Former Dallas Mavericks owner Frank Zaccanelli speaks on the premier episode of Champions and Connections.
Past The Wire TV
Frank Zaccanelli drafted Dirk Nowitzki before anyone in America knew who he was. Then he sold the team to Mark Cuban in the largest NBA transaction in history at the time. Now Frank Zaccanelli is building the premier sports and horse racing media platform and he is doing it as a full-time commitment, not a hobby.
On the first episode of Champions and Connections on Past The Wire TV, Jon Stettin sits down with Frank Zaccanelli — co-owner, President, and General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks from 1996 to 2000 — for one of the most wide-ranging conversations in the history of this channel.
📌 CHAPTERS
00:00 — Introduction: Jon Stettin Welcomes Frank Zaccanelli to Past The Wire TV
01:53 — Growing Up in Syracuse: Italian Roots and an All-State Athlete
03:54 — Moving to Dallas with Nothing — and Why He Never Looked Back
04:18 — The Roger Staubach Meeting That Changed Everything
05:36 — Walking Into Ross Perot Sr.’s Office for the First Time
06:04 — Building the Perot Group from the Ground Up
06:52 — Buying the Dallas Mavericks in 1996 — the Worst Team in the NBA
07:36 — How Bad Were the Mavericks? Frank Tells the Truth
10:22 — Flying to Maui to Secretly Recruit Don Nelson
10:37 — Taking His Wife on a Plane to Close the Deal Nobody Knew About
12:58 — Meeting James Dolan — and Knowing Immediately
15:35 — The Scout Who Said There Was a Player Who Shot Better Than Larry Bird
15:37 — Discovering Dirk Nowitzki Before Anyone in America Was Watching
19:23 — NBA Franchise Values Going Berserk — The Numbers That Shocked Everyone
21:45 — The Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James Debate
22:15 — Why Frank Says Julius Erving Was Better Than Both
28:48 — Why Horse Racing? How the Past The Wire Partnership Came Together
34:59 — The Timing Is Right: Online Gambling Growing 10-12% a Year
36:58 — Prediction Markets: The New Player Nobody Saw Coming
40:57 — What Frank Learned Being in NBA Locker Rooms That Changed How He Bets
42:43 — The Most Important Rule in Sports Betting: Cash Less Tickets, Win More Money
43:41 — Halftime Lines: Where Frank Says He Has Made More Money Than Full Games
46:25 — The Past The Wire App — What Is Coming and Why It Matters
48:59 — Frank’s Commitment: This Is My Full-Time Business, Not a Hobby
49:19 — The Big Announcement Coming in 48 Hours
🏇 ABOUT PAST THE WIRE TV
Past The Wire TV is the home of serious horse racing analysis, sports betting strategy, and the sharpest voices in the wagering world. Founded by Jon Stettin, the Pick 6 King, Past The Wire has built one of the most loyal audiences in racing media. Now, with Frank Zaccanelli on board, we are taking the platform to the next level.
Subscribe for new episodes every week across four shows:
🔹 The Sharp Edge — Multi-sport betting analysis and picks
🔹 High Level Handicapping — Deep dive horse racing for the serious player
🔹 Across The Board — Hot takes and sports commentary
🔹 Champions and Connections — The people behind the biggest moments in sports and racing
🔗 FOLLOW PAST THE WIRE TV
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