1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Hello, I'm Michael Ba and I'm Scott Sashnik. On this 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: weekly podcast, we explore the big money issues in the 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: world of sports and talk to some of the biggest 4 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: players in the industry. This week, we talked to Andrew Morton, 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: chair of Handler Thayer Sports and Entertainment Practice. But first, 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: let's look at the top stories of the week. Now, 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: usually Evan Nobi Williams is with us, but he's on 8 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: a trip to Alaska and he's with his lady and 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: I'm hoping they're having fun. Oh boy, I don't know. 10 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: He's in the Nali, the National Park. I will just 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: say it. I don't know if she listens to this, 12 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: and I doubt you, but when she gets back. But 13 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: I will say that Janet's not exactly known for her 14 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: the outdoor spirit, if that's the nice way to put it, 15 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: whereas Evan is totally into the you know, he's had 16 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: give me my knife, give me my hiking shoes and 17 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: a tent, and he's all good. I'm very anxious to 18 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: see how this trip. That's him in the Hungry Jack 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: commercial there, you very anxious to see how this trip. 20 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: My fingers at crossed anyway, what it means now is 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: that we're going to be doing a double duty here. 22 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: So because we're missing Evan, So do your lift bar, yes, sir, 23 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 1: So let's start. Let's start with an easy one. I 24 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: shouldn't say, yeah, Nascar. Oh so you're starting with what 25 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: you know best, all right, so let's start with that. 26 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: Let me say, let's start with Nascar bar talk. Well, 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: here's the deal. It's now they've changed their mind and 28 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: they do not want to sell their controlling and according 29 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: to Forbes, for the family and yeah, the France family, 30 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: and they want instead to try to look for sponsors. 31 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: Well that makes me wonder because this has been out 32 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: there for a while now that they were looking to 33 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,559 Speaker 1: sell controlling interest. Did they not get what they were 34 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: seeking or did they really have a change of heart. 35 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: That's my question a lot of times. If you've ever 36 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: put an apartment on the market. We were just talking 37 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: about this, and you don't get a lot of interest 38 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: early on, You've got to switch your tactics a little bit. 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: Well that's surprising, because yes, I get it. At you know, 40 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: the viewership is dropping a bit and blah blah blah 41 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: blah blah, but Nascar is still a very viable and 42 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: very popular entity. It should be easy to sell that. Well. 43 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if I agree with the very viable 44 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: and very popular. I know it's very popular in the bar, 45 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: living room. I know that. But they got a problem 46 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: on their hands with new fans and a lot of 47 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: tracks are empty. They got a problem. They need to 48 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: figure out how to woo the next generation of fans. 49 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: And I'm not sure O, T, T and NASCAR is 50 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: the same as the others or even sports betting or 51 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: social I'm not sure that's it. Um what do you 52 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: bet on in Nascar? Who's gonna win? Who will get lap? 53 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: Here's how you do it in fantasy you do it 54 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: and everybody you know, you get the lap points for 55 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: each lap that's lead, and you go on from there. 56 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: So it it. Then you get points for where they 57 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: your kids watch. Just curious when no, okay, like everybody okay, 58 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: moving right along? Justin Tuck gets a job at Goldman 59 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: Sachs say what, Yeah, I mean the former New York 60 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: Giant Oakland Raider. It's it's nice to see athletes that 61 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: have a career path. Remember Wayne Kurbetta the Jets, He 62 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: works in finance as well. You wonder and not taking 63 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: nothing away from Justin. I have not spoken to him 64 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: about this, but he did go to Harvard Business School, 65 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: um got his n b A. But he's working in 66 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: the private wealth management. And I wonder how much of 67 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: the appeal from the Goldman perspective is still he's Justin 68 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: Tuck and rich guys like to hang out with athletes 69 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: that they watched play. And is he a rainmaker? Is 70 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: he a wooer? What what exactly is he doing? But 71 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: either way, kudos to Justin talking. How about the guy 72 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: by the way in the NFL we have we haven't 73 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: spoken about this yet, who got his medical degree? And 74 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: he asked the NFL can I put m D on 75 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: my jersey? And they said no, because I if we 76 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: do it for you, we got to do it for everybody. 77 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: How ridiculous you want to talk about like aspire and 78 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: to inspire kids and something to shoot for. Here's a 79 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: pro athlete that's a medical doctor. Great, let him put 80 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: the m D on there. Another topic, according to sources, 81 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: the Panthers temper uh. The NFL owner David Tepper, incoming 82 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: I should say, has decided to buy out the remaining partners. Yeah, 83 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: I had heard during the sale process. This is called 84 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: when you have limited partners, it's called rolling. You heard 85 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: that that they were not going to roll, which means 86 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: keep their stakes in the team and temper heavy option. 87 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: But he bought in at a pretty high valuation, you know, 88 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: two point three billion dollars, and he bought out Jerry Richardson, 89 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: who hadent of the team. It was the largest single 90 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: controlling shareholder. Now he's take of the team. So you wonder, 91 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: and this is my guest, yes, he's buying out vise owners. 92 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: Now he'll probably turn around again, just guessing. Have not 93 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: spoken at David or his reps yet, but he'll turn 94 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: around and syndicate a position to strategic partners. I know 95 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: he was buying this team just as the sports betting 96 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 1: ruling was coming on. I know he is very interested 97 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: in all the things you can do with sports betting. 98 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: He's interested as a real estate play. So he'll probably 99 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: look to sell some of this too. Limited partners with 100 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: an expertise in whether it's technology, real estate, finance, something 101 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: along those lines. And by the way, Scott, that's I'm 102 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: wondering if Tepper has already sold his minority stake that 103 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: he had in the Steelers. So we've got to keep 104 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: an eye on man. Yeah, I don't know if he's 105 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: if he's gotten rid of that, he will They give 106 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: you a little time to do that. Maybe we'll send 107 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: him a direct tweet and see if he see if 108 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: he answers. Because big Bar, what are I want? More? 109 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: The listeners? Big Bar, sports and Medina? Before I can 110 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: tell everybody that you can follow me at Sashnik you'r 111 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: Medina p but you have a squatter at Medina, right, Yeah, 112 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: there's someone that already but hasn't tweeted, but has it. Right, 113 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: So are we gonna? Are we gonna have a unified 114 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 1: effort to get Medina for you? I mean, if you want, Honestly, 115 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: it's not that big of a deal. What I mean 116 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: you want to know if you want if this is 117 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: you at Medina, should be you or you should have 118 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: it the real Medina, the real Medina. Oh I feel 119 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,920 Speaker 1: like that's just a lot of all. Right, then if 120 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: you want Medina at Medina, we have to make this happen. 121 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: We have to lose the pe. Okay, we can do that. 122 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: Let's get rid of the peak. That's our that's our 123 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: new thing. More followers for Big Bar Sports and Lose 124 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: the p These are the platforms we're running. Is for platform, 125 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: that's right, thank you, although that could also stand for producer. Yeah, 126 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: producer Medina producer. But let's say you want Medina. We're 127 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: gonna make this happen the real Medina. Well, Scott, Now, 128 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: let's get into this week's interview with Andrew Morton, partner 129 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: at Handler Fair and share of the firm's sports and 130 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 1: entertainment law group. Andrew also has led the development and 131 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: execution of public policy efforts, ranging from organizing and overseeing 132 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: highly visible appearances before congressional committees to arranging targeted private 133 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: meetings with key members of Congress and the administration. A 134 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 1: frequent public speaker, Andrew has testified before the U. S. 135 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: Senate and House of Representatives. Also the recipient of many awards, 136 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: highlighting is pro bono services quite the resume, Andrew, thank 137 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: you for taking the time and joining us. I gotta say, Andrew, uh, 138 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: maybe maybe the most letters we've ever had after a 139 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: guest MPP M j D. You're really laying it on thick, 140 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: aren't you. Yeah? Yeah, what was that? Okay? Requirement? Asdentials 141 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: Well for disclosure. You and I go back a ways, 142 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: and I thought it would be great to have you 143 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: on at a time when we when we know athletes 144 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: are being more active in the community. Now, do you 145 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 1: find there's an increase in desire for athletes to get 146 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: involved and do good in a social basis? I don't 147 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: know it's an increased desire, um, but my feeling is 148 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: that they've always been inclined to do that sort of thing. 149 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: I'm just not sure that they had as many opportunities 150 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: to get involved as they do now. I mean back 151 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: in the day, you know, your typical athlete, UM, let's 152 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: say an NFL athlete would just support the United Way 153 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: because that's one of the official charities of the NFL, 154 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: so they would come out to United Way event. Um. 155 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: I believe what's changed a bit over the last like 156 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: decade or so is that, you know, folks are more 157 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: inclined to have their own vehicle, you know, whether it's 158 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: their own independent foundation or whether they're, um, you know, 159 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: affiliating with an organization who allows them to brand an 160 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: into an individual foundation. And UM, my own theory is 161 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: that probably has a lot to do with the soul 162 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: social media push that it's there's a lot more of 163 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 1: a focus on the individual. UM. To be clear, I 164 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: don't think that's it. I don't think that's a bad thing. UM. 165 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: I think that if you're out there involved in the community, 166 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: I don't really care if you're doing it under the 167 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: banner of the United Way or your own foundation or 168 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: something in between, as long as you're doing it. So 169 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: let me give you a little, uh paradigm from a 170 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: while back, or a little example of something that happened. 171 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: David Falk, who back in the day represented, as you know, 172 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: the biggest athletes in the NBA, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, 173 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: Alonzo Morning, Juan Howard. These are all multi hundred million 174 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,319 Speaker 1: dollar contract guys. He was in the building and he 175 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: got an argument with one of the higher ups here 176 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: at the company. And David said, I don't want them 177 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: giving because it'll just make them look good. And he said, 178 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: I want them giving because they want to. And one 179 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: of the folks at the company said, we don't give 180 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: a damn why they give, just give because we need 181 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 1: the money. Why do they give? Um? And that's a 182 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: good point, and due respect to David, I tend to 183 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: agree with whoever that higher up was. I mean, it's 184 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: not really my job to know what's between their ears 185 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: or in their heart. All I can do is help 186 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,040 Speaker 1: that mum to be involved in those in those efforts 187 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: that are going to have some sort of philanthropic impact, 188 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 1: whether they're doing it to make themselves look good, whether 189 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: they're doing it because they truly feel a desire to 190 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: to get involved. UM. You know, as I as I 191 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: would say, that's between you know them, they're accountant and 192 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: got not us. UM. Now that said, I do have 193 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: to say that, you know, having worked with UM, you 194 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: know dozens and dozens of these athletes who are involved 195 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: in in philanthropic initiatives. UM, I do believe it's coming 196 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: from the right place. I mean, it's difficult to fake 197 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: it for that long. It's difficult to pretend to care. 198 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: It's just it takes too much energy. So you know, 199 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: the guys that that I that I've sort of been 200 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: privileged to work with, I think UM are truly motivated 201 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: by you know, they're rough upbringing. You know, many of 202 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: these guys grew up in the inner cities or you know, 203 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 1: grew up in the farms, and you know, just wanted 204 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: to get out and be successful and and feel a 205 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: pull to give back and to be that in inspiration 206 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: um to others. You know, it's sort of their own, 207 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: their own sort of dedication to karma or whatever you 208 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: want to call it. Um. But you know, I really 209 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: don't believe that there's some nefarious motivation that they're just 210 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: doing it for for the press, are doing it to 211 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: try to to increase their fan base, because like I said, 212 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: I mean, that's just that takes too much energy. Their 213 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: jobs are tough enough being professional athletes. Um, they don't 214 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: they don't need to add the stress of of pretending 215 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: to care about something they don't. I mean, the guys 216 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: who don't care don't tend to get involved in foundations 217 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: and and other charitable efforts. Um. The guys who are involved, 218 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: I believe are in it for the right reason. Although 219 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, like I said, 220 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 1: but it doesn't matter to me, I don't care and 221 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: will never know anyway. So again, the important thing is 222 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: that they're doing it well. Captain Basic Here, I'm going 223 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: to ask the basic question. You're one of the tops 224 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: in your industry. Can you describe what you do for 225 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: the listener who may not know exactly what you do 226 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: and how you help athletes and gear them to their 227 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,440 Speaker 1: particular fund or wherever charity they want. Heah, you bet. 228 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: I mean I was smart enough to know that the 229 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,439 Speaker 1: easiest place to be the best of what you do 230 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: is just find something that nobody else is doing. So 231 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: I'm the best of a universe of one and those 232 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: of us who know you know that's true. My I've 233 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: got just about the goofiest legal practice that you'll ever 234 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 1: run across. I mean it is exclusively focused. I mean, 235 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,199 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, I'm technically chair of the sports and 236 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: Entertainment practice. UM, my entire practice have focused on philanthropy, 237 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: law and nonprofit law. I represent about fifty or sixty 238 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: um foundations connected to athletes, actors, singer, chef's teams lead. 239 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: Can you drop some names? Are you? Are there some 240 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: clients who don't mind you saying that you represent this person? 241 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: Can you give us an example of h yeah, I can. 242 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: I mean there are a few that that you know 243 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: have asked me to that I've appeared in articles. In fact, 244 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: there might have even been one that you wrote about 245 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: about a basketball player who scored more points than any 246 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 1: other in the history of the NBA. So I've I've 247 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 1: been remember quite a while. Um. You know, Kareem founded 248 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: the Skyhook Foundation about ten years ago. He is immensely dedicated. 249 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: I mean as uh kind of difficult not to see 250 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 1: what Kareem is doing these days, whether it's you know, 251 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 1: writing articles for for for magazines about public policy, or 252 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: being on Dancing with the Stars or anything in between. Um, 253 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 1: you know, but he does have you know, again, he's 254 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,559 Speaker 1: a great example. You know, as anybody knows. You know, 255 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: Kareem is incredibly intellectual. Just the most scholarly guy you'll 256 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,599 Speaker 1: ever meet. He always says, if he were born you know, 257 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: a foot and ash shorter, he would have been a 258 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 1: history professor. Uh and and is just incredibly dedicated to 259 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: not just education but STAM education you know, the science, Technology, engineering, 260 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: mathematics and UM. Skyhook Foundation. We raise funds to provide 261 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: opportunities for for kids in the inner cities of Los 262 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: Angeles and looking to scale to other areas to attend 263 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,599 Speaker 1: an outdoor education, UM a week of outdoor ed that 264 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: think that is has a curriculum designed to focus on stems. 265 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: So you know, the kids are out in the woods 266 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: taking soil samples and measuring plant growth and and learning 267 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: about these sorts of things that are kind of difficult 268 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: to learn within the four walls of the classroom. And 269 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: and and you know, Downtown l A or East l A. 270 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: It's not not the same. How many how many athletes 271 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: do this or want to get involved, have their heart 272 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: in the right place, but do it all wrong. Um, 273 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: way way too money, which you know, sadly is you know, 274 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,479 Speaker 1: I have to admit, is a good thing for me. Um. 275 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: You know, unfortunately we sort of you know, live in 276 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: a world where you know, it's as you said, it's 277 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: becoming more and more common for these folks to be involved. 278 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: And so you know, everyone from your you know, your 279 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl All Star ross or down to your backup 280 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: left tackles for the Jaguars are looking to have their 281 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: own foundation. Um. You know, I find myself off in 282 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: times and the ironic position of making a living, setting 283 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: up and overseeing charitable structures for athletes and and and 284 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: other you know, other folks with a public image and 285 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: and most of the time talking them out of it 286 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: because it's just not the right thing for them. Um. 287 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: So you know, the the answer is almost everybody is 288 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: on some level involved in in philanthropy, the trick becomes, 289 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: you know, how do you align the individual with their 290 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: cause and you know, candidly their place in the world. 291 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: You know, if you're you know, if you were a 292 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 1: top you know, a list celebrity like again a Caima 293 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: del Jabbar, of Michael Phelps, um, you know, Jason Day 294 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: or you know one of those guys. Absolutely you can 295 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: have your own five O one C three and generate 296 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: the kind of funding that would make that makes sense 297 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: because you're raising in the hundreds of thousands millions. You know, 298 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: Paul is another great example. And you know, at the 299 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: same time, you have guys who are are convinced they 300 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: need to have their own foundation by you know, agents 301 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: or business managers that may not really understand you know, 302 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: that part of their involvement and convince them to set 303 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: up a nonprofit structure where they really just don't have 304 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: the the ability to sustain it and just winds up 305 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: being a tremendously unfortunate use of resources because it doesn't 306 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: end up getting where it needs to go. Um. You know, 307 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: either the funds are going just towards maintaining compliance or 308 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: there is no compliance and and these foundations are operating 309 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 1: outside of what the law is or what best practices 310 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: might be. We're talking with lawyer Andrew Morton with Handler Fair. 311 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: And you deal with athletes obviously, when it comes to charities, 312 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: do you also deal with team owners? Do they also 313 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: contact you about what you can do to help? Um, 314 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: I've I've not run across as many owners. I have 315 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: worked with with a couple of the the player unions 316 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: and the league foundations. Uh. You know, I guess the 317 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 1: league foundations in a sense or the you know, a 318 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: collection of the owners. Um. But you know that said, 319 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,280 Speaker 1: there there are a number of owners who are doing 320 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: tremendous work. Um. You know, Arthur Blank in Atlanta is incredibly, 321 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: incredibly philanthropic. Uh. You know I was. I'll tell you 322 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: one of the one of the areas that is coming 323 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: more to my attention. You know, I've worked with you know, 324 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: these leagues and player unions for for years. I've worked 325 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: you know, with the individual players for years. UM. I 326 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 1: actually just picked up my first coach as a client, 327 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: an NFL head coach who just started his own foundation. UM. 328 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: So I'm hopeful that that that the trend that continues, 329 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 1: because you know, with the kind of contracts these guys 330 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: are getting in the profile that the coaches are getting. 331 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: You know, there are every bit as prominent as the players, 332 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,120 Speaker 1: if not more so. Do they under stand the reputational 333 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: risk when they go into it or is that something 334 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: you really need to sit them down and make them 335 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 1: understand that this could do you harm if not done properly. Yeah, 336 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: it's it's always very very early in the conversation. I 337 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: mean that, I like to favorite philanthropy is sort of 338 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: a the cliche double edged sword that if you know, 339 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,720 Speaker 1: if you're doing it the right way, um, it can 340 00:18:22,760 --> 00:18:27,280 Speaker 1: be an incredibly useful tool for a variety of reasons. 341 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I will say that, you know, I'm not 342 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: one who believes that you should you know, getting back 343 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: to we're talking about before, I if you're doing it, 344 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: you're doing it. I don't care why. And the fact 345 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: of the matter is that philanthropy done right can be 346 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,719 Speaker 1: a tremendous benefit for the individual athlete, not just in 347 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 1: terms of filling their heart and and sort of giving 348 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: them something to due off the field. But you know, again, frankly, 349 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: you know, if you get involved in the community, you're 350 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: going to become more of a fan favorite you're going 351 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: to build your fan base, You're gonna sell more jerseys, 352 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: You're going to be you're gonna be in a better 353 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:03,360 Speaker 1: negotiating position to when your contract comes up for renewal. So, 354 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,960 Speaker 1: you know, great example is like a Drew Brees. Like 355 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 1: Drew Brees, Uh, everybody associated him with San Diego, he 356 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 1: was a San Diego guy, and then all of a sudden, 357 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 1: he gets to New Orleans, Um, shortly after Katrina, Uh, 358 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:21,120 Speaker 1: did an unbelievable amount of work towards raising funds and 359 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: and and getting involved with the community for Katrina relief. Uh, 360 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: you know, and now he's he's Breezes and he's Mr. 361 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: New Orleans, and all of a sudden, you know, this 362 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: guy who just had absolutely no connection whatsoever to that 363 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: area is now like hometown hero as if he grew 364 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: up there. And and in my view, that was all 365 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: because of his involvement in philanthropy. UM. You know. So 366 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: that's sort of the that's the positive benefit. You know. 367 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,959 Speaker 1: The flip side is, you know, there are way too 368 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: many examples of these guys who uh you know what 369 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: what you hear about them in their philanthropy is that 370 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: they're doing it entirely wrong. You know what I like 371 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: to call it celebrity Philanthothy gone wild, where you know, 372 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: the foundation is not set up properly, maybe it wasn't 373 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: even set up at all. Uh, and they're, despite trying 374 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: to do the right thing, are doing it in the 375 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: wrong way. And the story becomes the noncompliance, you know, 376 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: not their charitable impact or not the fact that they 377 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: were intending to do good, but the fact that they 378 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 1: were violating nonprofit law and that they were, um, you know, 379 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: failing to provide donors with a tax deduction because they 380 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: weren't set up properly. So, yeah, it is absolutely the 381 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: case that you know, it's there's a risk there. Um, 382 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: You've got to understand that philanthropy is like anything else 383 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: in their lives. Um. You know, in the same way 384 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: that they shouldn't be buying a restaurant or a carpepership 385 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: without understanding the risk. They shouldn't be starting a foundation 386 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: without understanding the risks. Um. But unfortunately, in our and 387 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: and sort of you know, the world in which we live, 388 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: these foundations are are sort of thought of as these 389 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: touchy feely kind of unicorns, kind of kumbaya organizations, and 390 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 1: they're not at their corporations and they have every bit 391 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: the compliance obligations of x on Mobile and Google and Amazon, 392 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: and these guys need to understand that getting involved in 393 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: philanthropy is not just something that you do because it's 394 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: the right thing to do, but it is starting a business, 395 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: just like buying a restaurant, and it should be treated 396 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: the same way with professional legal advice, with professional accounting oversight, 397 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: with you know, professional team of advisors and executives. And 398 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 1: if they're not ready to do that, then then yeah, 399 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: they're just asking for trouble. We're talking with lawyer Andrew Morton, 400 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 1: with handler there, I have to ask the most when 401 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: it's done properly, the most heartwarming stories that you've seen 402 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,680 Speaker 1: from athletes giving to you mentioned about Drew Brees and Katrina. 403 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: Can you mention some of the other heartwarming stories that 404 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: you've seen when it's done the right way and you 405 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: see the money going to where it needs to go. Yeah, 406 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: And it's absolutely and in more of a general sense. 407 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: I mean, there's way too many specifics, but but here's 408 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 1: here's one of the the points that I always like 409 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,199 Speaker 1: to make, and you know, hopefully there's there there might 410 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: even be some of some of the folks. Um. You know, 411 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: if there's anybody listening to that this applies to, then 412 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,919 Speaker 1: then I've done my job right. And that is you 413 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: know the fact that in many respects, people only view 414 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: the all stars and you know, those those top guys 415 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: as the ones who are able to to sustain a 416 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: philanthropic effort. And and as I said, you know, while 417 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 1: I don't believe that your backup left tackles ought to 418 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: have their own foundation, that doesn't mean that that they 419 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: shouldn't be philanthropic. And you know, again, the trick is 420 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: is aligning, you know, their place in the world with 421 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,679 Speaker 1: their cause and with the structure that they use to 422 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: sort of to get involved and have an impact in philanthropy. 423 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,760 Speaker 1: So um, one of the ironies that I always talk 424 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: about is that, uh, you know, in a lot of ways, 425 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: you can have more philanthropic impact with fifty dollars and 426 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: you can with fifty million dollars um. And that probably 427 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: doesn't make a lot of sense, But what I mean 428 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: by that is that you know, with the high profile, 429 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: high profile folks tend to get involved in these macro 430 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: level efforts like curing cancer or you know, eradicating hunger 431 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:14,880 Speaker 1: or human rights issues. Those are phenomenal causes, and needless 432 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: to say, I'm not suggesting in any way that folks 433 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: shouldn't do that, but you know, raising fifty million dollars 434 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: for cancer research, it's difficult to see the impact. And 435 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: my experience has been that folks will get more dedicated 436 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,760 Speaker 1: to philanthropy and sustain their when they see the impact 437 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,480 Speaker 1: when you raise fifty dollars uh and sort of go 438 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: into a local community, whether it's a player's hometown or 439 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: or the town that they went to college or the 440 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 1: town that they're currently playing professional ball. Um, if they 441 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: take that fifty grand and buy new equipment for the 442 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: local high schools, or buy books for the library, or 443 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,280 Speaker 1: provide food to a soup kitchen, you know, you can 444 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: see that immediately. You know, it's difficult to see the 445 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: impact of fifty million dollars into a hundred million dollar 446 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: bucket to cure cancer. It's very easy to see a 447 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: bunch of kids who didn't have football equipment yesterday who 448 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: have shiny new equipment today. And that's you know, one 449 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 1: of the the experiences that I get to be a 450 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: part of it just uh, you know, is what motivates 451 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: me to do. My job is when I you know, 452 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: I can have an event for a player who raises 453 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: that fifty grand. I mean nothing that they're going to 454 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 1: write about in Bloomberg necessarily, but you know when you 455 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 1: raise that fifty grand, and then the next day, you know, 456 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:33,360 Speaker 1: we can pull into the school parking lot and I've 457 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: got a three pound lineman in my car who's got 458 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: tears in his eyes looking at these kids, you know, 459 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:41,520 Speaker 1: an understanding that he's the one who gave him the 460 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:45,440 Speaker 1: swagger to to feel like like they are somebody, because 461 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: they're wearing this shiny new equipment and they have all 462 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 1: this incredible, you know, gear that they didn't have yesterday. 463 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: And he did that, and when he sees that, he 464 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 1: goes back to his teammates and says, guys, you've got 465 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: to start doing this in your communities. And you know, 466 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 1: I would much rather work with fifty guys raising a 467 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 1: grand than a couple of guys raising a hundred million, 468 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,399 Speaker 1: because there's more of an opportunity to see what that 469 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 1: can do right now, not down the road we're chatting with. 470 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: Andrew Morton is the chair of the Sports and Entertainment 471 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: Practice at Handler Fair. And Andrew in your bio, it 472 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: says you work with public figures who wished to maximize 473 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: their social impact. Is it easier for athletes today because 474 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: of the inherent amplification in a social world, whether it's 475 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: Lebron or Derek Jeter in the Turn To Foundation, is 476 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: it easier for them to amplify their message of giving 477 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: of charity? I think there's no question that everybody has 478 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: a better platform now than they used to in a 479 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: sense because you know, now we can now we as 480 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,199 Speaker 1: individuals have some control over that. Whereas you know, before 481 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: it was just evil media types and not present company. 482 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 1: But you know that the ability to get the message 483 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 1: out was dependent on on convinced seeing a journalist to 484 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: write about it, Whereas now you know, everybody has their own, 485 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: their own platform and their own way to amplify that voice. So, 486 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: you know, I think, you know, we're sort of beating 487 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 1: a theme into the ground here, but it's it's I 488 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: think that those guys always had the ability to do that. 489 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: What's different today are the what those backup left tackles 490 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: can do. You know, are you know what the guys 491 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: who aren't on the all star roster? You know, now 492 00:26:26,359 --> 00:26:28,719 Speaker 1: you've got the ability for you know, it's not just 493 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: the A list that's being philanthropic. You know, it's twenty 494 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: years ago you just heard about Elizabeth Taylor and you know, 495 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: and then it became you know, George Clooney and Angelina 496 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: and you know they're causes Bono, those sorts of guys. 497 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: Whereas now um, given the social media and given you know, 498 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: the ability to communicate directly with a fan base. You know, 499 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 1: a guy that's not a Bano or not a Lebron 500 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: or Derek Jeter has the ability to reach his fans that, 501 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: you know, be a fifty thousand fans or fifty million fans, 502 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: can get to those guys and can can amplify that 503 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: message about philanthropy and about about supporting a cause, whether 504 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: it's getting to an event or giving to a foundation directly, 505 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: or or calling a congress person or you know anything 506 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: that that is what they believe to be the best 507 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: way to have a philanthropic impact. They can now control 508 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: that and and you know, have their own little bubble 509 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: that they can the ability to communicate and get that 510 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: feedback and and and amplify their voice to a smaller audience. 511 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: Is there the best time to do this let's say 512 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 1: back up or top pick, doesn't matter. They come to 513 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: you just got drafted. Everybody knows their name, that getting 514 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,440 Speaker 1: their first check, so their signing bonus. I want to 515 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: do a foundation. I want to create my own foundation. Andrew, 516 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 1: do you say to them, who wa, why don't you 517 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: take some time, get your feet wet, get your job? 518 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: I mean your day job is gonna be hard enough. 519 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: There's time for this. Or I'm happy to do it, 520 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:59,199 Speaker 1: let's go. I don't work with rookies. I don't believe 521 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: that are in a position to have that commitment yet, 522 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: both because they're too young to really In most cases, 523 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:13,160 Speaker 1: they're too young to really understand what it is long 524 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 1: term that is going to be their philanthropic cause of 525 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 1: you know what, just what drives them. I mean, of 526 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: course there are guys that it's pretty obvious, but for 527 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 1: most of these guys they're there. I mean, these they 528 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: are young kids. Like it's still astounds me as a 529 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:30,439 Speaker 1: you know, it's just a a sports fan that you know, 530 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: we're watching like a national championship game, and you go, 531 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 1: that kid is nineteen years old and nineteen years old, 532 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: I was lucky to be able to drive my car 533 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: at the grocery store, like, and this kid's you know, 534 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 1: got We've got however, many, ten, hundreds of millions of 535 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 1: people watching them. It's just it's astounding to me, you know, 536 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: the maturity that some of these kids have. But at 537 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: the same time, they're just kids. And you know, the 538 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: message that I typically tell a rookie or a younger 539 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: guy is like, look, to the extent you're committed to philanthropy, 540 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: I love that, and we're going to find ways that 541 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:02,120 Speaker 1: we can get you in fall. However, um, in terms 542 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: of establishing your own foundation or creating your own philanthropy brand, 543 00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 1: it's not time yet, Like there's time for that. You 544 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: need to be a football player or a basketball player. 545 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: You need to focus on your playbook, not on a foundation, 546 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 1: because if you don't establish relevance in you know, as 547 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: a professional athlete, then down the road, there's nothing you're 548 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: gonna be able to do in the philanthropy world because 549 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: nobody's gonna know who you are. You know. The best 550 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 1: thing that a guy can do, especially these early draft picks, 551 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:34,640 Speaker 1: is really focus on establishing their credentials as a player, uh, 552 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: and then sort of take that and pivot into into 553 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,280 Speaker 1: establishing that philanthropy brand and some sort of a structure 554 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: that will that will be supportive of whatever impact they 555 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 1: want to make. But but doing it right out of 556 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: the gate is just it's going to be a distraction 557 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: to the player. The agents get frustrated, um, the coaches 558 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: get frustrated and misunderstandable. He is one of the top 559 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: athlete philanthropy lawyers in the country, yes, the only one, 560 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 1: and we have handler there. If you have been so 561 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: kind to take a time and talk with us, Thank you, sir. 562 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:20,720 Speaker 1: Takeaways from the interview stupid me. You know it was 563 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 1: too easy when I said it. It was like set 564 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 1: up boom. But I had no idea that you needed 565 00:30:29,080 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: somebody like Mr Morton on what you need to set 566 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: up kind of a foundation, I thought, quite frankly, the 567 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: athlete took it upon theirselves to just go out and 568 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 1: do what they had to do. Having known him for 569 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: a while now, it's amazing. Sometimes I'll call him and 570 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: I'll take a one of the financial disclosure forms for 571 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:53,400 Speaker 1: somebody's charity and have him take a peek, and he says, well, 572 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,840 Speaker 1: this isn't in compliance, this is a mistake, this is wrong, 573 00:30:56,880 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: this is illegal, and it happens way more him, which 574 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: is why I had asked him sort of about that 575 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 1: reputational risk. If you're gonna do it, you better do 576 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: it right. Because he was right when he said the 577 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 1: headline coming out is even though you're trying to do good, 578 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: the headline is going to come out financial irregularity and 579 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,959 Speaker 1: a charity. There's a risk here, so you better do 580 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:22,520 Speaker 1: it right. That's that's my takeaway. Athletes really need to know, 581 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: agents need to know that you're better do it right. 582 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: And second takeaway, if I may a second takeaway, bonus, 583 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: we don't really need Novie Williams like that. Didn't didn't 584 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 1: miss him at all. I think we had a good 585 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: time with you. By the way, about did you listen 586 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 1: to the show? Well, let's see if he listens, we'll 587 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 1: ask him, did you know what we said about you 588 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: on this week's show, Novie Williams, he might guess that 589 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 1: he's not gonna guess. Feels better to be a number 590 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:53,200 Speaker 1: one than number five. I'll wear a number because of Mike. 591 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: We have a chance to go for three in a row, 592 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: good numbers in a good time. And i'd first started 593 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: wearing the number, I would just have the found Bloomberg 594 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 1: Music Sports the number of the week. Now, this is 595 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: what we call a hybrid. When you say we called, 596 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: you mean you call yeah, Well, no, it's a week 597 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 1: because we are team remember. Yeah, But I want to 598 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: make sure this is something that I call whatever it 599 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: is you're about to say, because you don't know what. 600 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: I am not cosigning until I know what this is. 601 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: I'll show you my credit report. Here's the number, eighty 602 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:27,520 Speaker 1: six out of one. One. That's two numbers, that numbers. 603 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:32,120 Speaker 1: It's eight six of one oh one, eight six of one. 604 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: I have no idea. Now I'll put it in the context. 605 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: Houston Rockets guard James Harden got eighty six out of 606 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: one first place votes for m VP of the NBA. Yes, 607 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: and Dwayne Casey wins Coach of the Year and gets 608 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: fired and Brad Stephen gets zero votes for Coach of 609 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 1: the Year. But yes, James Harden, it's been knocking on 610 00:32:56,640 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: the door man. Yeah. How do I be polite here? 611 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't want to be throwing my opinions 612 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:09,040 Speaker 1: about it? Yeah, okay, Um, I mean Lebron's MVP, he 613 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 1: just is He's single handedly kind of drags that team 614 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 1: to the finals and makes it competitive. And you saw 615 00:33:16,360 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: this with Jordan, and you saw this with others. And again, 616 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 1: I covered Jordan his heyday. I was there when people 617 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 1: would run behind the bus. There were times when it 618 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:26,360 Speaker 1: was just kind of Michael Jordan fatigue, and it was 619 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: it was so assumed that he was the best player 620 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: on the planet and that he's the most valuable player, 621 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 1: that they gave it to somebody else, just to give 622 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: it to somebody else. It's James Harden, a wonderful, great 623 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:41,200 Speaker 1: basketball player. Yes, great basketball player. This is not what 624 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:43,760 Speaker 1: I'm saying. And I know I know about oh most 625 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 1: valuable to his team. What would the Rockets be without him? 626 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 1: They'd probably be pretty lousy team. But what would the 627 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: Cavaliers be? What would the NBA be without Sir James? Well, 628 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: now you still have Kevin Love on the Cavaliers. Maybe 629 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 1: you've just made a point, but you still have Yeah, 630 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 1: that's my point. You still have Kevin Love. And I'm 631 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:09,520 Speaker 1: not knocking Kevin Love. And I get your argument that 632 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:13,280 Speaker 1: you're saying that. Listen, Lebron James. He took that team 633 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:16,359 Speaker 1: on his back to the finals. I get all of that. 634 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,200 Speaker 1: But still, I mean, you got to give a nod 635 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 1: to James Harden. I will give him a nod. I'll 636 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 1: give him some second place votes. That's giving him a nod. 637 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:26,799 Speaker 1: That's giving him a very solid nod. I'm just not 638 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:29,840 Speaker 1: giving him eighty six out of one and one first 639 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: place nuts. By the way, Lebron like we're on the 640 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: first name basis he uh New Orleans Pelicans power forward 641 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,760 Speaker 1: Anthony Davis thirds his playoffs going. How does that playoff 642 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:54,319 Speaker 1: career for Anthony Davis? Looking just a nice player? But 643 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:57,239 Speaker 1: can I can I? What are these guys measured in? 644 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:01,400 Speaker 1: They're measured in rings, postseason accomplishment. Nobody cares what happens 645 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,759 Speaker 1: in the first eight two nobody. Well, now do you 646 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,839 Speaker 1: think about Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons, second year 647 00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 1: player Ben Simmons? Sure, I have no problem. He didn't 648 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: play the first year shore. I have no problem. Yeah. 649 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:16,319 Speaker 1: By the way, seventy sixers they have turned See now, 650 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: if you gave an award for a team that has 651 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,800 Speaker 1: turned it around the seventies six ers here here, Well 652 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: you say turned it around, and you know the saying 653 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: that you can't turn around a cruise ship quickly, like 654 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:31,960 Speaker 1: it's this is not like they were steaming one way 655 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:35,760 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden pivoted. They were bad, 656 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 1: but as my friends got O'Neil likes to preach trust 657 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: the process. There they go. Good, good job to all 658 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 1: my seventy six ers pass. We'll go ahead and talk 659 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: about this at the bar with a beer, Big Bar. 660 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:50,879 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports. We are 661 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,000 Speaker 1: here each and every week at the same time, exploring 662 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:56,319 Speaker 1: the world of money and sports on Michael Bar on 663 00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:59,560 Speaker 1: Twitter at Big Bar, Big Bar, and I am Scott Slashnik. 664 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: You can fill on me a Twitter at sash Scott 665 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 1: Tina pe soon to be just Medina. Thanks for joining us. 666 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 1: Please tune in next week when we speak with the 667 00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,240 Speaker 1: biggest and brightest in the sports business industry. You're listening 668 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:13,319 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio around the 669 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 1: world and online as an Apple podcast on iTunes.