10 Questions with ... David P. Samson

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Lawyer who never practiced.
Started a newspaper delivery company called News Travels Fast after law school. First company to get the Sunday New York Times to Europe same day. - 1993-1997
Morgan Stanley - Feb. 1997- Dec. 1999
Exec VP - Montreal Expos - 1999-2002
President. - Florida/Miami Marlins - 2002-2017
MLB Analyst - CBS Sports HQ - 2018-present
Host, "Nothing Personal with David Samson". - 2019-present>

1. It's been an interesting road for you to arrive at doing a podcast and regular radio appearances, through law school, entrepreneurship, investment banking, and baseball. Was getting in front of people as a host/entertainer always something you wanted to do, or did it just evolve that way? What was your career plan from the start, and was what you do now part of that vision?

From as early as I can remember, my parents would pay me NOT to talk at the dinner table. I realized almost immediately that finding a job getting paid TO talk would be perfect. I have had and continue to have an interesting, lucky, fun career and the key is that I have never planned my next step. I just remained open to different opportunities. I have always enjoyed being the center of attention, so why not get paid for that! It’s just business. It’s Nothing Personal.

2. On the podcast, and your Le Batard Local Hour appearances, you're fearless -- you say what you think and what you believe is the truth, whether it's objectionable to people or not. Same went for your Marlins tenure, when you had to serve as the public face for some unpopular decisions (not the least of which was the ballpark deal). It's like playing the heel in pro wrestling, but in real life. How much of that comes naturally to you, the ability to stand up and take the arrows for something controversial?

A job is a job is a job. I have never had a problem giving other people credit for everything good and being blamed when things don’t go well. My self esteem is not based on what other people think, as I am my own worst critic. I have also always been forthcoming and direc,t and that is because I don’t want to waste time. Time, after all, is the only commodity that I cannot replenish.

3. Right now, there are three MLB teams demanding new ballparks and threatening moves. Let's take the one that's most in the news lately, the Oakland Athletics' flirtation with Las Vegas and Portland. As someone who's been there and done it successfully, what's the single most important piece of advice you'd give the A's to get whatever it is they want, whether it's the Howard Terminal park in Oakland or a new park in Vegas or Portland (or elsewhere)?

You'd better have a plan, and then a backup plan, and then two other plans. You better be willing to be unpopular. You better be willing to learn what public officials want and need to support your project. You better be willing to go right to the edge of extinction, and then a little further, holding on to a ledge by your finger nails. This is not a job for people with thin skin or stomach issues! It’s just business. It’s Nothing Personal.

4. You recently told the story on your podcast of your appearance on "Survivor," which was a great behind-the-scenes tale. But while you said you saw the show and knew you just had to be on it, what exactly made you want to do it? What appealed to you about the idea of competing? What in your personality do you think "Survivor" spoke to?

I love feeling uncomfortable. I love being in control and I loved that I would have no control of anything on the island. I set my mind to appearing on the show and wouldn’t and couldn’t stop trying until I was cast.

5. You were a fan, then you ran a pro sports franchise. Knowing how the sausage is made, has that changed how you watch sports in general? Can you be a pure fan when you know the people and the behind-the-scenes stuff?

I loved basketball and all sports my entire life. Then I had 18 years and learned that sports is a business. Purely business. I took that personally because I knew I would never go back to being a fan. And, I haven’t.

6. One feature of both your podcast and your Local Hour visits is your movie review, because you watch a LOT of movies (and keep a frequently-updated list of your top 100). I'm less interested in what's number one on your list and more interested in obscurity, so what's the most underrated, obscure movie among your favorites? What movie deserves a lot more respect and audience than it's gotten?

"Fearless" with Jeff Bridges is my number one movie

"Grand Canyon" is number two and I wish more people saw and appreciated this masterpiece.

7. Who are your influences, inspirations, and/or mentors?

John Stuart Mill and his Utilitarian theory

My grandfather and his advice on when to hold em, when to fold em and when to double em

Any person who is willing to achieve something that is hard for others and believed to be impossible for themselves.

8. Sports gambling has exploded across the country with legalization in many states, and having it accessible through a phone app means that for bettors, the entire experience of watching a game is changing, and I wonder if future generations of fans won't be attached to particular teams so much as they'll be into betting on the games, players, and whatever prop bets arise. How, if at all, do you think pro and college leagues will adapt to betting? How do you think they're doing so far?

Fantasy was the first step toward player attachment and not team. Gambling just quickened the pace. All leagues will adapt and embrace this new gambling world as it represents previously untapped revenue streams. There will be an inflection point, however, which will occur if the competitive integrity of a league is ever truly compromised.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________.

...laughing.

10. Of what are you most proud?

Raising millions of dollars for charity by having the discipline to do extraordinary athletic endeavors that anybody could actually do. And, having the intestinal fortitude to fail so that I would succeed.