1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Let's talk Super Bowl 2 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: and Fox Sports Guarantee money isn't necessarily guaranteed. One major 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: League soccer owner is leading out fifty billion dollar investment, 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: blurring of the lines between sports team owners and the 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: sports gambling space. How high can these valuations go? Evan 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: Nobody william Off the field, the NBA has never been buzzier, 7 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: and the leaders in the sports industry Major League Baseball 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: Commission to Rob Manfred Idy O'Neill is President of Director 9 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: Consumer in that game, then the race card driver Helio 10 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: Castro and Evs Jared Smith, president of Ticketmasters. Bloomberg Business 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Evan and Novie Williams, 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 1: and I'm Michael Barr And this is the Bloomberg Business 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: of Sports podcast, where we explore the big money issues 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: in the world of sports. Today. We are joined by 15 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: a special guest host, Mike Lynch. He has covered sports 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: for decade, most notably in Boston, and has since started 17 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: up a weekly podcast of his own, Will be Lynchy 18 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: and Friends with Hank Mors. Mike, Welcome to the Bloomberg 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: Business of Sports show. You you've done so much in 20 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: the Boston area. I guess I want to start with 21 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: a question, what is the number one story in Boston 22 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: that sticks out in your mind that you cover well? 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: Most recently, it's the departure of Tom Brady going down 24 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A guy named Brady leaves 25 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: the city of Boston on St. Patrick's Day, which a 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: lot of people are still haven't gotten over. A lot 27 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: of people are pointing the finger, some pointing at Bill Belichick, 28 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,919 Speaker 1: some pointing at Robert Kraft. Not too many people pointing 29 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,399 Speaker 1: at at Tom Brady, though most people are thankful for 30 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: the twenty years, the six Super Bowl championships, and you know, 31 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: two decades of just quality living on the field and 32 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: off the field, and a lot of people are very grateful. 33 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: But that, without question the biggest story that we've had 34 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: um and would have been a lot of them going 35 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: on this this offseason, the firing of Alex Cora uh 36 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: and of course the depending investigation of sign stealing, which 37 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: probably is gonna it's completed, but it's coming down eventually. Now. 38 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: One of the things that I remember about when because 39 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: I'm a native Detroitter, yes, and oh you see, you're 40 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: lucky because you got You got a chance to six 41 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: of them, six super Bowls with Tom. Oh, it was 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: beautiful and I'm so happy for you, and uh, I 43 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: have enough so the Detroit Lions and God bless us. 44 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: We're so bad. We were a Jeopardy question. Man. That's 45 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: that's how bad we are. But I mean, you've had 46 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: such success in your town with football. Obviously with Tom Brady. 47 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 1: I guess the only connection that I can say tom 48 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: Brady is that he was from the University of Michigan. 49 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: So there's a little connection that we've got. But what 50 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: is it like when you have a powerhouse like that. Well, 51 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: when you're planning your year, you plan on people will 52 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: say to you, well, do you want to go on 53 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: vacation and jail Neruary? And you just don't even think 54 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: about it because you know that there'll be a bye 55 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: week the first week in January, and then you plan 56 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: on playing through February. The first week in February, and 57 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: then right after that spring training starts. So that's pretty 58 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: much how it happens every year. And you know, remember 59 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: they've won six, but they've also been to nine. They 60 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: lost three Super Bowls, one to the Eagles and two 61 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: to the Giants. So you know, pretty much half of 62 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: Tom Brady's career he's played in a Super Bowl, and 63 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: it's it's it's been an incredible run. And then we 64 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: had one year where we had the Patriots Super Bowl, 65 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: Red Sox beat the Dodgers in the World Series, and 66 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: then in the spring that the Bruins won seven games 67 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: with the St. Louis Blues and the and the Stanley 68 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: Cup Finals. So it's been a it's been a pretty 69 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: good run in this decade. There's been a lot of 70 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: championships and and a lot of visits to NBA Stanley Cup, 71 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: World Series and and Super Bowls. I'd like to share 72 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: it with all you guys and spread it out around 73 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: a couple of the cities. But Mike, it's no secret 74 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: obviously that the Boston teams, you know, more so than 75 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: a lot of other teams in a lot of other cities, 76 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: are very analytics heavy. You know, shout out to Jess Gellman, 77 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: who runs Craft Analytics Group. Do you think that Boston 78 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: fans be the Patriots fans Red Sox fans are both 79 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: at this point are just kind of used to the 80 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: fact that these teams are going to make decisions that 81 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: you know, maybe you know, go against what the heart 82 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: of the fan wants. But there's enough evidence right now 83 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 1: that says that sometimes these hard decisions end up working 84 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 1: out for those franchises in the end. Do people understand that, 85 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: do you think? Or no, Yes I do. And I 86 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: think it all started when theo Epstein was here. He 87 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: had a little group that he had in the basement 88 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: of Fenway Park. Peter wood Fork was one of his 89 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 1: analytics guy who was now the head of umpires from 90 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, and that it all started. Then they 91 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: had a had a nickname which the name escapes me 92 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 1: for a computer, but it was basically there their conscience 93 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: and and whatever the computer said, they'd pass along to 94 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: the UH to the manager. And Terry Francona was the 95 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: manager of most of that time, and and Frankcona bought 96 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: into it and it works, UH and the Red Sox 97 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: have won four Old Series this century, and people and 98 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: fans of buying into it. You know, there are a 99 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: lot of guys that just go with gut instincts. But 100 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: I think that fans, that's a good point, Evan, that 101 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: they are buying into it. I know. Jess Gellman was 102 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: you know, she was a great player. She played basketball 103 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: at Harvard, and she's been working for the Crafts for 104 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: a long time and and it works for them. And 105 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: I think that, you know, Bill Belichick works that way too. 106 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: He basically rips his heart out of his chest when 107 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: he makes personnel decisions and goes with the numbers and 108 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: the analytics, and he obviously has the record to prove 109 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: that it works for him. You got to join us, man, 110 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: and we talked about some of the top stories that 111 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: we look at during the week in sports business. And 112 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 1: we're gonna start with President Trump's phone call with the 113 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: commissioners of nearly every US sport. And I just wonder 114 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: what the President was going to say to them when 115 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: I was thinking about this story. What can you say? 116 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: I mean, yes, you want everybody to get back and 117 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: back his business as usual. I'm not so sure there 118 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: will ever be a business as usual now after this coronavirus. So, 119 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: as you said, Michael, you know that this phone call 120 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: happened on Saturday. The commissioners of the big leagues, right, so, 121 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: Roger Goodell, Gary Bettman, Rob Manford, Adam Silver all on 122 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: the call, as well as commissioners from some smaller leagues 123 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: w n B A, w W E, p G A tour, 124 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: LPG A, UFC, etcetera. From what Donald Trump said afterwards, 125 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: and also some reporting through ESPN that sounds like the 126 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: messaging was, you know, we're hoping to have fans in 127 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 1: stadiums and arenas in August or maybe by September. You know, 128 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: NFL season should continue as normal as scheduled. Um, yeah, 129 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: it sounds as though And I think, you know, Donald 130 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: Trump is aligned with with everybody on that call in 131 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: thinking that the sooner that sports can get up and 132 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: running in a healthy way, the better it is for everybody. Well, 133 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 1: I mean, who wants to be the sacrificial lambs that 134 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,719 Speaker 1: shows up at the first big, major sporting event when 135 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: it hasn't been proven that a group of twenty thousand 136 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 1: or forty five thousand people can be safe. Um. I 137 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: think there's gonna be a lot of apprehension. Even when 138 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: these games eventually are back up and leagues are opened, 139 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: I think you're gonna see sparse attendance because I think 140 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: a lot of people just not gonna be comfortable sitting 141 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: in a stadium shoulder to shoulder with people. And I think, 142 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: you know, the president's having a pipe dream here. I 143 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: know what he wants to do. He wants to get 144 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: everybody back to work. But this isn't like, you know, 145 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: the depression. This isn't like after nine eleven, uh, where 146 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: you know, we want to get everybody back and get 147 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: the country up and moving again, or after some other 148 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: some type of natural disaster that's regionalized, like a tornado 149 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: or a flood or an earthquake. This is this is different. 150 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: This is a pandemic, and it's the invisible enemy. And 151 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: I think that I think that it's gonna be a 152 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: long time before you you're gonna see sixty eight thousand people, 153 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: you know, in a football stadium or a hundred and 154 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: ten thousand people at the big House out in Michigan. 155 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: That's just my thought. I think people are just going 156 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: to be I'm not going to be the first want 157 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: to test this. We just did a story that of 158 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: the people in Associated Press Pole are practicing social distancing. 159 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: So I think you're right, and I'm sorry I haven't 160 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: go ahead because I just wanted to bring that point. 161 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: Was one of the things that really jumped out to 162 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: me about this this Trump call. It sounds as though 163 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: according to ESPN, that that Donald Trump raised the possibility 164 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: that these sports leagues get together and start lobbying for 165 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: some tax incentatives that they lost back in and if 166 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: you remember, you know, part of the tax overhaul that 167 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: happened then, the deductions that companies were allowed to take 168 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: for concessions and tickets when they know, do do big 169 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: groups or entertain clients at sporting events, those were taken away, 170 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: you know. So under a previous rules, if you were 171 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: pick a company, if you were Facebook, and you had 172 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: a suite at a T and T stadium or whatever 173 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: the baseball stadium is called there, um, you were able 174 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: to deduct fifty of the ticket value. You were able 175 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: to deduct of the food cost when you went there 176 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: and entertained clients and customers. Uh, that no longer exists anymore, right, 177 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: So there's apparently talk and I had not heard this 178 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: at all from anyone else in the sports business world, 179 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: So I don't know if if if leagues are actually 180 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: considering this, but Donald Trump apparently did raise the possibility 181 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: that they get together and maybe lobby some federal entity 182 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: to get those tax breaks back as maybe a way 183 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: to kind of boost revenue in the early stages, because 184 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: I think you're right, Mike. I think you know it's 185 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: gonna be a while before average Joe fan or even 186 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: a big subset of fans feels comfortable going to games 187 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: in that size venue, even after the the the officials 188 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: say it's okay to do so. I mean, if someone 189 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: offered you a ticket to go to, you know, a 190 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: Yankees game on August fifte and it's the first game 191 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: back after this pandemic, I mean, and they and you 192 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: even were sitting in a luxury seat and they sent 193 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: you a limo to go to the game, would you 194 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: accept it or would you turn it down? I would 195 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: probably turn it down personally. I mean, I think that 196 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: you know, in knowing kind of the way these sports 197 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: teams are thinking, getting games up and running, even without 198 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: fans is a big priority. You So I believe, and 199 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: I know that you know, Adam Silver fully believes that 200 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: he can he can restart this league and maybe do 201 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,400 Speaker 1: it in a smart way that protects the referees, the players, 202 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: the coaches, and maybe do it without fans. And that 203 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: is at least a middle ground to getting some business 204 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 1: up and running, to making your your your broadcast partners happy, etcetera. 205 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: And that is certainly an early stage something that all 206 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: these things are looking at. Speaking of the controversy, let's 207 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: talk about the controversial move from Ultimate Fighting. They are 208 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: going to go ahead with a fight plan for April eight. Yeah, 209 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: there's not many details out right now as we record this, 210 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: we don't even know where this event is going to be. 211 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: You know, Danta White has been adamant over the past 212 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: few weeks that this is going to happen. He has 213 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: said that they have a location picked, but won't say 214 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: where it is. Uh, there was some rumblings about the 215 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: Middle East. Now there's some rumblings about the u S 216 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: somewhere out on the West coast um. But it seems 217 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: pretty clear that, you know, at a time when all 218 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: these sports are shutting down, Dana White and UFC really 219 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: believe that they can do this in a healthy way, 220 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: and that by doing so, they're kind of giving a 221 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: lift to a population that maybe wants some some sporting 222 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: distraction and maybe also kind of trailblazing a potential path 223 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: forward for other sports. I don't I don't see how 224 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: we can pull it off in this country unless he's 225 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 1: in one of the ten states that doesn't have the 226 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: stay at home order. I mean, how can you possibly 227 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: do it? I know it wouldn't happen in New York 228 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:26,199 Speaker 1: City or Los Angeles right now. I heard someone suggesting 229 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: that maybe if he does it on tribal land, then 230 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: you know, there's different regulatory bodies and different kind of 231 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,719 Speaker 1: different just that the rules are a little different on 232 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: some tribal land and maybe there's a way that he 233 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: could do that he could host it there. I mean, 234 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: there's not gonna be fans at this thing, obviously, and 235 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: I believe he's said that it's going to be a 236 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:49,199 Speaker 1: pretty sparse, you know crew of you know, medical professionals 237 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: and also you know TV crew, etcetera. But yes, there's 238 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: a there's a lot of questions that need to get 239 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: answered in the next few weeks for this event, which 240 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: is supposed to take place on on Saturday, April, for 241 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: this to actually happen. It's hard to label this thing 242 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: anything other than irresponsible from my vantage point, given light 243 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: what every other league and and what everybody's doing, I mean, 244 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: what businesses are doing, what restaurants are doing, what the 245 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: supermarkets are doing, Allowing you know, ten people at a 246 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,360 Speaker 1: time to come into it to a to a supermarket. 247 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: I mean, how can how can you have two guys 248 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 1: that are just you know, sweating all over each other 249 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: and uh, it's just I don't know, it's just it 250 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: seems irresponsible to me. Yeah, it sounds as though the 251 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,320 Speaker 1: plan here maybe kind of what you know, and Michael, 252 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: you and I talked about this last week, This idea 253 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 1: that a lot of sports are floating around about, you know, 254 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: holding their league in a bubble in some capacity. Um, 255 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: and I've and I've heard that you know, wherever this 256 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: event is going to take place. For UFC, it may 257 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: be the spot where they hold you know, their next 258 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: two or three events or even more moving forward, right, 259 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: so they want to be kind of almost fully up 260 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 1: and running, at least from a broadcast standpoint, you know, 261 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: after April eighteenth. But this idea that sports these can 262 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: maybe take over a town or a college dormitory and 263 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: a drink whatever it is, kind of move everybody to 264 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: one place and ideally, if you can kind of ensure 265 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: that the virus is not spreading within that one place 266 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 1: among that very small subset of athletes, coaches, etcetera, then 267 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: you can maybe host games that can be broadcast well, 268 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: we'll see. I get it that. Yes, they want to 269 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: have a sport, and it's great and and good for them, 270 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: but it's, like you said, Mike, I'm not sure about 271 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: how responsible this is, especially during this time April eighteenth. Uh, 272 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: let's let's at least get through put it off at 273 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: least two or three months. I mean, heck, we're talking 274 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: about tennis matches and golf tournaments now going in December. 275 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: Why not just move this to like September or October. 276 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: I don't understand that. So here's the question, guys. I 277 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: don't know how much either of you are big uf 278 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: C M m A fans, but would you watch it 279 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: if come April eighteenth, if you have gone six weeks 280 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 1: without watching a live sporting event and suddenly broadcast on ESPN, 281 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: is you know, a fairly high profile UFC set of fights? 282 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: Would you guys watch that live? But probably would? And 283 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: that that then that's probably why they want to go ahead, 284 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: because they know that they have a not only not 285 00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 1: only a captivos the audience, a desperate audience. And there's 286 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:19,320 Speaker 1: a big difference there. They have a desperate audience out 287 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: there looking for some type of live competition. How many 288 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: times can you watch the ball going through Bill Buckner's legs? 289 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: How many times can you watch the you know, the 290 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: the replay of you know, the lake Kobe Bryant's last 291 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: NBA Championship against the Celtics. Uh. And so it's live competition, 292 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: and yeah, people would be desperate. So people I I 293 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: probably would watch. It's just out of curiosity in and 294 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: out of boredom. You know who else would be desperate 295 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: to have this going all of the sports books because 296 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: we've had like, you know, English darts right now for 297 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: for betting. This would be a huge betting opportunity and 298 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: making make some money back that they've already lost. Michael, 299 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: I almost bet on Burundi soccer this weekend. I didn't. 300 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: I didn't end up doing it, but I was looking 301 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: at it. That's how that's how sparse the global sports 302 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: calendar is right now, page on my Draft Kings app. 303 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: We gotta go have some beers and we'll talk about this, man, 304 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: We'll get you settled down. Finally, let's talk about something 305 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: that's going on now in the NBA two K players tournament. 306 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 1: Uh from the weekend. And I know this is all 307 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: you man, you love this. I did. I thought this 308 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: was a really good idea and pretty good execution for 309 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: folks who haven't seen over the weekend DESPN, and it's 310 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 1: going to continue for I think the next two weeks 311 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: airing a sports tournament essentially so the the Big NBA 312 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 1: Basketball video game, NBA stars playing against each other and 313 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: kind of a March Madness style Sweet Sixteen bracket um 314 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: and I thought they did a really good job. The 315 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: gameplay itself, I don't think is particularly interesting. It's not 316 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 1: a good substitut for basketball. But having two NBA players, 317 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: fairly well known people, kind of on the screen talking 318 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: to each other, joking with each other, making fun of 319 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 1: how bad their player is in the game itself, or 320 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: just talking about their experience, you know, on or off 321 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: the court. I think this is exactly what ESPN should 322 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: be trying to get to more of, just just these guys, 323 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: a sense of their personalities in their living rooms, having 324 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: fun with each other. That to me, is the way 325 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: to solve some of, not all, but some of the 326 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: problems that ESPN and other broadcasters are having with no 327 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: live sports. I agree with you, Ev, and I think 328 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: it's uh. I think it's a very clever and I 329 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: also think it lets some inside a lot of these guys. 330 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: You know, you don't know their personalities, and you know 331 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 1: they're just so busy. They're playing three or four days 332 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: a week, and they're getting on airplanes, they're playing games, 333 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: and they do quick interviews after games, and now you 334 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: see a personal side of them. And a lot of 335 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: kids play video games, and a lot of kids can 336 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: identify with what's going on with these guys here. And 337 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: I think the good natured give and take back and 338 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: forth between between the players sort of competing here is 339 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: something good. I think it's creative. I think it's innovating, 340 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: and you know, hats off to uh to TSPN for 341 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: running it. It's it's not very long. If it ends 342 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: this week, I think, right, yeah, it's it ends soon. 343 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: I the I can't remember exactly who's in. I know 344 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: that that the number one seed Kevin Durant lost in 345 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: the very first game. I'll give you an experience that 346 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: I had with it, because I thought this was very 347 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: fun when Andre Drummond played Boogie Cousins absolute blowout by 348 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: the way, a hundred and one forty nine. So if 349 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 1: they do this again, they got to make sure that 350 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: they get some they get some balance on the on 351 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: the scores there. But there's a moment in there when 352 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 1: Andre Drummond turned to Boogie Cousins and said, Hey, what's 353 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: the craziest dunk you've ever seen live? You know? And 354 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: Boogie thought about it for a second. He was like, 355 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: you know, I'm gonna surprise you here. Back in Kyle, 356 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: back in high school he went to he went to 357 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,919 Speaker 1: high school in Alabama. Our team was playing against Julio Jones, 358 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: now wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, and Julio Jones 359 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: threw down the most the most insane dunk that he 360 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: had ever seen. Apparently, the fans stormed the court. It 361 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: took fifteen minutes to get the game back up and running, 362 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: and he was like, it's the craziest dunk I've ever seen. 363 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: So I go down a round at hole. I'm like, 364 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: I gotta see a video of this dunk. Right look 365 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,879 Speaker 1: around the internet. There's no video online anywhere of it. 366 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: But I did find the audio call from the high 367 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: school basketball announcer down in Alabama at the time, and 368 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,480 Speaker 1: the audio is fantastic. You know, it's like a normal 369 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: you know, sleepy college, sleepy basketball call and then something 370 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 1: crazy happens and it is just pandemonium in the arena. 371 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,959 Speaker 1: You can just hear it. Um anyway, it's stuff like that. 372 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: It's just like a fun way, as you said, Mike, 373 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: to get you know, to get a sense of these 374 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: guys personalities, get them with their guard down a little bit, 375 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: which is probably you know, they're much more comfortable in 376 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: this setting talking to their peers than they might be 377 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 1: just sitting on a on an ESPN set talking to 378 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: a journalist. Um, but yeah, you get a sense of 379 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: who they are, and you get kind of fun little 380 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: anecdotes like Julio Jones having thrown down the biggest dunk 381 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: that Boogie Cousins has ever seen. We're seeing a lot 382 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: of this, the virtual stuff. We're seeing this with the 383 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: NBA two K Players tournament. NASCAR has been running all 384 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: these races, virtual races. Uh. IndyCar also started this past 385 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: we and uh, this is gonna be the way we're 386 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: gonna be going until we get the real sports back. Yeah. 387 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: I don't think it's a bad idea, and I wouldn't 388 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: be surprised if the National Football League follows suit, and 389 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: maybe maybe even Major League Baseball. You know, it's it's 390 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: it's it's kind of fun to see that the personalities 391 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: and see these guys dissing on each other and bringing 392 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 1: up both stories as you mentioned about that, you know 393 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: with Julio Jones. I mean, who knew. That's something I 394 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 1: never knew, And I like it. I always like when 395 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: anytime you can get inside, uh, the personality of some 396 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: of these athletes, because everything is just so homogenized now 397 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: when you interview with someone, it's almost like a like 398 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: a politician, there's a scripted answer, a scripted response, and 399 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: and you really get nothing out of it. And I 400 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: think this is, you know, a throwback to years when 401 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: they weren't a hundred people sitting around someone in someone's 402 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: lock or after an NBA game and maybe there might 403 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: be one or two reporters there and you actually got 404 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 1: something out of it. So I think it's it's really 405 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: enlightening for the fans, and I think it's uh, I 406 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:58,959 Speaker 1: think it's I think it's a great idea. This is 407 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business Sports Podcast on Michael Barnlond with evanphi 408 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: Williams special guest host Mike. We are here each and 409 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, exploring the world of money 410 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: in sports. You can join us again at the end 411 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: of the week. We're going to continue speaking with the 412 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: biggest and brightest in the sports business world. You're listening 413 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 1: to Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around the 414 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 1: world and online wherever you get your podcasts.