S E7: Dick's Sporting Goods Exec Chairman Ed Stack: A Masterclass in Sports Business + Top Golf Gift Ideas

What do golf gift ideas, holiday shopping trends, and a $14 billion sporting goods empire have in common? This episode. Jimmy Roberts opens with sports business journalist Mollie Cahillane, breaking down the best golf gifts of the season — from wearable tech and simulators to custom balls and bucket-list travel experiences. Then the show shifts to a rare, in-depth conversation with Ed Stack, the longtime CEO and now Executive Chairman of Dick’s Sporting Goods — a company he grew from two stores in Binghamton to more than 800 locations and $14B+ in annual sales. Stack pulls back the curtain on: • Why he told his senior team “we’re breaking up with Wall Street” and stopped chasing quarterly expectations • Nearly losing the company — twice — and the lessons that shaped its turnaround • How Dick’s became the largest golf retailer in America • The battles with manufacturers and the PGA of America when they first entered the golf equipment business • Why golfers shop differently today — and how fittings transformed retail • Concerns about rising equipment costs and the ball rollback debate • The growth of women’s and youth golf • Why culture, customer focus, and “never falling in love with yourself” still guide the company today • His emotional connection to the Dick’s PGA TOUR Champions event in his hometown • The massive Foot Locker acquisition and what’s next for the business It’s a masterclass in leadership, reinvention, and the evolution of sports retail — with some of the most honest, self-aware reflections you’ll hear from a Fortune 500 leader. 🎧 Subscribe for new episodes 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify #EdStack #DicksSportingGoods #TheBigSwing #GolfBusiness #JimmyRoberts #SportsBusiness See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .