Behind every goal scored, shot drilled, putt made, and record broken are the dedicated MVPs of the sport industry. They work countless hours behind the scenes making abundant sacrifices and taking huge risks to ensure these desires, dreams and realities come to life.

 

For these sports business leaders work is not just a job or a career but a way of life. These sports business champions are the ‘Masters of the Game’. The Masters of the Game is a book featuring celebrated sports executives from the industry, chronicling their awe-inspiring stories with an emphasis on some of the most profound business and life lessons learned along the way.

Learn from the Masters About:

Inspiring Personal & Professional Journeys

Making an Impact

The Power of Sport

Success in Business & Life

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Featuring Interviews with Sport Industry Executives

Meet the Authors

Headshot of Dr. Jason Pappas

Dr. Jason Pappas

Sport Management Professor

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Dr. Jason Pappas is a Teaching Professor with the acclaimed Department of Sport Management at Florida State University. In 2012, Dr. Pappas transitioned to the classroom after spending more than 20 years in intercollegiate athletics administration from coast-to-coast. Drawing from his passions for sport and teaching, he brings excitement and enthusiasm to the classroom as he prepares students to transition from the academic environment to work in the highly competitive sport industry. Dr. Pappas enjoys mountain biking, sporting events and traveling, sharing his blessed life with wife Sherry and their four collective children AMP, AGP, MEP and SCS.

Headshot of Vratik Sharma

Vratik Sharma

Global Live Sports Measurement

Amazon

New York, New York

Vratik Sharma works at Amazon Ads, specializing in Global Live Sports Measurement to help brands assess their live sports advertising impact. His expertise blends sports, media, measurement, and brand strategy, offering data-driven insights for clients. Previously, he held positions in business development and sports sponsorship analytics at the PGA Tour, Disney Sports, and Nielsen Sports. Vratik earned a master’s in Sport Management from Florida State University and a bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering from Pune University in India. In his free time, he enjoys live concerts, sporting events, traveling, and volunteering.

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Praise for Masters of the Game

  • So much of one’s professional career is informed by their own lived experiences. In Masters of the Game, sport industry executives share personal stories to give readers an understanding of how leaders in the sport industry have achieved success. Insights from executives in a variety of sport sectors — as well as historically under-resourced areas such as women’s sport — should make this an enjoyable read for a range of sport enthusiasts.

    Elizabeth Delia, Assistant Professor, McCormack Department of Sport Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • Often times, the greatest influence in one’s life and career is the mentors and leaders we have to teach us the way. In Masters of the Game, sport industry executives give a blue print of how mentors and leaders in the sport industry have achieved their success. These stories and insights should serve not only as great entertainment for readers of all interests, but especially as inspiration for aspiring sports professionals.

    Sean Decker, Executive Vice President, Sports & entertainment, Texas Rangers

  • Masters of the Game has some of the top sports business executives in the world. These stories truly showcase exactly what the sport industry is all about and what it takes to not only work in the sport industry but to be extremely successful. This is a book for anyone who wants or is thinking about a career in sport. The co authors did a masterful job of highlighting the important traits, attributes and skills needed in this extremely competitive job market.

    Amy Huchthausen, Former Commissioner, American East Conference

  • One can learn a great deal from pioneering leaders by examining the paths they forged. In Masters of the Game, Pappas and Sharma have artfully developed a valuable resource by assembling the collective experiences and insight of many leaders in the sport industry. To be the best, one must learn from the best, and this text makes the wisdom of the very best in the sport industry accessible to all aspiring leaders and executives.

    Damon P. S. Andrew, PhD, Dean and Professor, College of Education, Florida State University

  • For anyone interested in sports business—those who are in industry, those who desire to get into the industry, or those sports fans are simply interested in learning more—this book is a MUST read. It chronicles many successful sports business executives—their journeys, achievements and obstacles. You will be enlightened and inspired. Kudos to Vratik for his vision, diligence and efforts to put these personal stories together!

    Rob Ohno, Senior Vice President, International Tours, PGA Tour