you on the field. So you got to know your ex and O's. You got to make sure you're a student of the game. You got to be making sure you're professional. Those are the small things. The other things on the back end, I can help you with as well.

Okay, you need this. As far as compliance, hey, you got these kind of tests come up, yada, yada. We can talk about that. But my goal is to make sure that you're ready mentally, whereas there's times my agent couldn't talk to me about football at all. He just didn't play football. Exactly. I love Cameron Foster to death.

He didn't physically play football. So what can he really offer me besides reactiveness, right? Hey, Roy, what happened? Or, hey, okay, or that happened? Okay, we should do this now. But I can offer it, hey man, this week is big. And man, you don't want to make the same mistake twice, right? That means you don't have that as much retention.

You can make a new mistake, 1,000 miles an hour, but not the same mistake. Coaches seated is not having retention, right? And so these are little nuances. Hey, you might want to do this. Hey, no seams, no post. Play it like this. Or when you get in this. So we can have those little intimate talks that only player to player know that an agent-to-player relationship,

a true agent to player relationship, they wouldn't have it's not existing because there's a divide, there's a disconnect. You didn't actually physically experience what I'm going through. Exactly. You didn't.

So you can't empathize truly with me. You don't know how traumatic it is. You can't really truly put yourselves in my shoe as a player if you've never really played. Yeah. And players hold on to that value. That is added value.

Right? And I think that's the, That's where the conflict ends up recurring with a bunch of these sports analysts that have never touched a ball in their life. And then they're out there telling the players that, you should do that, you should do that. And when the players end up reacting, they're like, well, it's my job to become a sports analyst. And I think that's where the divide comes. And it's like, listen, it's not the fact that you're calling us out.

It's the fact that you never ever stepped foot in the field. And for you to try and just be so, have such a massive voice and influence. That's the problem. It's not just the fact that they're saying. It's the fact that their voice is valued and validated so much at a higher rate. It's like you've never played the sport. Absolutely. And that's what you see now in society.

Unfortunately, we've come to that point where, again, it's become opinionated. And so the more we can rid that space of the subjectivity, so to speak, hey, man, just go get an expert. I've yet to see a professional, a woman play professional football. I've yet to see it. I mean, and there's no disrespect to the women analysts out there. They do a great job. but a woman would be pretty hard pressed to try to tell an NFL player

what to do. The NFL player's going to look at him and be like, that's cool. Right? Like, what are we talking about here, ma'am? It's not even a question. I'm not even entertaining that, right? So we're at that point now

where you're seeing a lot of online gurus, a lot of technicians, a lot of specialists, a lot of people who are trying to impart knowledge on things that they may or may not have value or a wealth of knowledge behind, but you can sell it. And so I think having that true authenticity, having that core that I can lean back on,

hey man, I'm a player's player. I'm NFL Lifetime PA member. I'm a player's player. I stay connected. I work well within the NFLPA community out here in Phoenix. We have a great chapter. We have men and women alongside me,

even in my current, I'm in the fire department as well. So my life is, it's all centered around the brotherhood. I'm the eldest brother of all my brother. Well, six of us. I'm the eldest of six. So I've always been a team player.

So for me, it's just from one team to the next. I just keep going. You know what I mean? So it's cool. I enjoy it. I thoroughly do. And I want to know, obviously, one of the best parts of when we spoke about the agents and everything we spoke about, how do you end up balancing,

obviously being a fierce negotiator for your clients and also trying to, to benefit with trying to, you know, being a mentor and older brother and figure as well. Well, you know, I think we were many hats, right? I mean, so not only am I technically the contract advisor or the agent, but I'm also a friend. I'm a confidant. I'm a brother. I may have been a teammate, right, if we're on the same team, working on a teammate, right? They may come to me for guidance, counseling or sound counsel, you know, maybe on a personal

situation. So my job is to almost be like a risk management. I want my players to know and I want my players family to know you know what they're in good hands and I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that they stay in good hands. They're important to me. I want to know about your family. I want to know the things that you guys are into. That's important to me, right? That's the value to me. You're more than just a client. You're my brother. You're doing exactly what I used to do and I hope that that lineage continues to pass on. I hope I can pass it on to my son and he can pass it on to a son because then

you really truly see the impact you can have by trying to get it done the right way. I love that so much and in your opinion then what's what's one story that you could say perfectly captures the grind of being an agent right now?

One story? Because it is a grind. Oh my gosh, it's a grind. Phone calls traveling Like just a story. I would say, without any names. But you'll run into some crazy scenarios. You get some crazy requests sometimes, you know. And then some players would just do some silly stuff too.

So I think some of the silly stuff is a lot more funnier. You know, you're like, wait, you did what? Why? How did you get yourself in a way? What? show me see me the picture bro whoa you did that's crazy so that kind of stuff is the i think that's what makes me do it i'm like what you got to do is to play football like what are you doing right now so because it's a learning curve right these young men are learning to assimilate into the real world

this is a real job it's no longer just you know football running around and now with the nilil deal in the nil space which we can allude to and talk about later these kids are now coming into the professional ranks. Some of them are already millionaires. For sure, 100,000aires, without a doubt. Kids are walking into the NFL with more than a half a million dollars in their bank accounts right now.

And maybe not the financial literacy to manage it. You see what I mean? So I get pleasure, you know, heckling them when they do silly stuff. Just like poking them, teasing them. I'm like, oh, that's a rookie mistake. You know what I mean?

Because you have rookie games within any ranks. You know, me being a rookie. agent, you know, there's a learning curve that I got to learn certain things, how we go about certain business. When I was a rookie in the NFL, there was a certain way we went about things. You know what I mean? When I was a rookie in a fire department or a booter, we went about things a certain way. So I think in general, life is about being a rookie over and over again. You want to put yourself into something new? You got to be a rookie all over again and learn. And you want to pivot and change and do something else? Got to become a rookie again.

I love that. You know, it reminded me of a story when you said those are the things that make your, you know, the job so amazing as well. I don't know how much you follow European soccer. I like European soccer. Do you know Jose Marino? I don't know him, but I love soccer. Yeah. I'm fascinated with it because I can't do it.

No, he's one of the most profound, like, managers in Europe. Like, he's from Portugal. He's coached Chelsea. He's broken almost all the record as well. And they asked him, what's one of the craziest stories that you've ever experienced? Like the crazy ones that make the best experiences. because just to summarize the story, there was a striker he had, Mario Bellatelli.

That's my guy with the gold mohub from Italy. Balateri! That's the guy. I like him. So, yes, he's saying this is like, I tell you right now, if you hear the story about Balateli, you're going to think it's crazy. So he starts talking and said, listen, Beletali's got a very big personality. Yes.

But he's very hardworking. Yes. So they go to this one team in Italy, and like right now he's got no other strikers. Balateli received a yellow card. You know, obviously, in soccer, the rules are there's one yellow card. If you receive another yellow card, you get a red card, then you're out. So he said, Balotelika got a yellow card, and then it's half time.

You only get 15 minutes. He spends 14 minutes, not talking to the team, putting Balotelius aside. Listen, Balotelli, I have no striker. Balotelli, this player's injured. I need you. If anything happens, just move your leg. Don't kick him. Don't do anything.

All right. Do you understand the assignment, Balatelis, like, yes, coach. All right. So then he spends one minute, like, let everyone know, hey, listen, we're going to play, blah, blah, blah, blah. He goes outside, first minute, Baletelli red card. Waste the whole half time. Thank you, Mario. And he said after them, he's never laughed so hard at the thing because it's like, you know,

sometimes people just do what they're going to do. So I had to share that with, you know, with you. That's funny to me, dude, because I can see Balateli and his personality like this. The whole time coach is looking at him. He's like, yes, coach. Yes, coach. Yes, coach. He's just going over his head.

As soon as the whistle blows, he runs out there and just kicks the dude. He kicks the guy. And the coach is like, really, bro? I just talk to you for 15 minutes. And he laughed so hard because you don't ever see Josie. Like sometimes, he's very chills, but he's like at that point, nothing you can do. You know, he has laughed at all. You got to laugh at all.

You got to laugh at all. That's a good story. I like, see, I like stories like that because you see the personality like, dude, that's actually funny. I can see him doing that. So I'm happy you named his name because that was like the only reason I would play FIFA because I wanted to play ball a ball of. He's a good striker, you know, you just press it all button. You can just shoot all lasers.

Rockets, bro. Yeah. Been it like Beckham. Now, he's killed my team a few times because I'm Man United. He was Man City, so they beat a 6-1 with the whole why me kind of thing. Oh, yeah. I do remember that. Yeah.

That is on my bucket list to go to a Premier League game or to go to a European side game. I like Byrne Munek. I like Lewandowski. You know what I mean? I like some of the older players when I was growing up watching. But I grew up watching, of course, the LA Galaxy, just Kobe Jones. I mean, Slotton was there. Landon Donovan.

Landon Donovan in Seattle was good. I got a chance to watch him. We got a chance to check those guys out. Eddie Johnson got a chance to watch him. He was younger. And next year is the World Cup as well. So, like, yeah, we'll see what happens. But right now the team USA needs to get a little better because they've been losing every damn game.

Every time I watch them. I'm like, let's watch these guys. Yeah, yeah. It's going on. Got to put LeBron in that team or something. I'm sure it's a LeBron. I'm sure it's a LeBron. I'm sure it's a football somewhere.

What happened to Freddy Adieu? What a man, Freddy? What a Freddy going? It's one of us out there. There's a LeBron of soccer out there. There is. He's somewhere that he's yet to be found, but he's there. Probably Christian Pulitzer.

Just one guy that plays in Europe, A.C. Milan. Okay. Okay. I like him. I like him. I had another, I was very curious. You know, I'm always like fascinating, especially with your role right now,

being an agent. What are some of the things that you prepare the younger people that are jumping in the NFL? Because those are the ones sometimes that lack a lot of mentorship? What are some of the stuff that you can teach them that nobody wants them about? Oh, very good question. Of course, the financial pitfalls.

I think that is the first thing that needs to be addressed. Understand you're getting ready to come into your financial prime kid in your 20s. Most adults don't come to that financial prime until the late 40s, 50s, right? So you're going to get ready to make more money than your parents and your family

has ever accounted for. Right now instantly, that can be overwhelming. What do you do? How do you go about it? How do you manage it? Do you splurge? Do you save? Do you still want to enjoy the fruits of your labor?

But understanding how to have that balance, how to navigate that space, I think that's of grave importance. There wasn't many, I guess, I want to say programs or resources. I mean, they would talk to you, right, back then during that CBA and in the 2012 CBA. And now we're in the 2020 to 2030 CBA. but we've done a better job the NFL trust has come in it as a liaison between the NFL players union and the NFL to basically orchestrating help players not only transition but understand what resources they have available at all times from a financial standpoint to an emotional standpoint spiritual standpoint all the way down to a family health and wellness standpoint. So there's tons and tons of resources. We had a time now where for NFL players to be doing bad

as people say quote unquote that's a choice because we have the resources now we have the trust we have the player benefits we have NFLPA we have the former players we have the professional athletes outreach we have FCA we have every single thing under the sun that is dedicated

to helping men either transition in or transition out or sustain and maintain throughout their entire NFL career so the days of we don't have the it's long going. Now it's a matter of we need to start using it. We need to make it more available, more known.

We need to blast it more. And I think they do a good job of getting it out there. But there's always that small portion of the individual that may not know about the information. But yeah. But are they let known, like when they join in the thing or is it the agent's responsibility? It's not the agent's responsibility.

I mean, I do that just naturally. But the players are now starting to understand. This is what I'm talking about the resources. The resources reach out. They come physically to the team's locker rooms, physically to the team's multi-purpose rooms, meeting rooms, and have seminars and say, hey, here's what we have available. Here's the resource not available to you and your family, to your wife,

the healthy baby program, prenatal care, any and everything. Here's what we offer. So there's things that I like to offer them as a former player, but we're so resource rich now that there isn't an excuse anymore on why our players should be making bad decisions. we have every resource possible now. And again, there was a human component. We get that.

But the NFL is doing a great job as far as taking care of young men, post and, like I said, transitioning. But again, the financial literacy portion of it is probably the most paramount, because that is the kicker. You've seen the show was what broke, right, the NFL, the 30 for 30. Yeah, yeah. Back in a day, you know what I mean? Like, I think, yeah, that, that, that,

is the scary factor and especially now with the NIO. The NIO is just the Wild Wild West. There's not much regulation with the NIO. I mean, they're starting to be more, but yeah, they just had a new settlement. Of course, you probably heard about that

with the $2.8 billion settlement with the NCAA versus the house, meaning now all former college players beginning yesterday, July 1, that they could, today, July 1? Today. Today, actually, today.

former players from 2016 to 2024 can be paid. They can be back paid for their time and their service. And moving forward, the $22 million that could be a lot of each team, they could take a part of, not in addition to whatever collectives that universities have that lay on the outside

that want to contribute. So there's a lot of big money to be made. So again, the financial literacy component is huge. It's huge. Tell the kid who's going from eating top ramen to, hey, he could eat at the top. of the building now. How do they handle that?

Yeah. Even top tier now, everything, you know. And so that is what I think really weighs on my mind most of the time when it comes to these players, hey, manage your money. Yeah. Because we've all seen it happen before you can. Same way you have a lot, the same way it can be gone. Yeah, it's true.

Because, I mean, when you get accustomed to swiping right now, like, I swipe so much, I just swipe with the spirit. I'll just close my eyes, hoping it's decline. You know what I'm saying? Some people don't even swipe. Like, I use my watch. Yeah. I don't even take my wallet all.

I just tap my watch and just, pooh. I named my car, Jesus take the wheel. Just go by the wheel. Look at that bank statement from Jesus take the wheel. Jesus take the wheel. He's active today. Oh, my God. If it declines, you know.

I love it. Jesus take the will if it declines. You know what you do. When you see my man, Jesus got me. Oh, man. That's funny. That's awesome, man. Yeah.

Look at the Skittles. Is that a tribute to Marchand? Hey, yo, B-smode. No, I saw them. You see these right here, man. And, man, put the camera on them right there. See the beast, more. Put your leg on your leg.

I know you're athletic. Look at that. Look at that. That man got on some skittles. No, I saw them. And I was like, I didn't even hesitate when I end up seeing them. I'm like, I got to get those skittles socks, you know. Not too.

And I just stood out. I want to know. I've always been so curious. And also one of the things I did love so much about you, I could tell that you've always had a student mentality. Like you always look for mentors when you're playing in football. When you were jumping there, you surrounding yourself for the Hall of Famous, just the great people as well. My question with that, was there a mentor in this NFL agent route that you've had that has done it before?

Oh, yeah. It's my agent. My actual former agent, both of my agents. Actually, I just spoke to my first agent yesterday and my former agent, my most recent one. And why is mentorship important? Just a follow-up after you asked that. Well, yeah, I'll name them first. It's Jason Diller, or JD, and then he's out of Sacramento.

I was my very first agent. It's my agent I took to the Super Bowl with me. Him and my dad were in the end zone, you know, hanging out and Snoopoop! Hanging out, having a good time. And then my other agent, Cameron Foster. Those two gentlemen were a wealth of knowledge. Cameron even more so. This was Cameron's past draft was Cameron Foster's 35th draft.

35th draft. He's been doing it for a long time. Another gentleman that I have less than. mentor of mine. Steve Weinberg, this was his 40th or 41st draft. He think he was the first certified NFL PA agent when they started certifying agents, I think back in like 1984 or something like that. It's crazy. So it's good to have gentlemen like that that you can pick their brain. They can give you little nuances about the business. They can tell you who you need to call, right? If you're a new agent, okay, cool. I like to represent you, KG, all right? Well, call somebody.

Well, who do I call? Oh, what, do I love? look in a roller decks and the director, who am I looking for? Is it the player of personnel? Is it a director? Is it the scout? Is it the yada, yada, right? So having mentors, they can help you kind of skip steps. No, here, right?

Here's the contact for this guy. Let me talk to this guy. Hey, I got a great relationship with so-and-so. Maybe you should have a kind of right on. So the mentors that I've always surrounded myself with in life, have always been gentlemen who've done exactly what I'm trying to do. And it's not that I'm seeking them. It's just somehow, somewhere they always seem to fall, right?

right into my lap because the universe don't miss. And I'll just happen to rub shoulders with him. And next thing you know, it's a conversation. And cool, I'm into a whole other trajectory, whole other linear opportunities open up. That's powerful. And I take advantage of them. I mean, where do you also identify the talent that,

because I've watched All-American and I love the series and stuff. But then I always realize there's always some of these underprivileged schools or like high schools before they go to college, whatever it may be, where you could get. this potential talent that nobody can discover. What are the tools or use or how do you discover this talent? Well, you know, I think there's talent everywhere.

You know what I mean? Nowadays, with the internet, you can have access and accessibility to talent any and everywhere across the globe. Kids are uploading their highlight tapes, their plays, I mean, in rapid time, literally. It happens, it's out on the internet, sometimes live. And so, you know, I use,

every two possible. Social media, you can tap into warm referrals. You know, family members, clients, amen.

My buddy liked what you do for me. Amen, I think you should. Okay, cool, man. But this business is built off of a relationship. I'm a bridge builder.

My entire life, I've been a bridge builder. I build bridges with intent to keep the bridge because you never know who behind you may need to cross that bridge. You never know,

you might need to go back across that bridge. Somebody who came before you may want to, Hey, Roy, remember that bridge? Oh, it's right there. You may transition them into another direction. So I'm a bridge builder.

And that's all I can you do. So all my mentors are the same way. We build bridges with one another. We build bridges throughout our community. What the goal is to each one reach one, each one teach one. Right? And we lift as we climb. One come up, we pull the next one up.

Hey, young man, this is how I did it. This is how we go about the business. And so that holds dear to me. So I love my mentors. Unfortunately, it's funny. I won't say unfortunate. I had to learn that I was, a natural mentor. Sometimes you don't want to accept what you really are. You know what I mean?

You want to do what everybody else do. She goes back to calling again what we're talking about earlier. She's calling, right? Sometimes I had to realize like, I can't just do everything. I got to be a mentor. And people keep coming to me for advice. I'm like, whoa, why you keep asking me? I want to, you know what I mean? But once I accepted that and understood that and grew into that, it just catapulted to me. Because it's like, I don't know. My mentors that I speak with, they impart knowledge on me. and by the time I talk to someone who wants to speak to me, it's like their words just flow right through too. You know what I mean?

So each one is reaching one. It's a cool, it's a cool dichotomy. It's the craziest thing ever, man. I'm like, right on. So I enjoy being a mentor, a father figure, a teammate, an agent. I can wear any cap you need me to wear. That's exactly what I'm here for. No, that's awesome.

What goes on? I know you've done it for two seasons and you still have so much experience in it, but what goes on in like contract negotiations? You know, because you're... It's really boring. So, you know, it's boring. It's not as exciting as people with things. It's not like, ah.

But... I also was one of those, like the manager picks up the thing. I said, I want to give him that amount. No, I give him that amount. It's like, throw something in the year up. Is it that intense or is it just like... No, I mean, there can be some heated moments. I would assume, you know, for some contracts and certain players.

But, yes, it's business. It's reality. You know, it's legalese. It's contract. factual jargon that you're well versed on knowing and that your condition to look for. And then you go forth and you set together a plan. You understand. You make sure that your client understands what that game plan is, that the team is on board as well.

And then the offer is made and vice versa. You know, but there's certain things that, certain times there's things that don't need to be explained. We already know, like, okay, this must be included. Like, you know, these are certain incentives. that may or may not need to be included based off the player, you know what I mean, the team, the situation. And so, I mean, you learn those things along the way. And who has most of the say, is it like the player or is it the agent? Because sometimes I feel like agents have got

so much influence that we don't really understand. Or is it both parties that come to an agreement before then? So ultimately, I will say this. Ultimately, the player has the leverage. The agent is just a liaison between the player and the team. Have you noticed in recent years? You know, years, if a player has enough status, he can represent himself. Look at Richard Sherman. I love Sherman. This is my dog. Wing, why I'm Sharon?

Love you, boy. Yeah, he represent himself. Why not? He has the wherewithal. He has the knowledge to. He's a Stanford grad. He understands the business. Yes, I can represent myself because I'm not going to get myself into anything.

And if I do, guess what? I can easily always call the NFLPA and say, hey, would you mind looking over this contract for me? They will comb through the contract with fine-tooth comb, to make sure there's no inconsistencies, any discrepancies, make sure there's no any misrepresentations, and then send it back. And so that's the business side of it, you know what I mean? So I don't think that people really understand,

business is business, and it will be conducted like business. You don't see big business people arguing and yelling and screaming. We're going to sit down, we're going to pass an envelope across the table. You open it and you look at it, hmm, boy, whispers. You know what I mean? That sometimes is how it is.

And sometimes it's coming there. It's there. It's fine. The reason I'll ask that, because I love sports so much. I think I've shared so many different stuff, but I always follow, it's crazy.

Like, when I do so much I travel, but like what brings a lot of, like, a bit more calming down, because as much as I do my podcast and stuff, I research my, like the guests that I do,

like, make it very personal questions. Whenever I finish here, I listen to like to, like, just sports stuff. Like, I'll listen to like a soccer thing. And it's like,

oh, The agent should have negotiated that or that. The reason I'm bringing that up, the Dennis Schroeder situation. I don't know if you remember what happened between that. The Hooper, yeah, the gold patch. I like that. Yeah, same thing from Germany. But what happened in this scenario, I think the Lakers, I'm just paraphrasing you.

They had a contract on the table for him, but they were trying to be a little bit more greedy way they said they could get more, they could get more, they could get more, they could get more. I can't remember what the figure was. Could have been $60 million or something like that in like four-year extension. And then it just went off the table. and I think he ended up settling for the Celtics for like a six million. I remember that for one season.

Yes. Yes. And so it was blamed at the time on the agent. I think there was a conflict of interest or like there was misunderstanding between playing an agent. But from someone that was almost guaranteed, it could have been 67 or 8. I can't remember what it was, but it was a four or five year. Yeah. And so that's what I asked there because I've always been curious.

I'm like, wow, like if he's blaming the agent and the agent's like, no, it's like there's a bit of disparity or misunderstanding or some conflict. So I'm like, gosh, that's when I realize, like, agents, yes, as much as the liaison, like, they still play a big role. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And I think there are some cases where agents will mismanage clients. They will mismanage situations that comes to the territory, right? There's not a right or wrong answer. It's just if the situation works, we can make it work.

If it can't, then both parties have to kind of agree to disagree until a deal gets done. That's why you see so many players hold out, some so often. during training camp. You see players say, well, I'm not going to do this. Because it's just a matter of, hey, you're not willing to work with me and get this compromise. We're trying to be made whole.

The whole goal is to be made whole to get a contract so guys can go out there and play football. Sometimes the number game and by number game, I mean, this game will hold up and tie up things. You know what I mean? And so you'll see players

almost advocate for themselves. And it's not that the agent can't but ultimately the player holds away because if the player's not happy then the team's not going to be happy and if he's an integral part of the team then that means the fans not going to be happy and as an owner if the fans not happy like during the lockout when fans started to retract their season tickets because oh you guys going to lock our players out of their locker rooms then we ain't coming to the games again this goes back again to the fact that you've been a player and you understand the game so I understand that you keep the masses

happy. Keep the mass as I was always talking my players. The fans are here to see you. I'm not here to see you. Not here to see me anymore. You're not here to see the owner. They're here to see you. You guys make this ship go. Understand the buying power of the players. You have power. You have leverage. You can make this thing going. Now we're at a point where we're more than 50% of the revenue share. Players are getting compensated well. NIO is great. benefits are great. We've reduced so many, I would say, statute of limitations as far as getting guys vested and what the benefits that they do accrue. So, yeah, we're moving in the right direction. Pretty soon it should be the NFL, Lord willingness, we want to get to how

the NBA and MLB fully guaranteed. You know what I mean? You're protected. That's the goal to have guys protected. We want guys protected all the time, not just some of the time. We want him. He signs the dollar line. He's protected. Him and his family's protected right now.

Not backloaded and hope that he made it to the year five so we can give him the big lump some. Take care of them now. You know what I mean? Because you see baseball players, they play for a long time. They're happy. They're just doing their thing because the money's good.

Football players, we scrapping. Sometimes it's a dog fight. You know what I mean? It's a dog fight. within amongst teams just to be able to fit all the good players on a roster and to financially accommodate them properly it's like man i don't know i got a superstar here superstar here i can't pay all of them i don't want to let someone so-and-so go but i have to because i got to pay kj i have to pay he's my guy he's my guy too but so it becomes that you know what i mean so and then

sometimes you'll get players who will take that sacrifice as well right that that's a that's a that's That's on a player. Hey man, you know what? I'm willing to sacrifice a little bit of money to win. I'm willing to sacrifice, I got money. I don't need the accolades. I want to win. The winning is why we play the game.

There's not one player who ever say, I'm just playing for the money. Okay, you won't be playing for long. You won't be playing for long because it'll seep through. It'll be like blood in the water. He's like, man, you don't care. You don't care about it. He's just out here.

You don't like that. I don't know how I also say we don't like that but we don't get down like you know what I mean we're here for the game for the love of the game most players will play the game for free if we could you know because people just love it you know same way you probably play soccer you play football on the pitch

thank you for saying football you know I got you know I got some mates now we'll go to England I was talking to that about it we're going to try and go get a catch a game premium league one of these times so I want to go let's do it like me let's do it I want to see some I'm forever blow and bubbles.

I want to start sending new reels of all these chants as well. Yeah, send me some of that. They're hooligans out there. You know, Ocho Sinko loves. Ocho Sinko loves soccer. Yeah, no. It's a religion down there, you know.

He's soccer god. Yeah. It's a cool thing. No. Sports just unifies people, you know. Whenever I'm depressed, I watch sports. That's my therapy right there. Yeah.

But sometimes they're bloody lose. I'm like, Luca, shoot the damn ball. Come on, Luca. Shoot the damn. No, I agree. It's an outlet. It's therapeutic. You know, it, for me, it's just always been like my sanctuary, man.

I mean, I keep cleats in my car. My friends know, I don't want to give it up. I keep cleats in my car. I keep two pairs, too, just because somebody's feeling froggy, they're still in a race and get down. But, yeah, it's just a part of me. It's a part of my fabric, man. And I enjoy it. I really do.

I enjoy talking about it. I enjoy. What it's given me, the lifestyle is giving me. I enjoy what it's allowed me to see. The people, it's allowed me to touch. I've used football as a vehicle to literally put my feet on different continents that I only read about when I was in elementary, middle school, high school, in college. Wow.

So I always ask this question is my concluding question. He's like, we haven't even started the question. Yeah, we haven't even started. No, we're starting. No, we're starting. Let's keep going. We can talk all day about this. I can come back and chill out and maybe bring some people too, man.

I appreciate them. Thank you so much. That's a nice little honeyhole cell. I like it. You know, because of the podcast, I've always loved the term winning, and I think every time I've interviewed people, they always have a different perspective to what the actual term means.

For Roy Lewis, what does the term winning mean for you? Hound to hound your adversary. That means anything. It could be a life problem. It could be a stress problem. it can be even better, but you hound your adversary, your opponent unmercifully until they know and understand that you're physically, mentally, emotionally, stronger. You just hound, you just kept poking.

You keep poking. It's it's an undying will to be successful. That's what winning is. It's habitual. It's what you think. It's how you act. It's how you carry yourself. It's everything.

It's winning. That's it. It's not that I even hate losing. I just love winning because winners love to win. Winning is a way of life. You install that. You download that code

and then you polish it by success. Every little success you get, you're polishing it. You're polishing it. Just shining it up, shine it up. And you look at it like, nice. And then after you, now you protect it.

You protect that energy. You protect that mindset. Give it away to the ones that you need. You sprinkling them so that they can come in, but you protect it because that is your fire. That's my aura. Winning.

Everything I touch, I win. Period. No matter what it is. I don't even have to know about it, but my mindset is so open to winning that I'm willing to learn whatever it is. I have to learn in order to be successful at it. That's winning.

You know? Reading a new book, hearing from a new, Arthur, whatever it is, you're open. The moment you cut yourself off from learning, start dying. Learning is winning. The more you learn, the more you learn, the more you win. I'm winning our life. It don't matter how small, how minute, how micro it is, how macro it is. If it's something new that you learn, that's winning.

You won today. Keep stacking the wins. I said if I could, I just drop the mic down and just hit the podcast right there and then, That was absolute poetic. You're the modern day Shakespeare as well. Well, my teacher would be very impressed. Yes, you hear that, Mrs. Bernstein. She said I was going to be a Renaissance man back in eighth grade.

I didn't know what that means, but yes, I know what it means now. But no, seriously, man, it's just like what you're doing, the code to winning. This is winning. I don't think you understand. This is winning. This is powerful. This is added value, right? To want to be able to delve deep into other people's career paths and say,

Hey man, teach me about what you do. Here's what I like to do. I like to figure out what you like to do. Cool. And it serves the purpose because every time you interview someone, tap more nuggets into your aura. Your coach to winning is you got a roll of it. NFL player. So, you got all this.

I'm going to get chumifold of all the memory. And you can tap into that winning. So when you come across somebody who made me a little bit of that information in the Union Park, just sprinkle a little bit on them, a little winning on them. Hey, you got, let me teach you with this jewel, bro, that I learned from this. Bingo, that's the code to winning. I love that. I love that.

Roy, if you could let our viewers know over there, if the way they could get a hold of you, maybe follow you and... Just call me on my phone, my number, stop. 305. What's the new song that Drake got? I don't know. Baby girl, that's the song. I just saw him running yesterday and stuff like that.

Pop up with a Nokia phone, I think that's what there's no key. Oh, it is. No Kia. Yeah. Yeah, it was, yeah. I don't know the word, girl. I like it for the whole world. But I know, I'm just normal social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, even though I'm not really that active.

I will use my Instagram, but I'm really old school. But I am going to tap back into my platforms. I just so, you know, get my IG, get it going, the code to winning. Perfect. KG's going to teach me out of rocket, right? Let's go. The code to winning insights. you need today to seize the world tomorrow your man my man your guy Roy Lewis thank you very

much both appreciate your brother one love my friend you know it