1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. The world changing and 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: what are things we can do to transform our business 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: and engage our fans globally in different ways, people are 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: using their name and likeness to create more opportunities, more 5 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: stakes and companies. In order to turn the organization around, 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: we had to turn it around, not only just on 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: baseball operations side, but on the business operation side well, 8 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:22,959 Speaker 1: and any other sport is very difficult, but I like 9 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: to blub my horizons and be able to expand. Sports 10 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: need to be consumed a live and not to the 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 1: big competitive advantage for in artial property holders of sports 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: content in the media landscape. Bloomberg Business of Sports from 13 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,599 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Hi everyone, I'm Jason Kelly, and I'm Mike 14 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: Lynch and I'm Michael Barr. Every week of this time 15 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: plus Mondays and Wednesdays, we explore the big money issues 16 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: in the world of sports. And today we got a 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: jam pack show. Fellows, we're gonna hear some of my 18 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: interview with soccer Star president and co owner of the 19 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: soccer Club Into Miami. Yeah, we're talking about David Beckham. 20 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: A wide ranging conversation and we talked a little bit 21 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: about the MLS. We talked a little World Cup, even 22 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: talked a little Super League. As a fan, I know 23 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: how important it is to have fans in the stadium 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: and supporting, And that's why these decisions that get made 25 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: in sports are so critical, because it changes people's lives 26 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: and it changes people's perspective. Plus, we speak with Gabe Helpman, 27 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 1: director of the Two Lane Sports Law Program, about the 28 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: Supreme Courts of Landmark ruling on the compensation for college 29 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,680 Speaker 1: athletes and the latest on the n i L legislation. 30 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: It is going to be I don't think this is 31 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: an overstatement, the biggest change in college athlete rights in 32 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: our lifetime. All of that is coming up on the 33 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports Show. But first let's talk about 34 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: some of the top stories of the week. And we're 35 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: not going to go far here, guys, because the top 36 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: story of the week in the business of sports really 37 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: is the n C Double A and it's amazing how 38 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: many people are weighing in and candidly, how can assistant 39 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: it is. Earlier in the week, our colleague David Weston 40 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: spoke with Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. That's one of 41 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: the states that is adopting name, Image and Likeness legislation 42 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: that goes into effect this coming week. Here's what she 43 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: had to say. When you look at the amount of 44 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: money that is involved in college athletics, and you look 45 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: at the n C Double A and the way they 46 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: have really taken advantage of the contracts with networks and 47 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: with these schools, but you don't have anything accruing to 48 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: the student, and we think it's important for them to 49 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: own their name, image and likeness. That is Senator Marsha 50 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: Blackburn speaking with David Weston earlier this week on Balance 51 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: of Power Lynch, I think it's fair to say we 52 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: saw a damn not just crack, but really break this 53 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 1: week between the Supreme Court and then July one being 54 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: such a key day the n C Double A Mark 55 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: Emert coming out and basically saying, all right, we're gonna 56 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: put some rules into place, at least on a temporary 57 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: basis while we wait for Congress. This is the biggest 58 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: change in college sports we've seen in our lifetime, absolutely, 59 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: and this is going to be a bridge. Emerate is 60 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: working very, very swiftly because when July one comes, there 61 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: are a number of states ready to go including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, 62 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 1: and New Mexico. Big big college football states and college 63 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: basketball states. And this is really gonna undercut the the 64 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: n C Double a's grip on these teams. It's just 65 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: gonna be the beginning of the end. And I can't 66 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: wait for a conversation later in this show with Gabe 67 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: Felm and hear what he has to say, especially with 68 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: Justice Kavanaugh coming out, who's a conservative. And plus it 69 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: was a unanimous decision nine nil. Not a lot of 70 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: unanimity about anything these days, all right, So so bar 71 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: give us the fans perspective here. I mean, you love 72 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: sports and in all shapes and sizes and stripes. Does 73 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: this change potentially the way you look at college sports 74 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: going forward? Know? Because first of all, what what is 75 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: going to change for me is that And and like 76 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: Lynch he said, you got you know, Texas and Alabama 77 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: and they're all getting ready to go. The problem is 78 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: schools that I love, the University of Michigan, they're not 79 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: ready to go yet. So now what happens because that's 80 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: not a small university, that's a big university there. So 81 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: I want to see how all this is going to 82 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: get cleaned up. But yes, I and I and I 83 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: say this also to the students to take advantage of 84 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: the educational incentives that they would get, you know, because 85 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: a lot of these college students, the odds to make 86 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: it to the pros is very small. So take advantage 87 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: of it. Now. If you can get some help for 88 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: your college education, do it. And I want to and 89 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: I hope that that helps you succeed in other parts 90 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:58,679 Speaker 1: of their life. And we're gonna talk with Gabe Felman 91 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: about this. I mean, it's importan and I think as 92 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: we examine the economics of this to understand that there 93 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: are some economics that are going to change on the 94 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 1: educational side, at least pretty immediately owing to this Alston 95 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: case what known as the Alston case that the Supreme 96 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: Court ruled on. But the name image enlightness piece is 97 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: massive because you know, you're gonna have a situation where 98 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: everything from a big brand and apparel maker can do 99 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 1: a deal with a college student too, you know, the 100 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: local car dealership or the local sandwich shop, you know, 101 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 1: basically being able to say, you know, this star player 102 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: uh at Boston College, you know loves our sandwiches, or 103 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: is buying a car where it drives our our type 104 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,039 Speaker 1: of vehicles. So it's gonna be fascinating to see. I 105 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: think there's real money. I think you're gonna have an 106 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: ecosystem that's really going to be created here in all 107 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: new ecosystems, some of which Lynchy is you know, has 108 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 1: been sort of a shadow ecosystem for a long time. 109 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: And and part of what's going to happen is this 110 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: is gonna be at least at the beginning, hopefully on 111 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: the up and up, well four hundred and sixty thousand 112 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: student athletes participate in sports in the n C double 113 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: A two or less than two percent will play professional sports. 114 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 1: So that's sort of you know, sports the theory, grab 115 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: what you can and grab it. Now. Come on down 116 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: to Ernie Box Chevrolet and Trevor Lawrence will sign an 117 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: autograph and take a picture with your family for just 118 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: think like after you kicked that winning field goal, Lynching, 119 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: like you would have been in heavy demand, you know, 120 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: like you would have you know, you would have been 121 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 1: the star of all that You probably were the star 122 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: of all the bars there and in Cambridge, but you 123 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: know it could have could have made some cheddar there. 124 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: All right, Um, so let's move over to see a 125 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: commercial Lynch for Windows r US because if you broke one, 126 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: exactly Lynchi for the win. Uh. In any case, here's 127 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 1: another thing that I think is fascinating and catching all 128 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: of our attention this week, which is Major League Baseball 129 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: kind of the gang that can't shoot straight, I gotta say. 130 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: I mean, they have found themselves embroiled in this insane 131 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: controversy to some extent. And it's not an insane controversy 132 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: as much as I should say how it is being handled. 133 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: And Trevor Bauer Cy Young Award winner, of course from 134 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: last year. He was a guest on this show last 135 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: year as well. He's got a YouTube channel. Here's what 136 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: he had to say about how the league is dealing 137 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: with this quite literal sticky situation. I do think it's 138 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: good that they're doing something about it. Finally, I don't 139 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: think it's smart to do it in the middle of 140 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: the season. I think it's ridiculous that they have chosen 141 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: to do that after basically just lying to players and 142 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: teams and everybody is saying, we're not doing anything about 143 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: it this year. Nothing's gonna change, just do what you do. 144 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: It's frustrating. It was all in the side, all yeah, dear, 145 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: was the side there? H Lynchy? In some ways, I 146 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: gotta tell you it is. It is well intentioned. I 147 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: agree with with what Trevor Bauer said. I think they 148 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: do need to do something about it. But man, you 149 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: watch the the drama that's literally unfolding in games this 150 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: week and managers calling for pictures to essentially be searched, 151 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: and the pictures, shall we say, not reacting well to 152 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: that suggestion. What happened here? What went wrong? Well, you 153 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: look at some of the numbers when they started on 154 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: Monday doing this and inspecting pictures. The league wide batting 155 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: average was two thirty seven, the lowest since we've already 156 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: had six no hitters here. The record for Famili hitters 157 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: in one season is seven. So there's obviously a great 158 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,080 Speaker 1: imbalance here between the pictures and the hitters. And the 159 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated article I think really just opened everybody's eyes 160 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: when it was written that eight of pictures use some 161 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: type of substance on the baseball. So uh, it has 162 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: prompted all kinds of reactions. You probably saw Max Scherzer 163 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: and Joe gar an the other night with Washington and Philadelphia, 164 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: and unfortunately this has become the most exciting part about baseball. 165 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: No one is all your long is talking about any 166 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 1: picture or any hitter, say for Otani out with with 167 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: the Angels out in Anaheim. This is all anybody's talking 168 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: about in Major League Baseball is the doctor Baseball's and 169 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: the reaction from the hitters and the pictures and the 170 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 1: managers as well. Yeah. I mean meanwhile, if you think 171 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 1: about it, and I now have waited many minutes into 172 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: the show to talk about the Atlanta Hawks, I was 173 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: just like, as you have, you know, an incredible sort 174 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: of athletic series of athletic performance happening uh in the 175 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 1: NBA playoffs. I E. E. G. Young commentree, Um, this 176 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: is this is all we're talking about. To Lynch, He's 177 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: point bar when it when it comes to baseball, if 178 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,840 Speaker 1: you're baseball, if you're Rob Manfred, this these are not 179 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: the headlines you want at this point. It's not good 180 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: for the fans. It's going to be a big mess. 181 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: And they got to figure out what they want to do. 182 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: If they want to check a picture when he comes out, 183 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: do it then before he starts pitching because in the 184 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: middle of the game, that's gonna be a mess. Well, 185 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: we'll see you know ultimately how this affects the bottom 186 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 1: line in terms of either fan attendants in terms of viewership. 187 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: I mean, this will play out through the numbers. You know, 188 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: the economics of all of these sports are fragile. We 189 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: know that, we know that from last year, and baseball 190 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: we also know more than any other sport really depends 191 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: on fan engagement for its revenues. So I am not 192 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,839 Speaker 1: optimistic at this moment about where baseball is. We're coming 193 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: up on collective bargaining UH later this year. All signs 194 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,079 Speaker 1: point to a deal, and yet this sort of acrimony 195 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: UH doesn't bode well for the future of the business 196 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: of baseball. Well, let's get back to that big story 197 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: of the week, the n C double A call sports. 198 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: They are changing, there is no doubt about it. And 199 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: the big news this week really was around the Supreme 200 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: Court and of course looking ahead to July one, which 201 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: is a big, big date when it comes to name, 202 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: image and likeness. No one knows this better and I 203 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: say that with a lot of confidence than Gabe Fellman. 204 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: He is the director of the two Lane sports law program. 205 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: He's the associate provost for n C Double A Compliance. 206 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: Plus he's a fellow podcaster. He's got Between the Lines, 207 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: a podcast about sports and the law gave I said 208 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: to you before we came on the air, you're the 209 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: hardest working man in Hollywood this week. You are heavy 210 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 1: in demand. So it's really good to get some time 211 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: with you. You know, we know the news of this week, 212 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: but distilled down for us, what does it mean in 213 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: the short and midterm. Well, first of all, thank you 214 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: for having me on. It's an important question because it 215 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: would seem pretty obvious based on all the headlines that 216 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: this seems to be the beginning of the end for 217 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:00,080 Speaker 1: the n Double A. And it maybe. But in a 218 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: short term, this was a really narrow decision by the 219 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: Supreme Court, and it was narrow because there was only 220 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: really narrow issue in front of it, and that narrow 221 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: issue was whether the NC Double A as a whole, 222 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: all the schools in the n C Double A were 223 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: permitted under untitrust law to restrict a subset of compensation 224 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: to college athletes, and that subset of compensation where benefits 225 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: related to education, so laptops, science equipment, musical equipment, post eligibility, 226 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: scholarships and internships, and some cash for our academic performance. 227 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: And the Supreme Court said there is no basis under 228 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: untrust law for the n double A to restrict that. 229 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: It's illegal under n trust law. So they're enjoined at 230 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:49,439 Speaker 1: their stopped. They're legally prevented from enforcing those rules, which means, 231 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: starting really two days ago, that the n C double 232 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: could no longer agree to put those restrictions in place. 233 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: What it doesn't mean, though, and I think this is 234 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 1: what people are either assuming it means or hoping it means. 235 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: It doesn't mean that the NSIMBILA can't continue to restrict 236 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: those payments that are unrelated to education, like pay for 237 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: play or or even pay for a name, image and 238 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: likeness um. So that was untouched by the nine justices, 239 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: obviously Justice Kavanaugh or to concurring opinion that say, hey, 240 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: if it were my choice, I would blow up everything 241 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:23,040 Speaker 1: and say it's all illegal. But that was just one justice. 242 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: What the Supreme Court said is that these limited subset 243 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: of restrictions on education benefits, that's illegal. It's now up 244 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: to the conferences or the schools to decide what the 245 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: rules are so we know what they can't do, we 246 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: just don't know what they will do. Right, So we 247 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: know the NSABA will no longer agree to those rules 248 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 1: association wide, but it's now left to be determined what 249 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: they will do going forward. There are a lot of 250 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: concerns because of this ruling that this is going to 251 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: separate the schools from the haves and the have nuts 252 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: the smaller schools because the bigger schools can offer more 253 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: perks to the students. I just like to get your 254 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: thoughts and weigh in on what you think. Yeah, it's 255 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 1: it's definitely a concern that's been expressed. It was an 256 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: argument that the n c double A made early on 257 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: in the litigation, and they've made it for the last 258 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: several decades, and then they dropped it during the litigation. 259 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: And I think they dropped it because there's a general 260 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: recognition now that the big schools are already so far 261 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: separated from the small schools that nobody is going to 262 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 1: choose to go to no offense to Alabama State, but 263 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: Alabama State over Alabama because you can get a better 264 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: laptop at Alabama State. If you go to Alabama, you 265 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: already getting better perks. Those perks are in the facilities, 266 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: are in the coaching staff, there in the weight room, 267 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: there in the meals you get. Um, there's already that 268 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: that massive gap. I don't think this narrow subset is 269 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: going to change anything. If anything, it will just mean 270 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: that all schools have the opportunity to provide more education 271 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: related benefits to college athletes. And if that does lead 272 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: to an education related arms race, I'd take that over 273 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: facilities based arms race. UM. So I think ultimately this 274 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: is good news for college athletes. I don't think it's 275 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: bad news for colleges in the short term. I think 276 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: the problem for the n double A is that this 277 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: may be in the beginning of a series of anti 278 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: trust cases that they lose because although the remedy in 279 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:20,080 Speaker 1: this case was narrow, and the reason then simply is 280 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: worried about it and critics of the anti air celebrating 281 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: it is because the Supreme Court said, despite the arguments 282 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: subject and I trust law, just like every other industry 283 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: in the country, they don't get special treatment. We're not 284 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: giving them any difference. They have to fight all of 285 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: their rules under anti trust law just like everybody else does. 286 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: So gave following up on that there. I think there's 287 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: roughly universities and schools and colleges in the n C 288 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,680 Speaker 1: double A. It's safe to say the majority of them 289 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: don't want to or can't afford to pay for any 290 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: of these perks. Do you see maybe creating a new division, 291 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: as Mike said that between the haves and the have 292 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: nots or don't want to I don't think yeah. I 293 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: don't think that would happened over these education benefits, because again, 294 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: I just don't think it's going to have that much 295 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: of an impact on recruiting. I think it's going to 296 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: be a drop in the bucket compared to name, image 297 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: and likeness. I think it's going to be a drop 298 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: in the bucket compared to the facilities, compared to the 299 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: coaching there um, and so I think it's the smaller 300 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: schools that already have the much smaller facility will continue 301 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: to offer um smaller education benefits. I just think it's 302 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: going to be consistent. I don't think it's going to 303 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: lead to a riff between the half and the have not. 304 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: If that happens, and it may, we may have the 305 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: Power five or the Power two or three breakaway and 306 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: form a quasi professional or just a different league. UM, 307 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: I don't think that will happen over this this particular case. 308 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: It might be the next case if the schools are 309 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: allowed to pay beyond the education expenses so they can 310 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: offer hundred thousand dollars to the athletes to come to 311 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: the school, that would make it truly unsustainable for the 312 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 1: small schools. I don't It's not as if these small 313 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: schools are not already providing education benefits to the athletes. 314 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,439 Speaker 1: This is just saying you can't limit it. Um. But 315 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: there's nothing in the opinion. Actually, the opinion says the 316 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: conferences can continue to do so, so the IVY League 317 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: can say, no, we're not going to allow our schools 318 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: to pay UH athletes five thousand dollars for academic achievement awards. 319 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: I think those continue in place, and I don't think 320 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: we'll notice much of a difference in the way the 321 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: game is played or how the conferences are structured. You know, Gave. 322 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: What's so fascinating and especially I would imagine for someone 323 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: like you who's followed this for so long, is it 324 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: is all sort of happening at once in many ways. 325 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you sort of can't make up the fact 326 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,719 Speaker 1: that you know, the Supreme Court this past week does this, 327 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 1: you know this coming week July one, is this sort 328 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: of seminal moment where nineteen states, I believe it is 329 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 1: so far, you know, have these name image and likeness 330 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: laws on the books. Sort of synthesize this for us. 331 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,600 Speaker 1: Help us understand because the name image and likeness piece, 332 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: and you and I have talked about this before, is 333 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:05,920 Speaker 1: potentially much more important economically, certainly in the short term. 334 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 1: What's going to happen, especially now that the NZ double 335 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 1: A finally feels like and I'm editorializing a little bit here, 336 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 1: seems to be at least kind of getting it backed 337 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: together and saying, all right, okay, we're gonna put some 338 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: rules in place, but you're still waiting on Congress, like, 339 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: help us unpack this a little bit. Yeah, I think 340 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 1: you've You've touched on all the really important levers here. 341 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: There has been Congressional interest in this. There's obviously state interest. 342 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: As you said, nineteen laws will go into effect um 343 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: for almost all states have at least introduced her or 344 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: considering introducing legislation around name imagine likeness. There is the 345 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: often decision, and there's the the n double itself has 346 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:45,680 Speaker 1: been meeting for the last year and a half to 347 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: talk about this, and now it's all come to a head, 348 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: and in part because then Double A, I think now 349 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,119 Speaker 1: explicitly or admittedly was waiting to see what the Supreme 350 00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:58,119 Speaker 1: Court would say in often before they finalize their n 351 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: I L rules. Now they have the decision, and it 352 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: just happens to be a week before July one, when 353 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,959 Speaker 1: the state laws will take effect. Um the nsdublay appears 354 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: to be saying, even if you're in a state that 355 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: doesn't have a law that takes effect July one, college 356 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: athletes will have the right to make money off of 357 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: their name engine likeness, and the schools just need to 358 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: come up with their own policy and there'll be some 359 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:22,719 Speaker 1: basic guidelines in place, but it's up to the schools 360 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: to fill out the details. And really the two basic 361 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: guidelines are just can't be paid for play and it 362 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: can't be used as a recruiting inducement, and presumably the 363 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: schools won't be able to make the payments. So this 364 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: is designed to allow third parties to pick athletes for 365 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: the use of their name imaged likeness, and the college 366 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: athletes can hire representation that can hire agents, marketing agents, 367 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: someone to help them negotiate these deals, which means come 368 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 1: July one, college athletes all across the country will be 369 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: allowed to do traditional endorsement deals with are all companies. 370 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:59,200 Speaker 1: Will be able to make appearances, they'll sign autographs for money. UM, 371 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: they can make money off of social media, they can 372 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,879 Speaker 1: promote camps or clinics that they're going to do. It 373 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:08,360 Speaker 1: is going to be I don't think this is an overstatement. 374 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: The biggest change in college athlete rights in our lifetimes, 375 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: and as you said, it so happens to be coming 376 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,359 Speaker 1: right after the Supreme Court has made maybe one of 377 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: the biggest decisions or it's probably the biggest decision around 378 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: college sports. So they are related, but as we've talked 379 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: about that, they're not directly related because the Supreme Court 380 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: opinion does not talk about n I L. It's it's 381 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: just education related benefits, and I L are not educational 382 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: related benefits. Um. The bigger change, as I was saying before, 383 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: I think will be the college athletes ability to monetize 384 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: their name, image and likeness. That's where I think the 385 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: greater number of dollars will flow to college athletes and 386 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: I think that's the bigger step to greater rights for 387 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: for college athletes. I think this is all part of 388 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: the same evolution that we're seeing college athletes have a 389 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 1: larger voice and more economic freedom, um and name them 390 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: to likeness, in my mind is the much bigger step 391 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,160 Speaker 1: than the education benefits that the Supreme Court just gave them. 392 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,360 Speaker 1: And so as we wrap up here gave I mean, 393 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: I have to ask you, and this is going back aways. 394 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: But but again you know this better than anybody. You know, 395 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 1: as as tends to happen in history. You know, things 396 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 1: happen slowly and then all at once, as I think 397 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: we have described well in this conversation. But why now, 398 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: in your mind, I mean, knowing both the details but 399 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 1: also kind of the atmospherics of this, why is this 400 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: all happening now? Yeah, that's a great question. I think 401 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: it is a little bit of a of a perfect 402 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,640 Speaker 1: storm where the underlying factor, I think has just been 403 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: the explosion of revenue in college sports and the billions 404 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: of are being generated and the massive coaching salaries and 405 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: spending on facilities, and you know, you can go down 406 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: the list of the gold plated facilities and how much 407 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: not only head coaches are making but a stiff and 408 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 1: coaches and strength trainers and the benefits to college athletes 409 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: have remained relatively flat, and that has troubled more and 410 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: more people as the gap increases, and it's become a 411 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: bipartisan issue. And I think people see it now as 412 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: either an economic rights issue or a civil rights issue, 413 00:22:19,680 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 1: because this predominantly affects at least an FPS football and 414 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: Division one basketball black athletes. UM. And so whether you 415 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: approach it as an economic rights issue just let the 416 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: market dictated, or you approaches from a civil rights issue. 417 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,439 Speaker 1: Either way you get to the same point that college 418 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,879 Speaker 1: athletes deserve more rights. And I think the greatest example 419 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 1: of that illustration of that was the concurrence from Justice Kavanaugh, 420 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: one of the most conservative justices on the Supreme Court, 421 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: who just tore into the n C double a um 422 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:51,640 Speaker 1: and even said this is unfair to black athletes. And 423 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: you know, it takes a lot um not to make 424 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: a political statement here, but it takes a lot for 425 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 1: a conservative justice to side on to rule on the 426 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: side of labor and against where we would consider big business. 427 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: And although that's not a binding opinion, I think that's 428 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: pretty indicative of the shift we've seen publicly that whether 429 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 1: or not you love college sports, you think it's unfair 430 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,440 Speaker 1: the way college athletes are being treated, and that deference 431 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: we're giving to the MT double A in at the 432 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: expense of college athletes is no longer palatable to politicians, 433 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: and we saw it's no longer palatable to the Supreme Court. 434 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: So I think with with just the sort of the 435 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 1: push for more civil rights, everything we've seen in this 436 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: country around racial equity, um and all the money flowing 437 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: in college sports, and then the last piece would just 438 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 1: be the explosion of social media that if there are 439 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,959 Speaker 1: thousands of college students who are not athletes who are 440 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: monetizing their name, image and likeness, it seems unfair to 441 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: not allow the college athletes to do the same. Yeah. Well, 442 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: as always, I got a lot smarter hearing from you, 443 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 1: and I know I speak on bath of my co 444 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: hosts and our audience. Gabe Felman, thank you so much, 445 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: director of the Two Lane Sports Law Program, Two Lanes, 446 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: Associate provost for n C Double A Compliance, and a 447 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: fellow traveler in the podcast business between the lines of 448 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: podcasts about sports and law. Check it out. Uh, you 449 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,919 Speaker 1: really come to understand the nuances of this. But also, 450 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: as Gabe just put very well, um sort of the 451 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: sweep of what's going on. Gave great to catch up 452 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: with you. Thank you so much for making some time. 453 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: Thank for having me on. Thank you, Gabe. So let's 454 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,679 Speaker 1: turn out to the world of Major League Soccer and 455 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: soccer across the world. David Beckham, he's taken his talents 456 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: to the executive suite. He's the co owner of Inter 457 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: Miami that is one of the newest MLS franchises. Had 458 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:44,719 Speaker 1: the chance to catch up with him at the Cutter 459 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: Economic Forum powered by Bloomberg, and here we talk about 460 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 1: the outlook for the MLS, his active ownership role in Miami. 461 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: He really has I think quite literally rolled up his 462 00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:00,040 Speaker 1: sleeves and gotten in there to try and fix some 463 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: of the operations, the football operations as it were, of 464 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: this club, to drive forward the MLS. And of course 465 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: we had to talk a little bit about the Super 466 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: League that wasn't This is obviously an issue very near 467 00:25:15,359 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: and dear to his heart, having played at both Manchester 468 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: United and Paris Sons Germain during his professional career. Life's 469 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,720 Speaker 1: pretty busy, I must admit, which is which I'm very 470 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: thankful for. Obviously there's a lot going on, you know, 471 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 1: obviously in in London for me, and obviously in the 472 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: States as well. You know, obviously I've been in Miami 473 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,160 Speaker 1: for the last four and a half five months, which 474 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: which I was very happy about and excited about because 475 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: obviously we've changed a few things within the team in 476 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: Miami and obviously bringing in the new coach and new GM, 477 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: and you know, a lot of things changing there. So 478 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: it was a good time to be there, you know, 479 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: to spend the amount of time that I did every 480 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: single day in the club, working with the backgroom staff, 481 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: working with the is, working with our new coach and 482 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 1: obviously our new GM, Chris Henderson, and it was great 483 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: to spend some time there, and then obviously heading back 484 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: to the UK and being back in London now, you know, 485 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: and working on the business side and working with my team. 486 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, there's a lot going on, so I'm very 487 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: thankful for that. But yeah, and the Sun's out in London, 488 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: so that makes a change. So we're going to talk 489 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 1: about lots of different things. But given who is convening 490 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: as let's talk a little bit about the world Cup 491 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: if we can, because you have the perspective that you do. 492 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: The long march has begun toward cutter next year, folks 493 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: starting to qualify. What is it about the World Cup 494 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: that galvanizes the world the way that it does. You 495 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: have been there, you understand it as well as anyone, 496 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: you know. I think it's it's the general power of 497 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,719 Speaker 1: sport and the power of this game. Obviously football soccer 498 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: as has been the biggest game, the biggest sport in 499 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: the world for for a long long time, and it 500 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: unites and unifies people in in a way that probably 501 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: nothing does. You know. I think that sport does that 502 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 1: in general, and I think that that's why I'm personally 503 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: so lucky to have played a game that I've loved 504 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: for so many years and since I was a baby. Um, 505 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:27,959 Speaker 1: And I was lucky to be part of that and 506 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: be a professional in that for for a number of years. 507 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 1: But I've also been really lucky to have played in 508 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,240 Speaker 1: free World Cups. Um I could have played in for 509 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: but I got obviously injured. But you know, to have 510 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: been part of the World Cup, you know, as a 511 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 1: as a young kid dreaming of playing on the same 512 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 1: stage of these as these great countries and these great players. 513 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: That was my dream as a kid to represent my 514 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: country and to hopefully play in the World Cup. And 515 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: I was lucky enough to have done that. So I've 516 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: seen how the sport unifies people, unite people. You know, 517 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter where you are in the world, it 518 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: doesn't matter whether you speak that language. As soon as 519 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: you're either on a football pitch, on a soccer pitch 520 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,399 Speaker 1: in the stands. You know, there's something about this sport 521 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: that just unites people in a way that nothing does. 522 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,399 Speaker 1: Um and it brings people together, you know, And I 523 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: think that that's one of the things that I've always 524 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: said about soccer, about sport, you know, being around the Olympics, 525 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 1: being around World Cups, I've seen the way it changed people, 526 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: changes people's lives. No matter what the world is going through, 527 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: no matter what individuals are going through, when you're watching 528 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:45,920 Speaker 1: a soccer game, when you're watching the Olympics, nothing else 529 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: matters for that amount of time. And that's why sport 530 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: is so strong. Yeah, And so so let's take it 531 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,680 Speaker 1: back down to where you started, which is Miami, um 532 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: and sort of what you're doing there and how you 533 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 1: sort of take your experience as a player, and now, 534 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: as you alluded to, you're really rolling up your sleeves 535 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: with this club. I mean, this is this is your 536 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: lace work at the moment at leads you mean talk 537 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 1: about being focused. Help me understand where the club and 538 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: maybe where MLS is, because again that's the journey you've 539 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: been on from a player now to an owner and 540 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: an executive I must have met. It's been an incredible journey. 541 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: It's been longer than I have ever expected it to 542 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 1: be and to take to bring our team in Miami 543 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,160 Speaker 1: into the league. And it's taken a lot of hard work. 544 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: It's taken a lot of stubbornness, which apparently I'm pretty stubborn, 545 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: so my wife tells me. Um. So it's taken a 546 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: lot of hard work. But I knew the moment that 547 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: I started my journey in the US in the MLS 548 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: with the l A Galaxy. I knew once I stepped 549 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: away from the game, that that was where my legacy 550 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: lie in the sport, in the US and and globally, 551 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: because I always believe that, you know, the m MOLS 552 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: is a league that is growing, and I wanted to 553 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: be part of that. Back in two thousand and seven. 554 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: When I joined, I saw that there was It wasn't 555 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 1: a challenge because I saw that there was real ambition 556 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: within the league with Don Garba, with the people that 557 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: were involved to grow this league and to make it 558 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: one of the strongest leagues in the world. And it 559 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:31,920 Speaker 1: has a real a real chance, and there's real opportunity there. 560 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: You know, we've seen over the years the amount of 561 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: teams and franchises that have come into this league. We've 562 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: seen the players that have joined this league. And there's 563 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: still work to be done, but we've seen the numbers 564 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: that are put with the franchises now, the numbers of 565 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:54,520 Speaker 1: of how much the franchises are worth. Now. It has 566 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: grown so dramatically in the last five to ten years 567 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 1: um that it has a real opportunity. But the opportunity 568 00:31:01,920 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: lies actually within the academy systems. That's what we want 569 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: to produce. That's what we want to focus in my 570 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: my focus within into Miami. Yes, obviously we want to 571 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,959 Speaker 1: challenge on the field in the MLS on the big stage, 572 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: but more importantly from me from day one, the academy 573 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 1: is such an important part of that and that's what 574 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 1: I really focus on because I want to be able 575 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: to produce young players from Miami, South Florida and all 576 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: over the league. You know, every team wants to produce 577 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: young talented kids that come through their system into the 578 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: MLS and then who knows, they go on and play 579 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,800 Speaker 1: for their countries and that and that's the real opportunity. 580 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 1: So it's been an incredible journey. And of course we're 581 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 1: still evolving. We're still a young team, We're a young franchise, 582 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: so we're still learning, but we want to evolve quicker than, 583 00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: you know, than than expected. So I honestly feel that 584 00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 1: the MLS is now being talked about all over Europe, 585 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 1: and it has been for a number of years and globally. 586 00:32:07,160 --> 00:32:10,520 Speaker 1: And also when I've traveled to certain places in Asia, 587 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:14,040 Speaker 1: where I've traveled to certain places in Europe, I see 588 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: people walking down the street in Miami, Jersey. I see 589 00:32:17,640 --> 00:32:20,960 Speaker 1: people talking to me about Miami and saying, oh, we 590 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 1: watched the game last night. So there is real interest 591 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:27,680 Speaker 1: globally in our team. But there's also real interest globally 592 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 1: of the league. So you know, it's moved on very quickly. Yeah, 593 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: you know, it's interesting to hear you talk about that 594 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 1: decision because it was not an obvious one in two 595 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,200 Speaker 1: thousand and seven, and and I think there's a parallel 596 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: I dare say, and keep me honest here with with 597 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: your business ventures as well. You zigged in some ways 598 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: when other is zagged, or zag when other zigg would However, 599 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:54,960 Speaker 1: you want to put it in the sense that historically 600 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:58,959 Speaker 1: former athletes at the end of their playing career has 601 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 1: tended to, you know, so their names on a few 602 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 1: things and taking some endorsements. You've chosen a more active 603 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: path as as really an owner, and not just in 604 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,280 Speaker 1: the sport. But I'm thinking about things you've done with 605 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 1: electric cars, with C d D, you know, with with 606 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: other with eastports even why is that what was that 607 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 1: decision for you to to be an owner rather than 608 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:24,239 Speaker 1: an endorser. Well, I think, you know, I've been very 609 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:26,719 Speaker 1: lucky to have had the career that I've had, you know, 610 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 1: to have played for the clubs that I've played for, 611 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 1: to have played in the cities and the countries that 612 00:33:31,440 --> 00:33:35,440 Speaker 1: i've played for, played in um and obviously have also 613 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: been successful as well. So I think that that really 614 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 1: I take into my business world. I think I'm very lucky, 615 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: you know, I've been part of some great teams over 616 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:49,440 Speaker 1: the years, and I also have now a great team 617 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:52,600 Speaker 1: within my business. But that wasn't just luck, you know, 618 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 1: that was obviously something that I've built, you know, five 619 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: years out from retiring and that and that for me 620 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 1: was an important part of my decisions going forward. You know, 621 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 1: when I moved to the MLS and I was thirty 622 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: one years old, I was a Real Madrid player, and 623 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: people were critical maybe of you know, that decision, but 624 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,719 Speaker 1: I realized that, yes, I played for Manchester United and 625 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 1: I'd played for Real Madrid. I was moving as a 626 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 1: real Madrid player to play in a league that wasn't 627 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:24,279 Speaker 1: fully established at that point. But there was a real 628 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:28,240 Speaker 1: potential and opportunity there. And it wasn't just on the field, 629 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: which my my head automatically says, I want to be successful. 630 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 1: I want to I want to win trophies for the 631 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 1: l A Galaxy, but but more importantly, there was a 632 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:41,400 Speaker 1: bigger role as an ambassador for the league and for 633 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,920 Speaker 1: the sport in that country as well in the US, 634 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: and and that's what really interested me. Yes, firstly I 635 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:50,799 Speaker 1: wanted to win championships with the Galaxy, but then I 636 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:52,759 Speaker 1: wanted to be able to grow the sport. And I 637 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,959 Speaker 1: think that that's the same in my business world as well. 638 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:59,919 Speaker 1: You know, there are lots of opportunities thankfully that coming 639 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:02,359 Speaker 1: to the office, that come into the team, that come 640 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 1: to me, and it's about making the right decisions. And 641 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:08,160 Speaker 1: I have people around me and good people around me 642 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:11,520 Speaker 1: that helped me make those right decisions. And yes, like 643 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 1: like you've said, you know, whether it's you know, Lunas, 644 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,839 Speaker 1: you know obviously the the electric car business that we've 645 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,200 Speaker 1: invested in, whether it's obviously the CBD, whether it's other 646 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:26,839 Speaker 1: things that we've gone into, we're making We're making these 647 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: decisions because you know, I've got a lot of good 648 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 1: people around me that you know that that kind of 649 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,719 Speaker 1: that are working with me on this and and I'm 650 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,799 Speaker 1: very lucky within the business, you know, but it's come 651 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: through hard work. And you know, the way I look 652 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:45,320 Speaker 1: at my businesses, I'm the first in in the morning, 653 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 1: I am the last to leave the office at night. 654 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:49,600 Speaker 1: And that's how I was as a player. You know, 655 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 1: as a player, I was first in, I worked hard, 656 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:54,879 Speaker 1: I was last to leave. And I got that from 657 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,239 Speaker 1: Sir Alex Ferguson. You know, he was a manager that 658 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: had been part of my life for a long time. 659 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:04,880 Speaker 1: But I also also got that. I also got that 660 00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: from my parents. You know, my mom and dad were 661 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:11,359 Speaker 1: working class. They worked hard, they still work now, So 662 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: it was instilled in me for from a very young age. Um, 663 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: and I was lucky that I joined a club with 664 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:21,120 Speaker 1: a coach that was like that. I then took that 665 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: into my business. And I also have a team around 666 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:28,760 Speaker 1: me in the UK that also have that work ethic 667 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:31,800 Speaker 1: as well. So we're making the right decisions hopefully and 668 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 1: doing the right things. But it also has to be enjoyable. 669 00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: I like to enjoy what I what I'm involved in, 670 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:42,880 Speaker 1: and that's what that's what we do, and it's interesting 671 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 1: and I would think you would find it interesting too 672 00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:47,759 Speaker 1: that this next generation of players, you know, maybe even 673 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: the next two generations of players, this is a given 674 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:54,040 Speaker 1: in many ways that they will build businesses around themselves. 675 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 1: But that wasn't necessarily assumed when you came up. Is 676 00:36:57,719 --> 00:37:01,280 Speaker 1: that fair to say a hun percent? You know, obviously 677 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:04,080 Speaker 1: I was. I was making decisions probably when I was 678 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 1: playing that people were looking at and saying, you know, 679 00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 1: even probably my dad was looking at, you know me, 680 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:12,759 Speaker 1: but doing the odd you know, photo shoot for g 681 00:37:12,960 --> 00:37:16,680 Speaker 1: Q or the odd photo shoot for for Vogue and saying, yeah, 682 00:37:16,719 --> 00:37:19,520 Speaker 1: but you're you're a footballer, so you know so. But 683 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:22,840 Speaker 1: I was making these decisions not just because there was 684 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:26,799 Speaker 1: opportunities coming to me, and actually I enjoyed doing those 685 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 1: kind of things as long as it didn't, you know, 686 00:37:29,640 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: affect my playing career. As long as it didn't affect 687 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 1: me on the pitch, then then that was okay to do. 688 00:37:35,719 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: But what I love about this next generation of players is, 689 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 1: you know, we talk about obviously the social media media, 690 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: We talk about how important having a voice and being 691 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: able to make these changes in the sports world, in 692 00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:55,800 Speaker 1: in the world in general. You know, these these players 693 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:59,919 Speaker 1: like Marcus Rashtra, like Raheim Sterling. You know, I think 694 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:02,960 Speaker 1: what they've done in the last twelve to eighteen months 695 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:06,680 Speaker 1: has been incredible. They're using their their fame, they're using 696 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:11,520 Speaker 1: their their voice to change people's perspectives. And that's what 697 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: I love about what they've been doing. You know, obviously, 698 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 1: you know, for a good friend of mine in in 699 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:20,279 Speaker 1: l A. Now you know Lebron. You know, Lebron is 700 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:26,800 Speaker 1: using his real um voice to change people and to 701 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:30,160 Speaker 1: help communities, and that's what I love about this next 702 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:34,959 Speaker 1: generation of sportsmen. You know, they're really using their their 703 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:39,160 Speaker 1: kind of power to change well. And it feels like 704 00:38:39,239 --> 00:38:41,839 Speaker 1: fans are emboldened by that in many ways, that are 705 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:45,960 Speaker 1: drawn to players who do that. And and and yes, 706 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:48,719 Speaker 1: people root for their teams, but and I think you 707 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:52,680 Speaker 1: see this in your travels. Increasingly they're attaching themselves to 708 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:56,560 Speaker 1: players who reflect the belief their their own belief systems 709 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 1: in some ways without a doubt. And that's why that's 710 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:02,520 Speaker 1: why sport is so powerful. You know, we talk about 711 00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:05,360 Speaker 1: it all the time. We talk about obviously the things 712 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:07,960 Speaker 1: that have happened over the last few months. You know, 713 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:10,279 Speaker 1: you you you talk about the Super League. You know, 714 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:14,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm not I'm not a politician. I don't like 715 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:16,879 Speaker 1: to talk about politics, you know. And when I talk 716 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:19,680 Speaker 1: about the game, when I talk about sport, I come 717 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:22,600 Speaker 1: at it as a fan, you know. I'm I've been 718 00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:25,279 Speaker 1: a fan since I can remember, from four or five 719 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:29,880 Speaker 1: years old of sports and soccer. So I come at 720 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:35,960 Speaker 1: this particular subject as a fan. And when I see 721 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,720 Speaker 1: things that go on in the sport, I talk about 722 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:41,840 Speaker 1: it like I'm talking from a fans perspective. And I 723 00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:45,439 Speaker 1: think that that as proof of what has happened over 724 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:48,880 Speaker 1: the last year. You know, when we don't see fans 725 00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:52,040 Speaker 1: in the stand, when we don't see people, whether they're 726 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:57,759 Speaker 1: shouting four or against sportsman, that has been missed. And 727 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:01,960 Speaker 1: that's why you know, any decision going forward about you know, 728 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,439 Speaker 1: whether it's a super league, whether it's other leagues, whether 729 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:08,799 Speaker 1: it's things that happen in sports. That's why we've realized 730 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,640 Speaker 1: how important And I knew this anyway as a as 731 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:14,799 Speaker 1: an ex soccer player and as a fan, I know 732 00:40:14,920 --> 00:40:18,960 Speaker 1: how important it is to have fans in the stadium 733 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:23,000 Speaker 1: and supporting. And that's why these decisions that get made 734 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:28,000 Speaker 1: in sports are so critical because it changes people's lives 735 00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 1: and it changes people's perspective. And in sports and in competitions, 736 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:35,960 Speaker 1: you want a fair competition, simple as that. You want 737 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:40,080 Speaker 1: to be able to get into a competition on merit, 738 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:44,920 Speaker 1: not just because you know you're whatever club is around 739 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,840 Speaker 1: the world. You know you want to be there on merit. 740 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:49,800 Speaker 1: You want to be in the final of the Champions 741 00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,320 Speaker 1: League on merit. You want to win the Champions League 742 00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:55,560 Speaker 1: on merit. And I think that's what is important to 743 00:40:55,560 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 1: to really talk about. So yeah, there he is beckham 744 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:03,200 Speaker 1: Man himself. This is a guy who is investing in 745 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,920 Speaker 1: e VS, he's investing in CBD. Uh he was one 746 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:09,760 Speaker 1: of the O G s in that regard, uh Lynchy 747 00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,520 Speaker 1: in terms of seeing while he was a player, that 748 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:17,360 Speaker 1: he needed to invest in himself as a business. He 749 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:20,000 Speaker 1: wanted to build an empire and he has. He certainly has. 750 00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:22,840 Speaker 1: And he obviously he said that his he knew it 751 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:25,200 Speaker 1: when he came here. He knew his legacy would be 752 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,400 Speaker 1: in the United States, which surprised me because he was 753 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:29,799 Speaker 1: an international figure when he was signed by the l 754 00:41:29,840 --> 00:41:32,600 Speaker 1: A Galaxy, and he said the legacy would be in 755 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:35,319 Speaker 1: the United States. And now he is an owner and 756 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:37,280 Speaker 1: as we said in the last segment that he joins 757 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:40,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people who have keen interest, as they 758 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,719 Speaker 1: say across the pond, keen interest in the MLS. And 759 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:48,080 Speaker 1: so we'll see where soccer goes from here in this country. Obviously, 760 00:41:48,239 --> 00:41:50,799 Speaker 1: the next World Cup, the next Olympics are going to 761 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:55,200 Speaker 1: be critical in in breaking through. Miami is an interesting 762 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:59,200 Speaker 1: market in many ways, Bar, And you know, as we 763 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 1: think about this wide ranging show that we've had, Bar, 764 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:05,319 Speaker 1: you know what stuck out to you even even thinking 765 00:42:05,320 --> 00:42:08,399 Speaker 1: about the Gab Felman interview. Yes, and that's definitely want 766 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:10,760 Speaker 1: to bring that up. And it's something that Gabe Feldman said, 767 00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:12,320 Speaker 1: and he said that, first of all, you had a 768 00:42:12,440 --> 00:42:16,480 Speaker 1: nine nothing unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court about the 769 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:20,080 Speaker 1: n C Double A, and what he said was to 770 00:42:20,239 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 1: get conservative judges to vote for labor and especially what's 771 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:31,759 Speaker 1: going down and in our society right now, say what 772 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:35,840 Speaker 1: you want. Uh, that's saying something and it makes me 773 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,680 Speaker 1: wonder and you you kind of said it earlier. Where 774 00:42:38,760 --> 00:42:40,560 Speaker 1: is the future of the n C double A is? 775 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:43,439 Speaker 1: Is this going to be the beginning of the end? Yeah? 776 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:46,200 Speaker 1: I don't know where it really goes next. I mean 777 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:48,640 Speaker 1: I think a lot has been laid bare when it 778 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:52,799 Speaker 1: comes to the n C Double A, and it's toothiness 779 00:42:53,520 --> 00:42:56,480 Speaker 1: as or or or lack of power. I mean, we've 780 00:42:56,520 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 1: seen the Power five conferences, you know, really command and 781 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,359 Speaker 1: control a lot of the economics, and now you have 782 00:43:02,840 --> 00:43:05,600 Speaker 1: the players you know, taking control it. And you know, Lynch, 783 00:43:05,719 --> 00:43:08,880 Speaker 1: if I think across what we heard from both of 784 00:43:08,920 --> 00:43:11,920 Speaker 1: these guys, whether it's Gabe Felman or David Beckham, this 785 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:15,319 Speaker 1: notion of a power shift right is really important and 786 00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:18,279 Speaker 1: some of the power shifting to the players, continuing to 787 00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:20,840 Speaker 1: shift to the players, whether you're talking about amateur athletes 788 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:22,760 Speaker 1: in the NZ Double A, whether you're talking about professional 789 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:26,719 Speaker 1: athletes in the NBA or the MLS or um in 790 00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:30,320 Speaker 1: the English Premier Premier League and beyond, but also to 791 00:43:30,520 --> 00:43:33,319 Speaker 1: the fans. And I think social media has a big 792 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:35,680 Speaker 1: role in all of that. And it was interesting to 793 00:43:35,719 --> 00:43:39,680 Speaker 1: hear Beckham, you know, kind of create that connective tissue 794 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:43,960 Speaker 1: between empowerment across the board and and certainly that was 795 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:47,000 Speaker 1: a theme that that I took away from this week. Well, 796 00:43:47,040 --> 00:43:49,520 Speaker 1: the I'm mute button was hit in the year for 797 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:53,520 Speaker 1: social media by professional athletes, and now it's being uh, 798 00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:57,240 Speaker 1: the mute button as being hit with the college athletes, 799 00:43:57,440 --> 00:44:01,080 Speaker 1: and people are listening. They here, they heard them before, 800 00:44:01,400 --> 00:44:04,080 Speaker 1: Now they're listening and they have no choice. Obviously, with 801 00:44:04,160 --> 00:44:07,600 Speaker 1: this nine zero decision by the Supreme Court, which doesn't 802 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:10,120 Speaker 1: even affect name and image and likeness, which is coming 803 00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:12,640 Speaker 1: down the track July one, things are going to change 804 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:14,319 Speaker 1: and it's going to be a different world. I just 805 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:17,080 Speaker 1: worry about team a rail on some teams when that 806 00:44:17,239 --> 00:44:20,000 Speaker 1: the quarterback goes and gets twenty five dollars, but the 807 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:23,120 Speaker 1: offensive linemen a sort of sitting there and they get nothing. 808 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:26,920 Speaker 1: Does that cause a little dissension? And among teams I 809 00:44:26,920 --> 00:44:29,279 Speaker 1: would think it. I would think it would yeah, be 810 00:44:29,320 --> 00:44:31,440 Speaker 1: interesting to see. Yeah, it is not going to be 811 00:44:31,480 --> 00:44:33,600 Speaker 1: a straight line up, and it is not going to 812 00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:36,680 Speaker 1: be uh well, it's gonna be messing. I think in 813 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:40,440 Speaker 1: the interim as all of this gets figured out, whether 814 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,319 Speaker 1: it's on the n C double A level, you know, 815 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:45,000 Speaker 1: Congress still can take this up. And and I've spent 816 00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:47,400 Speaker 1: a little bit of time with Chris Murphy, the U. S. 817 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:50,360 Speaker 1: Senator from Connecticut. He's the leading sponsor of this current 818 00:44:50,400 --> 00:44:53,040 Speaker 1: in I L bill that's in Congress, which could do 819 00:44:53,120 --> 00:44:57,920 Speaker 1: a lot to um standardized as it were, where we go, 820 00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:02,600 Speaker 1: where we go from here goes and don't want kids. 821 00:45:02,640 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 1: Feels better to be than one than number five. I'll 822 00:45:04,680 --> 00:45:06,480 Speaker 1: wear a number because of Mike. We have a chance 823 00:45:06,520 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: to go for three and a row. Good numbers are 824 00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:10,160 Speaker 1: a good time. When I first started wearing the number, 825 00:45:10,239 --> 00:45:13,200 Speaker 1: how we just have the im proud Bloomberg business of sports. 826 00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:17,240 Speaker 1: The number of the week. All right, with all that's 827 00:45:17,239 --> 00:45:20,640 Speaker 1: going on, it's hard to predict what the number of 828 00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:23,320 Speaker 1: the week is going to be Letchi tries to think 829 00:45:23,400 --> 00:45:28,560 Speaker 1: like bar scary thought. But here we go lay it 830 00:45:28,600 --> 00:45:31,480 Speaker 1: on us. This we're gonna keep in the theme of 831 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:34,080 Speaker 1: the n C double A ruling about the halves and 832 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:38,200 Speaker 1: a half nots and uh. We talked about different locker rooms. Now, 833 00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:42,680 Speaker 1: football players at Louisiana State University enjoy a twenty eight 834 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:45,399 Speaker 1: million dollar facility and that includes state of the art 835 00:45:45,480 --> 00:45:51,120 Speaker 1: locker room with sleep pods. Now, at the University of Oregon, 836 00:45:51,960 --> 00:45:56,160 Speaker 1: Nike co founder Philip Knight largely funded a one hundred 837 00:45:56,239 --> 00:46:02,040 Speaker 1: forty thousand square foot football facility at the cost of 838 00:46:02,239 --> 00:46:08,839 Speaker 1: what I'll go a nice round fifty I will see 839 00:46:08,840 --> 00:46:13,239 Speaker 1: you and raise you ten million. I'm gonna go to 840 00:46:13,280 --> 00:46:17,120 Speaker 1: sixty billion. Well, Lynch's going up on stage. It is 841 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:22,440 Speaker 1: sixty eight million dollars. Wow. I mean that shows you 842 00:46:22,480 --> 00:46:26,560 Speaker 1: the difference there. It's eight million that's doing something, but 843 00:46:27,120 --> 00:46:30,799 Speaker 1: you know, but sixty eight million dollars is like it's 844 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:32,640 Speaker 1: like Lyncha was saying, I wonder if they have like 845 00:46:32,719 --> 00:46:34,640 Speaker 1: their own barber or whatever the heck is going on 846 00:46:34,719 --> 00:46:38,400 Speaker 1: in there. It's yeah, that's the Clemson has. Clemson has 847 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:41,879 Speaker 1: a barber shop. I hope, I hope Oregone hasn't cut 848 00:46:41,920 --> 00:46:45,440 Speaker 1: any varsity sports if they have, shame on them. Yeah, 849 00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:48,720 Speaker 1: well it's I mean, it's interesting to think about that. 850 00:46:48,719 --> 00:46:51,440 Speaker 1: That arms race. And and I thought Gave Felman made 851 00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:54,880 Speaker 1: a really interesting point along these lines that you know, 852 00:46:54,920 --> 00:46:58,759 Speaker 1: from a facilities perspective and from an academic benefit perspective, 853 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:02,120 Speaker 1: so much of this is already baked in in some ways. 854 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:04,960 Speaker 1: And and and he said it as he is, as 855 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:08,200 Speaker 1: he mentioned, he's like, you know, no dig against Alabama State, 856 00:47:08,280 --> 00:47:10,640 Speaker 1: but you're not gonna say, well, we're going to give 857 00:47:10,640 --> 00:47:14,399 Speaker 1: you a nicer laptop than the Nick Saban is because 858 00:47:14,520 --> 00:47:18,200 Speaker 1: Nick Saban has you know, built this unbelievable facility, uh 859 00:47:18,280 --> 00:47:20,480 Speaker 1: in many ways. And it's the same at Clemson's, same 860 00:47:20,520 --> 00:47:23,920 Speaker 1: at the University of Texas, clearly the same uh at 861 00:47:23,920 --> 00:47:27,279 Speaker 1: the University of Oregon. I mean, just just incredible the 862 00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:30,000 Speaker 1: amount of money. And I do think, as as Gabe 863 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:34,080 Speaker 1: Felman said, that's part of what pushed this forward and 864 00:47:34,080 --> 00:47:36,920 Speaker 1: and pushed it to the point where you've got a 865 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:40,359 Speaker 1: nine oh uh situation on the Supreme Court. And even 866 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:43,120 Speaker 1: what we heard from Marshall Blackburn and saying, you know, look, 867 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:45,280 Speaker 1: you look at this money and where it's all going 868 00:47:45,440 --> 00:47:49,240 Speaker 1: and none of it effectively, at least directly, is going 869 00:47:49,320 --> 00:47:53,160 Speaker 1: to the players. So uh, lots to look forward to, 870 00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:56,120 Speaker 1: and you know we're gonna be following this story very closely. 871 00:47:56,800 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show. We're here, 872 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:02,920 Speaker 1: eat and every week at the same time, lets online 873 00:48:02,960 --> 00:48:05,680 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast, you can catch those Mondays, 874 00:48:05,719 --> 00:48:08,680 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Michael Bar on Twitter at Big 875 00:48:08,719 --> 00:48:10,920 Speaker 1: Bar Sports, and I'm Mike Lytch. You can follow me 876 00:48:10,920 --> 00:48:13,800 Speaker 1: at Lynch e w CBB, and I'm Jason Kelly following 877 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:16,200 Speaker 1: me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News. You're listening to 878 00:48:16,239 --> 00:48:20,480 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the world.