1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. The International Olympic Committee 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: for spacing a crisis. Which sport would you point to 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: and say, put your money here? Where the money is 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: flowing inside sports around the globe as NASCAR's business engine 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: lost some horse problem. Now I'm paying five or ten 6 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: percent what I used to pay to buy the whole team. 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: Michael Barr. Nothing like a cheap cot dog, which is 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: what you should get. Scott Sash, How do you put 9 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: your brand outside of the United States? How do you 10 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: capture fans around the world? Bloomberg Business of Sports on 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio. Over the next hour, we will explore the 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports, and we 13 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: will talk to some of the biggest players in the industry. Today, 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: we speak with former NBA commissioner David Stern, who's advising 15 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: several companies on Wall Street. I guess if you've been 16 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: a CEO for thirty years, you may have a little 17 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: something to offer. And I'm also a senior advisor to 18 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: the NBA when called upon to be helpful. But first, 19 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: let's talk about the top three business sports stories of 20 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: the week. For the first time in this career, Sergio 21 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: Garcia wins a Major. He captures the Green Jacket with 22 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: a sudden death victory over Justin Rose at the Masters. 23 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: Garcia talked about the wind when he visited Bloomberg World 24 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: headquarters in New York. A part of me feels like, yeah, 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: I've done it. I'm I'm so proud, and not only 26 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 1: for myself, but for for all my people that that 27 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 1: has been with me for so many years, and you know, 28 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: my fiance and I'm every went around. But I'm not 29 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: leaning back and saying I can't relax now because I 30 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 1: don't want it to stop here. I wanted to um, 31 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: I wanted to keep going. For me, this is just 32 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 1: the beginning. It's it's an amazing experience and an amazing feeling. 33 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: But I feel like I can still improve. But for 34 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: all the amazing gulf and the feelings and the drama, Michael, 35 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: that did not exactly help. The ratings down eleven from 36 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: the year before. And you had a sudden death playoff 37 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: and it was in one hole where this sudden death 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: had taken place. You would think that the ratings would 39 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: shoot up, but it didn't. Not exactly. No name players either, 40 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: I mean, Sergio Garcia. There's a good story. They're the 41 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: guys in contention frequently, he's probably the best golfer nevative 42 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: won the Major. That's the tag Justin Rose people know him. 43 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: Do you need Jordan's speech? Do you need Ricky Fowl? 44 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: Do you need Dustin Johnson? What does golf need to 45 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: attract that core fan? Sergio Garcia and the Spaniard connection 46 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: he talked about Seve Ballesteros and and that connection there. 47 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: It's hard to understand why the ratings didn't get You 48 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 1: have to question. Remember it's twenty years ago Tiger Woods 49 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: won the Master's. People think Tiger variety hasn't one. He's 50 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: not playing, there's Tiger fatigue? Is there a Tiger fatigue? 51 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: But let's face it, tigers on the leaderboard. People are 52 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: watching golf. Also our second story we're highlighting this week, Scott, 53 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: this should come as no surprise, especially to those of 54 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: you who listened to our premier show last week. The 55 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: Yankees are the world's most valuable baseball team, according to 56 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: Forbes magazine. He was Yankees President Randy Levine from last 57 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: week's show. We've been forever the largest revenue generating came 58 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 1: in in Major League Baseball, and the great part about 59 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: the Yankees. I always say, is you know a lot 60 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: of people who love us and a lot of people 61 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: who hate us, but a lot of people are thinking 62 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: about us all the time. I used to laugh when 63 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 1: Howard Stern would say, love me or hate me, people 64 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: are listening to me. Viewers mean dollars. Listeners mean dollars. 65 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: People care about the Yankees. It was like I was 66 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: saying last week, I'm a native Detroitter, so yes, I 67 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: love the Detroit Tigers. But when the Yankees would come 68 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: into town. As a little boy, you knew they were 69 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: the New York Yankees. And back then they were still 70 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: trying to climb up, but you knew that they had 71 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: that presence there. You've got to give it to the 72 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: Yankees number one. And I think the Dodgers are too. 73 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: Dodgers are two Red Sox Cubs Giants, and you hear 74 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: again about fatigue. Whenever ESPN puts Yankees and Red Sox 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: on Sunday Night Baseball, the rest of the country's like, 76 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: why again, the Yankees in the Red Sox. It's all 77 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: they pay attention to. Yankees Red Sox rivalry is the 78 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: best thing happening for the business of baseball. Other people 79 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: will tune in. They're the best of friends when it 80 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: comes into the boardrooms because it makes money for both franchises. 81 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: According to Forbes, the Yankees are valued at three point 82 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: seven billion dollars. That is up nine the Dodgers at 83 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: two point seventy billion dollars. In the Red Sox at 84 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: two point seven. They're in third, up Cubs two point 85 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: seven billion dollars, up the San Francisco Giants at two 86 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: point sixty five. Now at the bottom of the list, 87 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: O my, we are looking at the Miami Marlins at 88 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: ninety million dollars at twenty five and the lowest the 89 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: Rays at eight h Remember, Michael, vs are just estimations 90 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: of valuations. We're going to find out because there's the 91 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: adage what is something worth what somebody is willing to 92 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: pay for it. We're going to find out pretty soon 93 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,040 Speaker 1: what's some body is willing to pay for the Miami Marlins. 94 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: The Kushner family was in talks for the Marlins. The ask, 95 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: the reported ask was one point six billion. This valuation 96 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: comes in that under a billion. Let's see what the 97 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: remaining bidders. One a former Newer Yankee, Derek Jeter. He's 98 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: in the mix. Let's see what these groups are willing 99 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: to pay for the Marlins. And finally, will it be 100 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 1: Los Angeles or will it be Paris for the Olympics. 101 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: They're both bidding, and they're both bidding heavily scuy, yeah, 102 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: but they both want four. The i o C would 103 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: like to award to one of the cities and to 104 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: the other. Paris has made it clear they're not interested 105 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: in l A is focused right now, they haven't said 106 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: whether they would drop out. Tough spot for the I 107 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: o C. They need to manage these two cities and 108 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: keep them happy because what has been happening in the 109 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: bid process, cities are dropping out. These are the only 110 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: two they got. The Olympics used to be a race 111 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: among many cities. This is it. Well, I think a 112 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: lot of cities realized, Hey, when you put on the Olympics, 113 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: a lot of times they wind up in the whole. 114 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: I mean, look at several of them. Take a look, 115 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: for example, what has happened in Asia and and some 116 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: of the Olympics the recent Olympics. Look in Brazil, exactly 117 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: have you seen the venues. They're dilapidated, crumbling, They're not 118 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: being used for anything that big money infrastructure spending on 119 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: these facilities that aren't being used anymore. They just had 120 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: them to goodness. Still ahead on Bloomberg Business of Sports 121 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: will bring you our conversation with former NBA Commissioner David 122 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: Stern talks about the global brand of basketball. So when 123 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: the NBA is shown in two hundred and someone countries 124 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: and forty one languages, that's a big cultural export and 125 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: it's not without its benefits financially to the NBA. You're 126 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around 127 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: the world. This is the Business of Sports on Bloomberg 128 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: Radio with Scott Josh Day again Michael Bob. Each week 129 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 1: on the show we will talk with the movers and 130 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: shakers and the sports work. This week it's David Starring, 131 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: the former commission of the NBA. Welcome David. It's great 132 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: to be with you guys today. David. Of course I 133 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: know what you're doing post NBA work, But for our 134 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: listeners who might not follow the career so closely, why 135 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: don't you tell us what are you doing these days? Well, 136 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: I'm doing a little bit of everything. I'm a senior 137 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: advisor to p j T Partners, which is a advisory 138 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: focused investment bank headed up by Paul Taban, the former 139 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: co president of Morgan Family. I'm a senior advisor to 140 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: the Price Waterhouse Cooper's Technology, Media and Telecommunications Strategy practice, 141 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: and I'm a senior advice it's a great Croft Partners, 142 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: which is a venture capital firm making mostly early stage investments, 143 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: and as a result of that, I'm advising and have 144 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: it invested in a number of sports technology related enterprises. 145 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: But they also wanted your input, if I'm correct, not 146 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: only on sports related companies, but they wanted you to 147 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: advise on many things, not just well, I guess if 148 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: you've been a CEO for thirty years, you may have 149 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: a little something to offer. And I'm also a senior 150 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: advisor to the NBA. When called upon to be helpful, 151 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: what do you look for in these companies? What do 152 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: you look for in management? I'm actually learning I'm more 153 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: my card says intern and Great Craft Partners, because invariably 154 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: in a startup, you're going to find somebody who's focused 155 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: on the mission, on the product, on the development of that. 156 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:50,199 Speaker 1: At that stage, their marketing and management demands are not intense, 157 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: and usually that's a good thing because you wouldn't find 158 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: them there. But then when they grow into more mature 159 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: come these are somewhat more mature, then you're looking to 160 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 1: make sure you've got a CEO who can manage growth, 161 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 1: and a revenue officer who can manage revenues, and an 162 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: infrastructure that can bloom into something. And what I've been 163 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: doing at the request of a number of these companies 164 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 1: is talk about my experience with a startup, because when 165 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: I joined the NBA, it was the twenty four employee 166 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: that qualifies as a startup. And how you grow from 167 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 1: just being mission focused to being managed and going from 168 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: entrepreneurial to to a much more structured enterprise. So it's 169 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: you look for a lot of different things, and it 170 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: depends upon the individual company in the stage of his development. 171 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 1: But it's an enormous amount of fun. And I start 172 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: out really as a novice, so I'm enjoying learning more 173 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: and more and and and and and being acclama it 174 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: into a process that is full of acronyms that I 175 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: had no idea what they what they stood for, but 176 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: I'm learning slowly. How would you describe to the kid 177 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: on the New York City playground who whips out his 178 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: iPhone these days and can check any stat Andy Score 179 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: watched the game live that when you were the commissioner, 180 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: that the games in the finals weren't even on live TV. 181 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: They weren't tape. What I would start with is that 182 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: this thing called the Internet didn't exist, and this satellite 183 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: delivery of sports didn't exist, and that cable UH just 184 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: started carrying NBA games in the late seventies. So the 185 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 1: entire infrastructure that exists today wasn't there in the late seventies. 186 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 1: If we wanted to get on live TV during the finals, 187 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: we scheduled our games back to back on Saturday and 188 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: Sunday so they can be on Saturday afternoon on Sunday afternoon. 189 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: But if they were on during the week, they were 190 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: tape delayed in the East. So the I guess the 191 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: sixth game of that famed um Magic Johnson led Laker 192 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: UH defeat of the seventies six is with Dr J 193 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: in nine eight eight. I'm going to say, was you 194 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: had to watch it eleven night in New York tape delayed. 195 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: What's amazing to me is that you were the commissioner 196 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: from ur to thirty solid years and eighty four. As 197 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: you were talking about earlier, the game was dynamic then 198 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: and now what has changed about the game today outside 199 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: of what you just well, you know, it's interesting. I 200 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: think that, you know, I'm a I'm a protector of 201 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: the history, and I think that you've got to you know, 202 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: when you talk about Michael or Lebron or what have you, 203 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 1: Let's not forget Bill Russell and all of his rings. 204 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: Let's not forget that Jerry west and Oscar Robertson. You know, 205 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: Oscar is now in the news only as a result 206 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:13,319 Speaker 1: of the fact that Westbrook has averaged a triple double. 207 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,559 Speaker 1: I think about that with respect Oscar. So we always 208 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: had great players. I think the demands on the players 209 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: now in terms of pushing their bodies and it may 210 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: be that they jump higher and run faster. But there 211 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: were always great players, uh, whether before Michael, there was 212 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: Dr Jay and Magic and Larry and Kareem and Eligent Baylor. 213 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: I mean we we uh at the NBA. The one 214 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: thing that was certain is that there were great players 215 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: coming out of the colleges. But now they're not just 216 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: coming out of the colleges. This past year, I think 217 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: over a hundred players on NBA rosters were born outside 218 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,520 Speaker 1: the continental United States. That's pretty extraordinary in terms of 219 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 1: the talent pool. If you have a hundred players, you're 220 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: talking about the addition of depending on how you define 221 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: a roster, it's another seven teams uh full of NBA 222 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 1: caliber players. So the talent availability is extraordinary, and it 223 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: comes from all over the world. And it's going to 224 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: get actually even richer in terms of a talent pool 225 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: as the NBA's efforts and other efforts continue in India 226 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: and China, Latin America and Europe. It's in Africa you're 227 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: going to see an entirely uh you know, hopped up, 228 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: so to speak, enriched pool of great players. That's the 229 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: next step for the NBA taking an overseas and having 230 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: it dominate overseas well. I don't know if it has 231 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: to dominate, it's just it helps grow the game. I 232 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: think the NBA is uh just making sure that there. 233 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:03,839 Speaker 1: When you when you think about the population of I guess, Africa, 234 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: India and China, you're talking about over three billion people 235 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 1: that have not been you know, exposed the way they're 236 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: going to be to basketball, and that's very exciting from 237 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: a talent perspective. It's also exciting from a commerce perspective, 238 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: but it's also good for building the NBA brand on 239 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: a global basis. Coming up, we continue our conversation with 240 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: David Stern, the former NBA commission There talks about the 241 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: role of the internets in the future of transmitting basketball games. 242 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: These giants, these money laden giants, are just awakening to 243 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: the promise of sports, and they're going to awaken on 244 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: a global basis. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 245 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: on Bloomberg Radio around the world. This is the Business 246 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: of Sports on Bloomberg Radio with Scott Sasha Aga and 247 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: Michael Ball. Thanks for joining us. Each week we explore 248 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: the big business of money and sports and we speak 249 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: to some of the biggest names in the sports industry. 250 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: We now continue our conversation with former NBA Commissioner David Stern, 251 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: and David importing players from around the world, exporting content, 252 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: exporting merchandise. This has grown into a global business. It's interesting. 253 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: I think that uh motion pictures, television products are the 254 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: most important cultural export that we have, and that includes sports. 255 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: So when the NBA is shown in two hundred and 256 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: some odd countries and forty some odd languages. That's a 257 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: big cultural export, and it's not without its benefits financially 258 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: to the NBA. And that is true whether you're talking 259 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: about television, or you're talking about video games, or you're 260 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: talking about merchandise. Uh, it's really you know, all backboards 261 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: and basketballs. It covers a wide array of of heart 262 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: and self goods. And I think the NBA is poised 263 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: for that, and the NBA is poised for the dealing 264 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: with the explosion in uh social media. So the digital 265 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: world and globalization haven't promised to continue to be very 266 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: kind to the NBA. We are chatting with former NBA 267 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 1: commissioner David Stern, and David, you were known as Digital 268 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: Dave long ago because you exported the game and you 269 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: understood the scalable media. How important is a guy like yeow? 270 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: How important is it to develop a star from outside 271 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: the US in terms of generating not only fans for 272 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: the league, but customers for the content. Yeah, you know, 273 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 1: it's interesting. I've it certainly is a very important inflection 274 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: point to have a great player from a country, whether 275 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 1: it's Dirk Novitski in Germany or Tony Parker and France. 276 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: Or Manu Genoble in Argentina, etcetera. But uh, and yeah, 277 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: it was certainly because China historically was a closed society 278 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: to the US. Yeah, was a very very important breakthrough. Um. 279 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: But you just have to keep on keep on development. 280 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 1: You know, someday there'll be such a great player from India, 281 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: then there'll be another Yale from China. Because I've always 282 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: uh made the or urged the proposition that it can't 283 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: be that. Yeah, it was the only great player ever 284 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:52,679 Speaker 1: to emerge from China, a nation of a billion four people. 285 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: It's not not possible. And that's I think why the 286 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: NBA is wisely embarking on a program of um of 287 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: different academies in Asia, in Africa, in China. It's I 288 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: think that's going to it's a long term development plan, 289 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: but I think it's going to be very successful once 290 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 1: the talent pool expands. Do you think we'll see the 291 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: NBA expand the number of teams in the association. That's 292 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: a good question. I just don't know because it uh, 293 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: it's it's it's I just don't know what the optimum 294 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: number is of teams in a professional sports league. The 295 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: the U S leagues have settled in of anywhere from 296 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: thirty to thirty two. And I think that's uh, that's 297 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: a working number. And given the infusion of UM money 298 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: that is coming to the league's in their operations, UM, 299 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think an expansion franchise would be very, 300 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: very costly because of the the template, at least historically 301 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: has been to share revenue with any new team, which 302 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: necessarily is larger now than in the past and drives 303 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: up the price that would have to be charged for 304 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: the franchise. David, you sit obviously in those meetings with 305 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: the owners. In the old days, they didn't pay quite 306 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: as much for the franchise. Is let's say Steve Bamber 307 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: forking over two billion dollars? What do they expect? What 308 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: do they want in terms of asset valuation? What do 309 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: they need to occur? Well, from a business perspective, Um, 310 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, I I I the wise guy answer is 311 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: all they want to do is win Scott, you know that. 312 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: But if you make a few bucks, right right, I 313 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: think they would like to have a return on their investment, 314 00:19:55,400 --> 00:20:02,440 Speaker 1: which is uh, which is a operating cash flow from 315 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 1: the business itself, and be appreciation in the asset. And 316 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,239 Speaker 1: given the great job that Commissioner Silver is doing. I 317 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: think they're all those are possible, and most teams are 318 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: poised to get there. They need to They need a 319 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: good building, they need a great sales team, they need, 320 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: you know, an intelligent management in terms of player acquisition, 321 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: and they have to not only fill the building, but 322 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: they have to fill up sponsorships, make local TV arrangements 323 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: and the like. And I think that's within the reach 324 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: of all thirty NBA teams still ahead. On Bloomberg Business 325 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: of Sports, David Stern talks about the controversy the NBA 326 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: stars sitting out game. You are listening to Bloomberg Business 327 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: of Sports worldwide. This is the Business of Sports on 328 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:04,199 Speaker 1: Burn Radio with Scott Josh Again, Michael Bob, thanks for 329 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: joining us. Each week we explore the big business of 330 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: money and sports. Let's continue our conversation with former NBA 331 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: commissioner David Stern. And David, we're now seeing ads coming 332 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: to NBA jerseys. You were against that as your tenure 333 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,880 Speaker 1: ran on. What do you think of that now? If 334 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: you're an observer of the global scene, there's nothing new 335 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: about ads on jerseys. Sometimes you can't even tell what 336 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,719 Speaker 1: the name of the team is. If you look at 337 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: the English Premier League, which may be the most successful 338 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: league in the world. The w n b A has 339 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: been had ads on their uniforms for quite some time 340 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:50,640 Speaker 1: and the um you know, and I think that the 341 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: modest patch that the NBA is now experimenting with is 342 00:21:56,080 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 1: going to be barely noticeable by the time you know, 343 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: we're through and next season comes around, because if you 344 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: look at the NBA arenas with the pole wraps and 345 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: the vommatory um signage and the cot side signage, just 346 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: about everything has been sold. Uh, and now the uniform 347 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: is joining the parade. David, what is your take on 348 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: the future of media in that you know, the customer 349 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: wants it, how they want it, where they want it, 350 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: when they wanted. Amazon is now paying fifty million dollars 351 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: for the streaming rights to the NFL. The struggles of 352 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: ESPN and losing subscribers has been much talked about. But 353 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 1: are you of a belief that where one might struggle 354 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: as an opportunity for somebody else, that there will always 355 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: be a handful of bidders for these rights that seemed 356 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:59,719 Speaker 1: to be impervious to recession or or or pricing pressure. Right. 357 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,359 Speaker 1: I think you've the seeds of the answer that question 358 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: are within the question itself. I think that Time Warner 359 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: and Disney and Fox, that CBS, they understood the threat 360 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: that was posed by the shall we say, the fangs 361 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: that are somewhere f a ang you know, Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google, 362 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: throw in Apple throwing Microsoft. And you're talking about uh large, 363 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: really large pools of money that have come late to 364 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: understanding how valuable sports content is. And that's why if 365 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: you look at the landscape, you see that with all 366 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:56,400 Speaker 1: of the talk about ESPN, etcetera, which is a wonderful 367 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,439 Speaker 1: company post problems, I would very much like to have 368 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: or I'd like to advise companies that have that problem. 369 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: UH is doing quite well. UH and and they and 370 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,439 Speaker 1: and all of the networks signed up their sports deals 371 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: for long periods of time. You can look at the 372 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: Amazon deal with the NFL as just a small data 373 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: point on how anxious these companies are going to be 374 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 1: to get first class content. But the NFL, the NBA, 375 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball Hockey MLS, and the n c A 376 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: A tournament and the College Bowls games and the like 377 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: are all tied up for relatively long periods of time. 378 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 1: So I think, so you wind up with Amazon replacing 379 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: Twitter for an NFL streaming event on Thursday night. Uh, 380 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,679 Speaker 1: you see Facebook has uh? I think I saw they 381 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: have the National Lacrosse League, they have some NBA Development 382 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: League games, they have some practices from the Golden State Warriors. 383 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: These giants, these money laden giants, are just awakening to 384 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:21,239 Speaker 1: the promise of sports, and they're going to awaken on 385 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: a global basis because they're they're all looking at the 386 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,719 Speaker 1: media markets that are growing have much faster rates outside 387 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,200 Speaker 1: the United States than within. So that's a long way 388 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: of saying they're looking at it from a right hoole 389 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: dis perspective. The party is far from over. There's at 390 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: least one more solid round of well held suitors getting 391 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: ready to come into the marketplace that have been put 392 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,360 Speaker 1: off for a period of time by the incumbents by 393 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: entering into long term deals. Beyond that, I think that 394 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 1: when you watch and be see which is going to 395 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,479 Speaker 1: have the Olympics, and you um and you see that 396 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: they make a you know, I made another deal with 397 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: Snapchat Stories to augment the Olympic coverage. Uh, You're going 398 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 1: to see you know, other interests in whether it's Facebook 399 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: or Snapchat or Instagram or YouTube, You're going to see 400 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: others that are going to be much more interested in 401 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 1: what's going on as well. So the future is bright 402 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 1: for the holders of of the sports content, perhaps not 403 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 1: those who have to pay for it. No, no, no, no, no. 404 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,959 Speaker 1: The future is you know, in a market where there 405 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: is a buyer and a seller, it doesn't make sense 406 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: for a seller to complain that he had to pay 407 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: too much because that no one forced him to pay 408 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: that amount. That's a negotiated price between a buyer and 409 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: a seller, both of which are educated. Do you like 410 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: disney position? Your name was always mentioned as a possible 411 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 1: replacement for Bob Iger. Do you like Disney's position right 412 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:09,159 Speaker 1: now with the like you said, the sleeping giants on 413 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: their heels. They do have the rights to the major 414 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:16,960 Speaker 1: events right now. Yeah. But remember Disney is this great 415 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 1: company that has enormous strength and its theme parks, which 416 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 1: it has updated continually and which it is growing globally 417 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: with respect it's new Shanghai Park to go with its 418 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: Tokyo Park, to go with its Paris Park. And I 419 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: understand that they're doing great, and Disney has understood that 420 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: sports isn't the only valuable franchises the franchises of Star 421 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: Wars and Marvel and uh, I'm leaving one out. They 422 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: you know, they bought Pixar, so they have these uh 423 00:27:55,680 --> 00:28:01,200 Speaker 1: three tent pole franchises that are people flocked to theaters 424 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: to see them and so and so ESPN and Sports 425 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 1: is just another one of the tent poles that the 426 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: Walt Disney Company has to assure that they continue. And 427 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: I think that ESPN actually, when it finally becomes a 428 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:24,679 Speaker 1: little easier to access uh content on the internet with 429 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 1: this whole issue of authentication, etcetera. Uh, Disney's uh digital 430 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: reach will be fully understood through ESPN, Watch ESPN, ESPN three, etcetera. 431 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: And uh and and it's really a pleasure if you're 432 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 1: a tennis fan particularly, you can you know, go to 433 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 1: watch ESPN and you not only can watch the court 434 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,480 Speaker 1: number one on ESPN two or ESPN, you can watch 435 00:28:54,600 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: court numbers two through twelve digitally through their other uh 436 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: you know courts and their and their processes. And what's 437 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: going to happen is there's going to be a convergence. 438 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 1: Everything that you can see on your iPhone, you can 439 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: see on your TV and vice versa, and so a 440 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: lot of people are still going to desire the large 441 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: screen experience, and a lot of others are going to 442 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 1: say I want it when I want it, and they're 443 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: gonna want it on their iPhone or their iPad. I 444 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 1: shouldn't say iPhone. I should say they're smart devices, so 445 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: that I don't exclude Samsung and or you know, or 446 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 1: or many others who are distributing those devices. Speaking of 447 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: Samsung and things that are on fire, how about Steph 448 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,160 Speaker 1: Curry who makes the phone call? Is it Bob Iger? 449 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: Is it John Skipper? When on a Wednesday night where 450 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: ESPN pays a lot of money for exclusivity, the stars 451 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: are sitting out the games. Michael, I know you want 452 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: to see those stars. Yes, yes, especially Steph Curry. Now 453 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 1: Brussell Westbrook, he just hit the record and then he 454 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: has rested going into the playoffs. It's a fascinating issue, 455 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 1: and I'm sure the owners and commission of Silver will 456 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:09,959 Speaker 1: figure out some way to deal with it. I just uh, 457 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: just to show you as I've thought about it. I 458 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,480 Speaker 1: have I know some people, for example, that are coming 459 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: into New York to go to a Wednesday Mattenee of 460 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: Hello Dolly, which is featuring Bett Midler. Now, I'm sure 461 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: there are Wednesdays when Bette Midler was saying to herself, boy, 462 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: with a show to do tonight. Do I really want 463 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 1: to do this? Mattenee? But what do you think she does? 464 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:41,480 Speaker 1: It sounds to me like you're saying, get out in 465 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: playfell I. But I understand the issues, and it is 466 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: interesting to note that most of the rest comes on 467 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: the road. Yeah, where only where the fans get to 468 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: see that player maybe once. So so it's a it's 469 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:00,320 Speaker 1: a it's a very serious problem. I think that Mista 470 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: Silva has zeroed in on it and he's doing what 471 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 1: has to be done with the dialogue with the players 472 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: and the union and the ownership and the coaches. And 473 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 1: also they're making changes to the schedule because they're going 474 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: to start the season earlier um and so or perhaps 475 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 1: eliminate some exhibition games. It's everyone wants to see the 476 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: problem solved. It's always fun when you're in the presence 477 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: of players who have played twenty years ago. They're here. 478 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:38,719 Speaker 1: The difference of views about the uh you know, about 479 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:43,160 Speaker 1: playing or resting. David, thank you for joining us. That's 480 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 1: the former Commissioner of the NBA, David Stern, joining us 481 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: on Bloomberg Business of Sports. We're here each and every 482 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: week at the same time, exploring the world of money 483 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: and sports. I'm Michael barn and I'm Scott Sashnik. Please 484 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: tune in next week when we speak with attorney Jeff 485 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: Kessler's clients include every major sports league, and you might 486 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:03,959 Speaker 1: have heard of his defleat gate case with Tom Brady. 487 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio.