Hoags

[Hoags @justhoags]

Fanatics fucking blows. Have you seen the quality of their products?

[Yossi Farro @FarroYossi]

Meet Michael Rubin

He turned $2,500 in Bar Mitzvah money into Fanatics, a $30 Billion sports powerhouse.

Born in 1972 to a Jewish family in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, Rubin showed entrepreneurial drive early.
• At 12, he started a ski-tuning shop in his parents’ basement.

• At 14, using his $2,500 Bar Mitzvah money as seed capital (and a lease signed by his father), he opened Mike’s Ski and Sport in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

By 16, he was $120,000 in debt. He settled with creditors using a $37,000 loan from his father—on the condition he attend college.

He briefly attended Villanova University but dropped out after a smart deal: borrowing $17,000 to buy $200,000 worth of overstock equipment at a discount, then reselling it for $75,000.

He sold his ski shops and launched KPR Sports (named after his parents’ initials), a closeout company for overstock athletic gear.

• By age 21 (1993), KPR hit $1 million in sales.
• By 1995, it reached $50 million.

In 1998, Rubin founded Global Sports Incorporated, which became GSI Commerce—a major e-commerce and logistics player.

In 2011, at age 38, he sold GSI to eBay for $2.4 billion!

eBay kept the fulfillment business; Rubin bought back the consumer brands at a bargain, including Fanatics (licensed sports merchandise), Rue La La, and ShopRunner.
He became CEO of Fanatics and focused on scaling it aggressively:

• Secured major partnerships with Nike, NFL, MLB, and over 900 leagues/teams.

• During COVID-19 (2020), repurposed an MLB uniform plant to produce hospital gowns and PPE.

• Raised big funding rounds: $350M (2020, valuation $6.2B), more in 2021, then $1.5B +
$700M (2022, valuation hit $31 billion).

• Expanded into trading cards (acquired Topps for $500M in 2022) and betting/gaming (launched 2023).

From a teenage ski shop to a global leader in sports merchandise, trading cards, and more, Michael Rubin’s journey is a classic American Jewish entrepreneurial success story built on hustle, smart deals, and Values.

[Phillyguyinva 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @PhillyGuyInVa]

Wouldn't be surprised at this rate lol

[Tony Escargot @tonyescargot]

“I don’t think this guy knows how to handle young players. He might not know how to handle any players.”

Fire Rick Tocchet.

[Hoags @justhoags]

The capitals are going to be just fine when Ovi retires.

[Gino Hard @GinoHard_]

RYAN LEONARD SKATES THROUGH THE ENTIRE DEVILS TEAM AND SCORES A BEAUTY OH MY 😵😮‍💨

[Hoags @justhoags]

@MikeyD_OandBP @ADiMarco25 @StableGoatBB Mikey D looking like he met the Pope again.

[Hoags @justhoags]

Can the Flyers figure out how to FIGHT ON.

[Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer]

The @nhlflyers players had a very special visitor after morning skate today. At the invitation of Rick Tocchet, @jasonmyrt addresses the team.

He discussed his 30-minute philosophy. Set a timer. Take thirty mins to make a decision: give in or fight on.

It never takes the full time. The decision is always FIGHT ON.

@FlyersAlumni
@nufced
@ctherien6
@fridge29
@JimJPhilly
@Hartsy43
@hockeyhstove

[Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer]

The @nhlflyers players had a very special visitor after morning skate today. At the invitation of Rick Tocchet, @jasonmyrt addresses the team.

He discussed his 30-minute philosophy. Set a timer. Take thirty mins to make a decision: give in or fight on.

It never takes the full time. The decision is always FIGHT ON.

@FlyersAlumni
@nufced
@ctherien6
@fridge29
@JimJPhilly
@Hartsy43
@hockeyhstove

[Hoags @justhoags]

@_ChrisMaher Save yourself kid.

[Hoags @justhoags]

@_ChrisMaher Chris. What happened to this?

[Hoags @justhoags]

Didn’t they just sign Reimer to an AHL PTO?

[NHL Rumour Report @NHLRumourReport]

David Pagnotta: Re Rangers goaltending: They've kicked the tires; it's very exploratory; John Gibson; Jordan Binnington, who I think might be a prime target for a lot of teams; Darcy Kuemper; Sam Montembeault; it's been reported Anthony Stolarz - DFO Insider (10/14)

[Hoags @justhoags]

@PhillySquidward Ope. Look at that. You’re still feeding it too. Lmao.

[Hoags @justhoags]

Tippett wasn’t at morning skate. 👀

[NHL Rumour Report @NHLRumourReport]

David Pagnotta: Re Flyers: We know that teams have poked around on Owen Tippett, this goes back to last season - DFO Insider (10/14)

[Hoags @justhoags]

We did the standing ovation when they got bounced in the playoffs last year. They need to turn this ship themselves.

[Chris Maher @_ChrisMaher]

Can all Flyers fans going to tonight’s game do the Trea Turner standing ovation? Let’s turn this ship around?

[Hoags @justhoags]

@PhillySquidward Who says I have energy for this at all? I fall asleep for half of the games. I’m just as upset as the next fan.

I just don’t go around acting as miserable as you do squidward.

[Hoags @justhoags]

Smoke?

[Adam Kimelman @NHLAdamK]

Owen Tippett only healthy player missing from Flyers morning skate.

[Hoags @justhoags]

@Raiderfrank65 Broad Street Bullies and Flyers style of Hockey died after 2012. They tried to maintain that mantra as the rest of the league got bigger, faster and more talented.

[Hoags @justhoags]

@DanKnightly “Only do so much with the hand he’s dealt”. He had the same hand last year - he’s gotta go.

[Hoags @justhoags]

All they ever do is travel in the NBA.

[Bob Pompeani @KDPomp]

Traveling does not exist anymore in NBA 😳

[Hoags @justhoags]

Charlie - did they figure out how to close Couturier? If they did, let’s hope it’s pre back surgery Coots. Cause that line with Michkov and Martone would do wonders if it was prime Coots.

[Hoags @justhoags]

@FlyersAnt Reirden as coach?

[Hoags @justhoags]

@LaurenHartMusic We love you Lauren! Condolences to the entire Hart family!