Friend Encounters: Jon Patricof and Tony

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

Today, I continue with an Athletes Unlimited theme by featuring the man at the top.

New York born Jon Patricof graduated from Harvard. He joined Tribeca Enterprises in 2005 as Chief Operating Officer. In 2016, he became the third president of New York City FC. Along with Jonathan Soros, Patricof co-founded Athletes Unlimited in 2020.

AU was originally comprised of four women's sports leagues, including softball, Volleyball, Lacrosse and basketball, all played using fantasy league-type rules and scoring. Lacrosse folded after a few years. Softball expanded to a standard league in 2025. This year, the AU Softball League added two new teams, while assigning city alliances. Ths, the Chicago Bandits were reborn.

As I have been doing, today I feature Tony, another of the old guard. Tony actually goes farther back with the team than I do. Although we aren't certain, we might have first met at a Bandits game in 2014. We at least know we started chatting more at those games.

Last year, the league played all games in Rosemont. Tony met Patricof at one of the games in Rosemont last year. In a rarity, I spotted Patricof first. Eagle eyes Tony usually is the spotter.

Either way, we chatted briefly with Patricof. He is always very busy when he is here. Catching him even for a quick picture is a challenge, but Tony and I are dedicated pros at this. lol

For more info on the league, go to auprosports.com. Check back here for my coverage.

Jon Patricof and Tony in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2025.

Jon Patricof and Athletes Unlimited

Athletes Unlimited just completed its debut season of AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League). It was a return to tradition softball for the women's league that previously was fantasy points based. From all accounts, it appears to be a success, although changes definitely need to be made. 

Currently, there are four teams, with no city affiliations, although the Bandits appear to be Chicago's future team. Putting the Bandits elsewhere would be a major mistake. They are also adding two more teams. Hopefully, those will be announced soon, along with city affiliations for all teams.

There is confusion as to whether there will be an expansion draft, in which each team protects all but a few of their players from being selected by new teams. That is typically how expansion works. I have read the entire league will be redrafted. That would be another major mistake. Fans want continuity. This would pretty much negate having city affiliations. If the Bandits change every year, fans lose the attachment. They have no reason to invest emotionally and financially in players and teams.

Lastly, I have said from the debut of AU years ago, they need a fourth umpire. For a league that just had Major League Baseball invest and partner with them to have three umps like college ball is silly. How much could a fourth umpire cost?

There are a few other minor things, but these three are the most important. I hope they get addressed.

With that being as is, AUSL still took a major step forward for women's sports and softball. They had sold out crowds. They gained a large tv audience. 

At this season's opener, I met Jon Patricof the founder and big cheese of AU. Patricof had attempted to do a lot for women's sports. Softball is succeeding. The AU lacrosse league folded, but the volleyball and basketball leagues remain, both use the individual points system.

Go to auprosports.com for more info on Athletes Unlimited. Check back here for my recurring coverage.

Jon Patricof and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2025.