All of the things that you've been through. You had something that you were probably looking to accomplish before you went into it. An investment person who no one in the room is even conscious of who that is. But you know what is the first time I met Clarence Avon, he couldn't believe that a black boy from Compton was producing a festival in Amsterdam. So my life, to me, I try to live the example. I'd like to be, for the most part successful some percent of the time, trying to be successful all the time, never successful all the time.

All of the things that you've been through. You had something that you were probably looking to accomplish before you went into it. An investment person who no one in the room is even conscious of who that is. But you know what is the first time I met Clarence Avon, he couldn't believe that a black boy from Compton was producing a festival in Amsterdam. So my life, to me, I try to live the example. I'd like to be, for the most part successful some percent of the time, trying to be successful all the time, never successful all the time.

But you give it your shot, to give it your shot, to give it your shot.

But you give it your shot, to give it your shot, to give it your shot.

What if I told you there was more to the story behind game changing events?

What if I told you there was more to the story behind game changing events?

Get ready for my new.

Get ready for my new.

Podcast, That Moment with Damon John will jump into the personal stories of some of the most influential people on the planet, from business mobiles and celebrities to athletes and artists. All right, Patin, thank you so much for being here. I know that Listen, everybody in the world may not know your name as a household name, but that's really not important to write. People in the world know you and respect you, and love you and value and you've been behind so many amazing things. It's very rare that you know, Uh, anybody, I don't care personal call it. Anybody has so many different industries or they've made an impact from a business side as well. So thank you man. I'm gonna get right into it. I'm gonna I got a couple of questions. I got a lot of questions actually, and I don't know if we have as much time as I would like to get into it, but uh, we're gonna get into that moment of becoming a minority owner of a baseball team, the Washington Nationals, and an executive b T. But break down how you even got into these positions. Because when I was sitting back thinking that I know you. You know we're not the tightest, but I've always said act you know, where'd you come from? It was just straight up I was like, I know him here. I know, I think we were working with app like together right when I saw you. I mean, yeah, like, where did it start? And just give us a really short short light boom watch all of here, because all of a sudden, now I knew you started getting into entertainment, But where'd you come from? Where did you start?

Podcast, That Moment with Damon John will jump into the personal stories of some of the most influential people on the planet, from business mobiles and celebrities to athletes and artists. All right, Patin, thank you so much for being here. I know that Listen, everybody in the world may not know your name as a household name, but that's really not important to write. People in the world know you and respect you, and love you and value and you've been behind so many amazing things. It's very rare that you know, Uh, anybody, I don't care personal call it. Anybody has so many different industries or they've made an impact from a business side as well. So thank you man. I'm gonna get right into it. I'm gonna I got a couple of questions. I got a lot of questions actually, and I don't know if we have as much time as I would like to get into it, but uh, we're gonna get into that moment of becoming a minority owner of a baseball team, the Washington Nationals, and an executive b T. But break down how you even got into these positions. Because when I was sitting back thinking that I know you. You know we're not the tightest, but I've always said act you know, where'd you come from? It was just straight up I was like, I know him here. I know, I think we were working with app like together right when I saw you. I mean, yeah, like, where did it start? And just give us a really short short light boom watch all of here, because all of a sudden, now I knew you started getting into entertainment, But where'd you come from? Where did you start?

Born in Compton, nineteen sixty and family moved out of wats right after these sixty five riots out to San Bernardino left California as a kid at fourteen to go to academy outside of Philadelphia. Was born and raised an Orthodox Sevendy Adventists. Grew a lot from the faith, very meaningful in my life, but kind of outgrew being there with it and started to travel. I've lived in eleven States in seventeen cities. Boy on the entertainment side, started doing shows in DJ and a junior college in the late seventies and then in the early eighties at Temple University is kind of where I got my entertainment start. DJ and on WRTI, which was the twenty four hour jazz station. Jazz was a meaningful still lives a meaningful part of my life. Studied African American Studies and Pick Quick Pick Stop in Atlanta, one in Miami, and then my first big international business shop was producing the nineteen ninety rub of Jazz and Latin Music Festival and from there started literally producing festivals all throughout the world. Ninety one in Amsterdam, ninety two started the Saint Lucia Johns Festival. Did that for twenty four years as producer. Started my relationship with BET ninety one and ninety nine ninety nine, started as an executive at BT, which is where I would have actually I met you.

Born in Compton, nineteen sixty and family moved out of wats right after these sixty five riots out to San Bernardino left California as a kid at fourteen to go to academy outside of Philadelphia. Was born and raised an Orthodox Sevendy Adventists. Grew a lot from the faith, very meaningful in my life, but kind of outgrew being there with it and started to travel. I've lived in eleven States in seventeen cities. Boy on the entertainment side, started doing shows in DJ and a junior college in the late seventies and then in the early eighties at Temple University is kind of where I got my entertainment start. DJ and on WRTI, which was the twenty four hour jazz station. Jazz was a meaningful still lives a meaningful part of my life. Studied African American Studies and Pick Quick Pick Stop in Atlanta, one in Miami, and then my first big international business shop was producing the nineteen ninety rub of Jazz and Latin Music Festival and from there started literally producing festivals all throughout the world. Ninety one in Amsterdam, ninety two started the Saint Lucia Johns Festival. Did that for twenty four years as producer. Started my relationship with BET ninety one and ninety nine ninety nine, started as an executive at BT, which is where I would have actually I met you.

Prior to that, I met you.

Prior to that, I met you.

I think it was ninety four ninety five when you guys did the Fuhou Big celeb event in Saint Martin. It was the largest gathering of black celebrities anywhere in the world outside of the United States, and that was one of those Who's Two events. I produced a few of your stages for you, and we were both real, real young at the time, but you know, you were hot and on fire, and I took notes on you long long, long, long ago produced the show caribbyan rhythms. Rachel and I got married back in ninety five, and uh.

I think it was ninety four ninety five when you guys did the Fuhou Big celeb event in Saint Martin. It was the largest gathering of black celebrities anywhere in the world outside of the United States, and that was one of those Who's Two events. I produced a few of your stages for you, and we were both real, real young at the time, but you know, you were hot and on fire, and I took notes on you long long, long, long ago produced the show caribbyan rhythms. Rachel and I got married back in ninety five, and uh.

You were you were married to Rachel. Yeah, okay, well.

You were you were married to Rachel. Yeah, okay, well.

Rachel Caribbean Rhythms, Planet Groove.

Rachel Caribbean Rhythms, Planet Groove.

No, it was Rachel. They used to be like, you're saying, like she's whatever, right chilling in the sand, and she said some.

No, it was Rachel. They used to be like, you're saying, like she's whatever, right chilling in the sand, and she said some.

It was those big those Biggie who put that line together.

It was those big those Biggie who put that line together.

Fans of Rachel. Biggie did it.

Fans of Rachel. Biggie did it.

Man, you're talking about the Donnie Simpson was right before that. Then Rachel Man, this is all right, go ahead, got go ahead, gotta keep going because I'm ready the questions off of that, but yeah, that's a prior but go ahead for sure.

Man, you're talking about the Donnie Simpson was right before that. Then Rachel Man, this is all right, go ahead, got go ahead, gotta keep going because I'm ready the questions off of that, but yeah, that's a prior but go ahead for sure.

So that would have been where you and I first met.

So that would have been where you and I first met.

It was back in the early nineties, and uh so I had a twenty plashier career BT and uh but I was always kind of mindful of of you have what you have, but let's think about other things and other opportunit beyond it. So back in two thousand and five, my my dentist, doctor Ronnie Rosenberg, introduced me to the Learner family and we started conversations around the ownership for the Washington Nationals, which were the relocated Montreal Expos. And I love sports too. My passions were music and sports, and so as soon as I had the opportunity to get get a shot to buy into a major league sports team, the door opened and I joined the Learner family. We purchased in Montreal exposed to Major League Baseball for four hundred and fifty million dollars back in two thousand and six, and that started my taste for sports. So much like when you get a door opened, you kind of look for other opportunities to come through it, and so over time. Now I'm in my fifth sports ownership group and coming up from.

It was back in the early nineties, and uh so I had a twenty plashier career BT and uh but I was always kind of mindful of of you have what you have, but let's think about other things and other opportunit beyond it. So back in two thousand and five, my my dentist, doctor Ronnie Rosenberg, introduced me to the Learner family and we started conversations around the ownership for the Washington Nationals, which were the relocated Montreal Expos. And I love sports too. My passions were music and sports, and so as soon as I had the opportunity to get get a shot to buy into a major league sports team, the door opened and I joined the Learner family. We purchased in Montreal exposed to Major League Baseball for four hundred and fifty million dollars back in two thousand and six, and that started my taste for sports. So much like when you get a door opened, you kind of look for other opportunities to come through it, and so over time. Now I'm in my fifth sports ownership group and coming up from.

I don't know, fIF Yeah, I interest ould think Callie like, I'm gonna have some I'm gonna have some blue cheese on those wings a bit. Tell me about those the five man sure.

I don't know, fIF Yeah, I interest ould think Callie like, I'm gonna have some I'm gonna have some blue cheese on those wings a bit. Tell me about those the five man sure.

The Washington Nationals with the Learner family in two thousand and six, we purchased the team, began to kind of build a culture for it, which is your overwhelmbly were in leadership. Culture is overwhelmingly important. I'm putting together a winning organization starts with your mind and your mindset and then you kind of build it out from there. In twenty fifteen, I had the opportunity to join the entrepreneur here in Washington called Mark iin n Mark is now he's gone on to own to purchase the city open and he's the second partner with the Washington Commander's purchase with Josh Harris, which just happened not too long ago. That was my second third was the Washington Spirit which is the National Women's Soccer League, and purchased into that in twenty twenty we won the twenty one National Women's Soccer League Championship and that made my third third championship ring. I have three of them now Johnston's rings from championships. After that would have been the Cape Down Tigers in South Africa which play They've made the Basketball Africa League Championship, the NBA's NBA Africa Championship for the past three years, made it to the finals, haven't won yet, but have made it to the finals for the last three years. Then in addition to that, the DC Glory rugby team which is in the Major League Rugby League which has twelve teams. And in addition to that, I'm a partner in the Sports Fishing Championship, which is a champion fishing tournament which takes place pretty much all throughout the throughout the coast of the United States off the coast, and I've got a couple more coming up that I'll be in before the end of the year. So I love sports opportunities. I think it's one of the best things that a person can put their finances into. UH just got to be patient enough to one build a winning culture and then two being able to be financially stable enough to part with resources that you can invest for a long period of time.

The Washington Nationals with the Learner family in two thousand and six, we purchased the team, began to kind of build a culture for it, which is your overwhelmbly were in leadership. Culture is overwhelmingly important. I'm putting together a winning organization starts with your mind and your mindset and then you kind of build it out from there. In twenty fifteen, I had the opportunity to join the entrepreneur here in Washington called Mark iin n Mark is now he's gone on to own to purchase the city open and he's the second partner with the Washington Commander's purchase with Josh Harris, which just happened not too long ago. That was my second third was the Washington Spirit which is the National Women's Soccer League, and purchased into that in twenty twenty we won the twenty one National Women's Soccer League Championship and that made my third third championship ring. I have three of them now Johnston's rings from championships. After that would have been the Cape Down Tigers in South Africa which play They've made the Basketball Africa League Championship, the NBA's NBA Africa Championship for the past three years, made it to the finals, haven't won yet, but have made it to the finals for the last three years. Then in addition to that, the DC Glory rugby team which is in the Major League Rugby League which has twelve teams. And in addition to that, I'm a partner in the Sports Fishing Championship, which is a champion fishing tournament which takes place pretty much all throughout the throughout the coast of the United States off the coast, and I've got a couple more coming up that I'll be in before the end of the year. So I love sports opportunities. I think it's one of the best things that a person can put their finances into. UH just got to be patient enough to one build a winning culture and then two being able to be financially stable enough to part with resources that you can invest for a long period of time.

You know, tell me if I'm looking at the screen, I'm staring at the screen like a toddler. But you know, how many people in the world know that there's an African American or even heard that there's an African American behind that is a minority investor or partner in five sports teams and two or three leagues that nobody knows comparison to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, maybe doctor j I'm not even sure. How come we don't know that and celebrated because you have not, you know, been keeping a secret. Yet you don't also wear it on your sleeve and go out there and brag, right you are? You know you're you're making things happen. Why don't we know this? Do you think that there is a bigger issue there? Because where only if you would to ask anybody else to be a minority or be a minority owner, meaning even participate in that aspect, you would you would hear everybody say it can happen. Why don't we know this?

You know, tell me if I'm looking at the screen, I'm staring at the screen like a toddler. But you know, how many people in the world know that there's an African American or even heard that there's an African American behind that is a minority investor or partner in five sports teams and two or three leagues that nobody knows comparison to Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, maybe doctor j I'm not even sure. How come we don't know that and celebrated because you have not, you know, been keeping a secret. Yet you don't also wear it on your sleeve and go out there and brag, right you are? You know you're you're making things happen. Why don't we know this? Do you think that there is a bigger issue there? Because where only if you would to ask anybody else to be a minority or be a minority owner, meaning even participate in that aspect, you would you would hear everybody say it can happen. Why don't we know this?

That's a that's a good question. Damon from from your end as an entrepreneur and an amazing entrepreneur, there are certain things that you kind of put out there. You've got a team that are kind of bubbling up with ideas and interest around, and then there are some other things that you just kind of put the elbow grease into and focus on and help build, and things kind of bubble up when they're supposed to. I've been seeing a lot more recently on posting about minority and or just overall ownership and sports, and so I've been included on some of those posts over time. But as you kind of pointed out, it's not something from my end that I've gone out of my way to kind of try to make happen it all for me. It's more focusing on the business and focusing on the opportunities.

That's a that's a good question. Damon from from your end as an entrepreneur and an amazing entrepreneur, there are certain things that you kind of put out there. You've got a team that are kind of bubbling up with ideas and interest around, and then there are some other things that you just kind of put the elbow grease into and focus on and help build, and things kind of bubble up when they're supposed to. I've been seeing a lot more recently on posting about minority and or just overall ownership and sports, and so I've been included on some of those posts over time. But as you kind of pointed out, it's not something from my end that I've gone out of my way to kind of try to make happen it all for me. It's more focusing on the business and focusing on the opportunities.

And I understand right, I'm clear on your position of Man, I'm trying to make moves here and I'm not trying to you know, I ain't trying to brag about any of this stuff. I got a bigger obligation to be of as much value in any partner would know this right to be as much value in service. And I don't even need to ask you that question, because when I walk into rooms, I may or may not see you, but people talk about you because that means you are a very busy person. I did in the intro. I talked about how you are a business person. I talk about how you're a philanthropist. I talked about how you're an entrepreneur. But I also talked about your recognition in the government and the lobbying and or of fighting for what's writing being acknowledged for those things. But if I have to take a step back for somebody who a young kid or anybody listening today who says, listen, I was either moved from city to city. I had a passion how did you become such a worldly person being moved? And I don't think you're being moved around city to city because you know, you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth and you'll moved around in all your homes. I think you're being moved more like whether an army brat or you know people who are being moved around. How did you do all that? Find DJing and then start globally by the way, some of the teams you own on the other side of the planet. So I just want to make sure people are clear on that.

And I understand right, I'm clear on your position of Man, I'm trying to make moves here and I'm not trying to you know, I ain't trying to brag about any of this stuff. I got a bigger obligation to be of as much value in any partner would know this right to be as much value in service. And I don't even need to ask you that question, because when I walk into rooms, I may or may not see you, but people talk about you because that means you are a very busy person. I did in the intro. I talked about how you are a business person. I talk about how you're a philanthropist. I talked about how you're an entrepreneur. But I also talked about your recognition in the government and the lobbying and or of fighting for what's writing being acknowledged for those things. But if I have to take a step back for somebody who a young kid or anybody listening today who says, listen, I was either moved from city to city. I had a passion how did you become such a worldly person being moved? And I don't think you're being moved around city to city because you know, you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth and you'll moved around in all your homes. I think you're being moved more like whether an army brat or you know people who are being moved around. How did you do all that? Find DJing and then start globally by the way, some of the teams you own on the other side of the planet. So I just want to make sure people are clear on that.

How did you do that?

How did you do that?

All in a worldly manner before the Internet even existed and cell phones were out.

All in a worldly manner before the Internet even existed and cell phones were out.

Passion passion, and both of us speak to young people on a regular basis. That's often the most meaningful question I'm asked is you know, what would you what advice would you be to your former self or to other young people and from minus always doing things that you're passionate about.

Passion passion, and both of us speak to young people on a regular basis. That's often the most meaningful question I'm asked is you know, what would you what advice would you be to your former self or to other young people and from minus always doing things that you're passionate about.

So I mean.

So I mean.

Literally, for me, as a kid, I loved music. That's like one of the most kind of anchor components at the core of my life is music. And then in addition to that, I played sports. It wasn't good enough to be a musician, but I loved it. But sports I could play, and I played pretty much all sports and track my hand at everything. So to me, those things that are deeply passionate for me, the things that I touch in the place where I kind of get my core beginning as far as travel, that would be kind of like a third piece to it. And so once you kind of just get to me some fundamentals of business under your skin, you can pretty much do business anywhere and make money anywhere. So I've been an entrepreneur the whole of my life. I've hustled the whole of my life, and opportunities pop up, and sometimes you're the only person there who's like thinking business all the time. It comes to you fairly easily. I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, and so for me it's like, well, you got a key in on something to put your time and edgy towards something. So I love making money. I love the passion around that. I love the opportunities that creates for you, and so being mindful of those things. I ran across the book thinking Grow Rich when I was seventeen years old. At the time, when I was probably it was my first time dropping out of high school. I dropped out of high school three times, ended up earning a.

Literally, for me, as a kid, I loved music. That's like one of the most kind of anchor components at the core of my life is music. And then in addition to that, I played sports. It wasn't good enough to be a musician, but I loved it. But sports I could play, and I played pretty much all sports and track my hand at everything. So to me, those things that are deeply passionate for me, the things that I touch in the place where I kind of get my core beginning as far as travel, that would be kind of like a third piece to it. And so once you kind of just get to me some fundamentals of business under your skin, you can pretty much do business anywhere and make money anywhere. So I've been an entrepreneur the whole of my life. I've hustled the whole of my life, and opportunities pop up, and sometimes you're the only person there who's like thinking business all the time. It comes to you fairly easily. I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke, and so for me it's like, well, you got a key in on something to put your time and edgy towards something. So I love making money. I love the passion around that. I love the opportunities that creates for you, and so being mindful of those things. I ran across the book thinking Grow Rich when I was seventeen years old. At the time, when I was probably it was my first time dropping out of high school. I dropped out of high school three times, ended up earning a.

Drop on a high school three town on did you drop while you're out?

Drop on a high school three town on did you drop while you're out?

Well, you're not. You go back next year.

Well, you're not. You go back next year.

You go back to next year and talk your way in, just get ahead even though you didn't complete anything. And after my senior year of high school, when I dropped out the third time, I was like, well, I'm not going back at it anymore because I should be graduating. And I ended up talking my way into junior college in Pittsburgh.

You go back to next year and talk your way in, just get ahead even though you didn't complete anything. And after my senior year of high school, when I dropped out the third time, I was like, well, I'm not going back at it anymore because I should be graduating. And I ended up talking my way into junior college in Pittsburgh.

I want I want to pull us for a second, because there's so much stuff there right now. First of all, I'm a huge fan of thinking go rich, you know, and a lot of people if you don't know what you're hearing it from a whole other individual. It is attributed is one of the top books for success. I am not talking about religious books at all. I am talking about purely a business book by Napoleon Hill. There's so many nuggets there. So first of all, so many commonalities. I love hip hop, I couldn't wrap I was going to be part of it.

I want I want to pull us for a second, because there's so much stuff there right now. First of all, I'm a huge fan of thinking go rich, you know, and a lot of people if you don't know what you're hearing it from a whole other individual. It is attributed is one of the top books for success. I am not talking about religious books at all. I am talking about purely a business book by Napoleon Hill. There's so many nuggets there. So first of all, so many commonalities. I love hip hop, I couldn't wrap I was going to be part of it.

You love jazz, you.

You love jazz, you.

Couldn't play well the same way that as you were a good player and stuff. And I tried to tell all the kids or anybody who are it is. Whatever you love, there's ten jobs around it. You don't have to be Jordan. You know, you can be packed and the team owner. You can be the nutritionists, you can be the attorney, you can be wherever you excel at. Really really critical for people to understand that. The next thing is when you understand the fundamentals of business, you can travel the world and no matter what, you can figure it out. I was just talking to a colleague of minded team member of mine. I was like, always look for the motivation of something. Every time that something is bought or so, somebody makes money, right, and everything that you buy you can sell, right, you know, and so and everything you do for free you can get paid to do. And so you will go into when you go into different countries, you say, well, I don't speak the language. You speak the language. The language is trade. The language is of service, of value, commodity. People need something, right, and you can always as you look at fundamentals of business, what happens is you look at opportunities. So I'll give you an example. I was someone's going to the airport and I told them listen. They're like, oh, I got all these bags, but you know they have they have a preferred like a status right in the bag is seventy pounds. And they were pissed off. Family men or of mind David. They started making me, you know, open the bags in the middle of airport because every one of the bags was seventy two pounds over. Well, you're only a lot of seventy pounds, right, but everyone did one to two pounds. They were like two hundred apiece. If I didn't take the two pounds out. You didn't break it down. You didn't think like business. The person at the counter, that person has a job. It gets put on the scale, the scale hits upstairs. The end of the month, they go, do you know you let four thousand bags through that were two pounds over? And if you add all four thousand or those by two hundred dollars, you know how much money we lost? You're fired. However, who's the people when you pull up, they're chasing you down? Skycaps? Why they work for tips? You ever gave somebody the counter a tip? No, the skycaps are looking at you for a tip. What do they do? Oh? They make sure the scale is not it's a little up your bag sixty nine pounds.

Couldn't play well the same way that as you were a good player and stuff. And I tried to tell all the kids or anybody who are it is. Whatever you love, there's ten jobs around it. You don't have to be Jordan. You know, you can be packed and the team owner. You can be the nutritionists, you can be the attorney, you can be wherever you excel at. Really really critical for people to understand that. The next thing is when you understand the fundamentals of business, you can travel the world and no matter what, you can figure it out. I was just talking to a colleague of minded team member of mine. I was like, always look for the motivation of something. Every time that something is bought or so, somebody makes money, right, and everything that you buy you can sell, right, you know, and so and everything you do for free you can get paid to do. And so you will go into when you go into different countries, you say, well, I don't speak the language. You speak the language. The language is trade. The language is of service, of value, commodity. People need something, right, and you can always as you look at fundamentals of business, what happens is you look at opportunities. So I'll give you an example. I was someone's going to the airport and I told them listen. They're like, oh, I got all these bags, but you know they have they have a preferred like a status right in the bag is seventy pounds. And they were pissed off. Family men or of mind David. They started making me, you know, open the bags in the middle of airport because every one of the bags was seventy two pounds over. Well, you're only a lot of seventy pounds, right, but everyone did one to two pounds. They were like two hundred apiece. If I didn't take the two pounds out. You didn't break it down. You didn't think like business. The person at the counter, that person has a job. It gets put on the scale, the scale hits upstairs. The end of the month, they go, do you know you let four thousand bags through that were two pounds over? And if you add all four thousand or those by two hundred dollars, you know how much money we lost? You're fired. However, who's the people when you pull up, they're chasing you down? Skycaps? Why they work for tips? You ever gave somebody the counter a tip? No, the skycaps are looking at you for a tip. What do they do? Oh? They make sure the scale is not it's a little up your bag sixty nine pounds.

Man.

Man.

Next time she went, she had four bags she got through the airport fifty dollars all the bags of the damn near ninety five pounds. It's just the form of thinking about what is the motivation for business in any form? And I think that's what you see because you're able to put these puzzles together in different countries or jazz fest and various other ways. Can you speak more about as you looking? Because I know that I don't care where you dropped me off. I'm gonna be okay, yep, legally I'm gonna be yeah.

Next time she went, she had four bags she got through the airport fifty dollars all the bags of the damn near ninety five pounds. It's just the form of thinking about what is the motivation for business in any form? And I think that's what you see because you're able to put these puzzles together in different countries or jazz fest and various other ways. Can you speak more about as you looking? Because I know that I don't care where you dropped me off. I'm gonna be okay, yep, legally I'm gonna be yeah.

So then that one's interesting in that. So I loved music as a kid.

So then that one's interesting in that. So I loved music as a kid.

I mentioned that.

I mentioned that.

But when the opportunity producing international music festivals came up, I looked at the US and at the time, this was before the FX roll up of all what became La Nation. They were big promoters Celador concert Southern promotions. Like throughout the United States, you had chunks of like very very solid white promoters who had territorial rights to pretty much touring. And then you had al Haman and you know who have most of the black tours on lockdown. So there was like, well, how can I compete for me? The Caribbean was an opportunity because nobody was there. So I started and Ruba was there from nineteen ninety two, started to saying lucirom ninety two to twenty fourteen.

But when the opportunity producing international music festivals came up, I looked at the US and at the time, this was before the FX roll up of all what became La Nation. They were big promoters Celador concert Southern promotions. Like throughout the United States, you had chunks of like very very solid white promoters who had territorial rights to pretty much touring. And then you had al Haman and you know who have most of the black tours on lockdown. So there was like, well, how can I compete for me? The Caribbean was an opportunity because nobody was there. So I started and Ruba was there from nineteen ninety two, started to saying lucirom ninety two to twenty fourteen.

Let's break that. Why don't we break that down for a second round? Business via When you see that nobody's there, there's nobody there for a reason, something has not been unraveled, or as a lot of the real estate men and women would say, there's a lot of hair on that dog, and I need to shave the hair off that dog. Meaning they're in it for the long play. You can't get that building because it's a family that was in trust and there's ten people and they're fighting over it. And then there's the city Da da And you're willing, you're willing to work, You're willing to put in work for five years, ten years, But you got you got a formula. What was the issue in the Caribbean. We know there's not a lot of necessarily infrastructure all the people.

Let's break that. Why don't we break that down for a second round? Business via When you see that nobody's there, there's nobody there for a reason, something has not been unraveled, or as a lot of the real estate men and women would say, there's a lot of hair on that dog, and I need to shave the hair off that dog. Meaning they're in it for the long play. You can't get that building because it's a family that was in trust and there's ten people and they're fighting over it. And then there's the city Da da And you're willing, you're willing to work, You're willing to put in work for five years, ten years, But you got you got a formula. What was the issue in the Caribbean. We know there's not a lot of necessarily infrastructure all the people.

Because nobody had taken the time to connect dot and and so, Uh, William Morris Triad was still around the time William Morris I C M c A. They in my opinion, they were waiting for somebody to come along who was able to connect dots and so to put the tours like I toured the Fujis in ninety seven. We went to Barbados, Trinidad, Saint Martin. Uh, I'm blanking one or two stops along the way that we did with that tour.

Because nobody had taken the time to connect dot and and so, Uh, William Morris Triad was still around the time William Morris I C M c A. They in my opinion, they were waiting for somebody to come along who was able to connect dots and so to put the tours like I toured the Fujis in ninety seven. We went to Barbados, Trinidad, Saint Martin. Uh, I'm blanking one or two stops along the way that we did with that tour.

But I started to, uh make it have a fire pass. How come?

But I started to, uh make it have a fire pass. How come?

How come? How come you didn't have fire pestival out there? How did you secure the fact that you were going out. Remember this is before the Internet and social you.

How come? How come you didn't have fire pestival out there? How did you secure the fact that you were going out. Remember this is before the Internet and social you.

Know, I was before fax machines, like I was. This is when fax machines were first created, like around four fax machines were if I'm not mistaken.

Know, I was before fax machines, like I was. This is when fax machines were first created, like around four fax machines were if I'm not mistaken.

As right, when the people wearing wooes.

As right, when the people wearing wooes.

Yeah, this was like early, early on. I remember buying my first fax machine and how amazing that was. But essentially, Dan, to give you a short answer to it, was kind of just really looking and observing as to what the opportunities were. And then like so for me of like traveling to Barbados, traveling to Trinidad, traveling to Saint Lucia, traveling different places, I built in relationship with a director of marketing for American Airlines. This was literally ninety one, ninety two, ninety three, ninety four, ninety five, and so I started going to different islands and different locations, pull up meet promoters, gets references from other people to introduce me to people, building relationships to tourist boards across the board. And then like once you build those relationships, you got somebody in Barbados that you can celidate to. In Barbados, you got somebody in Trinidad you can celidate to. You have somebody in Saint Mark you can celidate to. So putting that together and as a as a tour promoter, going back to going back to William Morris and say, hey, I've got five dates for Gloria US Fun and I can deliver five markets because I have five different relationships with different promoters and different locations. So just using your mind as being quick with opportunities and thinking through that, that was pretty much. I don't mean to make it too simple, but in my opinion, some of the stuff really was simple. You want to do something, You go someplace, you show up. You have to have enough house some money to get there. But you get there. You spend three or four days, You meet everybody wo's supposed to meet. You go over and meet different different production companies who could do sundites and staging. You work with promoter who's got relationships, You work with the tourist board, You put together a tour, You make an offer back to one of the agencies in the States, and you start to build relationshipsship.

Yeah, this was like early, early on. I remember buying my first fax machine and how amazing that was. But essentially, Dan, to give you a short answer to it, was kind of just really looking and observing as to what the opportunities were. And then like so for me of like traveling to Barbados, traveling to Trinidad, traveling to Saint Lucia, traveling different places, I built in relationship with a director of marketing for American Airlines. This was literally ninety one, ninety two, ninety three, ninety four, ninety five, and so I started going to different islands and different locations, pull up meet promoters, gets references from other people to introduce me to people, building relationships to tourist boards across the board. And then like once you build those relationships, you got somebody in Barbados that you can celidate to. In Barbados, you got somebody in Trinidad you can celidate to. You have somebody in Saint Mark you can celidate to. So putting that together and as a as a tour promoter, going back to going back to William Morris and say, hey, I've got five dates for Gloria US Fun and I can deliver five markets because I have five different relationships with different promoters and different locations. So just using your mind as being quick with opportunities and thinking through that, that was pretty much. I don't mean to make it too simple, but in my opinion, some of the stuff really was simple. You want to do something, You go someplace, you show up. You have to have enough house some money to get there. But you get there. You spend three or four days, You meet everybody wo's supposed to meet. You go over and meet different different production companies who could do sundites and staging. You work with promoter who's got relationships, You work with the tourist board, You put together a tour, You make an offer back to one of the agencies in the States, and you start to build relationshipsship.

That too.

That too.

That led me to I just want to drop this on you. When nineteen ninety two came around. I had already done Aruba the Drum Jazz Festival in Amsterdam, and Amsterdam was only because Ruber was a Dutch colony. UH started started Saint Lucia ninety two and then started the Barbados Painted Jazz Festival with the brother there. But that's when Harry Belafani caught me up and he said, hey man, I've been wanting to do a festival and I've been checking with with all the agencies, and your name keeps popping up. And that's how I started my relationship with Harry Belafani. He called me on the phone and we began a relationship from there. But it was my work, which is what you said at the beginning of the introduction was, hey man, you're not really trying to, like, you know, blow a whole lot of flag of flags up with your name, but people who should know you, most of them do.

That led me to I just want to drop this on you. When nineteen ninety two came around. I had already done Aruba the Drum Jazz Festival in Amsterdam, and Amsterdam was only because Ruber was a Dutch colony. UH started started Saint Lucia ninety two and then started the Barbados Painted Jazz Festival with the brother there. But that's when Harry Belafani caught me up and he said, hey man, I've been wanting to do a festival and I've been checking with with all the agencies, and your name keeps popping up. And that's how I started my relationship with Harry Belafani. He called me on the phone and we began a relationship from there. But it was my work, which is what you said at the beginning of the introduction was, hey man, you're not really trying to, like, you know, blow a whole lot of flag of flags up with your name, but people who should know you, most of them do.

And that's not what I got you brushing on And I ad a stand you're too close to you and you brush over and if we had a lot of time, the wee could probably will dig in on it. But the whole purpose of that moment and what we're talking about are moments that have happened. Uh, you know, and I want to I want to always try to put a different lens on what you're talking about. And so let's look at the problem at hand. Okay, the problem at hand is that it wasn't smooth sailing. It never is negotiating with anybody, right, And if you're negotiating with countries, music, acts, managers, people, there are going to be uh, some bad actors. There are going to be people who have all the best intentions they let you down. There are going to be people who want to get paid on the side. I want to get paid in advance. They're gonna they're gonna be one of the people, kind of like the chicken or the egg. Give me the money first and then I'll show up. It's never been done before. These are countries that don't support this. So you've had to make some tough calls and tough decisions, and you've had to cancel things, you've lie to, You've had to DoD your teas and across your t's and dot your eyes because somebody said something. They let you down. And now you're talking new relationships and all of a sudden you're like, yeah, I got coca cola, and Coca Cola is like, okay, but do you have this artist? And that artist is like, yeah, but I don't like the hotel in that country. How do you play that line? Because that's a very hard line for a lot of us to play, right. I don't want to speak out of hand. This person's giving me a shot if I let them down. But a lot of times I tell people to literal say you lay it out, you take the elephant on the room. You know this is gonna be a hard situation. I promise I'm not gonna let you down, but I'm also not gonna lie to you. If this thing doesn't happen by this date or I feel anything, I'm gonna give you a call and give you straight up answers like how do you do that? Because that's the difference in people who know how to navigate and massage you know these things?

And that's not what I got you brushing on And I ad a stand you're too close to you and you brush over and if we had a lot of time, the wee could probably will dig in on it. But the whole purpose of that moment and what we're talking about are moments that have happened. Uh, you know, and I want to I want to always try to put a different lens on what you're talking about. And so let's look at the problem at hand. Okay, the problem at hand is that it wasn't smooth sailing. It never is negotiating with anybody, right, And if you're negotiating with countries, music, acts, managers, people, there are going to be uh, some bad actors. There are going to be people who have all the best intentions they let you down. There are going to be people who want to get paid on the side. I want to get paid in advance. They're gonna they're gonna be one of the people, kind of like the chicken or the egg. Give me the money first and then I'll show up. It's never been done before. These are countries that don't support this. So you've had to make some tough calls and tough decisions, and you've had to cancel things, you've lie to, You've had to DoD your teas and across your t's and dot your eyes because somebody said something. They let you down. And now you're talking new relationships and all of a sudden you're like, yeah, I got coca cola, and Coca Cola is like, okay, but do you have this artist? And that artist is like, yeah, but I don't like the hotel in that country. How do you play that line? Because that's a very hard line for a lot of us to play, right. I don't want to speak out of hand. This person's giving me a shot if I let them down. But a lot of times I tell people to literal say you lay it out, you take the elephant on the room. You know this is gonna be a hard situation. I promise I'm not gonna let you down, but I'm also not gonna lie to you. If this thing doesn't happen by this date or I feel anything, I'm gonna give you a call and give you straight up answers like how do you do that? Because that's the difference in people who know how to navigate and massage you know these things?

Right? So, because I think so.

Right? So, because I think so.

Communication one is communication and then two kind of really like letting people know who you are and your sincerity and your authenticity come through.

Communication one is communication and then two kind of really like letting people know who you are and your sincerity and your authenticity come through.

Uh.

Uh.

One of my brothers who ended up working with me for thirty plus years in the Caribbean, who was from Trinidad, taught me early on, he said, passing in the Caribbean.

One of my brothers who ended up working with me for thirty plus years in the Caribbean, who was from Trinidad, taught me early on, he said, passing in the Caribbean.

But you know, you know who is he? I You know, I'm Trinidadian Derek.

But you know, you know who is he? I You know, I'm Trinidadian Derek.

Lewis, Derek Close's name. He just passed last year, said suddenly. But from uh he worked with you, he worked, he worked. As a matter of fact, he was my stage manager on those Fuobuo dates that I did for you.

Lewis, Derek Close's name. He just passed last year, said suddenly. But from uh he worked with you, he worked, he worked. As a matter of fact, he was my stage manager on those Fuobuo dates that I did for you.

Yeah, you know, I'm from Dago Martin and you know who's been you know what I haven't seen in a while. You know, I'll come over with the name. Uh yes, okay, yes, yes, yes.

Yeah, you know, I'm from Dago Martin and you know who's been you know what I haven't seen in a while. You know, I'll come over with the name. Uh yes, okay, yes, yes, yes.

So so it was the the advice was, it's not how you tell somebody how to do something, that's how you ask. So I learned that when I was in my early thirties. I'm sixty two now, when I was like thirty.

So so it was the the advice was, it's not how you tell somebody how to do something, that's how you ask. So I learned that when I was in my early thirties. I'm sixty two now, when I was like thirty.

I love that.

I love that.

How is not how you tell, it's how you ask. Give me a give us all an example of that positioning.

How is not how you tell, it's how you ask. Give me a give us all an example of that positioning.

You're running into a scenario, like you said, of there's a critical person who's at the who's at customs making a decision on letting equipment into a country, and you have to go to that person. And if that person doesn't let that equipment out at a specific time that you needed out. The whole show could be blown and everything could be blown up in the air. And this is a person who's literally sitting behind a desk who no one will ever know in life. But he has the decision is to he has the power over to let some equipment through customs or hold it up for a week or two. And if that equipment is held up, your life is gonna be changed, and not for.

You're running into a scenario, like you said, of there's a critical person who's at the who's at customs making a decision on letting equipment into a country, and you have to go to that person. And if that person doesn't let that equipment out at a specific time that you needed out. The whole show could be blown and everything could be blown up in the air. And this is a person who's literally sitting behind a desk who no one will ever know in life. But he has the decision is to he has the power over to let some equipment through customs or hold it up for a week or two. And if that equipment is held up, your life is gonna be changed, and not for.

I'm gonna show you how my wife would talk for that person.

I'm gonna show you how my wife would talk for that person.

God darning.

God darning.

I need that equipment, buddy by four o'clock, or give me your name and your manager's name. I think that's pretty effective.

I need that equipment, buddy by four o'clock, or give me your name and your manager's name. I think that's pretty effective.

Yeah, brother, I need you to work with me and I need this equipment release. If you would be kind of let me know what I need to do to get this done correctly. So I'm going to inherit it whatever it is you need me to inherit too. But we need to work with each other because everything's gonna change, not for the better if I can't get this through. So what do I need to do to work with you to get this done properly?

Yeah, brother, I need you to work with me and I need this equipment release. If you would be kind of let me know what I need to do to get this done correctly. So I'm going to inherit it whatever it is you need me to inherit too. But we need to work with each other because everything's gonna change, not for the better if I can't get this through. So what do I need to do to work with you to get this done properly?

So how many people do you find? And I believe in the same right because you know that person, I don't care if they're a waiter. I don't care if they're scraping gum off the street. That person has pride, that person has frustration, that person has the need for acknowledgment. How many people do you fin find abuse that privilege that and just overlook that person and they never wonder, they don't want, they don't never understand why they didn't get anywhere. Do you find that? That is a common mistake that people make.

So how many people do you find? And I believe in the same right because you know that person, I don't care if they're a waiter. I don't care if they're scraping gum off the street. That person has pride, that person has frustration, that person has the need for acknowledgment. How many people do you fin find abuse that privilege that and just overlook that person and they never wonder, they don't want, they don't never understand why they didn't get anywhere. Do you find that? That is a common mistake that people make.

On both sides, one from the person who has the power to make the decision, and sometimes they'll make arbitrary decisions that just don't make sense to others who you're just ready to overlook a person like I mean the room I'm in right now in the True Reformer building, the sister who's the security guard who let me in to come up here to use this room to do the podcast from. And so for me, as the person who's got some degree of enlightenment, it's on you to be kind and gracious and treat people like you'd like to be treated, something I work to do every single day by way of my kindness and my graciousness toward others. And in friendships being the friend that I would like to have. So uh that comes those little simple things come to us all the time. Uh and damn you can translate those to businesses pretty easily. But to me, just meaningful human relationships and small interactions with people from a human perspective that makes all the difference in the world.

On both sides, one from the person who has the power to make the decision, and sometimes they'll make arbitrary decisions that just don't make sense to others who you're just ready to overlook a person like I mean the room I'm in right now in the True Reformer building, the sister who's the security guard who let me in to come up here to use this room to do the podcast from. And so for me, as the person who's got some degree of enlightenment, it's on you to be kind and gracious and treat people like you'd like to be treated, something I work to do every single day by way of my kindness and my graciousness toward others. And in friendships being the friend that I would like to have. So uh that comes those little simple things come to us all the time. Uh and damn you can translate those to businesses pretty easily. But to me, just meaningful human relationships and small interactions with people from a human perspective that makes all the difference in the world.

And let's be very thirst I'm not I'm not going to be able to get to all the shit that you will have accomplished. I'm I'm taught, I'm your your you know, I'm really at your age right now as I went through it. I'm at thirty five. I got a whole bunch I got a whole bunch of other years to cover here where we're talking about what is and I'm getting to all other things. But I want to make I mean because I want people to really listen to what you said. Because also there's a couple of things to think about. You know, when you have an interaction with any of these people, right it takes one second to say thank you. And however, there's another responsibility that comes with that. If you really want to be genuine, you want to be there when they have the small ask if they ever have the ask in the future. That's critical because even that woman downstairs you want to it's it's not impossible just to remember her name when you say thank you, Judy, and to say if you ever name me, if you have any idea, oh, whatever the case is, here's who I am. You give me a call. That woman will most likely ninety nine percent never call you, but it will make that person feel special, and you never know when you're gonna run into her again, or well, she's gonna hear your name and all of it. You know how many times I've been someplace and somebody said, you took a picture of my daughter in the airport walking down the street. And that's why I called you five years later, because your name came up and you didn't have to do that.

And let's be very thirst I'm not I'm not going to be able to get to all the shit that you will have accomplished. I'm I'm taught, I'm your your you know, I'm really at your age right now as I went through it. I'm at thirty five. I got a whole bunch I got a whole bunch of other years to cover here where we're talking about what is and I'm getting to all other things. But I want to make I mean because I want people to really listen to what you said. Because also there's a couple of things to think about. You know, when you have an interaction with any of these people, right it takes one second to say thank you. And however, there's another responsibility that comes with that. If you really want to be genuine, you want to be there when they have the small ask if they ever have the ask in the future. That's critical because even that woman downstairs you want to it's it's not impossible just to remember her name when you say thank you, Judy, and to say if you ever name me, if you have any idea, oh, whatever the case is, here's who I am. You give me a call. That woman will most likely ninety nine percent never call you, but it will make that person feel special, and you never know when you're gonna run into her again, or well, she's gonna hear your name and all of it. You know how many times I've been someplace and somebody said, you took a picture of my daughter in the airport walking down the street. And that's why I called you five years later, because your name came up and you didn't have to do that.

Yeah, yeah, Holy correct. So that's how I got into the Washington Spirit. I had met a gentleman named Steve Boblin at twenty seventeen, and he called me an early twenty twenty during the during the pandemic and said, I'd like to bring into my group to be part owner of the Washington Spirit National Women's Soccer League club. And literally is somebody who i'd met one time in my life. And he remembered the meeting and called me back up and said, hey, I want to offer you the opportunity to come into our ownership group. I'd like you to invest, but I'm willing to also give you some give you some equity in the team for just joining our group. And that was literally from a person who I met one time. So you can make an impression on somebody one time. You may not know it yourself, but you absolutely positively can make an impression upon somebody for one meeting with them, and.

Yeah, yeah, Holy correct. So that's how I got into the Washington Spirit. I had met a gentleman named Steve Boblin at twenty seventeen, and he called me an early twenty twenty during the during the pandemic and said, I'd like to bring into my group to be part owner of the Washington Spirit National Women's Soccer League club. And literally is somebody who i'd met one time in my life. And he remembered the meeting and called me back up and said, hey, I want to offer you the opportunity to come into our ownership group. I'd like you to invest, but I'm willing to also give you some give you some equity in the team for just joining our group. And that was literally from a person who I met one time. So you can make an impression on somebody one time. You may not know it yourself, but you absolutely positively can make an impression upon somebody for one meeting with them, and.

It can change your life. But you can also change their life as well.

It can change your life. But you can also change their life as well.

And so let's talk about those saw skills how they transferred, because how you use those soft skills to move over to uh you know, team ownership. Now, being a being a fan of a team or a fan of a sport and being an operating and or advisor or working the sport are two totally different things. I tell people I love the restaurant. I love some chicken wings I was having at a restaurant. I invested in the restaurant. And when I started to deal with having to hear about insurance and labor laws and uh, you know, real estate issues, I never went back to the restaurant again, right now, dealing with being a player or a spectator of a sport and then dealing with the intricacies or running a team a lot of personalities as well as people don't realize, or being a you know, in a team whatever capacity, you know you're also a politician in there because that team. I've learned this from Mark Cuban. You know, he said when he first made some money and he went and bought the MAVs, he thought he could say what he wants. He thought he can throw chairs on uh, you know, on courts and be a bad boy, right, And he didn't realize that there were three hundred reporters reporting on every one of his moves, and that kids in communities looked up that's some of the only hope they had was that team, and that he had a bigger responsibility. This wasn't I could do what the hell I want. These are families looking up to it. There's responsibility that comes in working and in the organization. How did you transfer those soft skills over to this area. Because every one of the people listening to us right now, inclusive of myself, we don't want to be held in a box. We want to be able to do other things that we like. But people only you know, for Shark Tank, Damon just made baggajeans. I was supposed to walk in the room with Bagga jeans on gold teeth and start wrapping. That's how people saw me before Shark Tank, and rightfully, so that's only understanding they had of me. What you know, what is it like being part of the operation and you know those aspects of a team and and what do you do? Like? What what do people do? Everybody has different positions, but please tell me what is it like being in organizations like that?

And so let's talk about those saw skills how they transferred, because how you use those soft skills to move over to uh you know, team ownership. Now, being a being a fan of a team or a fan of a sport and being an operating and or advisor or working the sport are two totally different things. I tell people I love the restaurant. I love some chicken wings I was having at a restaurant. I invested in the restaurant. And when I started to deal with having to hear about insurance and labor laws and uh, you know, real estate issues, I never went back to the restaurant again, right now, dealing with being a player or a spectator of a sport and then dealing with the intricacies or running a team a lot of personalities as well as people don't realize, or being a you know, in a team whatever capacity, you know you're also a politician in there because that team. I've learned this from Mark Cuban. You know, he said when he first made some money and he went and bought the MAVs, he thought he could say what he wants. He thought he can throw chairs on uh, you know, on courts and be a bad boy, right, And he didn't realize that there were three hundred reporters reporting on every one of his moves, and that kids in communities looked up that's some of the only hope they had was that team, and that he had a bigger responsibility. This wasn't I could do what the hell I want. These are families looking up to it. There's responsibility that comes in working and in the organization. How did you transfer those soft skills over to this area. Because every one of the people listening to us right now, inclusive of myself, we don't want to be held in a box. We want to be able to do other things that we like. But people only you know, for Shark Tank, Damon just made baggajeans. I was supposed to walk in the room with Bagga jeans on gold teeth and start wrapping. That's how people saw me before Shark Tank, and rightfully, so that's only understanding they had of me. What you know, what is it like being part of the operation and you know those aspects of a team and and what do you do? Like? What what do people do? Everybody has different positions, but please tell me what is it like being in organizations like that?

Uh?

Uh?

One?

One?

I like you said something earlier when you talked about Mark, but we talked about responsibility. So I think once you kind of get past the luster and you pinch yourself a couple of times and say, well, I can't you know, I can't really believe I'm part owner of a major league sports franchise. One is your relationships with the principal partners. That's there all the time. But two, it's the fans who the You talked about the responsibility in the neighborhood, But to me, part of that part of that piece is when someone buys a ticket to come to a sports event, to me, they're investing in your You're investing in your story, in your investment, in your in your portfolio. They're actually investing in it. And so they now for that brief moment of time while they're in that game and participating with it. And certainly if they're a fan, if they're buying T shirts and merchandise and there's posters on the wall, they're investing in your portfolio, in your investment.

I like you said something earlier when you talked about Mark, but we talked about responsibility. So I think once you kind of get past the luster and you pinch yourself a couple of times and say, well, I can't you know, I can't really believe I'm part owner of a major league sports franchise. One is your relationships with the principal partners. That's there all the time. But two, it's the fans who the You talked about the responsibility in the neighborhood, But to me, part of that part of that piece is when someone buys a ticket to come to a sports event, to me, they're investing in your You're investing in your story, in your investment, in your in your portfolio. They're actually investing in it. And so they now for that brief moment of time while they're in that game and participating with it. And certainly if they're a fan, if they're buying T shirts and merchandise and there's posters on the wall, they're investing in your portfolio, in your investment.

And to me, it is a.

And to me, it is a.

Responsibility to them, and one to me that that, to me is a humbling thing because you're thankful for that, because they're making whatever you do blow up and be bigger. I'm conscious when I walk through Washington, not just on game days, but on game days. I can almost get a feel for an attendance of a game by seeing how many people are wearing Nats jerseys during during the during the season, or during a homestand more specifically, and those people, to me, are buying into it when they have that jersey and they're buying into it, and you get a feel. I drive around on game days and baseball we have generally home stands for about a week to seven to ten day homestands and then we go on the road, then we come back again. But for that span of time from the beginning of April through the end of September, that's our baseball season. So I'm mindful of the team much more so during the season. I'm thankful when I walked walked throughout the city. There's part of the responsibilities one being a part of a community, being an owner in a community. Most of my investments have been in end or around Washington, but as you mentioned, I've invested in Cape Town. I've got a couple more coming up. But you're going to be in Australia, but in the city to me that you live in, it's much more of a responsibility to be a part and parcel of what that is. As far as the responsibilities on a day to day part ideally help with helping to shape the ownership group and the front office leadership group, and that comes to relationships and being participating. The Learner family tell me early on that I could be as involved or uninvolved as I wanted to be. I chose to be involved, and I became the chairman of the Minority Partners Group or the Founding Partners Group as we're referred to, which are the black owners of the Washington Nationals, Black and Latino owners of Nationals. So I try to participate where it's an open opportunity for me, everything from helping to shape how things are viewed with my media background, but also how things run as well, and try to be a part of making some good picks for key c suite c suite leadership in a group that's a small part of it. And then I consider myself an ambassador of the team as well, and I participate from everything from the gear that I wear and things like that to speaking with people and building up the team. I do a lot of public speaking. You mentioned volunteerism. I've been chairman of the United States Congress's charity called the US Congression Awards since two thousand and seven. I'm a volunteer in that position. I've raised millions of dollars and it's a charity for young people and helping them grow through personal development, physical fitness, goal setting and development, and volunteerism. It's called the US Congression Awards versus official charity to young people.

Responsibility to them, and one to me that that, to me is a humbling thing because you're thankful for that, because they're making whatever you do blow up and be bigger. I'm conscious when I walk through Washington, not just on game days, but on game days. I can almost get a feel for an attendance of a game by seeing how many people are wearing Nats jerseys during during the during the season, or during a homestand more specifically, and those people, to me, are buying into it when they have that jersey and they're buying into it, and you get a feel. I drive around on game days and baseball we have generally home stands for about a week to seven to ten day homestands and then we go on the road, then we come back again. But for that span of time from the beginning of April through the end of September, that's our baseball season. So I'm mindful of the team much more so during the season. I'm thankful when I walked walked throughout the city. There's part of the responsibilities one being a part of a community, being an owner in a community. Most of my investments have been in end or around Washington, but as you mentioned, I've invested in Cape Town. I've got a couple more coming up. But you're going to be in Australia, but in the city to me that you live in, it's much more of a responsibility to be a part and parcel of what that is. As far as the responsibilities on a day to day part ideally help with helping to shape the ownership group and the front office leadership group, and that comes to relationships and being participating. The Learner family tell me early on that I could be as involved or uninvolved as I wanted to be. I chose to be involved, and I became the chairman of the Minority Partners Group or the Founding Partners Group as we're referred to, which are the black owners of the Washington Nationals, Black and Latino owners of Nationals. So I try to participate where it's an open opportunity for me, everything from helping to shape how things are viewed with my media background, but also how things run as well, and try to be a part of making some good picks for key c suite c suite leadership in a group that's a small part of it. And then I consider myself an ambassador of the team as well, and I participate from everything from the gear that I wear and things like that to speaking with people and building up the team. I do a lot of public speaking. You mentioned volunteerism. I've been chairman of the United States Congress's charity called the US Congression Awards since two thousand and seven. I'm a volunteer in that position. I've raised millions of dollars and it's a charity for young people and helping them grow through personal development, physical fitness, goal setting and development, and volunteerism. It's called the US Congression Awards versus official charity to young people.

And last one and thank you so much for for all of this this knowledge you said, you said at one point, you don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't do other things like that. And you know, I find that the most successful people, you know, addiction of whatever, or a habit of whatever is bad, whatever it could be. There is a fine line, right, even if it's an addiction to or gaming what whatever, it is spending too much time on something that is not necessarily building your skill level and productivity. I don't think I've really talked to too many you know, people about that publicly and just you know, but we you know, a lot of the a lot of the government, the Secret Service is made up of Mormons, right, and various people who have a high level of productivity due to the fact that they may not have some of these some of these kind of habits. How I don't think I've ever had this discussion, definitely not publicly. How do you feel that that has been really either add clarity to you or it has increased your productivity or where do you think that that has been in your benefit? And a lot of times people have these what escapes, right, what do you do to escape or what do you do to zone out? I mean it could be working out. It could be I don't know what it is, right, it could be listening to some jazz.

And last one and thank you so much for for all of this this knowledge you said, you said at one point, you don't drink, you don't smoke, you don't do other things like that. And you know, I find that the most successful people, you know, addiction of whatever, or a habit of whatever is bad, whatever it could be. There is a fine line, right, even if it's an addiction to or gaming what whatever, it is spending too much time on something that is not necessarily building your skill level and productivity. I don't think I've really talked to too many you know, people about that publicly and just you know, but we you know, a lot of the a lot of the government, the Secret Service is made up of Mormons, right, and various people who have a high level of productivity due to the fact that they may not have some of these some of these kind of habits. How I don't think I've ever had this discussion, definitely not publicly. How do you feel that that has been really either add clarity to you or it has increased your productivity or where do you think that that has been in your benefit? And a lot of times people have these what escapes, right, what do you do to escape or what do you do to zone out? I mean it could be working out. It could be I don't know what it is, right, it could be listening to some jazz.

Right.

Right.

How do you feel that has played a real benefit in your life? Because I stopped drinking about two years ago and I'm very, very productive prior to that, obviously, right, But now I mean I'm unstoppable. I am, I am. I am hungry than I was when I was twenty seven years old. And it's not for money, right, It's to be alive and to share this information and to have this joy and see my little girls and see my friends, and just do what's right and pay back what I have been a beneficiary of from the Harry Belafonte's and the Paxtons of the world. I want to know where do you feel and how do you feel about the fact that you didn't have necessary those vices, maybe have others? And how do you release if you don't have certain vices?

How do you feel that has played a real benefit in your life? Because I stopped drinking about two years ago and I'm very, very productive prior to that, obviously, right, But now I mean I'm unstoppable. I am, I am. I am hungry than I was when I was twenty seven years old. And it's not for money, right, It's to be alive and to share this information and to have this joy and see my little girls and see my friends, and just do what's right and pay back what I have been a beneficiary of from the Harry Belafonte's and the Paxtons of the world. I want to know where do you feel and how do you feel about the fact that you didn't have necessary those vices, maybe have others? And how do you release if you don't have certain vices?

Great question and one that I'm not often asked a lot, can't itly? I'm trying to like, as I was listening to you talk about, I was trying to think, is anybody ever brought it up in an interview.

Great question and one that I'm not often asked a lot, can't itly? I'm trying to like, as I was listening to you talk about, I was trying to think, is anybody ever brought it up in an interview.

About and this is that moment because I've never brought it up either or I never thought about it.

About and this is that moment because I've never brought it up either or I never thought about it.

Yeah, well, I guess it's second nature.

Yeah, well, I guess it's second nature.

But damn, I can say that I'm aware that I'm always conscious, like I'm like, you know, Napoleon Hill talks about positive mental attitude and kind of like having that be there all the time. I'm always conscious, So there's never a moment where my mind is dulled or my senses are dulled away and I'm not focused on business. You and I have been together more times than you'd actually know, because more often than not it was at events or like the after party for a BT award, and everybody in the room ninety ninety five percent of the people in the room are drinking, and you know, hey, God bless them.