1 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Ozone Podcast presented by by Star Credit Union, 2 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: featuring Jaguars senior writer John Oser and executive producer Dave 3 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: the Canvas. All Right, welcome into this week's Ozone podcast. 4 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: And I've got to tell you I'm excited about this week. 5 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: This week's guests. It's somebody that I've known for about 6 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: a decade, about nine years. More importantly to the listeners 7 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: of this show, more importantly right now, it's somebody who's 8 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: been around the Jaguars, and more importantly, probably even than that, 9 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: around Jaguars owner Shod Tan and president Mark Lamping for 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: nine years, and with Mark even beyond that. It's Jim Woodcock. 11 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: And for those of you who don't know, he's a 12 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: senior vice president and a partner with Fleischman Hillard and 13 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: that's it's one of the biggest are firms in the world. 14 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: But Jim, or Woody, as he's known to people, he's 15 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: a lifelong resident native of St. Louis. He's been in sports, 16 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: and he's known Shot since right before Shot brought the Jaguars. 17 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 1: He's known him since Shot is involved with trying to 18 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,919 Speaker 1: purchase the Rams. I could go on and on, because 19 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: the relationship that Jim has with Mark and was shot. 20 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: His knowledge of them is very intriguing. That's why I 21 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: wanted to have him on. So without further ado, Jim, 22 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: I want to welcome you in and first of all, 23 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: thank you for doing this, Thank you for taking the time. 24 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: And how have you been? Thanks John? Every think it's 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: great here. Um. You know, I have not been to 26 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: Jacksonville sadly all year due to COVID. Uh. I've been 27 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: following everything you know from far actually have been traveled 28 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: anywhere for the most part. So it's been in a 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: surreal year for all of us. And I'm no exception 30 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: of that. But everyone was helping, happy and and we're good. 31 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: I really appreciate the invite. This is nice of you 32 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: and uh surprise, but welcome the opportunity. Now for people 33 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 1: who don't know, Um, you have an extensive background in sports. 34 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: I know from following Twitter. You're big St. Louis Blues guy. 35 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: Uh and very happy. Last year two thousand nineteen feels 36 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: like a long way away. But tell me about your 37 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: background sort of. How did you get to the point 38 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: of your position where you are now? Uh? Sure, Well, 39 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: I grew up on the the Illinois side of of St. Louis. 40 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: You know, we're the Mississippi River splits Missouri and Illinois. 41 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: And I was I grew up about ten miles away 42 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: from the Arch, so had the you know, the feeling 43 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: of I'm I'm very much an Illinois guy, if you will, 44 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: but of St. Louis. And and I went to college 45 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: at the Eastern Illinois University, which is you know, happy 46 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: to say is the home of Tony Romo, Shan Peyton, 47 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: Jimmy Garoppola. We've had a really good track track record 48 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: football there. Uh, not so much maybe in journalism, which 49 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: is what I studied there, but uh uh and then 50 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: I was a newspaper guy for for ten years, uh, 51 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: mostly in the St. Louis well, definitely the St. Lois 52 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: Markham suburban newspapers, the suburban chain a short a short 53 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 1: period with the St. Louis son uh, mostly doing a 54 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: contract work for them in high school sports and college sports. Uh. 55 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: And then from there went to uh Fleshman Hillard, where 56 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: I was assigned uh this Anheuser Busch sports marketing work 57 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: and ultimately met Mark Lamping, who was at Annheuser Busch 58 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: at the time. UH. He was running sports marketing at 59 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: Annaheuser Busch Uh and Uh, I was there for about 60 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: four or five years or so at Fleshman Hillard and 61 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: then you mentioned the Blues. The Blues were my lifelong 62 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: love growing up. Um. I love the Cardinals, love the 63 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: football Cardinals, the Big Red now the Arizona Cardinals. But 64 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: the Blues were something special to me, and Uh, they 65 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: learned me over there for eight years to to run 66 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: you know, I was a senior VP of marketing communication 67 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: with the Blues. I loved it, but we had a 68 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: lockout season that literally wiped out the entire two thousand four, 69 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: two thousand and five season. Right. Uh return to Fleshman 70 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: Hillard to to launch our sports practice. And here I 71 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: am now fifteen years later, very privileged, and I've got 72 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: great clients around the world. And shod Mark the Jags, 73 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: they're they're part of that family. So we started off 74 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: with the same path to Jim. I was an ink 75 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: stained wretch as well, and then you took the smart 76 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: path getting out of it. I stayed in it. So 77 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: thus the separation in our in our world. So, UM, 78 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: tell me about how you met and how you got 79 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: with shod Con because it's it's it's an intriguing story. 80 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: They really involves Jacksonville in a way. Just take me 81 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: sort of through that timeline if you will. Well, first, UM, 82 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: you know, my my experience with Jacksonville actually predate shot 83 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: UM back in U near the early nineties. St. Louis was, um, 84 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: you know, one of the candidates for expansion after the 85 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: after the Cardinals left for Phoenix and UH first quarter 86 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: of believe it was UM we were one of the 87 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: front runners, if not the front runner, for an expansion team. 88 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: And Fleshman Hillard uh was one of a number of 89 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: agencies that was working, you know, to bring the NFL 90 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: back to St. Louis. UM and I you know the story, Well, 91 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: obviously they're in Jacksonville. Uh, you know, Charlotte or the 92 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: Carolina Panthers got the first uh the first uh you know, 93 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: expansion spot, and then it came down to St. Louis 94 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: and Jacksonville. And I think I think it's fair to 95 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: say that the league was trying to give St. Louis 96 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: every every opportunity to get its act together, but knowing 97 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: that Jacksonville had a really really strong uh you know, bid, 98 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: the league was in a good spot. And but I'll 99 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: be honest, you know, I thought that we had it, 100 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: and I'll never forget the day. Um when you know, 101 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 1: back then there wasn't you know, the connectivity that we 102 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: have today. So it was literally a word of mouth. 103 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 1: We started hearing on the floor, uh you know, just 104 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: the word Jacksonville, and it was just like Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Like, 105 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: oh no, you know, they must have gotten it. And 106 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: we all ran to our to the window offices which 107 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: could get a radio and then listen to camel Wax 108 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: and the music come out that Jacksonville had been awarded 109 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: the uh the second expansion uh spot. And we were, 110 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: you know, dumbfounded, and that first of all, it was 111 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: an earned win for Jacksonvill. There's no question about that. 112 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: I've learned that even more so since I've gotten close 113 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: to Jacksonville. Uh, your your your bid was unbelievable. Um. 114 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: I probably didn't understand quite that much at the time, 115 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: you know, being the same lame and but no question, 116 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: Mr Weaver and everybody there is, the city officials in 117 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: the community just did an amazing job. Again I didn't 118 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: probably fully appreciate at the time. Um, you know, we 119 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: bring the rams from Los Angeles to St. Louis and 120 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: then the Jaguars launched. It's just like everything worked out 121 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: for a reason, or it seems so at the time. Uh, 122 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: and now here I am. You know, however, many years later, 123 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: twenty five years later, I suppose and the Jacksonville Jaguars 124 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: are my NFL team if you will, that there are 125 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: a client, but they are also a team I'm very 126 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: passionate about personally. It's just funny how you know life works. Uh, 127 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: it really is. Jacksonville, you know, just stole just just 128 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: droves take in my heart. And then of course and 129 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: then you know, in two thousand, it looked as though 130 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: our Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to play 131 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl and I was, you know, thinking, wow, 132 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: isn't this is gonna be something? You know that that 133 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: you know it was it was Jacksonville and St. Louis back. 134 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: Who would have thought, you know, and it lands to 135 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: two thousands to be, you know, a St. Louis team 136 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: and the Jacksonville team playing for the Super Bowl and 137 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: didn't happen for the Jacks unfortunately. And we had a 138 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: great memory obviously with the creatial in turf. So anyway 139 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: to this all happened before I met shot and then 140 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: Georgia Frontier, the owner of the RAMS, during that run, 141 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: she passes and then the RAMS situation opens up and 142 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: gets squirrelly for lack of a better word. Uh, but 143 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: how did that sort of pave the way for you 144 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: to become connected with Shot? Um? So it's the when 145 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: I returned to Fleshman Hillard in two thousand and five 146 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: for for for a period of time, the all three 147 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: local sports teams were a client, and I had to 148 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: make sure that everybody was comfortable with that. So the 149 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: Rams were a client. So this is two thousand and 150 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: five and at the time there, you know, the luster 151 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: of the great show and turf had had pretty much 152 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: worn off UM and the team started to struggle a 153 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: little bit, and that was Mike Martz was kind of uh, 154 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: you know, there was some some strife to to to 155 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: say in the least, and so I tried to to help, 156 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: you know, the team with with a little bit of that, 157 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: and uh uh stayed with the team and the Rams 158 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: were good client for us. And then Georgia passed away, uh, 159 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: and I got to know her children, Chip and Lucia, 160 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: Chip Rosen Blue, Lucia Rodriguez. Uh, who were the you know, 161 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: the heir apparents to to keeping the Rams, you know 162 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: or owning the Rams, I should say. And she passed 163 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: away and so Chip rely took well, both Chip and 164 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: Lucia took a real day to day you know interest 165 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: in the Rams. And it was unclear initially whether they 166 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: were going to keep the Rams you know is owning 167 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: the Rams that is, or sell them. Uh. They ultimately 168 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: determined that they wanted to sell and uh uh I 169 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 1: had another client that was interested in buying the Rams, 170 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: so that put me in a little bit of a conflict. 171 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: So I kind of had to separate just a bit, 172 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: uh during that process that the Rams were for sale, uh, 173 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: because I really couldn't represent the team and and and 174 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: one of the bidding parties, if you will, um and uh. 175 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: So one morning in February of two thousand and ten, 176 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: I woke up to the morning news, and kudos to 177 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: the Rams and everybody involved the time because they kept 178 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: everything super insulated and confidential. I had no inkling that 179 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: I would be looking at my screen that morning and 180 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 1: seeing a picture of a man I never heard of 181 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: before my life. Shot con is the prospective new owner 182 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: of the St. Louis rams and um, I was getting 183 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: texts and calls from everyone in St. Louis and media 184 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: and otherwise, what do you know about this guy that's 185 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: not your guy that you were represent learning you must 186 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: be crushed and which I was. And because I thought 187 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: my client wasn't going to uh be it wasn't the choice. Uh. 188 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: And I didn't know anything about Shot con Uh. So 189 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: I went to the office that morning, uh, a little 190 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: bummed out to be fair, and uh there was a 191 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: message already waiting for me on my land line, which 192 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: rare rarely is used anymore. And what is that I 193 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: missed it? Actually I really do and the fax machine 194 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: and I'm an old school guy. And uh. But it 195 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: was shots attorney, who who had had been also working 196 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: with Mark Lamping, who left St. Louis earlier a few 197 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:52,359 Speaker 1: years earlier to h to manage the construction and conception 198 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: Medlife Stadium in the in the Midowlands. And so SHOT's 199 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: attorney was representing Mark in New York and Shot uh, 200 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: and they asked if there was someone in St. Louis 201 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:04,160 Speaker 1: that can help Shot along. So Mark says, well, you know, 202 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: you need to talk to this guy and it was me. 203 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: So just very brief period, I was I was sort 204 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: of you know, out of sorts because I was thought 205 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: it would be kind of cool if my client had 206 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: gotten the opportunity to to to own the Rams and UH, 207 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: so I Shot asked if I would be interested in 208 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: helping him, and I cleared it with my client and 209 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: that client said, yeah, that's great. You know, it wasn't 210 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: meant for me, so you know, please proceeded. And so 211 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: that was early two thousand and ten, and I got 212 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: to know Shot extremely well for a short period of 213 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: time because there was a sixty day window in which 214 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: Stan Cronky, who of the Rams, this was a majority 215 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: purchase that that Shot he wasn't that. The offer wasn't 216 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: to buy all uh, it was to buy the majority 217 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: uh of the Rams, which was and Stan Cronkie at 218 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: the time had forty and had the options and to 219 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:05,839 Speaker 1: match whatever another buyer would put forward. Um, he had 220 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: sixty days to do that. And at the time everyone 221 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: felt that that was really impossible for him to do 222 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: because there were some NFL policies at the time that 223 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: prohibited what they call a cross ownership. And I'm not 224 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: sure that's really in play anymore. But at the time 225 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: it would appear that he would have wouldn't have qualified 226 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: to be the percent owner of St. Lois Rams. So 227 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 1: everyone just thought it was just a matter of protocol 228 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: and procedure and that Shot would get the sixty and 229 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: stand cronkity to keep his forty or else maybe sell 230 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: his fort tow shot. But after sixty days he U 231 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: he uh matched And so now it was in front 232 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: of the league to deliberate as to what to do, 233 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: and uh the uh you know that what happened was 234 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: the league h approved Mr Cronky is owner of the Rams. 235 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: And at the time that was a loss for Shot, 236 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: you know, And yeah I did. At the time, I 237 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: didn't know if i'd see him again, work with him again. 238 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: I didn't know if this was just a one one 239 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: swing at the you know, at the plate, or if 240 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: he was you know so. But it was a great 241 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: experience all the same because I got to know him, 242 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: um and it was really didn't get to know him 243 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: because he didn't want to be a presumptive like taking 244 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: a victory lap like I'm here to own the Rams 245 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 1: and do a lot of interviews and all that. We 246 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: we actually played that right, you know, just to kind 247 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: of lay low until he was approved. No different than 248 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: we did. And when when he was introducing Jacksonville, we 249 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: introduced him in November of that year and he didn't 250 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: appear in Jacksonville for another month. Um uh so, but 251 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: it was a great experience and and uh it ended 252 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: up forging a relationship that I had cherished to this day. 253 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: You think for people listening, the reason I wanted Jim 254 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: to talk extensively about St. Louis and how he met Shot. 255 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: The crux of what we're going to talk about today 256 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: is Jim knows Shod and Mark and sort of how 257 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: they tick and what they feel about Jacksonville and Jim, 258 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: I know when we've talked over the years, your impressions 259 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: of Shod when he bought the Jaguars, which is when 260 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: you came back into play. Uh, there's a real passion 261 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: on his part for the city and the organization, if 262 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: you will that. I'm not sure fans really grasped that much. Uh, 263 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: you know you were with him during this process. I 264 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: met you, I think the same day I met Shod, 265 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: which I believe was in Dallas, when he received the 266 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: team and the excitement level for or not received the team, 267 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: but a shelled out all the money for the team. 268 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: But just tell me about his passion for the city, 269 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: which I think some people can't quite get their heads 270 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: around even to this day. Well it's uh, it's certainly genuine, 271 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: um um. In fact, well, I'll tell a quick story 272 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: about sure. When when when? When? Um? When? When his 273 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: attorney called me, I guess it was October of two 274 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: thousand and eleven. I think I checked in with Shot twice, 275 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: maybe after after he lost his opportunity with the Rams, 276 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: So about a years, year, fourteen months past or whatever. 277 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: I probably email him once or twice, And believe me, 278 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to do it more often, but I didn't 279 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: want to past room. You know. Um uh, but he said, 280 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: you know, I'm always looking. You know, I'm glad you're 281 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: staying in touch and all that. But any rate, his 282 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: attorney called me and said, you know, what's your plate 283 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: look like? How much you have some capacity here at 284 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: the end of the year because Shot has something that's 285 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: it's gonna happen and he can use your help. And 286 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: I I said, oh, you know, I love the guy. 287 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: I said, you know, please bring me on whatever it is. 288 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: And and um, I said, and if it's if it's 289 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: not something I can like really personally like manage day 290 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: to day or whatever. We have offices throughout the United States, 291 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 1: which we do. Fleshman's got I don't know, thirty offices 292 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: I guess around the United States and eighty around the 293 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: world and so on. So I said, we'll be able 294 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: to take care of Mr Khan and he said, well, 295 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: you probably won't have an office where he's looking. And 296 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 1: I didn't know if he was looking at the NFL, 297 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: the NBA or whatever, and he mentioned Jacksonville. And I 298 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: could have been more surprised. I don't know why. I 299 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: was surprised because I didn't know what to expect when 300 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: I got the phone call. But it's just like, wow, 301 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: you know the jackson Jaguars and um and and he said, 302 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: and the attorney at the time, I forget exactly his 303 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,959 Speaker 1: exact words goes, and he loves it. He loves Jacksonville. 304 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: He's had some experiences there from his huddle, uh you know, 305 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: his auto business, and and he just loves everything about it. 306 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 1: It's a really good fit for him. Don't don't take offense, 307 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: you know, but it's probably a better fit for him 308 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: than St. Louis would have been. And um, and he goes. 309 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,199 Speaker 1: You know, his enthusiasm is really off the charts, you know, 310 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: for for not only the opportunity to to to see 311 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: his dream come through, to be one of a very 312 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: few people in the world to own an NFL team, 313 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 1: But it was in Jacksonville. It was in Jacksonville. So 314 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: I got back on the phone shot and you know, 315 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: he gave me us a little bit of his background 316 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville, and uh, I don't what in miss legion. 317 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: It wasn't like he was spending a ton of time 318 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville over his career, but he but he liked 319 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: Jacksonville and he really liked the opportunity that you know 320 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: that it was just like, I forget his exact words, 321 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,439 Speaker 1: and they were his words. You know. It's like, we 322 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: can't be the world's you know, best kept secret much longer. 323 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: And it's just unacceptable. You know, we we're gonna do this, 324 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,199 Speaker 1: We're gonna do that. You know. Um, you can't if 325 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,639 Speaker 1: he would have purchased the New York Science you know, 326 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: hypothetically or you know, he wouldn't be able to say, hey, 327 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: you know what New York isn't uh you know, all 328 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: it can be or whatever, you know, but but Jacksonville 329 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: was that kind of city, you know. He was just like, 330 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: you know, that's what he also liked about it. It 331 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: was just, you know, the ceiling was was for all things, 332 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: was so high and and and there was the opportunity 333 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 1: for him to play a role in that. So um 334 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: got to got to start working with him again. And 335 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 1: we went to New York for the Finance Committee meeting 336 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 1: where he was a career and uh, he asked me 337 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: to come along because the number of I no, I 338 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: don't think you were there, John, but there was a 339 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: number of Jacksonville media that were encouraged not to show 340 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: up because there was nothing to see and cover not 341 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: but nonetheless they did. And I told Shot, I said, 342 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: you know what, it's it's good that we we meet 343 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 1: with them because you're gonna be living with these reporters 344 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: and you know, for the rest of your lives and 345 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: and uh it's and they're traveling along way, we must 346 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: give them some time and all that sort of thing. 347 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: And I felt like I had to talk him into 348 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: and he's like, no, this is great, you know, and 349 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: he wanted to, uh, you know, learned as much from 350 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: them as he was giving, you know. And and I 351 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: was like, well, this is really cool. You know. He 352 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 1: you could just tell he was he was already making 353 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: a connection with Jackson before he really really uh uh 354 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: set foot uh. And then it was the following week 355 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: when I met you John that uh, you know, he 356 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 1: was approved. And then the next night was a Thursday 357 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: night game in Atlanta. Yeah, and I met him down there. 358 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: We we went to the game with the Weavers. We 359 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,440 Speaker 1: sat in the booth or the box of the Weavers, 360 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: you if you recalled it. It was just a terrible game. 361 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: I had a tough night, but there was still like 362 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:49,159 Speaker 1: the sense of you know joy, you know. Uh, I 363 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: don't know, I can't speak for how how Wayne and 364 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: Delora's felt. It had to be certainly bitter sweet. And 365 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: you know, the day after after the the approval, uh, 366 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: the team really laid an egg that night. But nonetheless 367 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: there was this sense of renewal and an opportunity and 368 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: all that. And before I'll stop talking to a minute, 369 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: but the one thing that I'll never forget is we 370 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: flew in that night. Then it was very very late, 371 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: um uh, because the game ended at like eleven o'clock 372 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: or something like that, some crazy and then we flew 373 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: from from Jacksonville, I'm sorry, from Atlanta to Jacksonville. I 374 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: landed and cecil it you know, some really bad hour. 375 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: But we flew over downtown Jacksonville and before we landed, 376 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: and maybe that's where you have to go anyway, because 377 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,360 Speaker 1: I am not gonna lie it on fly privately very 378 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 1: often from Atlanta Jacksonville. But it was it was just 379 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: it was just beautiful downtown, uh, you know, with the 380 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 1: with the with the lights reflecting off the river and 381 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: the colors on the on on the bridges and and 382 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: Shod's wife and was was with us, and she's like, oh, 383 00:21:57,320 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 1: this is what a beautiful city. And I was thinking 384 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: to say think, I'm like, yeah, you know this is 385 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 1: this is just amazing, you know, And and I just 386 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: kind of looked at it like I told you so. Um. 387 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,360 Speaker 1: And that's really how he sees it, isn't. I mean 388 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 1: that we talked a little bit before this. There's a 389 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 1: love and a connection he has for this that I 390 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 1: think it's hard sometimes like for me as a writer 391 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 1: when I say it's like, uh, you're just saying that 392 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: because you worked for the team John. But again, you've 393 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: known the man for nine years, and so he sort 394 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: of know how to makes some tick. That's a real 395 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:36,199 Speaker 1: thing for him. It is, it is and and uh, 396 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 1: you know, like the last year or so because of 397 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 1: COVID and everything, and obviously nobody I just told you 398 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: I haven't been down there myself at all. But he 399 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,479 Speaker 1: likes to go out to dinner. I'm sure that a 400 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: lot of a lot of your listeners have probably seen him, uh, 401 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 1: you know out. He He's not somebody who you know, 402 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 1: I really want to be private tonight. He loves to 403 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: go out and be in Jacksonville, and he loves he 404 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: loves it being part of the process whatever, whether that's business, 405 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: whether that's uh, you know, the political process. You know, 406 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: he's a player, uh, and he's active, and he's committed 407 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: and invested because he feels that, you know, Jacksonville, well, 408 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: he doesn't feel that. He knows that Jacksonville is part 409 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,719 Speaker 1: of his DNA for the rest of his life. You know, 410 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 1: he's this is this is a place that in two 411 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 1: thousand and eleven, uh, you know, became one with him, 412 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:34,400 Speaker 1: okay um. And so he has a huge interest and 413 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: passion for all things Jacksonville, whether it's the people, whether 414 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: it's the business sector, whether it's the Jaguars. And he's 415 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: an ambitious guy, you know, so with that comes you know, 416 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: he sees Jacksonville, and he sees downtown, and he sees 417 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: you know, and I'm talking a little bit out of 418 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: the football space because we can all agree that that's 419 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: been disappointing, you know, but everything around the football which 420 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: is in his mind has in important you know, are 421 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:05,360 Speaker 1: very important certainly, um he cares a lot about and 422 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: he he wants it to be. He wants jackson to 423 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: be the best of camping. And let's not to say 424 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 1: that it doesn't have just you know, just great upside already. 425 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 1: But he's an ambitious, forward thinking, progressive person guy who 426 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,439 Speaker 1: you know, Jacksonville to him is is a place that 427 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: that can sort of mirror I think, who he is 428 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 1: and um uh, you know, be better, you know, and 429 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: and and and really reach it's it's it's potential, and 430 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: I think downtown is probably the the focus of those 431 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: of his vision in that respect. I want to dig 432 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: into a little bit of that a little bit more 433 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: in a minute, but sort of keeping with the timeflow 434 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: of our conversation. Tell me about that first year a 435 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:57,360 Speaker 1: little bit, um, as Shods sort of learned the NFL 436 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,639 Speaker 1: along with you that two thousand eleven in the early 437 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 1: I guess, the Malarkey Smith era until he sort of 438 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,399 Speaker 1: got his feet wet about being with him as he 439 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: sort of learned in the NFL. Well, Um, I'm gonna 440 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: go back a little bit to the to the to 441 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: the to the Finance committee meeting in New York prior 442 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: to his first season when he was approved by the 443 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: Finance Commitee, which was very very important. Um, and when uh, 444 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: we were walking to the NFL offices, and again, I 445 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 1: hadn't spent a lot of time with Shot at that 446 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: point in my life and my career, more than most, 447 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 1: you know, but but not much, so I didn't know 448 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:41,919 Speaker 1: exactly when was the right time to say, hey, you 449 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 1: know what, from what I could see of your front office, 450 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:47,159 Speaker 1: and it's early, I really haven't met anyone yet outside 451 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: of Dan Edwards, who was outstanding. But at the time 452 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: I really had, I hadn't met anyone. I don't think 453 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 1: I hadn't met anyone else. I said, it's it's it's 454 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: a front office that I think probably can use a spark. 455 00:25:57,320 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: Uh and there seems to be a little bit of 456 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,520 Speaker 1: a malaise and and and I've got somebody I think 457 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 1: you ought to talk to you. It was Mark Lamping. 458 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: And I've gotten to work with Mark back nearly nineties 459 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:07,879 Speaker 1: and stuff, and I was thinking, well, I don't know 460 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: if that's a risk for me to like, you know, hey, 461 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: you know. He shocked and said, hey, you know what, 462 00:26:11,760 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 1: I'm hiring you for one thing and one thing you 463 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: and I don't need you know, uh, you know, personality council. 464 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: But but but he he listened, and so we got 465 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,640 Speaker 1: through the closed on the Jaguars and and uh January 466 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 1: of two thousand and twelve. Uh and I think around 467 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: that time he did me a favor and he interviewed Mark. 468 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 1: But I told him, I said, I'm doing you a favor, 469 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 1: trust me on this. Uh. So Mark was hired I 470 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:45,520 Speaker 1: think in February. Uh and um he started then. And 471 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:51,920 Speaker 1: that first year, Um, you know, uh, you know, look Mark, 472 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 1: Mark has done more in sports and than I'll ever know. 473 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,120 Speaker 1: So I'm sure he was as influential and as close 474 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 1: to him as I would have ever been during that 475 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 1: first year. But that first year was just so magical 476 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: from from a from a communications standpoint, because shod story, um, 477 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: it was always the same story. You know, where he 478 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: came from, how he got to the United States, his 479 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: his vision, his his his uh you know that we 480 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: all know by now the you know, the the bumper 481 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:25,840 Speaker 1: that's on all of our vehicles today. You know his 482 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: Um it's it's an amazing story. And that was always 483 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: his story. But it was an untold story because he 484 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: was until he bought the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was an 485 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: engineer out of the University of Illinois who stayed in 486 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,440 Speaker 1: Urbana and Champagne in the middle of the United States. 487 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: Uh and and ran flexing gate. And his his magical 488 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: story was hadn't really been told. So now he's he's 489 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: he's the first minority owner of the NFL. Everybody wants 490 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 1: to talk to him. Frankly, you know, I wanted people 491 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,199 Speaker 1: to talk to him because when I first got to 492 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: know him, I said, I said, Shod, you've got to 493 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: two paths you can choose here. I said, one is 494 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 1: you can be uh behind the scenes, uh sort of withdrawn. 495 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 1: It's worked for a lot of NFL owners uh and 496 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: and and that doesn't make them bad owners or or 497 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: distant or or detached or absentee. They just aren't out there. 498 00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,680 Speaker 1: And that's okay, it's not really who he is. Well, 499 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: I don't know if it might have been who he 500 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: was prior to Jacksonville Bye bye, you know, because in fact, 501 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: I think it actually kind of was who he was 502 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,959 Speaker 1: because his flexicate never uh now, he's he's always had 503 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: the energy and he's always had, you know, the passion 504 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: for it, for the automotive industry and anything in his life. 505 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: He goes at it hard, but not noisy, you know, 506 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 1: it's it's it's he just he just has, you know, 507 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: an energy about him that is infectious sense, very real, 508 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: and you know it once you've experienced it personally. But 509 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: if you're not, if you're in the middle of the 510 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:09,239 Speaker 1: United States and Illinois and you're running a h An 511 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 1: automotive you know company, uh from there, you're not well 512 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: known by any stretch. And I think he didn't mind that. 513 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 1: But then I said, you could. You can. You could 514 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: be worth two billion and still be under the radar, 515 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: which you can. That's that's I don't know that personally, 516 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: but but but but yeah, you can't, I said. The 517 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: other path you can take. I said, you, your story 518 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: is really inspiring and you you you can make an 519 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 1: impact on lives. Uh. That that beyond Jacksonville, but in 520 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: particular in Jacksonville where there might be some like what 521 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: was this mean for a football team or what was 522 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:53,959 Speaker 1: this mean for? Uh, you know, our city and everything else. Um, 523 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 1: they need to get to know you. And you are 524 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: you bring life to everything you're you know, you're you're 525 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: involved in all that. Really I would if I were you, um, 526 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 1: consider sharing your story and and and uh and he 527 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 1: was good with that. So that first year, uh, while 528 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: he was getting you know, acclimated to running an NFL 529 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:19,760 Speaker 1: franchise and hiring you know, Mark and Mark hiring a 530 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: front office and so on, he was also uh we 531 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: you know, we did a cover story win Forbes. Which 532 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:31,040 Speaker 1: was the title of that story was the New Face 533 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: of the American Dream, um, which was a wonderfully written 534 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: story by Brian Salmon that I think still stands up today. 535 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: And we did sixteen minutes. Uh. And then and we 536 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 1: went to we went to Pakistan and I went with 537 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: him and we saw where he grew up and and um, 538 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: so that first year was was special. It really was. 539 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: And Uh, sadly, you know, the the football team didn't 540 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 1: play well that year, but that was also um a lesson, right. 541 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: You know, he he kept some people around, he hired 542 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 1: a head coach. He he relied on advisors and people 543 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: in the game to help him with with that head 544 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: coach search. And and it didn't work out. And he 545 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 1: made he made a pretty bold, fast decision, uh you know, 546 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: to to cut the chord with with Jean Smith and 547 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: Mike mclarkey. And at the end of twelve, yeah, I 548 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: after one year and uh, um you know, and again 549 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: you know it's still you know, those great results are 550 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: still elusive for Shot and all of us. But um, 551 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: you know, he's his commitment and his passion for forgetting 552 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: getting it right is no no different than it was 553 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: when he came in to Checksambo in two thousand eleven. 554 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: You know, you spend a lot of time with Shot 555 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: and there's a perception, I think because the team has 556 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: not done well really except for two thousand and seventeen. 557 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:08,479 Speaker 1: You know, somehow there's a perception that football isn't as 558 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: important as business. And it it baffles me because every 559 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: conversation I've ever had with Shot, that's never the impression, 560 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 1: but you spend more time with him. It it kills 561 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: him to lose, does it not? It does it? It does? Sean, 562 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: I would say, I think he I know, he handles 563 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 1: as well. Um, he's he doesn't have a temper. He 564 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: doesn't He's not explosive. Um, he's not going to make 565 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:46,479 Speaker 1: someone you know, pay for the team's you know, defeat 566 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 1: or whatever by barking at someone on the way out 567 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: or whatever. He's just not that kind of pression, you know. Um, 568 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 1: but he it gnaws at him and he's unhappy. And 569 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:02,480 Speaker 1: there are times where you know, I can I feel it, 570 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: I see it. I'll just say any notion that he 571 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: doesn't care whatever is way off, because, uh, everything he's 572 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 1: done in his life and his career has has been 573 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 1: a win. Um. And this will be to um. It's 574 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 1: just but it's it's been you know, the journey on 575 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: the field to this point is has has challenges, There's 576 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: no question about it. But if if if if if 577 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 1: if fans or anyone sort of would like to see 578 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: him kind of like just you know, go off after 579 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 1: after you know, after a certain defeat or whatever, that's 580 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:43,320 Speaker 1: probably not gonna happen. Um. But if they want to 581 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: know whether he cares uh and and and is concerned 582 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: and is committed. I can assure you have all that, 583 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: there's no doubt. Yeah, I've seen him after wins and losses. 584 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: I have not sat with him the way that you have. 585 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: But again, it it always baffles me, I would say, 586 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 1: makes me laugh, except it's you know when people say 587 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 1: that that doesn't matter to him, because I've seen the 588 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:16,439 Speaker 1: emotion and it's it's a real thing. And again, most 589 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 1: people don't get a chance to watch games with him. 590 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 1: I'm sure you have, and it's a real thing. So well, 591 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:27,359 Speaker 1: so it's funny about watching games with him. I, um, well, 592 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:31,520 Speaker 1: there's two there's two experiences watching a game, which one 593 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: it's on the road and it's at home. Okay, oh yeah, 594 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: on the road. Um, he will still try to load 595 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 1: up his suite with maybe local people that like, like 596 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 1: from from his Flexing Gate automotive company, that maybe are 597 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:51,000 Speaker 1: work in that area, right like Troy or Chicago or 598 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 1: or in Texas or whatever. Uh, you know, he likes 599 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,319 Speaker 1: to have guests in the sweeping. Normally on the road 600 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,960 Speaker 1: there's there's some elbow room and and you can actually 601 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,880 Speaker 1: you know, maybe have more conversations with him, and I 602 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 1: think he probably watches the game a little closer you know, 603 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:11,719 Speaker 1: on the road than at home where uh his he 604 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:16,239 Speaker 1: his suite is like an open house, and I think 605 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,760 Speaker 1: that speaks to lack person he is. You know, he's 606 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: he has lots of guests in relatives, friends, he his 607 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: best friends from from the University of Illinois who you know, 608 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:30,879 Speaker 1: his fraternity brothers. They will fly up or fly down 609 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:34,400 Speaker 1: excuse me for for games. Um. He likes to share 610 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: his experiences and his his fortune quite frankly with those 611 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:41,640 Speaker 1: who are important to him in his life. So the 612 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:44,759 Speaker 1: idea that you could sit at a game in Jacksonville 613 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:47,360 Speaker 1: and just like like literally hear you know, his thoughts 614 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 1: on that last you know, third down call or whatever. 615 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:54,439 Speaker 1: It's usually not happening. He's usually shaking someone's hand or 616 00:35:54,800 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 1: having a conversation or or whatever. And I think that's that. 617 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:03,959 Speaker 1: You know, he can part analizes really well. I think 618 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,280 Speaker 1: you know what's important, right, You know, he wants people 619 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,480 Speaker 1: when they leave t I a bankfield, he wants them 620 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 1: to be wants of them are going to be celebrating victory. 621 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,600 Speaker 1: And to make that really clear. Okay, but he also 622 00:36:15,760 --> 00:36:19,000 Speaker 1: wants everyone to be happy with the experience, and whether 623 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:23,600 Speaker 1: that's you know, with the enhancements that happened over his stewardship, 624 00:36:23,719 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 1: with the you know, the stadium scoreboard, the pools, the 625 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,200 Speaker 1: party areas and all that, or his guests in his 626 00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 1: suite and everything else. He wants everyone to leave satisfied 627 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:37,320 Speaker 1: and happy and with those experiences. And so I actually 628 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:38,960 Speaker 1: prefer if you if you don't mind me saying, I 629 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:40,560 Speaker 1: like to watch a game with him on the road 630 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,239 Speaker 1: because I get to listen to him, you know, you know, 631 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:47,120 Speaker 1: his thoughts on on the play calling, on performances and 632 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:50,120 Speaker 1: everything else. But either way, it's very special and in 633 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 1: both cases he wants to win the opportunities ahead for 634 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 1: Jacksonville now, and everybody knows what's going on with a 635 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: lot J. Conversation with the vision and tell me, uh 636 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 1: Jim about his vision, what's going on with a lot 637 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:15,799 Speaker 1: J and what the Jaguars see for downtown Jacksonville, because 638 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 1: sometimes when things get into sort of back and forth 639 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 1: like it's been going on, the big picture gets lost. 640 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 1: And you know, the big picture in terms of what 641 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 1: they see for this as well as anybody. Yeah, well, 642 00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 1: the one thing that's been hard to to to to 643 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 1: convey and understandably. So this is you know, when when 644 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:40,000 Speaker 1: you have a vision of this ambitious and uh there 645 00:37:40,040 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: there is a stake from the city and from uh 646 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, Shots ownership and all that's running. They there's 647 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 1: there'll give me some complexities, right and and it's completely 648 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 1: fair to to dig into those and understand you know, 649 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:58,239 Speaker 1: how this is all going to work out. Um. One 650 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:01,440 Speaker 1: thing that unfortunately is has overlooked a lot of times 651 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 1: is what that endgame looks like and and and you know, 652 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:09,000 Speaker 1: we used the term vision and Shots Shot almost defines 653 00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:12,200 Speaker 1: that concept. Vision. He has a vision and it's not 654 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:15,479 Speaker 1: just for downtown Jacksonville. He has a vision for Flexing Gate, 655 00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:19,759 Speaker 1: for full and Football Club, for aid W, for for 656 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:23,960 Speaker 1: everything that that's in his universe. Um. And I've had 657 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:28,320 Speaker 1: the opportunity, uh here in St. Louis, you know, Courtish Companies, 658 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 1: uh created a development that actually was initially envisioned, if 659 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 1: you will, by Mark Lamping when when he Mark was 660 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 1: the president of the Cardinals, and he did a great 661 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:43,080 Speaker 1: job not only keeping the old Bush Stadium on life support, 662 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:46,000 Speaker 1: but actually renovating it and and enhancing it over time. 663 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:49,440 Speaker 1: That people just couldn't imagine that we needed a new stadium, 664 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:53,000 Speaker 1: but we did, and and and uh and and Mark 665 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:55,399 Speaker 1: led the charge in St. Louis to to to build 666 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 1: a new stadium. And then you know the Ballpark Village development, 667 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:03,799 Speaker 1: which is courtish and so I have the benefit of 668 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:07,160 Speaker 1: seeing what the kind of impact it can make on 669 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:11,080 Speaker 1: a downtown in a community. Uh, the people in Kansas 670 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:12,719 Speaker 1: City can I've been to the one in Kansas City 671 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:15,399 Speaker 1: as well. Uh, power and Light. I believe it's called 672 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:21,359 Speaker 1: um and and it is if that's just unfortunately we're 673 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:25,319 Speaker 1: not seeing that that that element, that story element, you know, 674 00:39:25,400 --> 00:39:29,400 Speaker 1: sort of surface you know during this process. And I 675 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:32,759 Speaker 1: wish I could, you know, hopefully I can describe what 676 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: what what's in store for Jacksonville, because that's what Shot 677 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:37,400 Speaker 1: wants and that's what certainly Mark wants to is this 678 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:40,279 Speaker 1: this can and will be a destination that that I 679 00:39:40,320 --> 00:39:43,400 Speaker 1: think it's hard to sort of grasp until you have 680 00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:50,640 Speaker 1: to experience it yourself. Um And in St. Louis, for instance, Uh, 681 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:53,520 Speaker 1: now there's eighty one baseball games, right, you know that 682 00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:56,839 Speaker 1: still leaves a big hunk of of of the year. 683 00:39:56,960 --> 00:39:59,080 Speaker 1: Like you know, you're wondering well, you know what happens 684 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:00,920 Speaker 1: was under years their days and if you take a 685 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:03,640 Speaker 1: look at the football season, it's even more right. So 686 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:06,000 Speaker 1: it's it's fair to wonder, like what does it mean 687 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:09,840 Speaker 1: like you know day to day. Well, what I didn't 688 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,840 Speaker 1: anticipate is the I guess you called the programming or 689 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 1: how how how Ballpark Village in St. Louis, for instance, 690 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:25,680 Speaker 1: truly comes to life daily nightly, with with events that 691 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 1: that draw people downtown that don't live in downtown, they 692 00:40:29,560 --> 00:40:33,560 Speaker 1: draw them downtown. And now are you know, really serving 693 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:36,560 Speaker 1: as the catalyst for people to live downtown because there's 694 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:40,359 Speaker 1: this nerve center of activity that I I think we'll 695 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:43,600 Speaker 1: look different in Jacksonville because Jacksonville is a different kind 696 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:46,800 Speaker 1: of market. But you know, like in St. Louis will 697 00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:52,160 Speaker 1: have a calm watch parties. That's unfair because these are bigger, okay, 698 00:40:52,200 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 1: but that like you know, around World Cups and when 699 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:58,239 Speaker 1: the women's team was winning it's World Cup and and 700 00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:00,680 Speaker 1: even even when we had the pgh ampionship in you're 701 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,040 Speaker 1: gonna listen to thousand eighteen, we were we were having 702 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 1: huge events at our ball Park Village, our live destination 703 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 1: there um for for golf. Now Uh, and like your 704 00:41:12,239 --> 00:41:16,120 Speaker 1: New Year's Eve parties and and uh, Ballpark Village has 705 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:20,480 Speaker 1: become this this really a destination. Ever since the word 706 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 1: that I didn't anticipate. I for some reason in my head, 707 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:27,680 Speaker 1: I was thinking this would be like a cool sort 708 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:29,880 Speaker 1: of Wrigley vill kind of thing when the Cardinals are 709 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:32,520 Speaker 1: playing and then you know, you hopefully get you know, 710 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:35,480 Speaker 1: business lunches during the day otherwise, but other than that, 711 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:37,960 Speaker 1: it's going to be sort of dark. Not it has 712 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:41,720 Speaker 1: not been the case. Um, so you can imagine something 713 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:44,520 Speaker 1: like that in downtown Jacksonville. And I've spent a lot 714 00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:48,920 Speaker 1: of time the time of downtown Jacksonville. Um It's it's 715 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 1: unimaginable until you actually experience it. And it's yeah, it's 716 00:41:55,560 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 1: hard when you're trying to create something that hasn't been 717 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:03,880 Speaker 1: in there before, especially when there has been failure in 718 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: that area for years. It's hard for people to see 719 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:11,200 Speaker 1: the vision until it's there. And that's really the case 720 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:14,279 Speaker 1: of the I don't know how to really describe it. 721 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: It what I what I will say is is so 722 00:42:17,640 --> 00:42:21,000 Speaker 1: like we're not in St. Louis, We're not a significant 723 00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:25,879 Speaker 1: college football market. Uh, you know, we love it, but 724 00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:29,600 Speaker 1: not like to like Jacksonville loves its college football. I 725 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:33,120 Speaker 1: can just imagine forget about the Georgia Florida game, you 726 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:39,240 Speaker 1: know which that that'll that'll be you know, unbelievable. But 727 00:42:39,239 --> 00:42:45,040 Speaker 1: but just every college football Saturday. Um, this development will 728 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:48,960 Speaker 1: become something that you couldn't have imagined having lived without 729 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 1: until you actually have it, and you'll wonder why why 730 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: it took so long? I really believe that, because you 731 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:59,120 Speaker 1: know that that people will come from from with with 732 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:02,799 Speaker 1: all the different opportunities to watch and enjoy yourself down 733 00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:06,480 Speaker 1: there with other with other activities in and around the games. Uh. 734 00:43:06,480 --> 00:43:09,000 Speaker 1: And again like here in St. Louis, we know we 735 00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:12,680 Speaker 1: have concerts uh there there at our at our development 736 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 1: of Ballpark Village. And and in fact, what what I 737 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:22,120 Speaker 1: often do when possible is if we have big announcements 738 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:25,239 Speaker 1: like press conferences from Major League Soccer and the netments 739 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,000 Speaker 1: and the women's national soccer teams when they come to St. Louis, 740 00:43:28,239 --> 00:43:32,279 Speaker 1: we actually have those events at Ballpark Village in the 741 00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:36,920 Speaker 1: live venue and let and now only let we encourage 742 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:39,799 Speaker 1: fans to come, you know, to to to celebrate these 743 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:44,800 Speaker 1: announcements and that and and they become parties and betimes 744 00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 1: the daily heartbeat, and that's really where it truly does. 745 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:51,440 Speaker 1: And it's understandable that that you know, to some degree 746 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:56,399 Speaker 1: this has been overlooked and perhaps not has has been 747 00:43:56,440 --> 00:44:00,680 Speaker 1: promoted as well as maybe uh should have been or 748 00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:03,800 Speaker 1: can be uh And that's on me and assist perhaps, 749 00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:07,719 Speaker 1: but you know, there's an important discussion UH that we 750 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:11,480 Speaker 1: all agree is critical obviously, and these are these are 751 00:44:11,520 --> 00:44:13,920 Speaker 1: big steps for a city in a downtown and we 752 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:16,279 Speaker 1: get that and Shot and market that. So I mean, 753 00:44:16,880 --> 00:44:20,080 Speaker 1: no problem there, but if but if if if everyone 754 00:44:20,120 --> 00:44:22,040 Speaker 1: were able to take a step back and really see 755 00:44:22,040 --> 00:44:23,799 Speaker 1: what I've been able to see, and I think, what 756 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:26,959 Speaker 1: what what Jacksonville will be able to see in short order, 757 00:44:27,680 --> 00:44:30,640 Speaker 1: they'll they'll get it and it'll be like we can 758 00:44:30,719 --> 00:44:34,719 Speaker 1: use more of this and and um in downtown Jacksonville. Again, 759 00:44:34,800 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 1: it's it's potential. I'm telling you, this is someone who 760 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:39,359 Speaker 1: loves coming there a five, six, seven times a year 761 00:44:39,440 --> 00:44:42,160 Speaker 1: or whatever. It's just like sitting you know that that 762 00:44:42,320 --> 00:44:45,600 Speaker 1: the Sports Complex and Bay Street and and you know, 763 00:44:45,760 --> 00:44:49,400 Speaker 1: just it's it's like saying, come and take me here, 764 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:52,320 Speaker 1: let's do something really cool. And that's how Shot sees it. 765 00:44:52,880 --> 00:44:54,439 Speaker 1: You know again, I don't want to sound hockey here, 766 00:44:55,239 --> 00:45:01,400 Speaker 1: but there's a labor of passion and of that shot 767 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:04,120 Speaker 1: has for the city that you know, I always have 768 00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:07,840 Speaker 1: trouble getting across the people because it's just hard for 769 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:10,520 Speaker 1: me to describe it. But that's sort of what this 770 00:45:10,640 --> 00:45:12,719 Speaker 1: is about, right, I mean, he has a vision for 771 00:45:12,840 --> 00:45:16,680 Speaker 1: it and it sort of wants the Jaguars and Jacksonville 772 00:45:16,760 --> 00:45:21,840 Speaker 1: to grow together. I guess for sure he's he's um 773 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:25,400 Speaker 1: when when we'll talk about London here for just just briefly? 774 00:45:25,480 --> 00:45:28,959 Speaker 1: And when when? Uh? When? When? In two thousand and twelve? 775 00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:31,920 Speaker 1: This talks to his ambition when when he he said, hey, 776 00:45:31,960 --> 00:45:33,680 Speaker 1: you know what we're gonna play was three or four 777 00:45:33,719 --> 00:45:37,640 Speaker 1: games or whatever over the next four years in London. Uh. 778 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:40,560 Speaker 1: And I'm going to be your greatest ambassador. What how 779 00:45:40,760 --> 00:45:42,840 Speaker 1: how are you? He put it At the time I 780 00:45:42,880 --> 00:45:47,600 Speaker 1: saw him do that, um um. And that's you know 781 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:51,319 Speaker 1: that that think about like a market beside of Jacksonville. Um. 782 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:55,120 Speaker 1: As he said famously, it's like, you know, one of 783 00:45:55,160 --> 00:45:57,240 Speaker 1: our best kept secrets in the United States. But shouldn't 784 00:45:57,280 --> 00:46:00,040 Speaker 1: be any longer. He went in boldly to to in 785 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:04,799 Speaker 1: London and and we had you know, um meetings and 786 00:46:04,840 --> 00:46:06,960 Speaker 1: access into some of the buildings and you know, like 787 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:09,800 Speaker 1: you know, he's he's been everywhere in Janet in London 788 00:46:09,880 --> 00:46:15,040 Speaker 1: and and talking about Jacksonville and and and he's passionate 789 00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:17,400 Speaker 1: about it. He still is. I mean that that hasn't changed. 790 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:19,360 Speaker 1: I mean it's not just in London, it's just wherever 791 00:46:19,360 --> 00:46:24,319 Speaker 1: he goes. Um. He carries with him Jaguars jerseys when 792 00:46:24,400 --> 00:46:27,600 Speaker 1: when he when he travels on business and UM, and 793 00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:32,080 Speaker 1: he's he's just he just loves the city. He does. UM. 794 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:35,319 Speaker 1: But you know, to be fair, he also feels that 795 00:46:35,840 --> 00:46:41,560 Speaker 1: it has untapped potential, you know. And and he's just somebody. 796 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:47,799 Speaker 1: He's an ambitious uh you know, wheneveryone I don't call 797 00:46:47,840 --> 00:46:51,520 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur. Although you know that's how he really started 798 00:46:52,200 --> 00:46:56,120 Speaker 1: early on in flexing Gate, just just you know, cold calling. 799 00:46:56,200 --> 00:46:58,040 Speaker 1: That's how we ended up getting into the NFL. He 800 00:46:58,080 --> 00:47:00,600 Speaker 1: picked up the phone and called them in line at 801 00:47:00,719 --> 00:47:03,040 Speaker 1: at the NFL and said, who I talked about owning 802 00:47:03,040 --> 00:47:10,160 Speaker 1: a team? Okay, that's this true story to that he 803 00:47:10,280 --> 00:47:15,080 Speaker 1: got the audience, you know, so so um. So that's 804 00:47:16,200 --> 00:47:19,640 Speaker 1: if anyone's uncomfortable with with with you know that sort 805 00:47:19,680 --> 00:47:22,840 Speaker 1: of approach. Uh that that may just be something that 806 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:25,839 Speaker 1: everyone had to cope with, because that's that's who he is. 807 00:47:25,960 --> 00:47:30,719 Speaker 1: He's since he bought the Jags. Um, he's he's bought 808 00:47:30,800 --> 00:47:33,520 Speaker 1: full him. He's he's he's about the Four Seasons hotel 809 00:47:34,040 --> 00:47:39,480 Speaker 1: in Toronto. Um he's he's launched Black News Channel. Uh 810 00:47:39,680 --> 00:47:44,360 Speaker 1: all eat Wrestling. Um, I'm forgetting that. You know the 811 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:48,200 Speaker 1: development right now at Fulham with Fulham Pier where they've 812 00:47:48,200 --> 00:47:51,560 Speaker 1: taken out the entire riverside stand. Um. Everyone thought when 813 00:47:51,560 --> 00:47:54,319 Speaker 1: he bought uh Fulham, like was this mute for us 814 00:47:54,320 --> 00:47:56,240 Speaker 1: and all that, and like they already thought he was gonna, 815 00:47:56,600 --> 00:47:59,880 Speaker 1: you know, build condos on the property and moved the 816 00:48:00,000 --> 00:48:02,200 Speaker 1: teams somewhere else in London and all that setting. Well, 817 00:48:02,320 --> 00:48:05,480 Speaker 1: he's doing what he said he would do, you know, 818 00:48:05,920 --> 00:48:10,160 Speaker 1: and he's seen his vision through. Um and even like 819 00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:14,440 Speaker 1: you know what, when when things don't happen the way, 820 00:48:14,480 --> 00:48:16,799 Speaker 1: maybe he would like for him to turn out like 821 00:48:16,800 --> 00:48:20,400 Speaker 1: like like Wembley. Uh he he picks up, moves on, 822 00:48:20,680 --> 00:48:24,799 Speaker 1: you know what's next. So this is something that's really 823 00:48:24,840 --> 00:48:29,000 Speaker 1: important to him, um, and that is to to see 824 00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:33,640 Speaker 1: Jacksonville Uh sort of a rebirth if you will where 825 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:37,880 Speaker 1: where it can be everything it should be UM, and 826 00:48:38,040 --> 00:48:41,120 Speaker 1: he's committed to it, and I think, I think, I 827 00:48:41,160 --> 00:48:45,160 Speaker 1: think Jacksonville will relish the day that it becomes reality, 828 00:48:45,239 --> 00:48:48,080 Speaker 1: because take it from someone like me who comes in 829 00:48:48,120 --> 00:48:50,680 Speaker 1: and out, and I just I really love the city. 830 00:48:50,719 --> 00:48:52,360 Speaker 1: I love the people there and all that city. But 831 00:48:52,400 --> 00:48:55,840 Speaker 1: I can see, you know, I can see like this 832 00:48:55,960 --> 00:48:59,840 Speaker 1: canvas there that's just waiting to be to be painted, 833 00:49:00,160 --> 00:49:02,560 Speaker 1: and and Shod sees it in different ways than any 834 00:49:02,560 --> 00:49:05,960 Speaker 1: of us can and and hopefully compels lead. Well, the 835 00:49:06,040 --> 00:49:08,919 Speaker 1: vision UH is unmatched. And I've you know, for nine 836 00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:12,319 Speaker 1: years covering Shot. Whatever I write about him, it's it's 837 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:18,160 Speaker 1: all or talk about him. It's tough to describe UH 838 00:49:18,360 --> 00:49:20,960 Speaker 1: because there's a lot of facets to it. And that's 839 00:49:21,000 --> 00:49:22,879 Speaker 1: a big reason I wanted to have you on today, Jim, 840 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:26,040 Speaker 1: was just to talk about that and uh, you know, 841 00:49:26,080 --> 00:49:32,040 Speaker 1: maybe give people an idea about UH, the man's personal 842 00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:34,680 Speaker 1: side if somebody who knows and so I can't thank 843 00:49:34,719 --> 00:49:36,640 Speaker 1: you enough for doing that. I can't thank you enough 844 00:49:36,680 --> 00:49:41,000 Speaker 1: for taking the time today. Uh. I think listeners have 845 00:49:41,960 --> 00:49:45,799 Speaker 1: learned a lot about Shod Mark, the Jaguars and sort 846 00:49:45,800 --> 00:49:48,080 Speaker 1: of the direction that it's trying to go right now. 847 00:49:48,080 --> 00:49:51,040 Speaker 1: So Jim Wolcock, I appreciate your time and thank you 848 00:49:51,080 --> 00:49:53,520 Speaker 1: for joining you his own podcast. Well, thanks, John, and 849 00:49:53,520 --> 00:49:56,239 Speaker 1: I appreciate it and I hope you back in Jacksonville soon, 850 00:49:56,320 --> 00:50:00,680 Speaker 1: and happy holidays to everyone. Go Jacks. All right, don't 851 00:50:00,680 --> 00:50:03,319 Speaker 1: want to thank Jim again for joining us. Uh, We're 852 00:50:03,320 --> 00:50:05,400 Speaker 1: gonna go a little different in terms of closing it 853 00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:08,120 Speaker 1: out today because Jim and I talked for about an hour. 854 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:11,279 Speaker 1: I'll thank Dave to Candice for again making me look 855 00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:13,719 Speaker 1: better than I am. Thank Joe Fortunito for making me 856 00:50:13,760 --> 00:50:16,080 Speaker 1: sound better than I am. Thank you to Jim Woodcock 857 00:50:16,120 --> 00:50:18,960 Speaker 1: for joining the ozone podcast. I think listeners learned a 858 00:50:18,960 --> 00:50:21,520 Speaker 1: lot and I know this one absolutely didn't suck. We'll 859 00:50:21,560 --> 00:50:22,319 Speaker 1: see you next week.