1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:16,227 Speaker 2: Let's get straight Side with Leon Busby, our American sports expert. 4 00:00:16,307 --> 00:00:19,507 Speaker 2: Lots happening on and off the courts and the fields. Leon, 5 00:00:19,547 --> 00:00:22,027 Speaker 2: can we start on the Women's NBA and the T 6 00:00:22,307 --> 00:00:24,427 Speaker 2: shirt saga? What is this all about? 7 00:00:25,587 --> 00:00:28,947 Speaker 3: The afternoon, Jess and great to be back. So the WNBA, 8 00:00:29,067 --> 00:00:31,667 Speaker 3: they held their annual All Star Weekend with the usual 9 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:35,427 Speaker 3: events including the Stills Challenge and three Point Contest and 10 00:00:35,507 --> 00:00:38,387 Speaker 3: Your Star Game itself. It took place last weekend. I 11 00:00:38,467 --> 00:00:41,387 Speaker 3: was the hidden terms of viewership numbers, even though the 12 00:00:41,387 --> 00:00:43,707 Speaker 3: face of the league, Indiana Fevers Kate and Clark, was 13 00:00:43,707 --> 00:00:46,587 Speaker 3: out injured. However, Piney, as you alluded to, the biggest 14 00:00:46,587 --> 00:00:50,027 Speaker 3: headline from the weekend was the All Star Game players 15 00:00:50,067 --> 00:00:53,427 Speaker 3: wearing shirts saying pay us what you owe us. Well, 16 00:00:53,507 --> 00:00:56,227 Speaker 3: I don't love the slogan, I do agree with the sentiment, 17 00:00:56,307 --> 00:00:59,707 Speaker 3: So I've got a background for transpiracy on this issue. 18 00:00:59,787 --> 00:01:03,507 Speaker 3: So we know that by professional tennis, most female athletes 19 00:01:03,547 --> 00:01:07,187 Speaker 3: are woefully underpaid compared to their male counterparts. The wire 20 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:10,547 Speaker 3: the minimum contracts so different. Well, there are some major 21 00:01:10,587 --> 00:01:14,827 Speaker 3: differences between the NBA and the WNBA schedules and media 22 00:01:14,947 --> 00:01:18,547 Speaker 3: rights deals. The NBA plays eighty two regular season games 23 00:01:18,867 --> 00:01:21,707 Speaker 3: and recently inked the new media rights deal worth seven 24 00:01:21,787 --> 00:01:26,147 Speaker 3: billion dollars a year. Meanwhile, the WNBA plays forty four 25 00:01:26,187 --> 00:01:29,267 Speaker 3: regular season games and has a TV deal worth fifty 26 00:01:29,347 --> 00:01:32,987 Speaker 3: million dollars per year. WNBA players receive a pult we 27 00:01:33,147 --> 00:01:38,027 Speaker 3: ten percent of total revenue while NBA players receive fifty percent. 28 00:01:38,267 --> 00:01:41,787 Speaker 3: Now that's a huge disparity. However, because the popularity of 29 00:01:42,467 --> 00:01:46,867 Speaker 3: THEWNBA has increased exponentially in the last few years market, 30 00:01:46,907 --> 00:01:49,107 Speaker 3: the larger TV deal will kick in next season at 31 00:01:49,107 --> 00:01:53,027 Speaker 3: two hundred million two hundred million dollars. So last season alone, 32 00:01:53,227 --> 00:01:56,467 Speaker 3: the WNBA lost forty million dollars. In an almost three 33 00:01:56,587 --> 00:02:00,427 Speaker 3: decades since it began, has lost over wait for it, 34 00:02:00,587 --> 00:02:03,107 Speaker 3: three hundred million dollars, which is staggering. So if you 35 00:02:03,147 --> 00:02:05,907 Speaker 3: look at the playoffs, y you Owe us campaign the 36 00:02:06,067 --> 00:02:08,347 Speaker 3: WA NBA players have a point that this needs to 37 00:02:08,387 --> 00:02:13,267 Speaker 3: be put in proper context. From a solely financial perspective, 38 00:02:13,547 --> 00:02:17,027 Speaker 3: the paid gap for women's bus will one close over night. However, 39 00:02:17,627 --> 00:02:21,347 Speaker 3: continued investment, visibility and collective bargaining efforts of building the 40 00:02:21,387 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 3: foundation for female athletes to earn more of what they 41 00:02:24,987 --> 00:02:27,987 Speaker 3: feel they deserve. The end of the day, pintings, professional 42 00:02:28,067 --> 00:02:30,907 Speaker 3: athletes are paid commensary with what revenue their league makes. 43 00:02:31,387 --> 00:02:35,187 Speaker 2: Absolutely right now, the mighty dollar now staying with basketball 44 00:02:35,507 --> 00:02:39,547 Speaker 2: and to the NBA. The Lakers' sale. Are the Lakers 45 00:02:39,587 --> 00:02:40,827 Speaker 2: for sale? For listen here? 46 00:02:41,747 --> 00:02:45,027 Speaker 3: Yes, so, the LA Lakers made headlines recently when their 47 00:02:45,067 --> 00:02:48,067 Speaker 3: owners of forty six years sold the team in nineteen 48 00:02:48,107 --> 00:02:50,827 Speaker 3: seventy nine. The franchise was purchased by the late Jerry 49 00:02:50,867 --> 00:02:53,947 Speaker 3: bus Or Hall of Fame inductee for sixty seven point 50 00:02:53,947 --> 00:02:55,707 Speaker 3: five million dollars, which is a bit of a bargain 51 00:02:55,747 --> 00:02:57,947 Speaker 3: if you look back on that, and they were sold 52 00:02:57,987 --> 00:03:01,827 Speaker 3: recently for a record ten billion dollars, smashing the record 53 00:03:01,867 --> 00:03:04,987 Speaker 3: for sports franchise by almost four billion dollars. Now the 54 00:03:05,027 --> 00:03:08,187 Speaker 3: new owner, Mark Walter, who also happens to own the 55 00:03:08,227 --> 00:03:11,747 Speaker 3: World Series champion LA Dodgers, that's deep pockets and he 56 00:03:11,787 --> 00:03:14,667 Speaker 3: could possibly fuel the Lakers' return to glory for who 57 00:03:14,707 --> 00:03:17,307 Speaker 3: for most part, had been underwomen in the last few years. 58 00:03:18,067 --> 00:03:21,307 Speaker 3: Another news regarding the famed Purple and Gold are persistent 59 00:03:21,387 --> 00:03:24,147 Speaker 3: rumors of a possible move for one of the greatest 60 00:03:24,147 --> 00:03:27,827 Speaker 3: ballers in NBA history, one Lebron James. He recently signed 61 00:03:27,827 --> 00:03:31,027 Speaker 3: a U two year deal, exercising his player option, meaning 62 00:03:31,387 --> 00:03:35,227 Speaker 3: he'll forgo his free agent status. There's still a possibility 63 00:03:35,267 --> 00:03:37,707 Speaker 3: he'll move on, even though most of his business interests 64 00:03:37,747 --> 00:03:42,147 Speaker 3: are in LA now. As recently as Friday, reliable sources 65 00:03:42,227 --> 00:03:45,387 Speaker 3: reported that James may be traded in the wild five 66 00:03:45,467 --> 00:03:48,947 Speaker 3: team trade deal, seeing him land back in his hometown 67 00:03:48,987 --> 00:03:52,187 Speaker 3: of Cleveland, where his NBA career began as an eighteen 68 00:03:52,267 --> 00:03:54,187 Speaker 3: year old straight out of high school. Even at the 69 00:03:54,187 --> 00:03:56,347 Speaker 3: age of forty, an entry in his twenty third season, 70 00:03:56,747 --> 00:03:58,787 Speaker 3: the first ballot Hall of Famers still seems to be 71 00:03:58,787 --> 00:04:01,147 Speaker 3: a major point of discussion on and off the court. 72 00:04:01,627 --> 00:04:03,787 Speaker 2: Absolutely, have you got a stat of the day for 73 00:04:03,947 --> 00:04:05,027 Speaker 2: us from the NBA? 74 00:04:05,107 --> 00:04:05,147 Speaker 1: No? 75 00:04:05,307 --> 00:04:08,227 Speaker 3: I have, yep, I'll go in now. I should have 76 00:04:08,267 --> 00:04:10,067 Speaker 3: told you to bring your tinfoil hat, but here we 77 00:04:10,107 --> 00:04:13,907 Speaker 3: go to say he's at believe it or not statistic. 78 00:04:13,987 --> 00:04:16,347 Speaker 3: I wanted to share with your audience that during the 79 00:04:16,467 --> 00:04:19,907 Speaker 3: NBA regular season this year, three of the biggest names 80 00:04:19,947 --> 00:04:23,307 Speaker 3: in the league shed something in common that I could 81 00:04:23,427 --> 00:04:25,427 Speaker 3: probably have the X four esteem music plaint in the 82 00:04:25,427 --> 00:04:28,947 Speaker 3: background for effect. But anyway, so all star players Damien 83 00:04:29,067 --> 00:04:33,707 Speaker 3: Linard of the Milwaukee Bucks, Jason Tatum of the Boston Celtics, 84 00:04:34,107 --> 00:04:37,747 Speaker 3: and Arres Harburton of the Indiana Pacers suffered the same 85 00:04:37,947 --> 00:04:41,547 Speaker 3: arcalis tear injuries. And wait for it, they all wore 86 00:04:41,627 --> 00:04:44,347 Speaker 3: the same jersey number zero. There's not just weird or 87 00:04:44,387 --> 00:04:45,347 Speaker 3: simply a coincidence. 88 00:04:45,387 --> 00:04:47,787 Speaker 2: Pinting well, I wouldn't be wearing zero. I wouldn't be 89 00:04:47,787 --> 00:04:52,947 Speaker 2: wearing zero leagues, I'd be changing my second number. Look 90 00:04:52,987 --> 00:04:54,667 Speaker 2: it is. It is one of those I love. I 91 00:04:54,707 --> 00:04:58,387 Speaker 2: love stats and little anomalies like that. I love it. Hey, 92 00:04:58,627 --> 00:05:01,027 Speaker 2: Major League Baseball, where are we with the Major League 93 00:05:01,067 --> 00:05:02,147 Speaker 2: Baseball season right now? 94 00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:06,347 Speaker 3: Yes, so in the A League, we've got the A League, 95 00:05:06,507 --> 00:05:08,587 Speaker 3: American League in the air now or the National League. 96 00:05:08,707 --> 00:05:10,387 Speaker 3: So in the A League we start in the East, 97 00:05:10,387 --> 00:05:14,227 Speaker 3: where we have the Trontred Blue Jays from Canada. They're 98 00:05:14,267 --> 00:05:17,427 Speaker 3: actually leading all the teams in terms of their winning percentage. 99 00:05:17,667 --> 00:05:20,827 Speaker 3: Close behind them are the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros. 100 00:05:21,307 --> 00:05:23,387 Speaker 3: Now in the National League we have the New York Mets, 101 00:05:23,387 --> 00:05:26,627 Speaker 3: who have been the best win and loss record and 102 00:05:26,667 --> 00:05:29,347 Speaker 3: the highest winning percentage, and close behind them are the 103 00:05:29,387 --> 00:05:32,827 Speaker 3: Milwaukee Brewers and LA Dodgers. They're out of those sixteens 104 00:05:32,907 --> 00:05:35,107 Speaker 3: the Brewers. The Milwaukee Brewers are on an eight to 105 00:05:35,107 --> 00:05:37,667 Speaker 3: two tear in their last ten starts, with a slightly 106 00:05:37,707 --> 00:05:40,747 Speaker 3: lower winning percentage in the Blue Jays, and most people 107 00:05:40,827 --> 00:05:45,107 Speaker 3: actually favoring the Detroit Tigers to come out of the 108 00:05:45,107 --> 00:05:47,707 Speaker 3: world and actually make a push for the World Series. 109 00:05:47,987 --> 00:05:51,307 Speaker 3: But the best odds as you'd expect with the reigning 110 00:05:51,387 --> 00:05:54,907 Speaker 3: champion LA Dodgers because their team is absolutely stacked, so 111 00:05:55,187 --> 00:05:57,067 Speaker 3: everyone's expecting them to win it in the end. 112 00:05:58,507 --> 00:06:01,667 Speaker 2: Aaron Judge, the Yankees home run King, You got some 113 00:06:01,747 --> 00:06:04,027 Speaker 2: info on him. 114 00:06:03,747 --> 00:06:06,307 Speaker 3: Yes, that he recently crushed his three hundred and fiftieth 115 00:06:06,427 --> 00:06:10,107 Speaker 3: rear home run, the fastest and Major League Baseball history 116 00:06:10,147 --> 00:06:12,747 Speaker 3: to do. Say so the outfielder, he's truly in physical 117 00:06:12,747 --> 00:06:15,027 Speaker 3: space and I'm not sure you've seen him before, Pony, 118 00:06:15,067 --> 00:06:17,627 Speaker 3: but people want to see him a nation. There's plenty 119 00:06:17,707 --> 00:06:19,747 Speaker 3: of highlights online to see the future Hall of Famer 120 00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:21,947 Speaker 3: doing what he does best. So I didn't bit of 121 00:06:22,027 --> 00:06:24,947 Speaker 3: a background on I'm at high school. He started for 122 00:06:24,987 --> 00:06:28,507 Speaker 3: his high school basketball, football, and baseball teams and still 123 00:06:28,587 --> 00:06:31,347 Speaker 3: was destined for sporting greatness from a young age. Judges 124 00:06:31,427 --> 00:06:35,587 Speaker 3: considered to be one of the best home run hit 125 00:06:35,667 --> 00:06:37,987 Speaker 3: is and right handed batters of all times. That he 126 00:06:38,107 --> 00:06:41,347 Speaker 3: stands at six foot seven, one hundred and twenty eight Telegram, 127 00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:44,067 Speaker 3: you could easily be mistaken for a tiny end or 128 00:06:44,187 --> 00:06:47,187 Speaker 3: middle linebacker for an NFL team. So the thirty three 129 00:06:47,227 --> 00:06:49,667 Speaker 3: year olds won multiple awards many times over and will 130 00:06:49,707 --> 00:06:52,747 Speaker 3: certainly be a first ballot with dipping into Cooperstown once 131 00:06:52,747 --> 00:06:55,747 Speaker 3: he hangs up his pinstripes, just like superstar face of 132 00:06:55,787 --> 00:06:58,947 Speaker 3: the league Shohe or Tiny Aaron Judges again odds on 133 00:06:59,027 --> 00:07:02,627 Speaker 3: favorite to win his third MVP and four seasons this year. However, 134 00:07:02,747 --> 00:07:05,787 Speaker 3: Poney and breaking his just this morning, who was reported 135 00:07:05,827 --> 00:07:08,027 Speaker 3: that Aaron just ruled out of today's lineup and as 136 00:07:08,027 --> 00:07:11,627 Speaker 3: awaiting results on image being performed on his white elbow. 137 00:07:11,667 --> 00:07:13,987 Speaker 3: I think it's fair to say the Yankees fans are 138 00:07:14,027 --> 00:07:16,987 Speaker 3: nervously waiting on the outcome of this injury, as Judges 139 00:07:17,067 --> 00:07:19,387 Speaker 3: their main hope of making another deep running Octaber. So 140 00:07:19,427 --> 00:07:21,227 Speaker 3: we'll keep eyes on that developing story. 141 00:07:21,627 --> 00:07:24,067 Speaker 2: We certainly will. And just to finish some NFL news 142 00:07:24,067 --> 00:07:26,347 Speaker 2: out of season at the moment obviously, but the Steelers 143 00:07:26,427 --> 00:07:29,227 Speaker 2: and their latest contract signing yep. So. 144 00:07:29,307 --> 00:07:31,987 Speaker 3: In the NFL, every team is run underway with mandatory 145 00:07:32,027 --> 00:07:35,267 Speaker 3: training camps, but most interest is happening off the field, 146 00:07:35,587 --> 00:07:38,427 Speaker 3: much like the NBA. Pro football has headlines galore in 147 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:40,667 Speaker 3: the off season, and most of them this year had 148 00:07:40,707 --> 00:07:44,947 Speaker 3: been around the story Pittsburgh Steelers franchise. After finally confirming 149 00:07:44,947 --> 00:07:48,307 Speaker 3: Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback, which dragged on or 150 00:07:48,427 --> 00:07:51,307 Speaker 3: ad nauseum, the attention shifted to their future Hall of 151 00:07:51,307 --> 00:07:55,027 Speaker 3: Famer defenseman TJ. Watt So, the All Pro linebacker has 152 00:07:55,067 --> 00:07:57,867 Speaker 3: been holding out for a new contract extension as one 153 00:07:57,907 --> 00:08:00,227 Speaker 3: of the league's a lead pass rushers since turning pro. 154 00:08:00,467 --> 00:08:02,747 Speaker 3: The thirty year old, who's entering his ninth season, and 155 00:08:02,787 --> 00:08:05,627 Speaker 3: the team front office finally agreed to terms with the 156 00:08:05,707 --> 00:08:08,467 Speaker 3: new deal, a three year, one hundred and twenty three 157 00:08:08,587 --> 00:08:11,787 Speaker 3: million dollar extension which comes with us YEO, I can't 158 00:08:11,827 --> 00:08:14,347 Speaker 3: believe he's amounts. So he's guaranteed one hundred and eight 159 00:08:14,347 --> 00:08:17,947 Speaker 3: million dollars fully guaranteed as signing, making what the NFL's 160 00:08:18,027 --> 00:08:21,427 Speaker 3: highest paid non quarterback. So the forty one million dollars 161 00:08:21,467 --> 00:08:23,667 Speaker 3: average per year puts them at the top of the pile. 162 00:08:24,267 --> 00:08:26,507 Speaker 3: Well now, at least there are a couple of other 163 00:08:26,547 --> 00:08:29,907 Speaker 3: Big nine name linebackers still holding out and also looking 164 00:08:29,947 --> 00:08:32,307 Speaker 3: the cash, and now that what has reset the amount 165 00:08:32,307 --> 00:08:34,667 Speaker 3: for the lead. So wa'ts the space not better if 166 00:08:34,707 --> 00:08:36,787 Speaker 3: you can get to a pony. But as I always allude to, 167 00:08:37,347 --> 00:08:39,907 Speaker 3: the big news is that the NFL regular season kicks 168 00:08:39,907 --> 00:08:41,387 Speaker 3: off and only forty days time. 169 00:08:41,867 --> 00:08:45,227 Speaker 2: Bring it on, I know you're marking the days on 170 00:08:45,267 --> 00:08:48,547 Speaker 2: your wall. Leon Great to Tanty as always mately on Busby, 171 00:08:48,867 --> 00:08:51,347 Speaker 2: our American sports expert taking his states. 172 00:08:51,547 --> 00:08:54,747 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 173 00:08:54,867 --> 00:08:58,267 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZB weekends from midday, or follow the 174 00:08:58,267 --> 00:08:59,787 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio