1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Should Major League Baseball 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: shorten up the season? How do we present football to 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: the audience of the future. I don't think that most 4 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: players understand the power that they have. The future of 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: Indy car racing is looking bright. Scott slosh Nick. Very 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: basic math here, more bidders means more money. Evan Nobody Williams. 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: The team value has essentially quadruples. And the leaders in 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: the sports industry time to bring in our guest, Al 9 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: slide Runner, National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, Atlanta Braves 10 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: president Derek Schiller, Patriots President Jonathan Kraft. Bloomberg Business of 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Michael barn I'm Evan 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: Nobi Williams, and I'm Scott Sloshnick. On this President's Day special, 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: we will explore the big money issues in the world 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: of sports. And boy do we have a special guest today, 15 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: the former commissioner of the NBA, David Stern. David, thanks 16 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: for coming down the FDR. It's great to be here. 17 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: Traffic New York Traffic, New York Traffic. Normally we pepper 18 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: our guests with questions, but because I have dealt so 19 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: much with you over the years, and you have told 20 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: me so many stories. I'm going to ask you a 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: special favor. Would you please regale us with some of 22 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: your favorite stories. Well we'll get to some questions, of course, 23 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: but when you tell these stories, the ones that are 24 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: most pertinent to the business of sports, you have been 25 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,279 Speaker 1: there and seeing the transformation. Wait, I got a scooch 26 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:23,639 Speaker 1: up to the I don't remember anything. I am only 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: good responsively. All right, well you cannot originate anything. Then 28 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: I will do this. I will spark some of it. 29 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: Then do you remember your trip to the one stoplight 30 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: town of Tempo, Bhutan? Yes, yes, you told me this story. 31 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: So you're in Timpoo and you're on some sort of 32 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: special visitor trip as commissioner of the n b A, 33 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: and you go to an internet cafe. Right, okay, I 34 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: get it. And do you remember landed in Timpoo? We 35 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: were met. That's where the airport is. And if you 36 00:01:54,840 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: fly into Bhutan into Timpoo, you have to use only 37 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: the pilots that fly I think it's called Dragon air 38 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: because it's so narrow coming in that if if you're 39 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: flying in some other pilot is used, is your pilot 40 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: you're probably not gonna make it. We get off, we're 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 1: met by a guide and he wants to show us 42 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: that there that they are in the real world now 43 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: the new world, because uh they they tend in Bhutan 44 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: to be a little bit behind, focusing more on happiness 45 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: that on wireless. And they take me up to it 46 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: into that cafe there only one and like from Central Casting. 47 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: There's a young man there and he has the Lakers 48 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: on NBA dot Com with Kobe Bryant. And this is 49 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: a place that only had television like this was probably 50 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: in this was like they had only just had television 51 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: introduced into the country. And it was like, Holy Moses, 52 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: what is Kobe doing on the screen? And it wasn't 53 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: the setup it was it was like incidental to the visit. 54 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: And I was shocked by that. I guess that reminds 55 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: me of my other one, which is we went to 56 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: uh China in and we went to the ancient the 57 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: city that has the Terra Cotti soldiers Sion, and we 58 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 1: had a guide and a second guide to take us 59 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: through the soldiers. And the second guide says, oh, that 60 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: she knew that what I was doing for a living. 61 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: He said, oh, I'm a big fan of the Red 62 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: Oxen and my the first guy says, the silly girl, 63 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: she doesn't know what a difference been a bolt and 64 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: an oxident. Okay, so so you know I have I 65 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: have learned, uh and been informed uh by the world 66 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: that there was an interest in basketball outside of the 67 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: United States in these early years. I we were in 68 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: we were in the uh what was then the Soviet Union, 69 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 1: and I think it was with the Atlanta Hawks, and 70 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: we we were taken to the second city of Lithuania, Countess, 71 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: which is the home to our Vitas Sabonis and Sharonas Marshalonis. 72 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: And we walk into the city hall and the usual 73 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: contingent of people are there, uh, the mayor, the head 74 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: of the local Communist Party, the head of the local 75 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: basketball federation, the head of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation. We 76 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: go through a long conversation and then as we sort 77 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: of put our feet up on the table to discuss things, 78 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: one person says to me, do I think it's fair 79 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: that the Portland Trailblazers have our Vetas Sabonis on their 80 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: draft list and they have no room under the salary 81 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 1: cap to sign him. That was like a bolt of 82 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: lightning to me, We've got something here and we have 83 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: to really exploited on a global basis. There are there 84 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: were You did experience Eureka moments that the world is flat? Yeah, 85 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: that was. That was a Eureka moment prior to the 86 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: Dream Team, by the way, which everybody credits for this. Yes, well, 87 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: prior to the Dream Team. And uh. But on the 88 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: other hand, remember, I guess John Thompson, who's a friend, said, 89 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: at best the Trailblazers were interested in helping Sabonis because 90 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: he had a had an injured ankle or foote. They 91 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: had that in Portland, bad feet, and they helped him 92 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: with surgery, introduced him to a doctor or whatever. And 93 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: John Thompson's view of that was to cite Lennon to 94 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: say that the capitalists will sell us the rope with 95 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: which we will hang them. Okay, John, that sounds uh, 96 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: it sounds like Big John. And uh. And you know, 97 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: and I guess maybe we did because he lost in 98 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 1: Soul the U s Laws two and I think Russia 99 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: won the medal. Remembered I had Chris Jackson is his 100 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: point guard. It's a long story, an I'll do yes, 101 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: I mean, I saw the bonus play in Portland. That's 102 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: I mean, that's how old I am. He probably would 103 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: have been one of the greatest centers in the history 104 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: of the n b A if he were well, and 105 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: he was pretty darn good, and he was great and 106 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: he played, I guess he did. He play until he 107 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: was starting. He played a bunch of years. He was 108 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: really good. You know, we have a special guest with us, 109 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: David Stern, the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. I 110 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: left David. People say to me, what David, I'll go. 111 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: I have to correct him. Commissioners, emeritus, professor, You've been 112 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: for so long. It was thirty years. When it was 113 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 1: thirty years, thirty long years. I was looking for you. 114 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: Loved everyone, now that that is not true. That is true, 115 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: loved every single I had the best job in the 116 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: world now, truth be told. Would you have rather have 117 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: talked the business side or the basketball because every time 118 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: somebody would come to you with one of these and 119 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: I'm going to use the word not you, so I'll 120 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 1: take you off inane the basketball questions, whether they should 121 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: widen the other lane or three points shot, you would 122 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: should be you'd be so gracious and you would answer 123 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: it because it was part of your duties. But then 124 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: I get the sense that you would harrumph when you 125 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: walked away and said, boy, I'd rather just talk about Actually, 126 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: Red Araback gave me what to me like a little boy, 127 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: the greatest compliment I ever got. He said, you know, 128 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: you got to stop pretending that you don't understand the game. 129 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: You understand it perfectly, So shut up and just do 130 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: what I said. You know, Arnold, I'm going to give 131 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: you a kiss. That's the nicest thing. Did you ever 132 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: have lunch at the Chinese restaurant with Red in d 133 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: C his famous hunt? I had lunch there a few times. Probably, Yes, Yes, 134 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: he was. He was. He was such a gentleman. He 135 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: was gruff and rough, but he really wasn't in the 136 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: presence of others. He was the complete gentleman. How would 137 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: he feel about the business of today's NBA, because it 138 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: is not just about basketball. Of these teams are real 139 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: estate firms that there the venture capitalist and how would 140 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: he handle this? He would be impatient. I think he 141 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: was the coach. I think he had no assistance one here. 142 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: You know, he just thought this was all puffery. Uh 143 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 1: and he and he also was happy to tell me 144 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: what I was doing wrong. This is a family program, 145 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: so I can't, you know, He with Cole and say, 146 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: you know, hey, you know I thought my name was 147 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: stupid because hey, hi stupid, Hi Red? How are you? Uh? 148 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: And he would say, you gotta do this about the 149 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: All Star Game. You should give players rings, don't give 150 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: them money. Uh, we gotta do this about that. Red 151 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: was he just loved the game and he so much 152 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: wanted to improve it, and um and he was devoted 153 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: to it. That's all I can say. People say to 154 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: me now, we said, David's coming on, Well, what what's 155 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: David doing these days? Well? Advisor to p j T. 156 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: Paul Talbot, our good friend on Cornwall, he's he's over there, 157 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: advisor to Greatcroft Partners. You are a techie, David stern Age. 158 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: I don't even know U. Fifty two? You are a techie? 159 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: You can't. I am having a ball because I have 160 00:09:54,800 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: the opportunity, through investments and advisory agreements to be involved 161 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 1: with about a dozen sports technology startups. I looked in 162 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:07,439 Speaker 1: my pocket. I thought I might have a list, so 163 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: I don't want to leave anybody out. But uh, there 164 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: It's so much fun because these are people who are 165 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: so smart and so devoted to tech and so devoted 166 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: to the game. Really uh and I, as I say 167 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: to them, they are devoted and their product is great. 168 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: It's this other stuff like marketing, sales and managing that 169 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: I try to help them with because I couldn't match 170 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: them on the technology side. But it's a hoot. I'm 171 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: habitable And within that, what what gets you most excited? 172 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 1: I mean, you guys are in AI E sports wearables? 173 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: What specific categories you know? Aim I would classify a 174 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: lot of them as next gen viewing. We're we're, we're 175 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: We're starting to see it's going to involve wearables to 176 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: some extent, like a company called shot Tracker, which is 177 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,679 Speaker 1: going to place a sensor in the ball and a 178 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:11,199 Speaker 1: sensor on the uniform and a sensor in the ceiling 179 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: and have real time stats right there and in the 180 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: game and more as important in practice. So when the 181 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: player finishes his practice, he doesn't need a shot assistant 182 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: manager at Ohio State charting him. He just he just 183 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: has it on a cell phone and he knows exactly 184 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: what a shooting percentages, He knows exactly where he took 185 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: the shots from etcetera. UH live like VR, which is 186 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: really much more than VR. It has to do with UM, 187 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,439 Speaker 1: you know, next gen viewing, how you're going to and 188 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: and it may incorporate some other ones, some other aspects 189 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: of it because we're uh, we're seeing that these things 190 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: are all sort of coming together. So you not only 191 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: want to choose your own camera, you want to have 192 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: your own statistics. You want to choose your own announcer. 193 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 1: That's something called UH sportscaster does that. Full disclosure, you're 194 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: an investor in both those company. I'm an investor in 195 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,720 Speaker 1: everything I've mentioned that You've asked me what I'm doing. 196 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: I'm trying to give some plugs here from frying out loud. 197 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: You know the most important I had a slip down 198 00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: here get stuck in traffic to be interviewed by you, David. 199 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: If I wanted this, I could call my mother. Okay, Okay, 200 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: well that's that's true too. We both tell you what 201 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: you're doing wrong and UH and it's gonna be AI 202 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: a company called stat Muse uh and and and so 203 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,359 Speaker 1: we're very interested in that and in things that possibly 204 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 1: extend careers. So WHOOP is a wearable that deals with recovery, 205 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: sleep and strain. It's really more off the court to 206 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 1: have players, you know, how their bodies are reacting. And 207 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: it's gonna cause players and a's and sleep is a 208 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: big deal these days. It's now the new energy pill is, Oh, 209 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: you should really get more than three hours of sleep? 210 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: Oh really? You know, well, you know a lot of 211 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: people are and so I know I've left out a 212 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: whole bunch of our startups because we have like twelve 213 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: or thirteen. But it's a big deal and and we're 214 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: really going to influence the way sports are received and perceived. Uh, 215 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: not to mention, you know, getting the line at the um, 216 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: you know, on the telecast hopefully maybe through a company 217 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: called Rhodo q L another name drop and uh, you know, 218 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: and then ultimately fans are gonna place their bets using 219 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 1: their iPhone or their next finger. It's uh, it's not 220 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: gonna be entirely without its bumps. Uh. And I don't 221 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: mean technological bumps, but you know, sort of societal bumps 222 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: because betting is going to become very widespread and there 223 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: are downsides to that because fans are going to be 224 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: seeking out information because if you have more information than 225 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: anybody else. You think you have a real advantage in 226 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: placing a bet. Uh and uh that's not a good thing. 227 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: And so I'm looking forward to it. I think sports 228 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: betting is going to enhance the value of franchises dramatically. 229 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: That's the big news. That's the that's the headline. How 230 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: much do you think it's gonna double them? Remember everybody 231 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: called Mark Cuban crazy when he said that. Well, well, 232 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: you know, let's talk about Mark Cuban. Can we do 233 00:14:53,920 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: it in the next thing segment? Like, I only want 234 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: to talk to about Mark Cuban in his presence. Everything 235 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: I say about Mark, you but I want to say 236 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: to him because I like him a lot. But but 237 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: he did say, and I quote him often, he said, David, 238 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: China has potential, but it's always going to have potential meaning, 239 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: and it's always gonna have potential meaning, don't waste your time. 240 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: And I said, Mark, be quiet and let me do it. 241 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: It'll be okay. Man. We got the former commissioner of 242 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: the NBA, David Snarn. We get paid for this. Yeah, 243 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: but be careful because I'm going to ask you where 244 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: you place your bets and the cops are gonna swoop 245 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: in and take you away, and that would ruin the 246 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: whole show. Alright, wa wait wait, wait, you're saying you 247 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: taken away it ruins them. I don't know Evan that well, 248 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: but I know Sashnik, and yes it would, it would. 249 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: Leaving him alone would be a problem. I this was 250 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: so many years. I mean, I dealt the most with you. 251 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: My indoctrination to David Stern was lockout. I was assigned 252 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: to cover that. And most people hate labor strife. It 253 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: was the best thing that ever happened to be because 254 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: I was there every day as you and well that 255 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: I think that's what's separated. I'm not kidding. People would go, 256 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: I've had enough, they're going late, they'd leave. I was 257 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: there when you went in, six am, seven am, ight, it, 258 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: whatever it was. And I was there standing there when 259 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: they came out, Russ Grannick, Billy Hunter, when you all 260 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: came out, no matter what the hour was, I was 261 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: standing there. That's because you had nothing else to do. 262 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: That's true, That is true. But I didn't go to 263 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: law school, but I do tell people I graduated from 264 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: the University of Stern. Yeah, well, we we learned a lot, 265 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: because we all learned a lot together about a lot 266 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: of different things. And even I think you're the most 267 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: quoted person on this show. But between Scott, you know, 268 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: saying adages that you've told them over the years, and 269 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: and multiple guests. We've had Rudy Kline Thomas, who was 270 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: on a couple of weeks ago talking about the influence 271 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: that that you've had on his career. I think I 272 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 1: think we quote you more than almost anybody else, if 273 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: not anybody else on this HI. That pleases me greatly. Actually, 274 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: I love working with people, and Rudy, Rudy and I 275 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: we try to meet every six months or so. Something 276 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: always intervenes, but we do get together. And he's guiding 277 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: young NBA players in their tech careers and that's pretty good. 278 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: And that's and that's very important because our players need 279 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: and want guidance. You always said that the players are 280 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: more than just athletes. It's become sort of a hip 281 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: catchphrase these days, that more than just an athlete. Lebron 282 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: seems to have taken that and run with it, But 283 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: you always wanted yeah, we you know, it's it's kind 284 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 1: of interesting. We uh used to educate the players on 285 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: how to use social media, and now you know, I 286 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: mean shack literally, I think launched Twitter by putting two 287 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 1: tickets to a Laker game or someplace. I remember that 288 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: at Market and Vine and there would be a riot. Uh. 289 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: And so our guys really learned how to use it. 290 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: It took a little teaching beyond that, because we had 291 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: to make the point to them that if you're going 292 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: to post something, it's really the same as being interviewed 293 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: outside the locker room. They didn't understand that it was 294 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: actually being digested right, And I understand, I understand that 295 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 1: they didn't understand it. But we had a player like 296 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: tweet that he you know, was in traffic and he 297 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: had to relieve himself. So he got out of the 298 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: car and relieve themselves. He did it in a much 299 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:45,959 Speaker 1: more colorful terms. Who had no, you won't find it. 300 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 1: He was fined a relatively small amount and he actually 301 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: called and said, you know, I've been raised well by 302 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: my mom and my grandmom. That's not like me. I understand. 303 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. I'll never do it again. And I said 304 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: that's great. He said that, now can I have my 305 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: money back? I said no, but but you know that 306 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: there haven't been a lot of those because the players 307 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: picked it up that if you're going to but and 308 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: I think the Olympic team sort of launched Instagram. Maybe 309 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: it was Instagram. They were taking photos of each other 310 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 1: sleeping on buses and other places. They certainly launched beat, 311 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: certainly launched yes, yes, yes, and and they began to 312 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: get a sense of their own power. Uh where it 313 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: all leads to. I'm not positive, but it's interesting that 314 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: the players are now actually perceived actually do have power 315 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: and are perceived as having power. It's something you said 316 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: earlier about Twitter, and maybe part of the reason why 317 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 1: it's because of this back in the day and been 318 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: sadly doing news for too many years when we when 319 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: you someone would say, yeah, someone so and so said 320 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: on Twitter, and I was chastised immediately. We never quote Twitter. 321 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 1: We never use that as a quoting source. By the way, 322 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: one of the biggest battles that we had was to 323 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: whether we should credential or not this new class of 324 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: quote Internet reporters. Uh. And obviously the world has changed 325 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: a lot since then, But we did, and uh, I'm 326 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: glad we did, and we I think probably helped the transformation. 327 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 1: David I guess Michael wants to talk more about sports betting, 328 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna let him. Well, now, this is more 329 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,640 Speaker 1: now than Benny the bookie that I know I've said 330 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 1: too much already, haven't said too much. It's now with 331 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:01,719 Speaker 1: legalized sports betting. Uh, in New Jersey and in other states, 332 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: you can take your phone and make a bet online. 333 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 1: Do you think it's too convenient now? And what are 334 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 1: your phones? No? I think that the the advent of 335 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 1: the Internet made everything convenient. The world is at your fingertips, 336 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: any information from the Bible to what happened yesterday in Washington. 337 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: It's available, you can buy anything. It would be an 338 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: anomaly if there were betting, and ultimately you couldn't do 339 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: it on the internet. And so I think that's that's 340 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: where everything is going, and it's it's we'll see how 341 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: it works out. But I understand that when you were 342 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: a commissioner, both publicly and legally, the NBA's position on 343 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: sports gambling was very clear, we don't want it. Privately, 344 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 1: I mean you're saying something very different now. Privately, were 345 00:21:56,640 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: you thinking, you know, maybe this isn't as bad a thing. 346 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: You know, I went through an evolution, I remember, I'll 347 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 1: mention some names. Did you guys name the guy with 348 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: the white hair? And I are going to remember Bowie 349 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: Cutan was the commission of Baseball and he banned uh, 350 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 1: the Las Vegas baseball team from having a sign in 351 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: the outfield that that supported the casino. And when we began, 352 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: we didn't allow our teams to take advertising from casinos. 353 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: And then gradually said okay, you can advertise the hotel, 354 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: but you can't but not the casino. And then we said, yeah, 355 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 1: you can talk about the casino, but you can't show 356 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: dice and this, and gradually you backed it up to 357 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 1: really just allowing everything. But we didn't support betting. We 358 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 1: weren't against On my watch, we had an All Star 359 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: game in Las Vegas. Worst traffic her it was Chinese 360 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: New Year. No, it wasn't the worst track, it was Atlanta. 361 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 1: And I agree, okay, we shut it down with as 362 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: you stretch every stretch unbeliev um. But I jumped the fence, 363 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: so to speak, when Daily Fantasy was legal. I said, 364 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:24,639 Speaker 1: all right, what's the sense of that? Uh? You know? 365 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,679 Speaker 1: And uh, and so I I went to UH. I 366 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: gave a speech in Las Vegas and said once that happens. Uh, 367 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 1: you know, why not legalized game gambling? Because I don't 368 00:23:38,440 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: see a distinction between daily fantasy, which is gambling. Even 369 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,320 Speaker 1: though the states had issues or how to describe it, 370 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:48,360 Speaker 1: it was either it was either gambling or it wasn't gambling, 371 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,399 Speaker 1: and they could they tripped all over themselves, but it 372 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 1: is gambling, and so there was no sense in not 373 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: having betting on sports. I after the speech, someone stands 374 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 1: up with the only it says, if you're in favorite, now, 375 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: why are you involved in litigation with New Jersey? And 376 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: one of those remarks I wish I could have taken back, 377 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 1: but it was fun anyway. I said, would you want 378 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 1: Governor Christie to be regulating your business? It was right 379 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: after the bridge fiasco, and I I never apologized to 380 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: the governor, but you know, it's it's uh an interesting 381 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:35,200 Speaker 1: issue about once there is daily fantasy, why why why 382 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:41,840 Speaker 1: band gambling? Why? Many people considered daily fantasy as more 383 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 1: skill and I put that in quotation marks it is 384 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: skilled instead of gambling. It is skilled because of the 385 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: money is won by like five percent of the players. 386 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: Because there you know, they're doing algorithms that got charts 387 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 1: that you know and if you think, as a fan, 388 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna go in there and do that with gambling, 389 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 1: with sports betting, it may actually be closer to even 390 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: although I was thinking about that watching the Super Bowl, 391 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 1: which had the Patriots. I think maybe the Patriots by three, 392 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: and you know, until that last touchdown look at the score, 393 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 1: it was like the Patriots by three. And so it's 394 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: really interesting to see how accurate the bookmakers are the 395 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:34,920 Speaker 1: odd setters. And I think that that's the reason, uh 396 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 1: the NBA in Adam silver Field, that having it legalized 397 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: now is actually going to bring it out of the 398 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,360 Speaker 1: dark and we're gonna have very professional analysis to make 399 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: sure the game is untainted. I'm sorry, Manny, is he 400 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: at a barbershop? I used to go to a barbershop 401 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: in Patterson, New Jersey, but that was before I swore 402 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 1: off any kind of gambling. It's good for you. I 403 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: wish and Lebron didn't file a cease and desist order. 404 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: I haven't been I haven't placed a bet in years. 405 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: Can we discuss Lebron for a minute. Sure, how you 406 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 1: must look at this and say this is his accomplishments, 407 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 1: a real acculmination, and what he can be I'm guessing 408 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: by the time he's done, and it's not easy to 409 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: become an owner of one of these teams days with 410 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: the valuations. But really, the world is a disfinger tips 411 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: he can't do what he wants. No, I think you're 412 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: going to see a generational ballplayers become much more involved 413 00:26:34,280 --> 00:26:38,439 Speaker 1: as equity participants in our sport without question, because they 414 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: understand it, They're being advised on it, and they you know, 415 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,479 Speaker 1: And the only reason they won't is they don't. They 416 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: will think that the franchise is overvalued, and maybe they won't. 417 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: But Lebron, I think is you know, it's is His 418 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: arc is interesting because when he announced that he was 419 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: taking his talents to South Beach, he was beaten up 420 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: so badly by the media and I used to whisper 421 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: in his ear, I think you're being unfairly picked upon it, 422 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: and I'm proud of you. And when he won his 423 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: first championship or his m v P or whatever it was, 424 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 1: I said, I'm still proud of you. Uh. And he 425 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: has blossomed. Uh. You know, I saw a report, Uh, 426 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 1: he asked us. Actually a sports he has like ninety 427 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 1: million social followers. He like is the saying is more 428 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: than all of the other all stars of all the 429 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:38,120 Speaker 1: other sports combined. And people are following him and he's 430 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 1: he's saying mostly intelligent things. He's had a couple of slips, 431 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: of which he's been forgiven. Uh, And that's just the 432 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: way it is. I think he's great, and I think 433 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: he's a great role model. He doesn't have a slip. 434 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: Do you view a difference between how the NBA under 435 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: you and under Adam treated its stars in the way 436 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: that other leagues, the NFL, you know, the freedom players 437 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: are are given to to to express themselves, you know. 438 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: I I actually think that the different starts with the 439 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: fact that in baseball, football, and hockey, the players are 440 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: covering their bodies with helmets, hats, caps, uh, you know, 441 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 1: long sleeve shirts and long pants. And our guys will 442 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,360 Speaker 1: always I used to say, running around that their underwear 443 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: or something like it, especially especially in the short shows. Right, 444 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: that's right, John Stockton was my hero, not Alan. I 445 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: was not kidding. Alan was my hero too, but it 446 00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 1: was It starts out as different their personalities and we 447 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 1: don't have to work quite as hard to identify them, 448 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:48,320 Speaker 1: and the fans recognize them. Uh, And we always as 449 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: we were digging out of what was a terrible hole 450 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: for us in the late seventies and eighties, when the 451 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: it was a fair amount of racism that was exhibited 452 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: about our players, we felt, as a matter of policy, 453 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: we had to promote our stars, promote our players, and 454 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,760 Speaker 1: show that they were real people. And that was a 455 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: necessity and it worked because people appreciate our players for 456 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: who they are. If Colin Kaepernick was a basketball player, 457 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:24,239 Speaker 1: would he have a job right now? Yes? Why doesn't he? 458 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: Individual choice? There is a you know, when the President 459 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: of the United States makes a big deal about something, 460 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: it may intimidate you to say, well, maybe I don't 461 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 1: need that problem, so I, you know, when I have 462 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: a choice, maybe not Colin Kaepernick. But I always said 463 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: he should have been suspended and he'd be playing. That's it. 464 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,719 Speaker 1: That would have been it. I bring this up all 465 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: the time, and I'm curious if it would apply now 466 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 1: to Kaepernick. You once told me we were walking down 467 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 1: the street in New York. Who knows someday this was 468 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: off the record, status out, but some guy leaned out 469 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 1: of his car dropped a few f bombs at you. 470 00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: I'm never watching again. You guys, suck you make too 471 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: much money into the whole shebang. And that was my cousin. 472 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: And then and then your dad get um and you 473 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: looked at me and said, he'll be back, that passion, 474 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: he will be back. He was back right. And you 475 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:26,600 Speaker 1: said the one you feared was the person who said 476 00:30:26,640 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 1: nothing right. But all these people screaming Kaepernick, they'll be 477 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 1: back right. Oh of course they will. Look at look 478 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 1: at the bounce back that the NFL had this season. 479 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: God's in his heaven. All's right with the world. He's 480 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,720 Speaker 1: I mean, they are the number one sports property and 481 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: the number one television property likely in the world other 482 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 1: than the Olympics in the World Cup. Kind of gets 483 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: you in a little try to get you in a 484 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 1: little bit of trouble. It's fun. Not long ago. Well, 485 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: like I guess a while ago, you described the Knicks 486 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 1: is not a model of intelligent management. Very nice phrasing. 487 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: The ship. That was No, No, that was Michael, who 488 00:31:03,520 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 1: I spoke to recently because he's we remained in touch 489 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: and close over the years. Has anything changed? I mean, 490 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,880 Speaker 1: Knicks fans want to know, how do you view I'll 491 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: tell you how I view the Knicks. I think that 492 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy Dolan gets a bad rap. I really do. Uh. 493 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 1: And I've said this to people like Harvey Araton and 494 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:29,200 Speaker 1: certain other reporters. He hasn't trusted the Knicks with different 495 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: people and given them full authority, and the Knicks haven't 496 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: gotten that much better. And now we'll have to see. 497 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 1: I always tell everyone, don't worry next year, no problem 498 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 1: is great, not being commissioner. I said, oh, no, you 499 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: know it's gonna be. I can't tamper. It's gonna be 500 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: Kevin durand Kyrie Irvin and Zion Williamson. Don't worry and 501 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,959 Speaker 1: we're gonna be. Uh, we're gonna rocking in the garden. 502 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: And I think that's, you know, something like that as possible. 503 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:01,040 Speaker 1: So and everyone is what you must care a lot 504 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: because you gotta have a strong team in New York. 505 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: I said, excuse me, what was the last time we 506 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 1: had a strong team in New York? And the league 507 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 1: is soaring, So the Nicks will come around. It'll be 508 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: their time relatively soon. I suspect all they need is 509 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: Harry the Horse Gallaton. It's all good. And maybe Ray 510 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: Felix and Phil Jordan and a bunch of names that 511 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: you guys don't even remember and never experienced. Wow, we 512 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: had gotta wrapped this up. And so Mr David s 513 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: come back, come back, come back. Oh, the former commissioner 514 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 1: of the National Basketball Association shared thoughts with us. We 515 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 1: could be going on and for Fourth of July special. Yeah, 516 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: we've been listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We 517 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 1: hope you enjoyed it. We hear each and every week 518 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: at the same time plus online as an Apple podcast. 519 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 1: You can catch that Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Michael Barro 520 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Big bar Sports. I'm een Novie Williams 521 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:56,640 Speaker 1: at Novie Underscore Williams, and I'm Scott Snick. You can 522 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 1: follow me on Twitter at sashnik and thank you very 523 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: much for joining us. Please continue to join in when 524 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 1: we speak with the biggest and brightest in the sports 525 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 1: business industry. You're listening to Bloomberg Business with Sports from 526 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world.