ESP’s Everett Glenn joined 15-year NFL veteran and 3 x Super Bowl champion (New England Patriots) Willie McGinest of the NFL Network, Zing Shaw, Chief Diversity Officer for the Atlanta Hawks, and Larry Abel, AEG’s Director of Business Development in a spirited conversation around obstacles and opportunities for Black professionals in the $600 billion per year sports business industry. The conversation was moderated by NFL Total Access host Steve Wyche, hosted by the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, and organized by NFL Network’s Director of Operations, Linda DeYampert.

Panelists shared their wisdom and experience with a packed house that included members of the NBMBAA – Los Angeles Chapter, their Young Leaders, and the National Urban League’s Young Professionals at the swank MDR (Marina Del Rey) Hotel. The conversation started with an examination of the reasons behind the reluctance of Black athletes to select Black professionals for representation and included a discussion about the efforts of the Hawks to respond to the racially charged emails of former owner Bruce Levenson, the lack of success of the 99% of Black athletes who do not go pro, the lack of success of the 1% of Black athletes who do go pro, to the challenges Black athletes face in trying to successfully navigate the process and transition to life after their sport.