1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports talk about some of 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: the more interesting aspects of business of sports. So there's 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: all kinds of cool questions. So this is a fun 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: topic to the country is finally getting the memo about 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: how amazing the sport is. I think the sky's a 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: limit for MLS. We're spending more and more of our 7 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: time in a digital world, and it's also becoming a 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: really powerful place for commerce. It is so nice to 9 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: be back and to be able to have fans back 10 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: in the building. So despite the chaotic schedule, and this 11 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: is why we do what we do. When you get 12 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: into the playoffs, there's nothing better at the player in 13 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: the excitement, and it's also for the organization sponsors involved. 14 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. This is the 15 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports show, where we explore the big 16 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: money issues in the world of sports. I'm Scarlett and 17 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: Mike Lynch. Michael Barr is off today, but he'll be 18 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: back next week. Coming up today, we catch up with 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: Big East commissioner and Basketball Hall of Famer Val Ackerman. 20 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: We get her thoughts on year two of the pandemic. 21 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: Although it feels like you're five plus we talk about 22 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: indoor spens and how n I L Names, image and 23 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: likeness is shaping up across the country. Where we are 24 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: now is we have largely a patchwork of rules around 25 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: the country about how student athletes can capitalize on their name, 26 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 1: image and likeness. That part, I think and most college 27 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: sports administrators will tell you have been unfavorable to not 28 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 1: have the consistency of one rule across the country. That 29 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports show. 30 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: But first we got to take a look at some 31 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: the top stories of the week, beginning with of course, 32 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 1: the Olympics and hockey, specifically women's hockey and Lynch Canada 33 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: defeated the US, but really we knew it was all 34 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: always going to culminate with Canada versus the US, and 35 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: these are the two titans of the Olympic Games when 36 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: it comes to women's hockey, and Canada had been kind 37 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: of unbeatable. It was it was like they were expected 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: to win, and that's exactly what happened. Well, it was 39 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: a one goal game. And this is the greatest rivalry 40 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: in Olympic sports right now, and it's a shame we 41 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: have to wait four years for these two teams to 42 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: play again. Canada now has won five gold medals, four 43 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: of them against the United States. They won one against Sweden, 44 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: the US one four years ago, and they won in 45 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: But it really is absolutely something and I feel bad 46 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: for these ladies and these women that played in front 47 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: of an empty house because I can only I can't 48 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: imagine the Mica Russions team in nineteen eight in l 49 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: class At playing in front of an empty stadium, because 50 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: the crowd does fuel you, there's no question about it. 51 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: And these are all world class players. Uh. We should 52 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: mention that Canada had three women, Brian Jenner, Sarah Phillier 53 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: and Jamie Lee rat Ray among the five top scores 54 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: in Beijing, so it was pretty much a given that 55 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: even if Canada didn't win, they would own the ice regardless, 56 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: just because of the talent on the ice at that point. Yeah, 57 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: they beat the United States in the in the preliminary 58 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: round by a score of four to two, and everyone 59 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: knew was going to be a collision course to come 60 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: and play again in the gold medal game. It's just 61 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: too bad that they know they dropped the puck a 62 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: little after eleven o'clock Eastern time, a lot of people 63 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: just didn't stay up. They're probably d v arted and 64 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: it makes it a little anti climatic. But I've seen 65 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: some of the highlights and and it's it's a great rivalry. 66 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: It's it's too bad isn't played annually like Ohio State, Michigan, Harvard, Yale, Alabama. 67 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: You know, I would, I would. I would love to 68 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: see this thing happened. You could play it like in 69 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: Madison Square Garden that played at the Bell Center up 70 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: in Montreal, and I think it would be just a great, 71 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: great showcase. It would be great for all the young 72 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: girls that aspire to be uh to be hockey players, 73 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: you know, not to have to wait four years to 74 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: actually see these teams play more frequently. Can I tell you, 75 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: um being an expert on youth hockey because I have 76 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: two boys went through youth hockey. Girls UM in youth 77 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: hockey are much better players than the boys, much better. 78 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: They're more strategic, they know how to play in a 79 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: team setting. They passed a puck, I mean they think 80 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: they what they're going to do there. There's it's not 81 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: like there's one person rushing up the ice on their 82 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: own and then they turn it over and then the 83 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: other team has someone else who does the same thing 84 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: in the other direction. It's just a much more team 85 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: oriented game when the when the girls playing. Yeah, I 86 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: had a niece that she's a freshman of Boston College 87 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: now and she played youth how high school hockey, and 88 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: I usually watching her games for everything you just mentioned. Well, 89 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 1: speaking of teams, I want to talk about what's happening 90 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 1: with the NFL bias case. Uh. Of course, this is 91 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: Brian Flores's lawsuit against the NFL, accusing them of discrimination 92 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: racial discrimination. The NFL has come out and said that 93 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: it has hired a lawyer to defend it in this 94 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,479 Speaker 1: high profile case, and it is not another than the 95 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: former U. S Attorney General Loretto Lynch. So big guns 96 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: here from the NFL. Yeah, and Brian Flores has counted 97 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: with one lawyer himself who um, when after Fox News, 98 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: when after Harvey Weinstein went after Goldman Sachs. So we've 99 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: got some heavy hitters in both corners of this. UM. 100 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: I don't know if this thing will ever be settled 101 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 1: before it finally comes to court. We, of course, a 102 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: couple of shows ago, we had on a great legal expert, 103 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: Marty Edel, and the word he kept using was traction. 104 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: You know, we'resting attraction. He said it could be six months, 105 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: a year, or a year and a half before this 106 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: thing finally gets inside a court. He also said the 107 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: charges would be very difficult to prove in a court 108 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: of law. Um, and I'm reminded of that when I 109 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: think about how the NFL's has responded to this lawsuit. 110 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: Right they've said that Brian Flores's bias claims are merit lists, 111 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: but at the same time they've said that they need 112 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: to do more, they need to do better. So you're saying, 113 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: you know, there's no basis to what this guy's alleging. 114 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: But on the other hand, the numbers are not good. 115 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: We know that, and we have to fix it. So 116 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: how do you do that and still say that everything 117 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: that's happened to Brian Flores is unrelated to the context, well, 118 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: it's actions. These allegations by by Brian Floyd is a 119 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: very very soon areus as parent, especially the one with 120 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: the New York Giants. When the text came from Bill 121 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: Belichick to the wrong Briant, it was for Brian Dable 122 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: and it went to Brian Flory's and Dable Harry had 123 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: gotten the job from the New York Giants and Flores 124 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: was having his interview the next day. And not only that, 125 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: I mean Bill Belichick is not even part of the 126 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: New York Giants organization. So the fact that this got 127 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: out to someone who is outside the team, I mean, 128 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: it's one thing if within the team structure they were thinking, okay, 129 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: you know, we're we we have our front runner here, 130 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: let's let's see what happens next. But the fact that 131 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: others outside of the organization know about it and are 132 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: contacting the candidates, you know, that, that makes it seem 133 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 1: more like a dune deal. Not good. The National Football 134 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: League has dealt with many of these over the years, 135 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: and they just seemed to just move forward and just 136 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: just get it done. And because basically unaffected by it all, Well, 137 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: this is a story where the headlines are going to 138 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: continue to dog the NFL during the off season until 139 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: the next season starts. Of course, we can't get over 140 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl because there is a big boot with 141 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 1: one of the gaming apps during the Super Bowl, which 142 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: actually malfunction. I think this is Michael Barr's worst nightmare. Well, 143 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: it's game bet DC. The legal betting the firm in 144 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: the District of Columbia and around four o'clock on Sunday 145 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: afternoon in Eastern time, about two and a half hours 146 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: before kickoff, the apps failed iOS at apps failed on iPhones. 147 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: Now you still could bet on Android or your personal computer, 148 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: or you could actually physically walk in, but by that 149 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: time people are pretty comfy, cozy where they're gonna be 150 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: watching the game. They just want to pull up their 151 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: phone and make a bet. And it didn't be It 152 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: wasn't up and running until Monday afternoon. So uh, it's 153 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: hard to estimate how much money was lost. If you 154 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: look back a year ago, in the month of February alone, 155 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: four point two million dollars was bet on sports legally 156 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: in the District of Columbia through game bet d C, 157 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: and that was accounted for about forty of their revenue 158 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: for the entire year. And this year, I think there 159 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: was much more awareness about galized betting with all the 160 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: fun little prop bets that were going on, and I 161 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: think it's safe to say that more people were engaged 162 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: in sports bedding this year, and that number of four 163 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: point two million from a year ago, I wouldn't be 164 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: surprised if potentially that could have doubled. Yeah, at least, 165 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: I mean, awareness is kind of an understatement. It was 166 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: everywhere you turned. You just watched the Super Bowl commercials, 167 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: and it was basically encouraging into wage bad at some point. 168 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: One thing we should mention is because the problem was 169 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 1: the app update was not yet approved and it was 170 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 1: not completed until after Super Bowl fifty six. So every 171 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: time you need to update your apps, keep that in mind. Yeah. 172 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: That that that's like a floor saying, oh geez, I 173 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: forgot the order roses for February. It's the super Bowl. 174 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: Come on, I know. Not good. Not good. And of 175 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: course we got to end things with what's going on 176 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: with Kyrie Irving because there's been a change in how 177 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: New York is masking. The New York State Governor has 178 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: now removed the mask mandate for the large part in 179 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: order to encourage people to get back to normal. But 180 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: of course, uh, there are exceptions, and in this case 181 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: you have Barkley Center is still saying that home players 182 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 1: home team players need to be vaccinated. If you're a 183 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: visiting player and you're unvaccinated, you're allowed to play at 184 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: Barkley Center However, if you're a home team member of 185 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn Nets, like Carve Irving, it doesn't work for you. 186 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: It's an example of how these rules are being kind 187 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: of made up on the fly. I don't and I 188 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: don't want to make it. I don't want to make 189 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: light of it. But everyone's just kind of figuring it 190 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: out as they go along, and these are some of 191 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 1: the impacts as a result, unbalanced, asymmetrical ways that they're 192 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 1: playing out well. One person who obviously is paying very 193 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: close attention to this is NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. The 194 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: oddity of it to me is that it only applies 195 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 1: to home players. I mean, I think if we're I 196 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: if ultimately that rule is about protecting people who are 197 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: in the arena, it just doesn't quite make sense to 198 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: me that an away player who's unvaccinated can play in Barkley's, 199 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: but the home player can't. You think maybe they'll not 200 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: play in the city and play somewhere else. That would 201 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: be one way to get around tod I guess it 202 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: would be. But I think that's going to change pretty 203 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: soon right now, because it's it's changing everywhere. A lot 204 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: of cities have lifted their mandates, and I don't think 205 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: it would be too long before Kyrie is going to 206 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: be able to play unvaccinated in Barkley Center. This is 207 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show, where we explore the 208 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports. I'm Scarlett 209 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: Fool and I'm Mike Lynch. Michael Barr is off today, 210 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: but he'll be back next week. Today, though, we are 211 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: excited to be joined by Big East commissioner and Basketball 212 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer Val Ackerman vout. Thank you so much 213 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: for joining us today, being with all of you today. 214 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: So can we kick off here by talking a little 215 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: bit about COVID and how the pandemic has affected college 216 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: basketball over the past two years or so? Can you 217 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 1: just start us off by reflecting on your experience and 218 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: tell us how things are shaping up heading into the 219 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: Big East Tournament in a couple of weeks. She had 220 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: last year, which was really last year was really COVID 221 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 1: two point oh. COVID one point oh was of course 222 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,439 Speaker 1: when the conference tournaments were essentially wiped out, and then 223 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: of course March Madness was canceled. Altogether, the good news 224 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: of last year's we had a season, Um, it was 225 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 1: not the kind of season you expect because it was 226 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: essentially fan free and UM there was in fact disruption 227 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: because of outbreaks with programs that had forced all the 228 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: conferences to UM get really good at the science and 229 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 1: we were all dealing with our medical advisors as we 230 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: were trying to figure out how we could conduct sports 231 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: events during the you know, really the teat of the pandemic. 232 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 1: Last year. The good news was we finished. We had 233 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: a big East tournament last year was without fans at 234 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: the Garden, which was very strange and to their credit UM. 235 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: And we had a women's tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena, 236 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: also without fans, which was very strange. But the good 237 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: news was the n c A was able to pull 238 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: off to two bubbles and get the national championship. In 239 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: this year, UM a very different UM set up, at 240 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: least going in we were all ready for a normal year, 241 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: and then of course a macron hit in December and 242 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: it did create UM a level of disruption we hadn't 243 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: you know, we we were sort of ready for and 244 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: sort of not. We were left dealing with canceled games, 245 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: most of which we rescheduled, and right now I'm knocking 246 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: on wood. UM with the season. Just with a few 247 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: weeks left to the regular season, things look pretty good 248 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: for us so far, UM And our our hope is 249 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: that in a few weeks time we'll be able to 250 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: close out with the Big East tournament at the Garden 251 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: forty year and then the second year of our women's 252 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: tournament at Mohebian sun Boats in front of large crowds. 253 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: What do you think will be different? Because at the 254 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 1: same time that we're saying we're hoping to restore some normalcy, 255 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: the world has changed tremendously in three years, um, and 256 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: the biggest tournament will not be the same as it 257 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,079 Speaker 1: was pre pandemic, nor will the women's tournament Emohegan's Son 258 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: be the same as it was pre pandemic. What specifically 259 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: do you think will be different and how will how 260 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: will you improve upon what you had before? Well, you know, 261 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,720 Speaker 1: I think for this year, UM, we will probably be 262 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: left dealing with some some COVID protocols. We had a 263 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: lot of COVID protocols last year to pull off our 264 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: conference events. We had our men's tournament, um I said, 265 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: it was in a fanless garden, which is very weird. 266 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: We had all of our teams staying in one hotel, 267 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: which never happened. We had daily testing through a lab 268 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: that we contracted with, and then the same up in Connecticut. 269 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: On the women's side. This year, we're not really doing 270 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: much of that, you know, at all. The garden UM 271 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: does have a proof of vaccination requirement for any spectators 272 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: that they've been using for all events in the building. UM, 273 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: And and so I expect that will continue. Will that 274 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: continue next year? I don't know. I don't think anyone 275 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: is sure. UM. You know, we're not doing daily testing 276 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: like we did last year of our participants. Our schools 277 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: are sort of fanned out in New York with their 278 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: preferred hotels. So again more normal than not this year. UM. 279 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: But you know, again with COVID, we we've all had 280 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: to get good at sort of the medical side of 281 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: this and and work up protocols as necessary and concert 282 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: with our doctors and local public health authorities to make 283 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: sure we're doing what we have to do to make 284 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 1: sure our participants are safe. UM. So that's really on 285 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: the sports side to your question about you know, COVID. Generally, 286 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: I think every workforce is adapting to remote work. We 287 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: have our offices in in New York City, in Midtown Manhattan, 288 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: we've been largely remote um somewhat hybrid um for the 289 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: last few months. We took a break with a Macron, 290 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: as did many companies with offices in Midtown. But we're 291 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: looking to get back on track soon as this hopefully eases, 292 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: and you know, the workplace of the future I think 293 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: will look very different than it did before March. I 294 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: think every company has to embrace how employees, you know, 295 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: don't expect to be in the office every day, and 296 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: they're going to have to make do with some sort 297 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: of a hybrid environment for their employees who you know, 298 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: need to be together sometimes but prefer the flexibility of 299 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: working from home other times. So how that will evolve 300 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: over time, I think is an important question for all 301 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: of us. And you know, certainly it's going to be 302 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: the same will hold true in college sports. Val When 303 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: we had you on the show about two years ago, 304 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: towards the end of our conversation, you told us something 305 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: that actually blew us all away. You said that fortunately, 306 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: even though the tournaments were wiped out, that the big 307 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: e spot and insurance policy for a pandemic. How in 308 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: the world did you see this coming? And How did 309 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: it all come about? Yeah, yeah, this gave Act seventeen. Um, 310 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: where we you know, we bought a policy our big 311 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: biggest tournament at the gardens, our biggest assets in New York. 312 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: New York, of course, has had incidents over the years 313 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: that have been, um, you know, very challenging for event operators, 314 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: not the least of which is because of terrorism nine eleven. 315 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: So back in seventeen we bought a comprehensive event cancelation 316 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: policy for the biggest tournament. They covered eighteen, nineteen and 317 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: twenty and included communicable diseases coverage. Now is it the 318 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: recommendation of our broker? It was back in seventeen. It was. 319 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 1: It was frankly a little bit of a throw in, um, 320 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: but we had it and um, you know, we were 321 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: asked by our brokers, you want to include it? We 322 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: said sure, so, um, you know, that was our policy. 323 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: Obviously eighteen and nineteen we didn't have to worry about 324 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: anything and then, believe it or not, before the tournament, 325 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: which was already covered. We renewed the policy for two 326 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 1: more years twenty two, with the same level of coverage. 327 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: Wait before the pandemic, Before the pandemic but we already 328 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: had the coverage from the you know, prior policy, but 329 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: we were able to renew it on the same terms 330 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: right before the pandemic. So what does it mean, Well, 331 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: it meant for we were covered because we canceled the 332 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: tournament as a result of a government order. City of 333 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 1: New York. City of New York on the day of 334 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: our quarter final games came out with an order that 335 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: post down New York City. We responded, canceled the tournament 336 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: actually happened in mid game. Um, we were able to 337 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 1: get ten and a half million dollars of insurance coverage 338 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: out of our insurance company because it was squarely within 339 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: the um poor corners of the policy. UM. So that 340 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: was the good news of this past year. What I 341 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: would tell you is we were also covered for communicable 342 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: diseases and we had a successful claim as well full 343 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: or um for the one Big East Tournament which we played, 344 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: but we didn't have fans, and we had language in 345 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: our policy that allowed for a successful claim because of 346 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: that fans free environment. And so we were were two 347 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: for two right now with the coverage for the Big 348 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: East Tournament and less not ly this year's covered also. 349 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 1: So if we do have disruption for twenty edition, which 350 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: we hope we don't have, we would have yet another 351 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: year of coverage has already been locked in. That's a 352 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: good news. I think going forward this kind of coverage 353 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: will be very difficult possible to acquire. We were in 354 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: a very good position which did take some of the 355 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: sting away from having events that were not you know 356 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: what we expect them to be for an event of 357 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: this magnitude. Well, I want to turn out to the 358 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 1: subject of name, image and likeness because in just more 359 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: than seven months since being introduced to college sports, we 360 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: see athletes cashing in on n I L. What are 361 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 1: your thoughts on how this is going overall? Well, it's 362 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: it's it's here, as you all know, effect of July 363 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: one last year, So it is a reality. UM I 364 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 1: co chaired the first of the two m c A 365 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 1: committees that examined how n I L could work in 366 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 1: the college sports world. Very different environment in the pros, 367 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: largely because of recruiting UM and and sort of other 368 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: issues relative to booster involvement and the like. UM it 369 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: was the view of our group that it should happen 370 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: because we wanted student athletes to have the opportunities. We 371 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: saw it as an additional income opportunity apart from their 372 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: scholarship and cost of attendance. But we we really, you know, 373 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: did think there needed to be some regulation around it 374 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 1: to deal with um issues that might create confusion and 375 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: on fairness, So things like disclosure and conflicts with school 376 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: sponsors and the level of school involvement, which could in 377 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: our minds trip to pay for play argument that would 378 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: be adverse to our schools. Think things of this nature. 379 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: We examined pretty closely. We had a framework, and as 380 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: I think everybody knows by now, um, because of legal concerns, 381 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: the framework didn't come into being, and Congress, which was 382 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: asked to step in last July and come up with 383 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: a national standard, elected not to do so. So the 384 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: answer to the question is where we are now is 385 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: we have largely a patchwork of rules around the country 386 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: about how student athletes can capitalize on their name, image 387 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: and likeness. That part, you know, I think and most 388 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 1: college sports administrators will tell you, has been unfavorable to 389 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: not have the consistency of one rule across the country. 390 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,920 Speaker 1: There's different rules in different states. Within states, you could 391 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: have it that don't have a rule, you could have 392 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: different policies with the state depending on what the school 393 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 1: elects to do. So you know, that's not ideal. It's 394 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: not ideal, and and you know, so where are we 395 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: I think the answers we were likely not to have 396 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: a national standard for a while until something breaks on that. 397 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: In the meantime, student athletes are taking advantage. Um. The 398 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,679 Speaker 1: deals are largely small deals. Most of them involve social 399 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: media posting content being posted on social media. There are some, 400 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: you know, significant deals for the highest profile players. But 401 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: the good news is there's women athletes and Olympic sport 402 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 1: athletes that are also capitalizing. And in our league that's 403 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: what we've seen. We've seen, for example, members of the 404 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: Yukon women's basketball team getting um, some you know, meaningful opportunities. 405 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: A couple of other basketball players in our league are 406 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 1: are also, um, you know, taking advantage in good ways. 407 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: So for the athletes, I think it's been it's been 408 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: really good. And I you know, but where this heads 409 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:05,919 Speaker 1: sort of in terms of regulation, consistency, etcetera across the 410 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: country I think remains to be seen. So following on 411 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 1: that idea, you said, it's not ideal because n i 412 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: L is state by state, But this does create an 413 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: interesting backdrop for a science experiment, especially since n I 414 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: L is seen as a game changer for women's sports 415 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: because female athletes often have uh more of a significant 416 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: following on social media that then they do from traditional 417 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: media outlets. What have you seen in terms of how 418 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: n I L has changed women's sports in certain states? 419 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: Are they getting more attention? Are they getting more following 420 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: on traditional media outlets because of n I L. Well, 421 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: I it's possible that there's, um, you know, there's sort 422 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: of a mutual benefit here. I mean, I think the 423 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: reason they might get an I L is because of 424 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: their following. So I'll use page backers at Yukon as 425 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,080 Speaker 1: an example. I mean, she came into Yukon with a 426 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 1: very significant in Instagram following, I mean hundreds and hundreds 427 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 1: of thousands of followers. So you know, that sort of 428 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: catnip is the best I can tell to a company 429 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:13,879 Speaker 1: that's um looking to sign up a collegiate athlete as 430 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 1: an endorser. That's tremendous reach and so that, um, you 431 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 1: know that I'm sure has attracted companies to her because 432 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,359 Speaker 1: of the following that she had on her own. So 433 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: once that happens, can can the relationship then enhance her following? Probably, 434 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: so it becomes synergistic, I guess in the manner of speaking, 435 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: would be my observation. Um. And so, whether it's women's basketball, 436 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: there's you know, some successes around volleyball. Um. You know, again, 437 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 1: it's not just women's athletes, there's Olympic sport athletes as well, who, 438 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 1: because of their attributes outside of their athletics, may have 439 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 1: reason to be attractive to a you know, a sponsor. Um, 440 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: you know, all those things are certainly possible. I don't 441 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: have you know, at my fingertips here sort of the 442 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:03,959 Speaker 1: ada that could tell you, Um, you know how social 443 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: media followings, for example, have jumped because of then I L. 444 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,159 Speaker 1: But there's no question to me that n I L 445 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 1: opportunities are available because of the followings that some of 446 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: these athletes have developed heretofore on their own. Is there 447 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 1: evidence though, that it leads to growth in that particular sport, Well, 448 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: my guess is it would only help because to the 449 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: extent that sports, the interest in sports is star driven. 450 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: I mean, it's star athletes. That's been my experience. I've 451 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: been working in basketball for thirty years. I mean stars 452 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: helped fuel interest in the game. It's the star player 453 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,320 Speaker 1: or you know, two star players going up against each other, 454 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: or you know, certainly rivalries. But if it just stands 455 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 1: the reason, I think that if if an athletes following 456 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: is elevated their visibility, you know, it's going to make 457 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: PU people more interested in them and that you know, 458 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,679 Speaker 1: in turn, men would fuel viewership or hopefully attendance in 459 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,960 Speaker 1: coming out to see you know, to see what all 460 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: the fuss is about and to see these performances live foul. 461 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: The Big East is a unique league. It has a 462 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: rich and storied history and being in the East coast Boston. Guy, 463 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 1: I go all the way back to Dave Gavitt who 464 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 1: started this thing. You don't have football unlike other conferences 465 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:18,040 Speaker 1: as a major revenue generator. Do you have any plans 466 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:19,919 Speaker 1: at all to expand from the more than the eleven 467 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: schools and universities you have in your league right now? Yes? Uh, 468 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: well we're at eleven right now. Um we you know, 469 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 1: to do not have football. That is absolutely not in 470 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: the cards to bring football back in the Big East. Um, 471 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 1: we have actually four schools that play football. Three at 472 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: the FCS level. Yukon is playing right now, is an 473 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: independent at the FBS level. But in terms of big 474 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: sponsoring football, that's I'm comfortable saying I don't see that 475 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: at all. Uh. We sponsor twenty two sports and you 476 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: know basketball remains now the lead UM in terms of 477 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: member composition. You know, I don't, I don't know at 478 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 1: this point. I mean, as you all, they have been following. 479 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: There was there's been a wave of realignment that was 480 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 1: triggered by the Texas Oklahoma announcement last summer to move 481 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 1: to the SEC from the Big twelve. That's set in 482 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: motion some reshuffling around D one. Um. Right now, we're 483 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: you know, we're we're sort of standing pad. We're you know, 484 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 1: eleven has been good. U kind has been a great 485 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 1: addition welcoming them back. It helps us with basketball scheduling. 486 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: Amrey plays each other once home and once away. So 487 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: at this point, I think we're in a very good position. 488 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: We're very stable, to the far cry from where the 489 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: Big East was fifteen years ago when most of the 490 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 1: schools were leaving because of football. So no no plans 491 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: right now, UM, you know, to to sort of get 492 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: beyond eleven. But we're closely monitoring the landscope escape and 493 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:52,919 Speaker 1: who knows. I mean, time will tell whether we do 494 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,199 Speaker 1: it or not, and it'll be based if it happens 495 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: on a on a variety of factors. Well, you're doing 496 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 1: something really important, the Big East partnership with the Black 497 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:05,160 Speaker 1: Fives as part of Black History Month. Can you walk 498 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: us through the partnership and tell us what it's all about. Yeah. Sure. 499 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 1: So we're right now in the midst of a conference 500 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:17,840 Speaker 1: wide promotion with the Black Fives Foundation, which was established 501 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 1: by a sports executive named Claude Johnson who formerly worked 502 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 1: at the NBA. UM and his his foundation has now 503 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 1: become a full time job for him, devoted to telling 504 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: the story of um of the traveling teams of basketball 505 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: players black basketball players that um, we're uh, you know, 506 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 1: carrying carrying the sport, if you will, before the NBA 507 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: was integrated, to believe in nineteen fifty. Um, not unlike 508 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,680 Speaker 1: what we saw with the Negro leagues in baseball. These 509 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:00,640 Speaker 1: these teams were traveling the country, playing in hotels, gyms, 510 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:02,640 Speaker 1: just sort of anywhere where they could get a game. 511 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: And um, you know, really have set the stage for 512 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: the participation of um, black players in in the USA, 513 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 1: on both the men's and the women's side. So we 514 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: um were you know, kind of came to know Claude, 515 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:23,400 Speaker 1: heard more about his work, and since many of these 516 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: early teams played in Big East City, it just seemed 517 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: natural for us to take advantage of the opportunity to 518 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: help Claude tell the stories here and to line up 519 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: these teams through promotions during the basketball season at selected 520 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: Big East games. So that's what we've done. We've had 521 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: twenty two games that have gone on which have been 522 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: Black Fives games where the participating teams are all representing 523 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: a team that played in the Black Fives leagues. UM. 524 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: Claude has made appearances at a variety of games. UM. 525 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,239 Speaker 1: It's really you know, not only has it been an 526 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: opportunity for us to promote this this really untold story 527 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,479 Speaker 1: in the game of basketball, but it's also been a 528 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 1: very powerful educational opportunity for our student athletes. UM. You know, 529 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: many of them have just been engrossed in the stories 530 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: of these teams and some of the players. We've had 531 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: descendants of some of the players come to our games. 532 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: So it's been, by our lights, UM, a very successful 533 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: collaboration We're very grateful to Claude and the Foundation for 534 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:31,080 Speaker 1: allowing us to UM tell tell the stories here through 535 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:36,480 Speaker 1: through Biggies basketball and uh there you know, there's information 536 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: UM that's on our website about this for anybody who 537 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 1: wants to learn more. And I you know, we're feel 538 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: so good about it. It may well be something that 539 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: we continue in the next season and beyond and not 540 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: just make this a one season arrangement. I want to ask, well, 541 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: first of all, congratulations on your induction into the Hall 542 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: of Fame that was in September. You graduate from uv A, 543 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,080 Speaker 1: you went on to UM get your law to re 544 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: and you worked as a lawyer at a big law 545 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: firm scent that Drum Bartlett, and then you moved on 546 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 1: to the NBA as a staff attorney. For young women 547 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: out there who want to join the ranks of sports 548 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 1: management and enter the business of sports, how do you 549 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: do that without being an athlete first or a lawyer first? 550 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: Is there a path for that or do you need 551 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: to go through being a player, getting your law degree, 552 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,239 Speaker 1: working in a big firm, then joining the league from 553 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:34,240 Speaker 1: the ground up? Yeah? No, Well the answers Scarlett, and 554 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,200 Speaker 1: first of all, no need to be an athlete to 555 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: work in sports. I mean that, um, being an athlete 556 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: for me certainly contributed to my interest in wanting to 557 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 1: stay in stay in sports versus you know, do something 558 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 1: outside of sports. But that's certainly not you know, a 559 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:55,440 Speaker 1: required attribute, especially you know my case, I played basketball, 560 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,200 Speaker 1: so I do understand the game and ways maybe that 561 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: others who haven't understand it. That's only helps me every 562 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 1: now and again, particularly if I have to deal with 563 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 1: a basketball specific matter. Um. But and then being a 564 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 1: lawyer I would describe as really helpful. I mean, I 565 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 1: don't practice law per se. I've got real lawyers, if 566 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: you will, who do the real legal work for us. 567 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: But it's very helpful for sure. And you know, and 568 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:21,680 Speaker 1: I would know, you know not a small number of 569 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: commissioners have been or or have been lawyers in the 570 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 1: David's jerm My Mentor was a lawyer, Yes exactly, Adams 571 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: Addams Silver you know, followed David and the lawyer Gary Bettman, 572 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: my old boss at the NBA before he moved to 573 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 1: the NHL. He's a lawyer, and so it goes. Um, 574 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 1: Paul tag Leeboo was a lawyer at the NFL. So 575 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 1: it certainly can't hurt, but it's not again, you know, 576 00:31:42,840 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: there's many other ways. So, well, what's job want for 577 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 1: you right now in terms of growing this league? Is 578 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: it just getting people to to to jump on board 579 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:54,960 Speaker 1: again with the branding of the Big East, the Big East, 580 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: which is, you know, probably the most recognized league in 581 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:00,120 Speaker 1: the country back when Dave Gabbott started it in and 582 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: as you said fifteen years ago, you're in a much 583 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 1: different place right now. What would be job one for you? Well, 584 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 1: I would say, Mike, you know, has to deal with 585 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: maintaining stability, you know, is what everybody wants, especially as 586 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: all these developments swirl around college sports. I mean, it 587 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 1: is a pretty tumultuous time when you factor in UM, 588 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: the you know, the legal setbacks if you will, of 589 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: the last year with the Austin case, the inability to 590 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: come up with a standard on n I l uh, 591 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:33,479 Speaker 1: some of the gender equity scrutiny that got triggered by 592 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 1: the women's basketball tournament last year. N see right now 593 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 1: in factors in the midst of a governance review that 594 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 1: could make for a different type of d one UM 595 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: by the time, you know, the summer ends, So we're 596 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,360 Speaker 1: all keeping our eye on Okay, what that means for 597 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,800 Speaker 1: all the leagues and where you're sitting in the ecosystem. Um, 598 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:55,000 Speaker 1: certainly as it relates to the Big East. We want 599 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: to stay really competitive in basketball. That really is the 600 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,480 Speaker 1: d n A of this league is this is you know, 601 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, Dave, I mean gabtt so's building a 602 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 1: basketball center. Conference got really really good, went through a 603 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 1: period of TMOL with football and then the you know, 604 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,600 Speaker 1: defections and then the rebuilding of the league now nine 605 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: years ago. So I know our schools want to stay 606 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 1: really relevant, very competitive. We want to compete for national 607 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 1: titles and basketball most of all, but we've got strengths 608 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: elsewhere too. We're really getting soccer, a cross country, had 609 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: success in across team sports have been pretty good for us. 610 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,719 Speaker 1: So UM, I think for me, it's you know, keeping 611 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 1: this going, keeping it growing, doing other initiatives like the 612 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: Black Five's promotion. We're involved with the sports we UM. 613 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:46,680 Speaker 1: You know, we do mental health programming for our schools 614 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 1: and we've been a bit of a leader with that 615 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: with events that we conduct with the student athlete development 616 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 1: programs in a variety of way. So SO, and we 617 00:33:54,760 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: have academic collaborations. Our schools are really strong academically and 618 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 1: they've joined forces on a number programs there. So you know, 619 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,920 Speaker 1: I think making it more than just a sports league 620 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 1: is a priority for me. And then, um again, keeping 621 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:11,960 Speaker 1: this brand you noted that we're proud of that I 622 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,319 Speaker 1: think really means something in the college sports world. We 623 00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:18,839 Speaker 1: have a history, we've got rivalries. Um, we've got really 624 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: good people that sort of keep this culture going. You know, 625 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: when when you're in a seat like I'm in, you know, 626 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 1: those are the things you think about, you know, every day. 627 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 1: And um again, I think the good news is we've 628 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 1: got really good people at our schools and in the 629 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 1: Conference office who are committed to a shared sense of values. 630 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 1: Hopefully we can get the job done in terms of 631 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: keeping you know, keeping the future looking very bright. Well, 632 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:46,480 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining us. Val Ackerman one 633 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:49,080 Speaker 1: of our regulars here on the Bloomberg Business the Sports Show. 634 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: She's the Big East commissioner and basketball Hall of Famer. 635 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: Thanks very much for having me. It's always fun being 636 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:57,200 Speaker 1: with you so Lynchy. I think back to when I 637 00:34:57,239 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 1: was younger in my youth, Um and I would listen 638 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 1: to the Sports Roundup and it was always the Big East. 639 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: The Big East just has this aura about it, and 640 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: it had not occurred to me that there was no 641 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:11,120 Speaker 1: football in here. This is all basketball. It is all 642 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 1: built on the reputation and the history of its basketball tournaments. 643 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: There were a number of times when two Big East 644 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 1: teams made it to the Final Four, which is really 645 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:24,920 Speaker 1: kind of unique and unheard of, and that this was 646 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: a happening. It went from Wednesday through Sunday down in 647 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 1: New York City. It was a destination for everyone to 648 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: just get down and just watch basketball. If you're a 649 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 1: basketball junkie, there was nothing better than the Big East Tournament. 650 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: It produced a lot of stars, a lot of Hall 651 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 1: of Famers, and some great action and some great rivalries 652 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:43,919 Speaker 1: down there. There was just a buzz and electricity. Of course, 653 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:47,279 Speaker 1: you're playing in the world's most famous arena, and they 654 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:49,719 Speaker 1: performed every single time. It was something else. And now 655 00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:52,400 Speaker 1: it's back. Now it's back, And of course val Ackerman 656 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 1: has her hands tied. She's very busy thinking through and 657 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:57,759 Speaker 1: working through all the n I L and what it 658 00:35:57,800 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: means for the players in her league. Um I really 659 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 1: appreciated her being candid about how it's kind of a 660 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 1: mess right now, given that every state is moving at 661 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:11,240 Speaker 1: its own speed on this. Yeah, and there's no national standard, 662 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,439 Speaker 1: which is which really bothers league commissioners because one state 663 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:16,719 Speaker 1: could have one set of rules, another state could have 664 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: another set of rules, and you know, it's it's it's 665 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:24,040 Speaker 1: it's inconsistent and there are mixed messages that are being sent. 666 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:27,279 Speaker 1: My other takeaway from this is this insurance policy. And 667 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:29,960 Speaker 1: I just when she told us how it happened at 668 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 1: the end, it was a toss in. We'll just throw 669 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:33,400 Speaker 1: this thing in for the heck of it. You know, 670 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:41,280 Speaker 1: a pandemic. You're absolutely right, and it's it's a great story, 671 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 1: and it may have saved the league and may have 672 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 1: may have saved them from eliminating some sports programs like 673 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:49,480 Speaker 1: a lot of schools have to do during the pandemic, 674 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:51,319 Speaker 1: a lot of sports that aren't coming back at a 675 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:54,600 Speaker 1: lot of schools. So it was I'll say it was 676 00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 1: a brilliant movement Vale and a brilliant move by the 677 00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:59,000 Speaker 1: brokers to say, sure, why not, we'll take that toss 678 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,319 Speaker 1: it in. Right, Well, it's not gonna be so so 679 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,160 Speaker 1: easy in the future, as we know, right, absolutely right, 680 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 1: this is the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show. We're here 681 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 1: each and every week at the same time and of 682 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:12,560 Speaker 1: course online wherever you get your podcasts, and you can 683 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: catch those on Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Scarlet Food. 684 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,319 Speaker 1: You can find me on Twitter at Scarlett Food. And 685 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 1: neither Scarlett nor Lynch. She lost today because we don't 686 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:23,759 Speaker 1: have a number of the week. We're both winners, Michael Barr, 687 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:25,960 Speaker 1: We're both winners here. I'm Mike Lynch. You follow me 688 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,759 Speaker 1: at Lynch WCVB, and of course tune in again next 689 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:30,880 Speaker 1: week when Michael Barr will be back for the latest 690 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: on the stories moving big money in the world of sports. 691 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:36,239 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show from 692 00:37:36,239 --> 00:37:37,640 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world.