KG (2:28)

The code 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 that team from Seattle. I'm joking. The Seahawks. All right, so yes, the modern day Spencer Stressmo, if you've ever watched ballers. 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 you doing, brother?

Roy Lewis (3:07)

I feel good. Thank you for the intro. It makes me feel like I'm on the ballers show.

KG (3:12)

Oh, I enjoyed that. You know, I watched it back then and so that's why when I was on the phone with you yesterday, I'm like, oh, my gosh. Like, hang on. And 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, like, 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?

Roy Lewis (3:37)

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. It wasn't until seventh grade that I actually started playing the sport of football. So I learned the game of football prior to football. In seventh grade, I was T ball third. When I was three, you know, youth sports at the park at St. Andrews park in la, Shout out to St. Andrews. That's where the ballers 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, have discipline. And so in seventh grade, there's a group of young men my middle school, and they played Pop Warner. And you know, Pop Warner at that time was kind of clicky. It 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 your spots. And I literally played to every last one of those people. And my Palm Warner watched me play professionally.

KG (4:39)

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 always, like, the motive and the reason behind it, too?

Roy Lewis (4:50)

I think, you know, in high school, where I really kind of. It 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 was being said, you know, 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 actually am really good. And then it went. So then I started to dominate the games in high school. You know, me and my teammates, we would just dominate. And it was a football school at Narbonne and Sarah and in SoCal, South Central, La. But that's when I knew I was like, oh, yeah, I got a shot at this thing. And not only that, scholarship, right? Division one scholarship. 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, like, players from, like, Ohio State back in the day, you know, Chris Gamble, Kiwan Ratliff from Florida, like, all those guys watch 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. 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 1 football player, but ultimately an NFL football player.

KG (6:29)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (6:30)

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. All my workouts, I'm going about things with people I'm meeting the guys that are recruiting me, so it just worked out. Timing. Sometimes the universe just don't miss.

KG (6:45)

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, some things just are always aligned. You're 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. I 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, what you mean, like.

Roy Lewis (7:07)

You know what I'm saying?

KG (7:07)

And I feel like we have a calling sometimes as well. And so sometimes, you know, we, 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 my glory to actually like inspire, uplift, and like add purpose and value to people's lives as well. So. I couldn't agree more.

Roy Lewis (7:24)

I, I agree, man. Added value, I think is probably the biggest deal. You know, everybody can add value. We all can take something and give something to one another on our daily journey. 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.

KG (7:49)

Love that, love that. I mean, you've experienced something that most people know can only dream of, like in. Obviously, I think it could have been like your, your, 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 prestigious achievement of winning a Super bowl, like what was it like on a day to day basis on the training ground, whether you lock and stuff like that.

Roy Lewis (8:22)

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 games and I was just like, all right, that's it. 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 who they are. And he meant every bit of it. Mr. Rooney knows every single individual who's ever worn a Pittsburgh uniform.

KG (9:02)

Wow.

Roy Lewis (9:02)

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 culture, 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 Famers, the 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 an advocate for trying to bolster a community. So getting to Pittsburgh, being around that family, they taught me how to be a family man, a professional. It was a Warriors 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 NFL. This is what you do in NFL. Here's the etiquette, here's the unknowns, the unwrittens NFL. And I'm 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 to detail, how we went about our business, it was just, it was, it was, 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 60th Street, Figueroa and 60th, you know, from 453 West 60th 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. Just the whole year was just one big journey. And it makes sense now because in hindsight, Coach Tom would always say, it's never about the destination, kid. It's about the journey.

KG (12:04)

Wow.

Roy Lewis (12:04)

It's about the journey. It's about the journey. And I vividly remember him saying quotes like that to us. I vividly remember him speaking to the team before my third preseason game. I think we were 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.

KG (12:27)

Wow.

Roy Lewis (12:28)

And that resonated with me. I'm just like, you know, you get the bug going, you know, I mean, kg, this is back in the day, in the first. Well, the CBI originally came under 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 can get blasted. That was football back then, you know, and thank God the rules have changed now. Right. For safety purposes, to keep health. Right. Because health is wealth. And all the information we're finding out about cte. But yeah, it was, 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 gotta bust some. Bust the wedge, make something happen. I need a splash play. Lewis, get in there. You know what I mean? And so it was. It was just a cool experience, man. So to. 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.

KG (13:18)

Were you guys a wild card team at that time or did you get the playoff position?

Roy Lewis (13:21)

Yeah, we had to playoff position. We had to playoff position. So we Had a buy. Perfect. Great. Then the next week, we play. Oh, yeah.

KG (13:30)

What number were you, like, in terms of, like, ranking at that time?

Roy Lewis (13:34)

I believe we were the top seed because we played the Baltimore Ravens three times, and we played the AFC championship in Pittsburgh.

KG (13:44)

Okay.

Roy Lewis (13:45)

We beat them in Pittsburgh. We went back to Pittsburgh, to Baltimore, to beat them. When Santonio 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. That nice, killer hit on Willis McGahey, 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 Bear Kiesel picked the ball up and secured the win. And so that's what catapulted us into the. The Super Bowl. And then after that, it was media week, and that was a whole dealing of itself, man. Just. Yeah. And sometimes I don't give it enough credit, you know what I mean? Being able to talk to gentlemen like UKG 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 shaped so much of me. Right? It really has. And so 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 listen to when we turned off the. We turned off the lights, and we close 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. Oh, silent room. Just visualize that. You could feel the electricity right now.

KG (15:19)

Wow.

Roy Lewis (15:20)

And I mean, that was the conversation. It's time to go. You know what tomorrow means. We here now. That was coach Tomlin in that show. That is coach time. That's why he is but the longest winningest, you know, as far as having successful season coaches in the NFL.

KG (15:37)

Unbelievable.

Roy Lewis (15:37)

18, 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 looking, you don't matter looking. We just chipping. It's the steal away. We just gonna keep chipping.

KG (15:52)

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. So it's everyone. Because you see in soccer, you have 11 people on and off. But like football, you have your offensive that will come in, and you have your defense, and you have to have your kicker that has to have a good day, your quarterback. So it's like, oh, my gosh. It's one of those things where you can't really say, like, I dragged a team. That, 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.

Roy Lewis (16:36)

Oh, yeah.

KG (16:37)

So he spoke about the team atmosphere, you know, left side, strong side, left side, strong side. And it just gives you chills, like it does. They're gonna win now. Now you're rooting for them, you know, so if you like, just remember, like, that moment of super bowl day and half time. I don't know what the score was. Well, you guys losing or were you winning at that moment in time?

Roy Lewis (16:58)

At halftime, we went into 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 he.106 yard as a linebacker. It was the most insane play once in a lifetime player he caught. He catches the ball in the end zone from Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, I don't know. The other receiver, Breaston, 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 house. Larry jumps out of bounds. He comes back in. It's the coolest thing you ever see. And sometimes they'll replay it on NFL Films. It's one of the great plays, but it was cool to witness that play. I'm like, what is going on? 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.

KG (18:06)

Did the coach say something different when you guys went into halftime knowing that there was two quarters left to try and, like, Instill a lot of, like, less nerves, less pressure. What are. Do you remember any of the words the coach said at that point in time?

Roy Lewis (18:20)

No, I don't, but Coach Tomlin is. Coach Tom is not a man of many, many words in that regard. Coach Thomas 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, but all I know, we were excited about James. James out of breath, and we came back out second half. And ultimately Ben, you know Big Ben? Oh, 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. 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 under Bill Cower. This time it's with. With Tomlin. And so Ben had a lot to do with. You had Hines war. We had a lot of veterans. Casey Hampton. I can't even do a credit. Aaron Smith. Bre James Farrier. Max Starks. Santonio Homes. 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. And 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 go to get there and try to create that type of culture, because this is how it was forged. I come from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

KG (20:12)

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.

Roy Lewis (20:20)

So 100%. And you would see that, you know, 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. 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 the ball would bounce the different another way, and somehow our guy would get it. The oddest thing ever. That's why the ball is oblong, I guess. But the ball bounce is 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. TJ Husmazada, Dion Branch, Dion Grant, Matt Hasselbeck, Julius Jones, lofa the Tupu. So my entire football career, I've been around nothing but legends.

KG (21:17)

That's amazing.

Roy Lewis (21:18)

And they've all mentored me. I've always been the youngest guy. So they just take me along. Lawyer Malloy, Marcus Dufont, 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 been really, really fortunate to have those relationships because it makes me who I am today, powerful.

KG (21:37)

And then what's something in the life in the NFL that fans don't get to see or like, fully understand?

Roy Lewis (21:44)

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 scrutinized a little bit more. You know what I mean? I. The case in point, or the example I would like to use is just think about on the holidays. I tell families, I said, when you get around your family on holidays, you guys get around family, you get to eat, have a great time, maybe watch a sporting event. Guess what? That gentleman who's performing, he's not with his family.

KG (22:18)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (22:18)

You get to 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, New Year 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. We're kind of bred to have thicker 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'll be a little bit more empathy, more consideration, more compassion in that. In that. In that regard. It couldn't hurt. Why not? Right?

KG (23:00)

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 putting. Whereas back then it wasn't as accessible, you know what I'm saying?

Roy Lewis (23:15)

Right.

KG (23:15)

It was around the. I mean, MySpace was just about.

Roy Lewis (23:19)

I remember my space. I remember my space.

KG (23:22)

Oh, my space is something special. Yeah, the OGs around. Remember MySpace? I remember that you could put the status with the. I think you could put like a song and people could.

Roy Lewis (23:29)

You look it up, write your little code in the background. It was a good time.

KG (23:33)

The twins weren't born then. Back then, it wasn't until.

Roy Lewis (23:35)

You don't know about the MySpace, bro. MySpace, Facebook. But you know what, you're right. I think the evolution of social media, how we're moving in general, in 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 and stick, you know, 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, in that capacity that we're there. But when it's used in the right manner, social media can be good.

KG (24:26)

And speaking of presidents, I think I saw a picture with you in number 44.

Roy Lewis (24:30)

Oh, you know it. The great Barack.

KG (24:33)

Oh, it's a beautiful way, you know. Yeah, he's monk.

Roy Lewis (24:36)

Give me some of that.

KG (24:38)

Yeah, I did my family genealogy. I think it's about 200 cousins.

Roy Lewis (24:42)

It doesn't matter, man.

KG (24:43)

We all Africa.

Roy Lewis (24:44)

We all family. I'm your brother, too. Brother.

KG (24:46)

There we go.

Roy Lewis (24:47)

Oh, we all connected.

KG (24:48)

How was that experience? Because I think he was just inaugurated, I think 2009. He took office January 20, 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 World super bowl, if I'm not mistaken.

Roy Lewis (25:01)

We were the first team after he was inaugurated. He got there in what, November and then. Or the elections in November that year.

KG (25:09)

So January 20th.

Roy Lewis (25:11)

January, yeah. And then you guys won February. We won February. So after the super bowl, 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 or 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.

KG (25:48)

He still had black hair then as well, you know.

Roy Lewis (25:50)

Oh, yeah, he was smooth like butter man, back then. I gotta show you some of the pictures, right? He wasn't stressed. He had waves, you know what I mean? He was seasick. So it was a cool experience. And that was my second time ever going to the White House. I went back when I was in middle school to lay the wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. So that was a cool experience. And who would have thought, you know, years, years later, I would be back there shaking hands. Yeah, right. Shaking hands with the President. So I've been fortunate in life, you know, as I. As I look back over things, you know, the Creator's been good. No issues.

KG (26:26)

Love that so much. Now. Now the exciting part that I want to talk about, as much as yes, you've gained so much experience and, and, and like, life lessons from playing from the NFL. I'm very, very curious in 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?

Roy Lewis (26:51)

You know, kg, 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 it could be. And they could 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. That's the difference. That's the key is like, wow, which.

KG (28:15)

Year was that when you did that, when you transitioned to that?

Roy Lewis (28:17)

I became an agent two seasons ago.

KG (28:20)

Okay.

Roy Lewis (28:20)

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 of Cameron Foster out of Seattle area Range Sports. Foster. Former Foster. Kenny Easley Sports. But 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 that on young men? And I kind of took into consideration, 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 it kind of dawned on me, just kept scratching it, go back. And I went back and 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.

KG (29:12)

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 that like, listen, go buy these amount of real estate, but the guy is bloody well renting a home.

Roy Lewis (29:25)

Right, Right.

KG (29:26)

You know what I'm saying? And so obviously that's an extreme example I made. But somebody that's actually played the game and has been in the locker rooms as a witness, the coach understands that it makes it way easier because, like, you can relate and you understand the steps, you know, from start to finish as well. So I think it's easier because you 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 that right trajectory. So I think just getting people that experience, that thing makes a big difference. Would you agree?

Roy Lewis (29:59)

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 and 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 well, whoever the wife's significant others, but on potential pitfalls that they may or may not encounter along this journey. And why, why, why allow you to step on a landmine when I know it's coming? Hey, you don't want to go there, kid. And 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. It's all love it. It rubs off the second you see, like, okay, he's a player. He's not just. 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 the walk. I talk the talk. We talk X's and O's first. Then we talk about business.

KG (31:18)

Boom.

Roy Lewis (31:18)

Because at the end of the day, my job is to keep you on the field. So you got to know your X's 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. Hey, 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 can talk to me about football at all. He just didn't play football.

KG (31:45)

Exactly.

Roy Lewis (31:46)

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, that happened. Okay, we should do this now. But I can offer it. Hey, man, this week is big. And then you don't want to make the same mistake twice, right? That means you don't have as much retention. You can make a new mistake a thousand miles an hour, but not the same mistake. Coaches see that it's not having retention, right. And so these are little nuances. Hey, you might want to do this. Hey, no seams, no posts. 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 non existent because there's a divide, There's a disconnect. You didn't actually physically experience what I'm going through.

KG (32:39)

Exactly.

Roy Lewis (32:41)

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.

KG (32:51)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (32:52)

And players hold on to that value. That is added value. Right.

KG (32:57)

And I think that's, that's the, that's where the conflict ends up occurring with a bunch of these sports analysts that have never touched, you know, a ball in their life. And then they're out there telling the players that, you know, 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, you, you calling us out, it's the fact that you have never, ever stepped foot in the field. And for you to try and like, just be. So have such a massive voice and influence, that's the problem. It's not just the fact that they sing. It's the fact that their voice is valued and validated so much at a higher rate where it's like, you've never played the sport.

Roy Lewis (33:33)

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, just go get an expert. I've yet to see a professional woman play professional football. I've yet to see it. I mean, and there's no disrespect to the women analysts out there to do a great job, but a woman would be pretty hard pressed to try to tell an NFL player what to do. The NFL players gonna look at her and be like, that's cool. Right? What are we talking about here, ma'? Am? It's not even a question. I'm not even entertaining that. Right. So we've, We've. 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 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 players player. I'm an NFL lifetime PA member. Like, I'm a players player. I stay connected. I work well within the NFL PA community. Out here in Phoenix, we have a great chapter. We have men and women alongside of 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, the 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.

KG (35:09)

And I want to know, obviously one of the best parts of when I, 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 balance that with trying to, you know, being a mentor and an older brother and, you know, figure as well.

Roy Lewis (35:29)

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, but 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. My players families and knows, 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. 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, he can pass on to his son, because then you really, truly see the impact you can have by trying to get it done the right way.

KG (36:30)

I love that so much. And in your opinion, then what's. What's one story that you could say perfectly captures the. The grind of being an agent right now? One story is a grind.

Roy Lewis (36:43)

Oh, my gosh, it's a grind. Phone calls, traveling, like just a story, I would say without.

KG (36:57)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (36:59)

But, yeah, you. You. You. You'll run into some. You'll run into some crazy scenarios. You get some crazy requests sometimes, you know, and then some players will 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 the way? What? Show me. Send 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, all you gotta do is to play football. 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. Yeah. This is a real job. It's no longer just, you know, football running around. And now with the nil 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 already millionaires for sure. 100,000 years, 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 heckling them when they do silly stuff. Just like poking them, teasing them, like, oh, that's a rookie mistake. You know what I mean? Cause you have rookie games within any ranks. You know, me being a rookie agent, you. 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 the 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.

KG (38:44)

No, 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.

Roy Lewis (38:53)

I like European soccer.

KG (38:54)

Do you know Jose Mourinho?

Roy Lewis (38:55)

I don't know him, but I love soccer. Yeah, I'm fascinated with it because I can't do it.

KG (39:01)

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

Roy Lewis (39:22)

And that's my guy with the gold mohawk from Italy. From Balotelli.

KG (39:27)

That's the guy.

Roy Lewis (39:28)

So I like him.

KG (39:29)

So, yes, he's saying this. He's like, I tell you right now, if you hear the story about Balotelli, you're gonna think it's crazy. So he starts talking, said, listen, Balotelli's got a very big personality.

Roy Lewis (39:38)

Yes.

KG (39:39)

But he's very hard working.

Roy Lewis (39:40)

Yes.

KG (39:41)

So they go to this one team in Italy, and like, right now, he's got no other strikers. Balotelli 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, right? So he said, Balotili got a yellow card. And then it's half time. You only get 15 minutes. He spent 14 minutes not talking to the team, putting Balotelli aside. Listen, Balotelli, I have no striker. Balotelli, this player is injured. I need you, Balotelli. If anything happens, just move your leg. Don't kick him, don't do anything, all right? Do you understand the assignment? But I tell. He's like, yes, coach. All right, so then he spends one minute, like, everyone know, hey, listen, we're going to play. Blah, blah, blah. He goes outside, first minute by the telly, red card.

Roy Lewis (40:28)

Waste the whole halftime. Thank you, Mario.

KG (40:30)

He said, after them. He's never laughed so hard at the thing because, like, you know, sometimes People just do what they're going to do. So I had to share that with. You know, it's funny to me, dude.

Roy Lewis (40:39)

Because I could see Balotelli and his personality like this. The whole time coach is looking at him, he's like, yes, coach, yes coach, look. Yes, Coach. He's just going over his head. As soon as the whistle blows, he runs out there and just kicks.

KG (40:50)

The dude kicks the guy.

Roy Lewis (40:51)

And the coach is like, really bro, I just talked to you 15 minutes.

KG (40:55)

And he laughed so hard because you don't ever see Jose. Like sometimes he's very chill, but he's like at that point, nothing you can do.

Roy Lewis (41:03)

So that's a good story. I like to see. I like stories like that because you see the personality. Like, dude, that's actually funny. I could 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 want to play Balotelli.

KG (41:15)

He's a good striker. You know, you just press the oh button. You can just shoot all these rockets, bro. Yeah, yeah.

Roy Lewis (41:22)

Been like Beckham now.

KG (41:23)

He's killed my team a few times because I'm Man United. He was Man City. So they beat us six, one with the whole why me? Kind of thing.

Roy Lewis (41:29)

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 Bayern Munich, I like Lewandowski. You know what I mean? I like, I like some of the older, older players when I was growing up watching, but I grew up watching, of course the LA Galaxy, just Kobe.

KG (41:47)

Jones, I mean Slotson was there, Landon Donovan.

Roy Lewis (41:50)

Landon Donovan in Seattle was good. I got a chance to watch him. Yeah, we got a chance to check those guys out. Eddie Johnson got a chance to watch him. He was younger.

KG (41:57)

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 cuz they've been losing every damn game. Every time I watch I'm like, let's.

Roy Lewis (42:06)

Watch these guys, bro.

KG (42:09)

Got to put LeBron in that team or something.

Roy Lewis (42:11)

I'm sure it's a LeBron James of soccer somewhere. What happened to Freddy do, man? Where my man Freddy at? Where little Freddy go? It's one of us out there. Is a LeBron of soccer out there.

KG (42:19)

There is, yeah, there's somewhere that he's.

Roy Lewis (42:21)

Yet to be found.

KG (42:22)

But he's probably Christian Pulisic. Just one guy that plays in, in Europe. A.C. milan.

Roy Lewis (42:26)

Okay.

KG (42:26)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (42:26)

Okay. Like, I like him.

KG (42:28)

I had another. I was very curious. You know, I'm always, like, fascinated because, 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 warns them about?

Roy Lewis (42:48)

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 their financial prime until their late 40s, 50s, right? So you're going to get ready to make more money than your parents and your family has ever, 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. 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 would say programs or resources. I mean, they would talk to you right back then, during that CBA and in. In the 2012 CBA, and now we're in the 2020-2030 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 orchestrate and help players not only transition, but understand what resources they have available at all times, from a financial standpoint to a emotional standpoint, spiritual standpoint, all the way down to a family, health and wellness standpoint. So there's tons and tons of resources. We're at 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 to 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 help, it's long gone. Now it's a matter of we need to start using it. We need to make it more. 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 just that small portion of the individual that may not know about the information, but.

KG (44:57)

Yeah, but are they let known like when they join in the thing or is that the agent's responsibility?

Roy Lewis (45:02)

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 multipurpose rooms, meeting rooms and have seminars and say, hey, here's what we've. Here's what we have available. Here's a 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, to offer them as a former player, but there's. 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, the shows what broke, right, the NFL, the 30 for 30.

KG (46:03)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (46:03)

Back in the day. You know what I mean? Like I think, yeah, that that is the scary factor. And especially now with the nil. And nil is just the wild, wild west. There's not much regulation with the nil. I mean it's, 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 dollar settlement with NCAA versus the House, meaning they're all former college players beginning yesterday July 1st, that they could. Today, July 1st. Today, 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. For 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.

KG (47:02)

Huge.

Roy Lewis (47:03)

It's huge. Tell a kid who's going from eating top ramen to hey, he can eat at the top of the building now. How do they handle that? Yeah, eating 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.

KG (47:20)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (47:21)

Because we've all seen it happen before. You can same way you have a lot the same way it can be gone.

KG (47:26)

Yeah, that's true. Because, I mean, when you get accustomed to swiping.

Roy Lewis (47:29)

Right.

KG (47:29)

Right now, like, I swipe so much, I just swiped with the Spirit. I just closed my eyes hoping it declined.

Roy Lewis (47:33)

You know what I'm saying? Some people don't even swipe. Like, I use my. My. My. My watch.

KG (47:36)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (47:36)

I don't even take my wallet. I just tap my watch and just bloop.

KG (47:39)

I named my car Jesus Take the Wheel. Just go by the Spirit.

Roy Lewis (47:43)

Look at that bank statement from Jesus Take the Wheel. Jesus Take the Wheel. He's active today. Oh, my God.

KG (47:51)

If it declines, it declines.

Roy Lewis (47:52)

You know, Jesus take the wheel. If it declines, he know what to do. When you see my man Jesus got me.

KG (47:59)

Oh, man, that's funny.

Roy Lewis (48:00)

That's awesome, man. Yeah. Look at the Skittles. Is that a. Is that a tribute to Marshawn? Hey, yo, Beast mode.

KG (48:06)

No, no, I saw them.

Roy Lewis (48:07)

You see these right here, man? Hey, man, put the camera on them right there. See the Beast mode? Put your leg up. Show me the leg. I know you athletic. Look at that. Look at that. That man got on some Skittles.

KG (48:18)

No, I saw them, and I was like. I didn't even hesitate when I end up, like, seeing them. Like, I gotta get those Skittles. Skittle socks, you know? Yeah, they 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 always had a student mentality. Like, you always look for mentors when you're playing in football. When you jump in there, you surround yourself with the hall of Famers, just the great people as well. My question with that, Was there a mentor in this NFL agent Rod that you've had that. That has done it before?

Roy Lewis (48:49)

Oh, yeah. Okay. That's my agent. My. My actual former agent.

KG (48:53)

Okay.

Roy Lewis (48:54)

Both of my agents, actually. I just spoke to my. My first agent yesterday, and my former agent, my most recent one.

KG (49:00)

And why is mentorship important? Just to follow up after you ask that.

Roy Lewis (49:03)

Well, yeah, I'll name them. First, it's Jason Dillard or JD and then he's out of Sacramento. That 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 Snoopa Loop hanging out, having a good time, and. And then my other agent Cameron Foster. Those two gentlemen were wealth of knowledge. Cameron even more so. This was Cameron's. His past draft was Cameron Foster's 35th draft. 35th draft. He's been doing it for a long time. Another gentleman that I have, that's a mentor of mine, Steve Weinberg. This was his 40th or 41st draft. He. I think he was the first certified NFL PA agent. When they started certifying agents, I think back in like. Like 1984 or something like that.

KG (49:46)

Crazy.

Roy Lewis (49:47)

So it's good to have gentlemen like that, that you can pick the 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, we'll call somebody. Well, who do I call? Oh, what do I look in the Rolodex, in the directory? Who am I looking for? Is the player 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? Hey, bro, here's the contact for this guy. Let me talk to this guy. Oh, hey, I got a great relationship with so and so. Maybe you should have a right on so. They're 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 into my lap because the universe don't miss and I'll just happen to rub shoulders with them. And next thing you know, it's a conversation and cool. I'm in to a whole nother trajectory, whole nother lineal opportunities open up. Let's take advantage of them now.

KG (50:48)

I mean, where do you also identify this, the talent that. Because I've watched All American and I love to see like the series and stuff. But then I always realize there's always some of these underprivileged, you know, 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. Like where. What's. What are the tools or use or how do you discover this talent?

Roy Lewis (51:11)

Well, you know what? 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 tool possible. Social media, you can tap into, warm referrals, you know, family members, clients. Amen, my buddy. Like what you do for me? Amen. I think you should. Okay, cool, man. But this business is built off of relationships. 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, remember that? Oh, it's right there. You may transition him into another direction. So I'm a bridge builder, and that's all I need to do. And so all my mentors are the same way. We build bridges with one another. We build bridges throughout our community. With 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. This is how we go about the business. And so that holds dear to me. So I love my mentors. I. Unfortunately, it's funny, I won't say unfortunately. 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.

KG (52:40)

And it goes back to calling again, what we're talking about earlier.

Roy Lewis (52:43)

Calling, right. Sometimes I had to realize, like, I can't just do everything. I gotta be a mentor. And people keep coming to me for advice. I'm like, whoa, why you keep asking me? I wanna. You know what I mean? But once I accepted that and understood that and grew into that, it just catapults me because it's like, I don't know. My mentors that I speak with, they impart knowledge on me. And then by the time I talk to someone who wants to speak to me, it's like their words just flow right through me 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.

KG (53:23)

No, that's awesome. What goes on? I know you've done it for two seasons and you still have so much experience. And about what goes on in, like, contract Negotiations, you know, because it's really boring.

Roy Lewis (53:34)

Just so you know, it's boring. It's not as exciting as people think.

KG (53:39)

But it's one of those, like, the. The manager picks up the thing. Nah, I said I want to give him that amount. No, I give that amount. It's like, throw something in the air up. Is it that intense or is it just like.

Roy Lewis (53:49)

No, I mean, there can be some heated moments. I would assume you some for some contracts and certain players. But, yes, it's business. It's legality, you know, it's. It's legalese. It's contractual jargon that you're well versed on knowing and that your condition and to look for. And then you go forth and you say, 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 are 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, I mean, the team, the situation. And so, I mean, you learn those things along the way.

KG (54:40)

And who has most of the say, is it like the. The player or is it the agent? Because sometimes I feel like agents have got so much influence that we don't fully understand. Like, or is it both parties that come to an agreement before then?

Roy Lewis (54:51)

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, if a player has enough status, he can represent himself? Look at Richard Sherman. I love Sherman. It's my dog. Wayne Worm. Sherman. Love you, boy. Yeah. He represent himself?

KG (55:10)

Why not?

Roy Lewis (55:11)

He has the wherewithal. He has the knowledge, too. He's a Stanford grad. He understands the business. Yes, I can represent myself because I'm not gonna get myself into anything crazy. 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 a fine tooth comb to make sure there's no inconsistencies, any discrepancies, make sure there's no. Any, you know, misrepresentations, and then send it back. And so that's. 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 gonna sit down, we're gonna pass an envelope across the table. You open it up, you look at it. Boy, some whispers, you know what I mean? That sometimes is how it is and sometimes you come in there, it's there. Sign.

KG (56:06)

The reason I asked that 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 I. What brings a lot of, like a bit more calming down. Because as much as I do my podcasting stuff, I research my, like the guests that I do like, I look make it very personal questions. Whenever I finish here, I listen to like just sports stuff. Like I'll listen to like a saga thing and it's like, oh, the agent should have negotiated that. And that the reason I'm bringing that up, the Dennis Schroeder situation. I don't know if you remember what.

Roy Lewis (56:37)

Happened between the Hooper. Yeah. With the gold patch.

KG (56:39)

I like that. Yeah. Same thing from Germany. But what happened in this scenario? I think the Lakers, I'm just paraphrasing it. They had a contract on the table for him, but they, they were trying to be a little bit more greedy where they said 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 and 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 6 million.

Roy Lewis (57:04)

I remember that. For one season.

KG (57:06)

Yes.

Roy Lewis (57:06)

Yeah.

KG (57:07)

And so it was blamed at the time on the agent. I think there was a conflict event or like there was a misunderstanding between play and agent. But from some, Someone that was almost guaranteed. It could have been 67 or 80. I can't remember what it was, but it was a four, five year country.

Roy Lewis (57:19)

Yeah.

KG (57:20)

And so that's why I asked that because I've always been curious. I'm like, wow. Like, if he's blaming the agent, the agent's like, no, it's like, it's like there's a bit of disparity or misunderstanding or some conflict there. So I'm like, gosh, that's when I realized, like agents. Yes. As much as you're the, the liaison, like, they still play a big role.

Roy Lewis (57:38)

Oh, absolutely, absolutely. And I think there, there are some cases where agents will mismanage clients. They will mismanage situations. That comes with the territory. Right. There's not a right or wrong answer, is 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. Is 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 get. 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. But 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 the weight because if the player is 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 are 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 and we ain't coming to the games.

KG (58:51)

Then again, this goes back again to the fact that you've been a player and you understand the game.

Roy Lewis (58:57)

So I understand that you keep the masses happy. Keep the masses happy. As I tell my players, the fans are here to see you. They're not here to see the agent. They're not here to see me anymore. Not here to see the owner. They're here to see you. You guys. So 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, 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? Where you're protected, that's the goal, is to have guys protected. We want guys protected all the time. Not just some of the time. We want him, he signs the dotted line, he's protected him and his Family is protected right now, not backloaded. And hope that he make it to year five so we can give him the big lump sum. No, 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 Jill. They know they. They just doing their thing because the money's good. Football players, we scrapping sometimes. 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 know I got a superstar here, superstar here. I can't pay all of them. I don't want to let so and so go, but I have to because I got to pay kg. I have to pay. He's my guy. But 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's, that's. That's on the player. Hey, man, you know what? I'm. I'm willing to sacrifice a little bit of money to win. I'm willing to sacrifice. Look, 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. Dudes out. It'll be like blood in the water. Dudes like, man, you don't care. You don't care about it. He's just out here. We don't like that. I don't know how else to say we don't like that, but we don't get down, you know what I mean? We, 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, but.

KG (61:36)

Because people just love it, you know, Love it.

Roy Lewis (61:38)

Same way you probably play soccer. You play football on the pitch.

KG (61:41)

Thank you for saying football.

Roy Lewis (61:42)

You know, I got you, you know, I got some, I got some mates, got some blokes, you know.

KG (61:47)

Now we'll go to England. I was talking to about it. We're going to try and go get a catch a game. Premier League, one of these times.

Roy Lewis (61:52)

So I want to go, let's do it. Invite me.

KG (61:54)

Let's do it.

Roy Lewis (61:54)

Let's bring some Forever Blow and bubbles.

KG (61:59)

I want to start sending you reels of all.

Roy Lewis (62:03)

We can prepare.

KG (62:04)

They're hooligans out there, but they love it so much.

Roy Lewis (62:07)

Ocho cinco. Love soccer.

KG (62:09)

Yeah, no, it's a religion down there, you know.

Roy Lewis (62:12)

Soccer, God.

KG (62:13)

Yeah.

Roy Lewis (62:13)

Yeah, it's a cool thing.

KG (62:15)

No, sports just unifies people, you know, Whenever I'm depressed, I watch sports. That's my therapy right there. Yeah, but sometimes they bloody lose. I'm like, luca, shoot the damn ball.

Roy Lewis (62:25)

Come on, Luca, shoot the jet. No, I. I agree. It's. It's an outlet. It's therapeutic. You know, it. For me, it's just always been like my sanctuary, man. No matter what, I keep. 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 in case somebody feeling froggy, they still want to 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 giving me the lifestyle has given 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, and college.

KG (63:16)

So I always ask this question. This is like my concluding question, because he's like, we haven't even started the question.

Roy Lewis (63:25)

Let's keep going. We can talk all day about this. I can come back and chill out and maybe bring some people, too.

KG (63:29)

I appreciate that. Thank you so much.

Roy Lewis (63:31)

Got a nice little honey hole.

KG (63:34)

I like it, you know, because 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?

Roy Lewis (63:50)

Hound. To hound your adversary. That means anything. It could be a life problem. It could be a stress problem. It could be a competitor. But you hound your adversary, your opponent, unmercifully, until they know and understand that you're physically, mentally, emotionally stronger. You just hound. And you just kept poking. You keep poking. I said, 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 is 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, polishing it. You just signing 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. You give it away to the ones that you need. You sprinkle it on so that they can. 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. To be successful at it. That's winning. You know, winners do what losers refuse to. That's being open to learning a new skill, reading a new book, hearing from a new Arthur. Whatever it is, you're. You're open. The moment you cut yourself off from learning, you start dying. Learning is winning. The more you learn, the more you earn, the more you win. I'm winning at 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 the wins Said.

KG (65:54)

If I could just drop the mic down, man, just hit the podcast right there and then. That was absolute poetic. You're the modern day Shakespeare as well.

Roy Lewis (66:02)

Well, my teacher would be very impressed. Yes. You hear that, Mrs. Bernstein? She said I was gonna be a Renaissance man back in eighth grade. I didn't know what that mean, 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 a purpose because every time you interview someone, tap more nuggets into your.

KG (66:38)

Exactly.

Roy Lewis (66:39)

Your aura, your coat to winning is you gotta roll it. Okay. NFL player. So professional athletes. Yeah. You got all this.

KG (66:47)

I'm gonna get tumor for all the memory you can just.

Roy Lewis (66:50)

And you can tap into that winning. So when you come across somebody who may need a little bit of that information in your park, sprinkle a little bit on. A little winning on them. There you go. Let me touch with this jewel, bro. That I learned from this. Bingo. That's the code to winning.

KG (67:04)

I love that. I love that. Right. If you could let our viewers know over there if the way they could get a hold of you, maybe follow.

Roy Lewis (67:10)

You and just call me on my phone. My number stops.

KG (67:16)

359.

Roy Lewis (67:17)

What's the new song that Drake got? Baby Girl? That's the song. That's the.

KG (67:22)

I just saw him running today, stuff like that.

Roy Lewis (67:24)

Pop open the Nokia phone. I think that's what. It's Nokia.

KG (67:26)

Oh, it is. No, because he was. Yeah, it was. Yeah.

Roy Lewis (67:30)

I don't know the word girl. I like it for the whole world. But no, I'm just normal social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Even though I'm not really that active. I. I will use my Instagram, but I'm really old school. But I am going to tap back into my platforms just so you know, get my IG. Get it going. The code to winning. Perfect. KG's going to teach me how to rock it right.

KG (67:55)

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, boss.

Roy Lewis (68:03)

Appreciate you, brother. One love, my friend.