1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: I told these guys, you know, get that out of there. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: But I made the inadvertent comment of shoot the the item, 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: so the director immediately panned over and shot it, and 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: you get rid of it, shoot it, said no, no, no no, no, 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: get off that shot. And unfortunately, once it appears on television, 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: it lives on Google and YouTube and places forever. Hi. 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: I'm John Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports, and 8 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: I can't wait to be on Off the Beat. Hello everybody, 9 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: and thanks for joining us here today on another episode 10 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: of Off the Beat Sports. As always, I am your 11 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: host Brian Baumgartner. Today one of my oldest friends at NBC. 12 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: I am bringing on the person who has currently been 13 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: at NBC the longest forty four years, most of which 14 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: at NBC Sports, John Miller, one of the most influential 15 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: voices in sports and of course at NBC, and one 16 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,839 Speaker 1: of the only people in the world who can say 17 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: that they have literally changed sports television. I mean, have 18 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: you ever turned on the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving? 19 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: John invented that? Have you ever watched the Winter Classic 20 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:35,919 Speaker 1: from the NHL? Well, John invented that are you happy 21 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: that the US Open coverage was back on NBC. Have 22 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: you ever watched the American Century Championships from Lake Tahoe. Well, 23 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: John invented that to one man, and he's here today now. 24 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: When I saw John a couple of weeks ago in 25 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: Lake Tahoe, I just knew that I had to bring 26 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: him onto the podcast. In fact, I started doing background 27 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: research with some of the golf analysts there at NBC. 28 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to do my research because I wanted John 29 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: to be able to effectively tell his story. You know, 30 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: there is truly a little more inspiring to me than 31 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: hearing the journeys of people who have risen to greatness 32 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: in their field. So sit back, take a listen. I 33 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: am very happy to introduce to every one of you 34 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: my good friend and someone I can honestly say that 35 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: I admire in the world of entertainment, John Miller. Bubble 36 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: and Squeak. I love Bubble and Squeak, Bubble and Squeaker 37 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: Cookie at every month left over from the nub before. 38 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: Hi John, Hi Brian, how are you. I'm so good. Oh, 39 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: I'm so happy that you're here. You don't know this, 40 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: but before you agreed to do this, almost inadvertently had 41 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: a background research session on you with Steve Sands one 42 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 1: day after the tournament. Um, John and I were just 43 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: in Like Tahoe for the American Century Championship, one of 44 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: his many babies, which we're going to talk about in 45 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: a little bit. Uh, my favorite week of the year. 46 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: How was the week for you? First off? It was 47 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: Now that I'm a little more than a week away 48 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: from it, Brian, it it all starts to sink in 49 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: when you're in there and you're living in the moment, 50 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: you kind of lose sight of all the things that 51 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: are happening. And because the team does such a good job, 52 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: you know, led by Gary Quinn and David Muller, you 53 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: it's all become so seamless. But I tell a few moments, 54 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: you know, on the way home or the day after, 55 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: and think about everything and realize just how far we've come. 56 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: This was far and away our best event ever on 57 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of different metrics. Um. You know, this 58 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: is our thirty third year and we had over sixty 59 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: seven thousand people to show up in Lake Tahoe over 60 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 1: four days. UM. By way of comparison, for those people 61 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: who remember when we started this event, this was gonna 62 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,360 Speaker 1: be a one and done, and we lost a lot 63 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: of money our first year, and we had thirty people 64 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: people over the four days we let people in for 65 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: free Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and we charged I think ten 66 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: dollars for the weekend. And we were so excited, we 67 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: were so proud of ourselves that we got people. And 68 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: now you know, thirty three years later, with this has 69 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: become But we also got the highest ratings on television 70 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: that we've gotten since two thousand nine. But the other 71 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: thing is the social media reach was multiple billions with 72 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: a B. We've never had that before either. And that's 73 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: due in large part to people like you and Steph 74 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: Curry and Justin and and Pat Mahomes and Travis Kelsey 75 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: all contributing in such a big way, but then turning 76 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: around and posting stuff on social media sites that get 77 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: picked up that. But you know, to answer your question, 78 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: it was it was a great week. Yeah, it certainly was. 79 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: I want to talk some more about that, and it's 80 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: it's inception and its history and a little bit. I 81 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: wanted to start by going back in your history. I mean, 82 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: I feel like you're only like fifty two years old, 83 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: but you've been at NBC now for what forty four years? 84 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: I mean, it feels like your entire life in uh 85 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: in October, it will be forty five years. I started 86 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: when I was in sixth grade, but now that's that's 87 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: just what i've uhm, it'll be forty It'll be forty 88 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: five years. And I've really had this front row seat 89 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: to watch the business, you know, change and evolve and whatnot. 90 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: So it's been a lot of fun. You know, when 91 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: I first started with NBC, it was just NBC, CBS 92 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: and ABC. You know, the people who I work with 93 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: love to say that I was around when it was 94 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: just black and white television, not quite but close. But 95 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: there was no cable, there was no satellite. There was 96 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: certainly nothing like streaming or any of the things that 97 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: we have now. But you know, you get to watch 98 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: all this stuff unfold and have a front row seat 99 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: for it, and it's and it's fun. And what it 100 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: what you learned is that content is still the most 101 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: important thing, and if you have a good product, people 102 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: will find it and watch it and and do all that. 103 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: So that, to me is is a lot of fun. Yeah, 104 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 1: you grew up in Bethesda, is that right? Bethesda, Maryland? 105 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,040 Speaker 1: Bethesda Maryland. My my mom was originally from Washington, d C. 106 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: When my dad was from New York who moved down 107 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: to the d C area in the mid fifties and 108 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: and they got married in fifty five. And I have 109 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: a brother and a sister. But that's where our family 110 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: was from. So growing up in the d C area 111 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 1: my whole life until I went to college. Were you 112 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: interested in sports? Were you interested in entertainment or both? Oh? Yeah, 113 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: I was. I was a sports junkie as a kid. 114 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: You know, I I followed, you know, at that time, 115 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: I followed the Washington Redskins. The Washington Senators were my 116 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: baseball team that got taken away from me when I 117 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: was thirteen years old and was at that final game 118 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: at RFK Stadium where we stormed the field and got 119 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: tear gassed and the Senators lost in a forfeit. We 120 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: didn't have a hockey team, the Capitals didn't come until 121 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: much later, um, and we didn't really have a basketball 122 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: team to the Washington Wizards were the Baltimore Bullets. But 123 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: I wasn't really in the basketball. The sport I actually 124 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: played a lot as a kid was tennis, and I 125 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: was at this junkie and spent a lot of time, 126 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: you know, following pro tennis, never really followed golf much 127 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: at all until I met my wife, and her father 128 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: and her brother kind of turned me onto golf and 129 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 1: basically said, if you're going to ever succeed in business, 130 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: you better learn this game. So but that's I was 131 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: a big sports junkie as a kid growing up. Yeah, 132 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: but never, I'll be honestly, Brian, I never thought that 133 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: my career would lead me to this. I mean it 134 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: was This has been such a great ride. It's been 135 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 1: so much fun. You you mentioned this. I I did 136 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: not know this story until some some research was done. 137 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: You and your little brother, you were taken away by 138 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: security after storming the field. You just mentioned that how 139 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 1: old were you at this point? So this is nineteen 140 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: seventy one, So I was like thirteen or fourteen years 141 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: old and my little brother was ten. And it was 142 00:08:55,640 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: the last Senators home game against the Yankees, and the 143 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: Senators had this great big star named Frank Howard who 144 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: was known as the Washington Monument. He was six ft 145 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 1: eight and he waved a baseball bat like a toothpick. 146 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: Senators were down I think three to two in the 147 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,599 Speaker 1: bottom of the seventh or whatever, and they groove to 148 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: pitch to Howard. He hits a three run home run 149 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: and the place goes crazy and we stormed the field, 150 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: and you know, the game never finished, and they had 151 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: police come out on horseback and herded us all to 152 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: the right field bullpen and held us all there. And 153 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: there was no subway or anything like that. We lost 154 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: the guys who we were with, So you know, I 155 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: didn't get home until two o'clock in the morning. Needless 156 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: to say, my dad was not too happy with me 157 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:47,199 Speaker 1: because I was responsible for my little brother. But that 158 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 1: was that was a very fond memory. Yeah, you head 159 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: off to Ohio and go to Miami University and your 160 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: degree is a business at illustration. When does your interest 161 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 1: start turning to entertainment to media? So when I was 162 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: in college, I went to Miami. I did all four 163 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: years there and I um. I was involved my junior 164 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: and senior year, well senior year really with a program 165 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 1: that was an advertising and marketing based program that really 166 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: opened up my eyes to the marketing and advertising world. 167 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: We handled two different brands. The first semester we worked 168 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: on boarding foods or the Cromorra Brand, and the second 169 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: semester we worked for Wendy's. And I was really fascinated 170 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 1: with the advertising and marketing world, and when I got 171 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: out of college, I knew I wanted to come back East. 172 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: I had a cousin at the time who was representing 173 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: television for Metromedia, and he was selling local advertising for 174 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: those television stations, but he was based in Chicago, and 175 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: that to me sounded like a lot of fun. You 176 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: could sell advertising time, So I pitched a bunch of 177 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: jobs in d c um didn't get any of them. 178 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 1: Finally got an offer from Channel four w r C, 179 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: which was an owned NBC station, to become what was 180 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: called the Maven, which was somebody they would train in 181 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,079 Speaker 1: all the different aspects of local television. And I was 182 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: twenty one years old and I took it, and I 183 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: spent time learning sales, service and research and all the 184 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: different things that go on behind the scenes in the 185 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: television station. And then I wanted to sell. I got 186 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 1: kind of bored with doing all that, and they already 187 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: had a salesforce, so I said, give me the Yellow 188 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: Pages and let me have the city of Baltimore. Because 189 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 1: nobody ever wanted to go up to Baltimore to call 190 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: on potential advertisers and the Yellow Pages, and I kind 191 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: of created my own list and I did that for 192 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: three years and then eventually, you know, took that and 193 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 1: moved to New York to sell for NBC in New York. Wow. 194 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: So w r C. That was your first job out 195 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: of college. Yeah, pretty much. When I was in college, 196 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: I was involved in importing a game that you play 197 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,120 Speaker 1: on the each called smash ball with two big wooden 198 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: paddles in a lot bit ball, and I did that 199 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: in summers to kind of put my myself through school. 200 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: But yeah, my first real job with you know, a 201 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: serious weekly paycheck was was working for NBC starting in 202 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: October of nine. Wow. So you I understand there you 203 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: cross path with George Michael and I don't know if 204 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: this this is the story that I hear that that 205 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 1: you were playing kind of a precursor to to fantasy 206 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: baseball with your friend at this time. Well, you've really 207 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: done some homework, Brian. I mean these are well, listen, 208 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: I've got a great team. And this was occurring to 209 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: me too because I think a lot of people, you know, 210 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: think of sports Center and ESPN as being the first 211 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: like highlight show, stats shows or whatever. But George Michael, 212 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: which ultimately became the Sports Machine started and part of this, 213 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: as I understand, it started out of your playing fantasy 214 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: baseball and there was no way to get stats, right, 215 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: that's right. I had two really good friends down in 216 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: d C. And this is in nineteen. We would go 217 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: to Orioles games and we would come back, and this 218 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: is really a precursor to fantasy baseball. We would play 219 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: Strato matic base Strata Matic Baseball was this board game 220 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: and we would play for hours and hours and hours 221 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: and we had a blast doing it. And then we 222 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: obviously followed Major League Baseball very closely. We were all 223 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: baseball junkies and the only way we could get scores 224 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: would be to call King Wally's sports phone in New 225 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: York and it was like a nine number and every 226 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: time you called it cost you fifty cents. And I said, 227 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: this is nuts. So George Michael comes to work at 228 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:54,120 Speaker 1: w r C as the local sports anchor in Washington, 229 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: and you know, I was the youngest guy on the 230 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: staff by a lot, and it comes to me as 231 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: his and you help and find ways to drive new 232 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: value here, and so we wanted to create our own 233 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: version of a sports phone, and we were told that 234 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: w r C was not licensed. You had to have 235 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: special permission from the FCC to do a sports phone. 236 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: So what we decided to do is create a fifteen 237 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: minutes Sunday night highlight show, and we piggyback the highlight 238 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: show and basically set the phone up that way so 239 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: that you could almost hear the broadcast on the sports phone. 240 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: We finally got permission for it, and it became George 241 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: Michael's Sports Line to go along with George Michael's Sports 242 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,240 Speaker 1: Final and we would do a fifteen minute highlights show. 243 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: And that's quite honestly, George Michael was so far ahead 244 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: of his time because he was doing highlights of NASCAR 245 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: and wrestling and bull riding long before anybody really followed 246 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: these sports along with your regular baseball, basketball, NFL highlights 247 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. And then our phone, our phone, 248 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: we had a phone bank of a hundred lines, and 249 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: we saw it. We couldn't sell advertising on the phone, 250 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: but we sold it for the show, and then we 251 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: branded people on the phone, and that's how it all 252 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: got started. And that really was the precursor to what 253 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: Sports Center is now. It was all the George Michael 254 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: Sports Final, which became the Sports Machine. That is crazy. 255 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: I mean, this seems like such a long time ago. 256 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: In two thousand five, even the only way to get 257 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: ratings from the night before was to call a hotline 258 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: phone number and from the makeup trailer. Every morning, I 259 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,280 Speaker 1: would call the line and we would find out where 260 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: we did the night before, and I would try to 261 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: offer just like George, I would try to offer analysis 262 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: as to why we were up or down the night before. 263 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: As I said to Mike, sure like, well last night 264 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: there was an NBA a very special Lakers Celtics came on. 265 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: So that's why our number might be a little up anyway. 266 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: That But it's crazy now when you can access everything 267 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: with just you know, your finger on your phone. That 268 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 1: that that's where we started. But yeah, I mean people 269 00:16:10,480 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: people give it to Sports Center or think of Sports 270 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: Centers as the first, but really that Sports Machine that's 271 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: for you. George Michael was that was the first. You know, 272 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: highlights show was weekly Sunday night, and he had these 273 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: big fake tape machines that he would stand in front 274 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: of the pretended to push the button. Had the widest 275 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: knot on his tie that you would ever see. Um, 276 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: but he was crazy. But a lot of people, you know, 277 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: Lindsay Zarniac, who's now you know, all over television, was 278 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: on ESPN and does some stuff for NBC. She started 279 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: out there. A lot of really bright young stars got 280 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: their start working for George Michael at w r C 281 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: in Washington. Well, clearly you have an innovative spirit and mind. 282 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: You join NBC and seventy eight, how how are you 283 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: hired by NBC? So I was jobs and I finally, 284 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: you know, I got into uh see the people at 285 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: w r C, and the head of sales, you know, said, look, 286 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: we don't hire anybody who doesn't have experience, but they're 287 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: starting this new program called the Maven Program. I'm gonna 288 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: send you up to New York and let you interview 289 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 1: for the Maven Program. So I drove to New York 290 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: City and stayed in a hotel and went in and 291 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: interviewed with a man named Bud Hirsch, who at the 292 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: time I didn't know much about, but it turned out 293 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 1: he was a legend in the business. And I went 294 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 1: in and pitched him on why he should hire me, 295 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: and I brought him a smash ball set and we 296 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: played smash ball in his office. He happened to love tennis, 297 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: so he enjoyed that and he said, you know what, 298 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you a shot. So he hired 299 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: me as the first NBC maven, and basically that was 300 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: to learn all the different aspects of how a local 301 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,199 Speaker 1: television station runs in our rates, with an idea that 302 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: I would eventually grow up through the ranks and become 303 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: a general manager of an NBC owned television station. And 304 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: that was what my initial career path was supposed to 305 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: be when I started with NBC in nineteen seven day 306 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: and then in one you moved to New York. Why 307 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 1: go to New York? How did the path change for you? So? 308 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 1: I was selling locally for the NBC station in Washington, 309 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: which is where I worked with George, and then I 310 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: realized that if I wanted to grow my career, I 311 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,479 Speaker 1: needed to get to New York. So I was twenty 312 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: four and I moved to thirty Rock, and I sold 313 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: national advertising for all of the NBC owned television stations, 314 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: and at that time, NBC owned five television stations New York, Chicago, 315 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: l a Washington and Cleveland. So I sold all the 316 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: all the local advertising to national advertisers that were based 317 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: in New York UM. And I did that for about 318 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: three three years and enjoyed it, but realized that spot 319 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: television and the station's business was really not where I 320 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: saw my career heading. And I saw other opportunities out there. 321 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 1: And I found out about these guys who sell network sports, 322 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: and I thought, Wow, what an incredible job that must be. 323 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: You know, if you love sports and you like television, 324 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 1: and you're and you enjoy selling, that's the perfect combination. 325 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: And so I there was a man named Jim Burnett 326 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: who was a legendary sports sales figure who I was 327 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: introduced to, and I basically stalked him. And I'm not 328 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: kidding you, Brian. He would take the bus in and 329 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: I would arrange to be on the corner when his 330 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 1: bus would let out in the morning. I would three 331 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,640 Speaker 1: or four busses would go by, and then Jim Burnett 332 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 1: would get off the bus right at the corner of 333 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,439 Speaker 1: fifty and sixth Avenue, right at thirty Rock, and I 334 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,399 Speaker 1: would walk in the building with him. I would go 335 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: up to the commissary on the seventh floor. We would 336 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: sit and have breakfast and I would pitch him and 337 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: pick his brain. And for three months I would do this, 338 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: you know, two or three days a week, until finally 339 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: I think he got tired of me badgering him and 340 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: he said, I want you to come work for us, 341 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: which did not go over very well with the group 342 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: that I was currently working for, but I made the 343 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:43,239 Speaker 1: decision that that was the way I needed to go. 344 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: So I ended up going and working. I went to 345 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: work for NBC Sports sales in and that's how I 346 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: got into the sports side of the business. And was 347 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: that tied to that childhood passion for you for sports? 348 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: Was that the most fun thing that you could think 349 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: about doing. Yeah, I mean I you know, at the 350 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: time in so that was the year that the Bears 351 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: had this dominant NFL team that was you know, Jim McMahon, 352 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: Walter Payton, you know, Chicago Bears. The Redskins still had 353 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: a strong team, and the Giants. So the NFL was 354 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: very strong. And I was a big baseball fan. And 355 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: here's NBC Sports that has the a f C package 356 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: in football that has Major League Baseball and the World Series, 357 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: which they alternate with ABC. They have Wimbledon, they have 358 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: the French Open, they have a modest golf package. They 359 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: don't have the Olympics yet. The Olympics didn't come along 360 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: until but they had a big college basketball offering, and 361 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: they had a bunch of New Year's Day Bowl games. 362 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: And to me, this was what a great thing to 363 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: be able to go out and sell all these different 364 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 1: properties that I fill. It is a fan that I 365 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: could talk passionately about and hopefully get other people excited 366 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: about it as well. So I did that for about 367 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: three three and a half to four years UM, and 368 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: then I moved over into programming. Fast forwarding a little bit. 369 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 1: You created the Sports Ventures unit uh at NBC. Can 370 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 1: you can you? Can you describe to me and to 371 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: our listeners a little bit about about what that was 372 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: and how that was fairly unique. I would love to 373 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: tell you that it was a moment of brilliance and inspiration. 374 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: That wasn't it at all. In nineteen nine, actually we 375 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: lost Major League Baseball UM in what was an incredibly 376 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: disappointing and hard pill to swallow. Because baseball had been 377 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: in the walls at NBC for forty years. We had 378 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: done the game of the Week, you know, with Tony 379 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 1: Kubeck and Joe Karagio. Uh, you know, it's where Bob 380 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: Costas got his start, etcetera. But CBS came in and 381 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 1: made a bid and kind of knocked us out of 382 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: the baseball business. And so in the spring of nine, 383 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 1: knowing that that was gonna be our last year doing baseball, 384 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: NBC had been sold to General Electric. They were owned 385 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,719 Speaker 1: by our c A. They've been sold to General Electric, 386 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: and General Electric decided to put a new head of 387 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 1: NBC Sports in and they replaced my boss guy named 388 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: Arthur Watson, with Dick Eversol. Now, Dick Eversol was a 389 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 1: legendary figure and entertainment. He created Saturday Night Live with 390 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:43,359 Speaker 1: Lauren Michaels, he created Friday Night Videos. He's really a 391 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: a television impresario. UM. And they put him in charge 392 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:52,520 Speaker 1: of NBC Sports and I remember he came into UH 393 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: to meet with us and he UM, he basically let 394 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: a lot of people go. And he basically brought me 395 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,879 Speaker 1: into office and said, I can't let everybody go. So 396 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you a year, but you have to 397 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 1: replace thirty weeks of baseball. Um, but you have no 398 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: money to spend. So it was, you know, on the 399 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 1: one hand, so my wife and I we had a 400 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:22,239 Speaker 1: three year old son at home and my wife was 401 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: five or six months pregnant with our next son, and 402 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 1: I was sure I was going to be at work. 403 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 1: So I came home and I said the jam, Well, 404 00:24:31,280 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: the good news is I'm not losing my job. The 405 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 1: bad news is I've got to find thirty weeks of 406 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 1: programming and I have no money at all to spend. 407 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:44,400 Speaker 1: And so we created this Sports Ventures unit um and 408 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: we did things like the NFL Quarterback Challenge and the 409 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: NFL Run to Daylight and the NFL's Fastest Man and 410 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,199 Speaker 1: the Escape from Alcatraz. And we made a deal with 411 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 1: Miller Lite to bring the a VP Pro Beach Volleyball 412 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: to television. And one of the things that we decided 413 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: to do was to create our own golf tournament that 414 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: we would own. And that's how the NBC Sports Ventures 415 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: Unit came about. Now NBC Sports Ventures is still around 416 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 1: and we own obviously the American Century. We are partners 417 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,679 Speaker 1: on the p n C Championship in December that Tiger 418 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: and Charlie Woods plays in. We on the National Dog 419 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:27,119 Speaker 1: Show on Thanksgiving Day and other events. We created the 420 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: All American High School Football Game in January and San Antonio, 421 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: so we have a bunch of different properties that fall 422 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: under that umbrella. But it was all started because we 423 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:39,919 Speaker 1: had to come up with programming and we didn't have 424 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,960 Speaker 1: any money to spend. So that's how we got sponsors 425 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: to underwrite the shows, and that's how we did it. 426 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: I mean, this is where I think probably likely right, 427 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:56,479 Speaker 1: your sales experience and expertise from early on coming to play. 428 00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 1: So you not only have to acquire event or or 429 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 1: create events, but because you have no money, you have 430 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: to marry sponsors with those events, people that will pay 431 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 1: for it in order to just get it made and 432 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,280 Speaker 1: then and then hope it does. Right. I mean, that's 433 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: that's that's the entire that's exactly right. And you know, 434 00:26:19,400 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: I my father was a salesman. His father was a salesman. 435 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: I've always you know, kind of feel nothing happens until 436 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: you sell something. And my feeling is if you have 437 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 1: a product that you believe in and you can deliver 438 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: good value, UM, you should never be ashamed of of 439 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: of going out there and asking people to support it. UM. 440 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: And there have been things that I've had to sell 441 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: that I didn't love, obviously, but the stuff that you 442 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 1: create that you feel passionate about, you you you know, 443 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: you go all out to make it work, and that's 444 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,320 Speaker 1: how you know, Tahoe kind of got started. Yeah, so, 445 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: I mean, certainly. One of the other properties we haven't 446 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:06,120 Speaker 1: mentioned much is the National Dog Show. Um, I want 447 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: to start by reading what Pure Dog wrote about this event. 448 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: John Miller, president of Programming at NBC Sports, is the 449 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: mind behind what's been called one of the most perfect 450 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: pieces of television programming ever. I mean, I haven't read that. 451 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 1: It's dogs and it's Thanksgiving, it's family. It's like, you know, 452 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: there's a couple of NFL games on that day and 453 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: other than that, I mean, I don't know how many 454 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: times I've done it. You watch the Dog Show and 455 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 1: you pick a dog and you argue with your family 456 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: about it and it's a lot of fun. And the 457 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: research indicates that jan your wife brought home best in show. 458 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: Is this true? Yeah, It's it's absolutely true. Brian So's 459 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 1: January of two thousand two, and it was a really 460 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 1: nasty January Saturday night and we had some friends coming 461 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: over for pizza, and we had a couple of bottles 462 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: of wine, and Jan had gone to Blockbuster. I don't 463 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 1: know if anybody remembers Blockbuster, but she brought home the 464 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: movie Best In Show. I'm a big Eugene Levy fan. 465 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: I'm ahead of the Sid Dialers fan club for those 466 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 1: of you who watched SCTV. But so we watched Best 467 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:27,440 Speaker 1: in Show. I thought it was hysterical. Everybody goes home. 468 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 1: I stay up. I watched it a second time. I 469 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: thought it was so funny. So on Monday, I go 470 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: into work and I grab one of our interns and 471 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: I said, hey, Danny, find out for me what the 472 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: second oldest dog show in America is, because I had 473 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: obviously thought that Westminster in New York was the oldest 474 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: dog show in America. Right. She comes into the office 475 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: about forty five minutes later, and he says, well, the 476 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: second oldest dog show in America is the Westminster Keunel Club. 477 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:00,560 Speaker 1: I said, well, what's the oldest? He says, well, the 478 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: oldest is the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. It pre dates 479 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: the Westminster show by five years. And I said, wow, 480 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 1: I've never even heard of that. Does it still exist? 481 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: And he says well, there's a phone number and a 482 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: guy named Wayne Ferguson is listed as the president of 483 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 1: the Kennel Club of Philadelphia. So NBC had lost football, 484 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: and we lost football at that time, and we were 485 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: kind of in the wilderness on Thanksgiving Day, and you know, 486 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 1: it was you know, I didn't know that we were 487 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: gonna end up that day, but so I called. I 488 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: called called Wayne Ferguson, and I introduced myself to him 489 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:39,880 Speaker 1: over the phone, and I think he thought it was 490 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: probably a crank call. I said, this, John Miller, I'm 491 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: with NBC. I'd like to talk to you about your show. 492 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 1: And he kind of laughed and he said, well, we 493 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,200 Speaker 1: have a bench show. He's got a very deep voice, 494 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:53,959 Speaker 1: you know, he's very very deep. Well, John, you know 495 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: we're a bench show, which is I didn't know what 496 00:29:56,080 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: a bench show was. A bench show is a four 497 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 1: day show and the dogs who show up have to 498 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 1: be there all four days. So I said, well, we 499 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 1: don't want all four days. We'd just like to take 500 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 1: one of your days. And he says, well, it's a 501 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 1: little bit more complicated. I said, well, can I come 502 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 1: down and see you. So Kevin Monaghan, who worked with me, 503 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: at NBC, and I went down to Philadelphia and we 504 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 1: took Wayne Ferguson to lunch and we told him that, 505 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: you know, did he ever have any interest in having 506 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 1: his dog show on television? Now I'm doing this all freely. 507 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: I don't have permission to do this. Now told me 508 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 1: to do this. I'm just doing this right. You'd watch 509 00:30:33,520 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: Christopher guests this movie twice and now it's like, oh no, 510 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: this is what we're gonna I love this. Okay, keep going, Sorry, 511 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: go ahead. So he said, yeah, if you want to 512 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: take one of the days, you can, if as long 513 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: as you cover the cost of doing the show that day. 514 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: I said, that won't be a problem. So then so 515 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: we kind of make it. We shake hands, and we 516 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: come back to New York and I called Michael Crawford, 517 00:30:56,360 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: who Michael Crawford I knew from his days at Nestley 518 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: had gone to run He was the CMO, the chief 519 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:06,880 Speaker 1: marketing officer Purina, and I knew that Purina was shut 520 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: out of the Westminster show because that was owned by Pedigree, 521 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: which is a competing dog food brand. So I called 522 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 1: Michael up and we connected and I said, hey, Michael, 523 00:31:16,280 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: if we ever put a dog show on NBC. Do 524 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 1: you think Purina would sponsor it? And he said, John, 525 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: if you could put a dog show on NBC, we 526 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: would absolutely be there. So now I have a dog 527 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,720 Speaker 1: show and I have a sponsor. So I go in 528 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: to see Dick Eversol and Dick, to his credit, had 529 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 1: heard me come up with some crazy ideas, you know, 530 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: obviously Tahoe and all this other stuff. And I go 531 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:41,680 Speaker 1: in to see him and I said I have an 532 00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 1: idea and he says what is And I says, I 533 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 1: want us to do a dog show. And he points 534 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 1: to his door and he said get out, and said, 535 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 1: what do you mean? He said, I'm not We're not 536 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 1: doing a dog show. We've lost the NFL, there's a 537 00:31:54,640 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 1: good chance we're probably not going to renew the NBA. 538 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: We're out of the baseball business. People are gonna write 539 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: that NBC Sports is going to the dogs. That was 540 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,000 Speaker 1: his line to me, and I said, well, Dick, I'm 541 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: not going to brand it as NBC Sports were branded 542 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: just as NBC. He said, I don't know, John, you 543 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:15,320 Speaker 1: think people would ever watch a dog show. I said, yeah, 544 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 1: I think they would. He said, when do you want 545 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: to run it? And I said, and I thought about it, 546 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: and I said, why don't we put it on Thanksgiving 547 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: Day after the parade we're running. It's a wonderful life. 548 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: Everybody's seen it a million times. We're doing one rating maybe, 549 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: and it's kind of in the public domain, so let's 550 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: try something different. He says, Well, give Jeff Zucker a 551 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 1: call and go up and see him and see what 552 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: he thinks. So I go up to see Zucker and 553 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 1: I present the idea and I tell him when I 554 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: want to do it, and he says, well, let's try 555 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 1: it for a year and see if it works. So 556 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 1: we did it that first year. We got John oh Hurley, 557 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:53,280 Speaker 1: Remember the phone call I made do a hurly? He 558 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:55,960 Speaker 1: answers the phone, I go wolf Wolf and that's a 559 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 1: running joke today, and he uh agreed to do it. 560 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 1: And we got David I, who was a unbelievable expert 561 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,959 Speaker 1: on dogs, to be our host and co host. So 562 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: we get it done. January November of twenty two of 563 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:14,240 Speaker 1: two thousand two was our first year UM and the 564 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: show runs. I'm actually out in Canton, Ohio, because that's 565 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 1: where my wife's family is from, and it's Thanksgiving weekend 566 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: and I've taken the boys to go see the movie 567 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 1: jackass Uh that Friday morning, to stay away from the 568 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 1: shopping malls, right and to get him out of the house. 569 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 1: And my phone ring and it's ever So it's Dick 570 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:37,720 Speaker 1: and he says, where are you. You have a good Thanksgiving? 571 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: And I'm saying yeah. I said, why is he calling 572 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:42,400 Speaker 1: me on the Friday after Thanksgiving? It's usually not good 573 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: when your boss calls you on a Friday morning at 574 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,440 Speaker 1: like eleven eleven thirty. He said, John, have you seen 575 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:50,840 Speaker 1: the numbers from the Dog Show yet? And I said no, Dick, 576 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:52,840 Speaker 1: I don't have my computer here and I haven't seen 577 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: any overnights. He said, okay, just sit tight, Jeff Sucker 578 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 1: is gonna be calling you. So I'm now out in 579 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,920 Speaker 1: the lobby of this theater. And if anybody listening has 580 00:34:01,960 --> 00:34:04,400 Speaker 1: ever been in one of these big ten plex movie theaters, 581 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: you know, the carpeting has all these crazy patterns on 582 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 1: the floor. I paced that carpeting for what seemed like forever. 583 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,800 Speaker 1: I memorized the pattern on that carpeting at that theater, 584 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,760 Speaker 1: and sure enough, like four minutes later, the phone rings 585 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 1: and it's Zucker and he said, hey, John, How are 586 00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 1: you doing? I said, I'm good. Jeff, how are you 587 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 1: happy Thanksgiving? Happy Thanksgiving? It? He said, um, you see 588 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,120 Speaker 1: the numbers on your dog show and I'm thinking to myself, 589 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: oh my god, this thing bombed. I said, no, I 590 00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 1: haven't seen it. And it says, what were you? What 591 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:36,759 Speaker 1: did you think it was gonna do? I said, well, 592 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: it's a wonderful life. Was doing a one rating. Research 593 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: came back and told me that maybe we would do 594 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 1: like a one four or one five. He said, remind 595 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: me to talk to the research folks. So I'm like, oh, 596 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:50,759 Speaker 1: this is not good. I said, what did it do? 597 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,240 Speaker 1: He said, it did a seven and a half rating. 598 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 1: Other than the parade and some NFL playoff games, it's 599 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:02,080 Speaker 1: the highest rating on NBC for the How much longer 600 00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: do we have it? I said, what do you mean? 601 00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:06,879 Speaker 1: He says, well, how long a deal did you make? 602 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: And I said, Jeff, we created it. We didn't We didn't, 603 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 1: you know? We we made it up. He said, you 604 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 1: mean the National Dog Show hasn't been around forever. I 605 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 1: looked at that logo. It looked like it had been 606 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: around forever. I said, well, at the Countel Club of Philadelphia, 607 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:22,799 Speaker 1: has been around forever, but this show, this was the 608 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:27,320 Speaker 1: first year, and he laughed and so so twenty someone 609 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:32,040 Speaker 1: years later, you know it's um here. We are regularly 610 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 1: over twenty million viewers watched the National Dog Show. It's unbelievable. 611 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 1: We talked a little bit about before. I certainly want 612 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: to hit it again. The American Century Championship, as you said, 613 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:10,440 Speaker 1: UM created when you you lost baseball and needed to 614 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 1: fill thirty weeks. UM. It has morphed into an enormous success. 615 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 1: A fuel good story, UM for you. Your most fun 616 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 1: week of the year. Oh, easily. Yeah, it's a lot 617 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: of fun, it's a lot of work. I'll tell a 618 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,560 Speaker 1: couple of little anecdotes or stories about the event. So 619 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,560 Speaker 1: if you notice you see the same faces working the 620 00:36:33,640 --> 00:36:38,360 Speaker 1: driving range, the putting green, the bag drop, the facilities secured, 621 00:36:38,440 --> 00:36:40,799 Speaker 1: the whole thing. You see the same faces every year. 622 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,880 Speaker 1: Most of those guys are my former interns who have 623 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: worked as interns at NBC Sports and have gone on 624 00:36:48,520 --> 00:36:51,479 Speaker 1: to really big jobs, but always take a week off 625 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:56,400 Speaker 1: and come back and work this event. Mike Millthorpe Um 626 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:58,640 Speaker 1: runs the event for US and has been involved with 627 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,760 Speaker 1: the events since day one. Has been the tournament director 628 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:04,919 Speaker 1: for thirty two years, does a spectacular job. I don't 629 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 1: think there's anybody who runs as tight as ship running 630 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,560 Speaker 1: an event as Mike Millthorpe does. But you know, that's 631 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:13,560 Speaker 1: one of the reasons that runs so well. I have 632 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:16,120 Speaker 1: there are a couple of rules that we have. You 633 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 1: can have as much fun as you want. You can 634 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:20,960 Speaker 1: stay out and do whatever you want to do. But 635 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: we have a six fifteen am meeting every morning and 636 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: you better be there and be ready to go. And 637 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:31,279 Speaker 1: nobody ever misses misses it, and guys are ready to go. 638 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: And you know, most of the guys are in bed 639 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 1: by not at ten o'clock at night. I'm not one 640 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: of them. But but it's uh, but but it's I 641 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:42,440 Speaker 1: think one of the reasons why it runs so smoothly, 642 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:47,080 Speaker 1: and because everybody has everybody else's back. And I think 643 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 1: the thing that you notice when you're in Tahoe, everybody 644 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: is smiling, everybody is having a good time. One of 645 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:55,240 Speaker 1: the things that I've started to notice more the past 646 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:58,319 Speaker 1: four or five years is how many young boys and 647 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 1: girls show up. You know, I love nothing more than 648 00:38:01,640 --> 00:38:04,840 Speaker 1: to see a family show up with their young kids. 649 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 1: And this is their first introduction to golf, and they're 650 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:11,160 Speaker 1: they're not because they know anything about golf, but because 651 00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,600 Speaker 1: they're an Aaron Rodgers fan, or they're at Pat Mahomes fan, 652 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:18,279 Speaker 1: or they're Travis Kelsey or Steph Curry or Justin Timberlake 653 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:21,040 Speaker 1: or Nick Jonas or whoever it may be. But they 654 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: get to see their idols or their their superstars very 655 00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:29,000 Speaker 1: close up. The guys all are nice. We don't allow 656 00:38:29,040 --> 00:38:33,080 Speaker 1: any jerks. We have a no jerk policy. Um. And 657 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:35,760 Speaker 1: they see these guys playing golf and all of a sudden, 658 00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:39,280 Speaker 1: for them, Wow, if Justin timber Lake is playing golf, 659 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:42,360 Speaker 1: if Pat Mahomes is playing golf, Steph Curry is playing golf, 660 00:38:42,760 --> 00:38:45,160 Speaker 1: golf must be pretty cool. Maybe I should try to 661 00:38:45,200 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 1: play golf. And I think that helps grow the game. 662 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:50,239 Speaker 1: And at the end of the day, NBC has an 663 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:53,080 Speaker 1: enormous interest in golf, not only with the Golf Channel, 664 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:56,000 Speaker 1: but all of our PGA Tour, U S g A, 665 00:38:56,120 --> 00:39:00,360 Speaker 1: r AN A, lpg A, you know, writer cop relations ships. 666 00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: So for us, that's a good thing if we can 667 00:39:02,680 --> 00:39:07,480 Speaker 1: help grow the game. Yeah, you know, look during an 668 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:13,799 Speaker 1: NFL game or NBA game, where you're focused, you have 669 00:39:13,880 --> 00:39:16,200 Speaker 1: to perform in a certain way, and this is your 670 00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:20,439 Speaker 1: job and means a lot. There's something about the game 671 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 1: of golf that strips all of that stuff away and 672 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:29,480 Speaker 1: it becomes just a group of people who are trying 673 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:33,759 Speaker 1: their best to play this game that is so difficult. 674 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:38,359 Speaker 1: There's no booing that there really isn't. It's really like, 675 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:41,320 Speaker 1: we're happy to be out here. We're happy to see 676 00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:46,960 Speaker 1: you struggling, and we are ready to celebrate a great 677 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:49,960 Speaker 1: shot you know that you hit because we acknowledge this. 678 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 1: You aren't a pro, right, That's that's exactly right. And 679 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 1: everybody there, I think everybody cheers for everybody, and it 680 00:39:57,120 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 1: becomes a golf tournament on the back nine on one 681 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:03,120 Speaker 1: day and we all get that. And we've got really good, 682 00:40:03,440 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: highly skilled golfers like Tony Romo and Mark Mulder and 683 00:40:07,280 --> 00:40:09,439 Speaker 1: who can play and play at a very high level. 684 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,360 Speaker 1: But for for everybody else there, they're doing something that 685 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:16,120 Speaker 1: you're right, is not natural to them. It's very hard. 686 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:18,520 Speaker 1: They're doing it on a big stage. I am so 687 00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 1: impressed with the guys who show up, you know, eight 688 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:26,000 Speaker 1: to twelve handicaps, put their games on display and for 689 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:28,960 Speaker 1: the first time that Fairway is lined with five thousand 690 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:31,759 Speaker 1: people on either side. That's a lot different than a 691 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:36,520 Speaker 1: Sunday morning five dollar nassau at at your country club. Yes, no, 692 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:40,840 Speaker 1: for sure, Well I love it. It certainly is a 693 00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:45,640 Speaker 1: part of your your legacy and major celebrity events, major 694 00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:49,480 Speaker 1: sports events that everybody knows about. Everybody knows about the 695 00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 1: American Century Championship and Lake Tahoe, and I get asked 696 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 1: about it all year long. You talked a little bit 697 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,839 Speaker 1: ago about some guys that we've talked about on this 698 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:05,360 Speaker 1: podcast in a different context, Jeff Sucker, Dick Ebersol. I 699 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:08,080 Speaker 1: will share with you briefly a story in case you 700 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:12,080 Speaker 1: haven't heard it that Kevin Riley talked about when the 701 00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 1: office numbers started coming in. He remember, he tells the 702 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 1: story of Dick Ebersol, with his hands pounding on the table, 703 00:41:23,080 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 1: wanted the office killed early on. Kevin obviously convinced Dick 704 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:32,400 Speaker 1: and the aforementioned Mr Zucker to keep it around a 705 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:36,560 Speaker 1: little bit longer. Were you aware of the show? Oh, yeah, no, 706 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:38,920 Speaker 1: I was. I was a fan early on. I've been 707 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,680 Speaker 1: a you know, I've been a watcher. I mean, it's amazing, 708 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:45,480 Speaker 1: how how much bigger it's gotten since it stopped. You 709 00:41:45,520 --> 00:41:49,480 Speaker 1: know that that feeling about the office initially. You know, 710 00:41:49,520 --> 00:41:52,520 Speaker 1: in television there are two things that everybody's got a 711 00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:54,719 Speaker 1: quick trigger. If it doesn't work right away, it's done. 712 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:57,879 Speaker 1: There is a trophy room at thirty Rock, and if 713 00:41:57,920 --> 00:42:00,440 Speaker 1: when you're back in New York, I will take you 714 00:42:00,520 --> 00:42:04,239 Speaker 1: to it. In this trophy room are some of NBC's 715 00:42:04,360 --> 00:42:08,520 Speaker 1: great mistakes. And by that I mean there is a 716 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:12,719 Speaker 1: letter from Steven Spielberg asking to become an intern, where 717 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: he's rejected. There's Bob Hope wanting to do a television 718 00:42:17,560 --> 00:42:20,319 Speaker 1: show and he's told no, there's not a space for you. 719 00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:24,319 Speaker 1: But my favorite, my favorite of all of them, is 720 00:42:24,360 --> 00:42:26,719 Speaker 1: that the guy who was head of research at NBC 721 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:30,399 Speaker 1: in the late eighties early nineties was a man named 722 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:34,600 Speaker 1: George Hooper and Bill Rubens and these guys very smart guys, 723 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:37,839 Speaker 1: and they had been pitched a show by a guy 724 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:41,400 Speaker 1: named Rick Ludwin, you know, innovative guy. And he brought 725 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:46,640 Speaker 1: this concept to NBC called the Seinfeld Chronicles, and they 726 00:42:46,760 --> 00:42:50,319 Speaker 1: tested it a few times and the research came back 727 00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:52,880 Speaker 1: and said, this show will never make it. This is 728 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: we don't waste our time don't put any more effort 729 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:59,120 Speaker 1: into it. And Rick Ludwin, to his credit, was like 730 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:02,319 Speaker 1: a pit bull, and they continue to push for it. 731 00:43:02,400 --> 00:43:05,440 Speaker 1: And obviously we now know the story of Seinfeld. But 732 00:43:05,520 --> 00:43:08,759 Speaker 1: in this trophy room is the research letter that was 733 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: written to all the different senior executives at NBC after 734 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:17,680 Speaker 1: the screening and after the testing, where they strongly recommend 735 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:22,160 Speaker 1: that they not go forward with this show. It's unbelievable. 736 00:43:22,360 --> 00:43:24,719 Speaker 1: I have not you are you are the first person 737 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 1: who has told me about this. I want the tour there. 738 00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:30,640 Speaker 1: I'll give you the tour. There's some great stuff at 739 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:33,400 Speaker 1: their luck that you'll get a kick out of. Um. 740 00:43:33,560 --> 00:43:39,040 Speaker 1: Something that I talked to Steve Sands about the important role, John, 741 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:44,759 Speaker 1: that you've had in the acquisition of some of NBC's 742 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:49,160 Speaker 1: biggest sports franchises. My understanding as you have led the 743 00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:56,000 Speaker 1: acquisition of NASCAR, Formula One, U s G, a Premier League, UH, 744 00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:58,880 Speaker 1: n h L. In fact, you can talk about it 745 00:43:58,960 --> 00:44:00,799 Speaker 1: or not, but I understand and if they'd let you 746 00:44:00,840 --> 00:44:04,920 Speaker 1: get more involved with NBC, would still have the NHL today. 747 00:44:05,360 --> 00:44:08,120 Speaker 1: Well that's you know, you can't you can't look back 748 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:10,040 Speaker 1: on that. But you know, one of the things I'm 749 00:44:10,040 --> 00:44:12,759 Speaker 1: proud of. With the NHL. We had a great run 750 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:17,440 Speaker 1: with the NHL for almost sixteen years. We first acquired 751 00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:20,280 Speaker 1: it in two thousand and six and two thousand twenty 752 00:44:20,280 --> 00:44:23,239 Speaker 1: one was our last year. But one of the things 753 00:44:23,239 --> 00:44:26,160 Speaker 1: that I was able to create was the NHL Winner 754 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,680 Speaker 1: Classic on New Year's Day, which still exists even though 755 00:44:29,719 --> 00:44:33,080 Speaker 1: it airs someplace else. So that's my gift to Gary 756 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:37,160 Speaker 1: Bettman NHL fans. I guess, um, but yeah, I mean, look, 757 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:39,600 Speaker 1: being in the role I'm in, I've had a chance to, 758 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:44,080 Speaker 1: you know, be part of acquiring and also losing properties. 759 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:46,719 Speaker 1: I mean, we had Formula One. It's now on ESPN. 760 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:50,359 Speaker 1: ESPN recently renewed it. They do a terrific job with it. 761 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:52,960 Speaker 1: It's a great sport. But you know, I was involved 762 00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:56,520 Speaker 1: in acquiring Notre Dame football back in when we first 763 00:44:56,520 --> 00:44:59,720 Speaker 1: got it. Um, the U S g A is obviously 764 00:44:59,760 --> 00:45:02,440 Speaker 1: some thing I'm very proud of, and the Ryder Cup, 765 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:05,919 Speaker 1: and obviously our PGA Tour relationship has been something that's 766 00:45:05,960 --> 00:45:08,960 Speaker 1: been ongoing that is just before I got there. But 767 00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:12,000 Speaker 1: I like to think that our team really helped enhance 768 00:45:12,560 --> 00:45:16,520 Speaker 1: our golf presence and relationship. And then Obviously, when Comcast 769 00:45:16,560 --> 00:45:19,160 Speaker 1: acquired NBC in two thousand eleven and they brought the 770 00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:24,360 Speaker 1: golf channel along, that really elevated our golf investment to 771 00:45:24,440 --> 00:45:26,440 Speaker 1: where it is now. So it's that that part has 772 00:45:26,440 --> 00:45:28,319 Speaker 1: been a lot of fun. And then I think one 773 00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:30,239 Speaker 1: of the things that I'm most proud of is that, 774 00:45:30,640 --> 00:45:33,120 Speaker 1: you know, we brought the English Premier League to NBC 775 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:37,640 Speaker 1: back in two thousand twelve, and we just recently this 776 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:41,399 Speaker 1: past winter renewed it for six more seasons. And that's 777 00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:45,239 Speaker 1: a great property that we really feel is continuing to 778 00:45:45,320 --> 00:45:48,120 Speaker 1: grow and thrive, and I've been very lucky to be 779 00:45:48,160 --> 00:45:52,759 Speaker 1: involved with that. Notre Dame Football. Should they stayd independent 780 00:45:53,080 --> 00:45:56,600 Speaker 1: and keep their contract here with NBCOR Should they join somewhere, John, 781 00:45:56,960 --> 00:46:00,000 Speaker 1: I certainly hope so, I mean, they like being independent. 782 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:03,480 Speaker 1: They've certainly shown that they're probably the only school out 783 00:46:03,480 --> 00:46:07,919 Speaker 1: there they could survive as an independent. They have tremendous 784 00:46:08,080 --> 00:46:11,239 Speaker 1: leadership with father Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick. They have a 785 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:14,280 Speaker 1: great new young coach and Marcus Freeman who's doing a 786 00:46:14,320 --> 00:46:18,759 Speaker 1: spectacular job of recruiting. We've enjoyed a thirty two year 787 00:46:18,840 --> 00:46:22,000 Speaker 1: relationship with them that has been you know, as good 788 00:46:22,040 --> 00:46:25,399 Speaker 1: as any partnership we have, and I certainly hope they 789 00:46:25,480 --> 00:46:28,120 Speaker 1: maintain their independence. I know there's a lot of noise 790 00:46:28,160 --> 00:46:32,000 Speaker 1: in the college football space with the super conferences being 791 00:46:32,040 --> 00:46:34,799 Speaker 1: formed with the SEC and the Big Ten, and Notre 792 00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:36,840 Speaker 1: Dame is going to have some decisions. But that's the 793 00:46:36,920 --> 00:46:39,360 Speaker 1: nice thing about Notre Dame is that they've put themselves 794 00:46:39,360 --> 00:46:42,600 Speaker 1: in position where they have choices. Yeah, and the and 795 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:45,360 Speaker 1: the other thing about Notre Dame that I have found 796 00:46:45,520 --> 00:46:48,799 Speaker 1: in dealing with them, they will always do the right thing. 797 00:46:48,960 --> 00:46:53,520 Speaker 1: That's what's great about Notre Dame. Yeah, that's awesome. Obviously, 798 00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:57,800 Speaker 1: at the American Century Championship, when we finished on Sunday afternoon, 799 00:46:58,480 --> 00:47:01,480 Speaker 1: everybody got on a plane and had to fly over 800 00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:08,840 Speaker 1: to Scotland and immediately begin working and broadcasting live from St. Andrews. 801 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:12,439 Speaker 1: What an incredible tournament, and certainly laughed. I was so 802 00:47:12,520 --> 00:47:17,279 Speaker 1: proud Tommy Roy and his team and Tom Randolph who 803 00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:20,279 Speaker 1: produces Tahoe, and you know Joe Martin, the director, and 804 00:47:20,360 --> 00:47:22,880 Speaker 1: Molly Solomon and Mark Loomis who run that part of 805 00:47:22,920 --> 00:47:26,719 Speaker 1: our business. They did such a great job and you know, 806 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:30,120 Speaker 1: it was such compelling television. I'm a huge huge Roy 807 00:47:30,200 --> 00:47:33,800 Speaker 1: McElroy fan. I think he is an exceptional golfer and 808 00:47:33,840 --> 00:47:36,760 Speaker 1: an even better person. I think the way he stepped 809 00:47:36,840 --> 00:47:40,040 Speaker 1: up into this leadership role has been so impressive. And 810 00:47:40,080 --> 00:47:42,799 Speaker 1: I've watched him. I remember following him when he won 811 00:47:42,880 --> 00:47:46,160 Speaker 1: the US Open at at Congressional in two thousand eleven, 812 00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:49,399 Speaker 1: um and uh, you know, and I was rooting hard 813 00:47:49,440 --> 00:47:52,759 Speaker 1: for him. But Cam Smith, I mean shooting thirty on 814 00:47:52,800 --> 00:47:55,359 Speaker 1: the back nine with how many one putts, I mean 815 00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:57,719 Speaker 1: we all would love to be able to put like 816 00:47:57,760 --> 00:48:00,560 Speaker 1: that under pressure at the biggest moment at the home 817 00:48:00,600 --> 00:48:03,520 Speaker 1: of golf. I mean that that that's a performance that 818 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:06,600 Speaker 1: will go down, you know, in history. You know, this 819 00:48:06,680 --> 00:48:09,200 Speaker 1: has been a great year for majors with Scottie Scheffler 820 00:48:09,200 --> 00:48:12,560 Speaker 1: winning Augusta and Matt Fitzpatrick, you know, winning the US 821 00:48:12,600 --> 00:48:15,080 Speaker 1: Open at Brookline where he won the Amateur in thirteen. 822 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:18,680 Speaker 1: I mean, if you're a golf fan, there's really good, good, 823 00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:21,480 Speaker 1: high end golf out there to watch. So it's it's 824 00:48:21,520 --> 00:48:26,560 Speaker 1: great PGA tour. These some of these young players are outstanding. Yeah, 825 00:48:26,560 --> 00:48:29,040 Speaker 1: It's it's really fun. And I know that you and 826 00:48:29,080 --> 00:48:31,080 Speaker 1: I have talked about I play in the event on 827 00:48:31,120 --> 00:48:35,320 Speaker 1: the corn Ferry Tour in the BMW in Greenville, South Carolina, 828 00:48:35,320 --> 00:48:39,520 Speaker 1: and I remember, you know, you play with those guys 829 00:48:39,800 --> 00:48:43,359 Speaker 1: and you you you leave shaking your head, going how 830 00:48:43,360 --> 00:48:45,920 Speaker 1: are these guys not on the big tour? And then 831 00:48:45,960 --> 00:48:48,799 Speaker 1: you realize, like fifteen seconds later, they are, you know, 832 00:48:48,880 --> 00:48:51,560 Speaker 1: I mean, playing with guys who are immediately and you're like, Okay, Well, 833 00:48:51,560 --> 00:48:53,719 Speaker 1: this is just part of the process and part of 834 00:48:53,719 --> 00:48:55,439 Speaker 1: the work that they have to put in to get there. 835 00:48:56,040 --> 00:49:00,760 Speaker 1: The state of golf after the pandemic, it's as strong 836 00:49:01,000 --> 00:49:05,919 Speaker 1: as ever. Are you optimistic about golfs future? I am. Look, 837 00:49:05,920 --> 00:49:09,200 Speaker 1: there's a lot of noise out there about about live golf, 838 00:49:09,280 --> 00:49:12,880 Speaker 1: and I have my own personal opinions about about it um. 839 00:49:13,480 --> 00:49:17,160 Speaker 1: But I think that the PGA tour um has great leadership. 840 00:49:17,200 --> 00:49:20,360 Speaker 1: I'm a big j Monahan fan. I think that the 841 00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:23,719 Speaker 1: quality of of of good golfers out there, between Roy 842 00:49:23,800 --> 00:49:28,640 Speaker 1: McElroy and Justin Thomas and Jordan's speech and John rom 843 00:49:28,680 --> 00:49:32,000 Speaker 1: And and and guys like that. I think that this 844 00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:35,840 Speaker 1: is obviously a difficult time that that everybody is navigating. 845 00:49:35,960 --> 00:49:39,920 Speaker 1: But I I feel very good about the product and 846 00:49:39,960 --> 00:49:43,000 Speaker 1: the quality of the product. I feel strongly about our 847 00:49:43,120 --> 00:49:47,320 Speaker 1: US Open. I still feel very bullish about the game awesome, 848 00:49:47,680 --> 00:49:50,520 Speaker 1: and the ratings for the PGA Tour, the ratings for 849 00:49:50,560 --> 00:49:53,399 Speaker 1: the Open this past weekend, ratings for American Century. I mean, 850 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:56,319 Speaker 1: people are watching and following golf, So I feel really 851 00:49:56,400 --> 00:50:00,840 Speaker 1: good about that. Yeah, well, it certainly feels like whenever 852 00:50:01,320 --> 00:50:03,680 Speaker 1: you're trying to get a tea time anywhere, golf is 853 00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:07,719 Speaker 1: is is as big as big as it's ever been. 854 00:50:08,440 --> 00:50:11,120 Speaker 1: I want to close, John, I want to talk go 855 00:50:11,200 --> 00:50:13,319 Speaker 1: back to Tahoe one time in the story that you 856 00:50:13,400 --> 00:50:17,440 Speaker 1: told me this last weekend and the kind of pressure 857 00:50:17,520 --> 00:50:20,439 Speaker 1: that John is under even an environment where we're we're 858 00:50:20,440 --> 00:50:23,879 Speaker 1: trying to have a little fun. Um the seventeenth hole 859 00:50:24,200 --> 00:50:28,480 Speaker 1: at Lake Tahoe. It's it's on along the beach and 860 00:50:28,560 --> 00:50:32,040 Speaker 1: by the way, there are now multiple thousand people on 861 00:50:32,080 --> 00:50:36,000 Speaker 1: this little part three hole. And uh, you told me 862 00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:40,520 Speaker 1: about the time you started getting word John's plugged into 863 00:50:40,560 --> 00:50:44,879 Speaker 1: the broadcast we're going live on NBC. UM where there 864 00:50:44,920 --> 00:50:47,719 Speaker 1: was a there was a certain doll that was there 865 00:50:48,520 --> 00:50:54,279 Speaker 1: in the in the crowd. There was an inflatable um sex. 866 00:50:54,800 --> 00:50:59,919 Speaker 1: There was an inflatable sex doll. Right, it was about 867 00:51:00,040 --> 00:51:04,839 Speaker 1: uh six to seven ft in length and probably two 868 00:51:04,880 --> 00:51:09,279 Speaker 1: ft in diameter, and it appeared on the on THEE 869 00:51:09,520 --> 00:51:15,080 Speaker 1: Green on Saturday afternoon. Uh In during the Michael Jordan's 870 00:51:15,480 --> 00:51:22,560 Speaker 1: Jerry Rice I believe Ray Allen match and I noticed it. 871 00:51:22,719 --> 00:51:26,720 Speaker 1: Somebody pointed it out to me and I um told 872 00:51:26,760 --> 00:51:29,239 Speaker 1: these guys, you know, get that out of there. But 873 00:51:29,280 --> 00:51:33,920 Speaker 1: I made the inadvertent comment of shoot the the item. 874 00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:38,359 Speaker 1: So the director immediately panned over and shot it, and 875 00:51:38,480 --> 00:51:40,920 Speaker 1: you get rid of it. I said, no, no, no, 876 00:51:41,200 --> 00:51:45,400 Speaker 1: get off that shot. And unfortunately, once it appears on television, 877 00:51:45,400 --> 00:51:50,160 Speaker 1: it lives on Google and YouTube and places forever. So 878 00:51:50,880 --> 00:51:54,080 Speaker 1: the next morning they had patrols out there with armed 879 00:51:54,080 --> 00:51:55,920 Speaker 1: guards looking to make sure that we didn't have an 880 00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:58,479 Speaker 1: incident like that. Again. The young lady who had brought 881 00:51:58,640 --> 00:52:01,680 Speaker 1: the item up to the mean immediately jumped on it 882 00:52:01,800 --> 00:52:04,840 Speaker 1: and swam out to a bachelorette party where she was 883 00:52:04,920 --> 00:52:09,480 Speaker 1: chased by the Lake Tahoe Coast Guard and they took off. 884 00:52:09,520 --> 00:52:11,640 Speaker 1: But you know, those are the kind of things you 885 00:52:11,640 --> 00:52:14,360 Speaker 1: don't expect. They don't. That's never put in the job description. 886 00:52:14,480 --> 00:52:18,360 Speaker 1: So no, it's it's not live TV. Uh. John. I 887 00:52:18,400 --> 00:52:21,080 Speaker 1: want to thank you so much for coming and talking 888 00:52:21,120 --> 00:52:26,480 Speaker 1: to us. Your career starting in the sixth grade, uh 889 00:52:26,800 --> 00:52:30,440 Speaker 1: NBC and now being at NBC for forty four years. Um, 890 00:52:30,480 --> 00:52:34,640 Speaker 1: it speaks for itself. Are you the longest tenured NBC employee? Yeah, 891 00:52:34,640 --> 00:52:37,840 Speaker 1: I think I am. I'm you old man, I'm the 892 00:52:37,840 --> 00:52:40,640 Speaker 1: old man of the building and I keep my head down, 893 00:52:40,680 --> 00:52:44,279 Speaker 1: but yeah, I'm I'm I'm the longest serving senior executive there. 894 00:52:44,360 --> 00:52:47,239 Speaker 1: So as long as they keep me around, I don't 895 00:52:47,239 --> 00:52:49,520 Speaker 1: want to go anywhere. So I'm very happy there, so 896 00:52:49,560 --> 00:52:52,239 Speaker 1: hopefully they'll keep me around a little while longer. One 897 00:52:52,280 --> 00:52:56,760 Speaker 1: of my favorite people by far, well certainly my favorite 898 00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:02,280 Speaker 1: person who is still at NBC, John mell Er, Um, well, Brian, 899 00:53:02,360 --> 00:53:04,680 Speaker 1: thank you. You've become such a big part of the event, 900 00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:07,160 Speaker 1: so it's great having you there. I always get that 901 00:53:07,200 --> 00:53:09,120 Speaker 1: big hug when I see you. It makes the whole 902 00:53:09,120 --> 00:53:12,640 Speaker 1: week get off to a great start. Great. Thank you, John, 903 00:53:12,719 --> 00:53:28,440 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for coming on my pleasure, Brian. Take care. John. 904 00:53:28,960 --> 00:53:31,600 Speaker 1: I can't thank you enough for dropping in today and 905 00:53:31,680 --> 00:53:37,640 Speaker 1: having a conversation with me. It was a pleasure as always, 906 00:53:37,800 --> 00:53:41,400 Speaker 1: and I personally will be looking forward to what you 907 00:53:41,640 --> 00:53:47,200 Speaker 1: come up with next for n b C. Thank you 908 00:53:47,239 --> 00:53:50,640 Speaker 1: all out there for listening and uh for coming back 909 00:53:50,920 --> 00:53:56,200 Speaker 1: week after week. You're the greatest. Well maybe not say 910 00:53:56,239 --> 00:54:01,000 Speaker 1: the Grand Puba of NBC Sports greatest, but you're the greatest. Nonetheless, 911 00:54:01,040 --> 00:54:05,480 Speaker 1: I'm joking, I get because I love Next week we're 912 00:54:05,480 --> 00:54:09,279 Speaker 1: gonna be back with another fantastic guest that well, you're 913 00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:12,640 Speaker 1: just gonna be so excited about How do I know that? Well, 914 00:54:12,680 --> 00:54:15,359 Speaker 1: I just know, and you're just gonna have to trust me. 915 00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:24,800 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time. Off the Beat is hosted 916 00:54:24,840 --> 00:54:29,280 Speaker 1: an executive produced by me Brian Baumgartner, alongside our executive 917 00:54:29,320 --> 00:54:35,000 Speaker 1: producer Langley. Our producers are Diego Tapia, Liz Hayes, Hannah Harris, 918 00:54:35,080 --> 00:54:39,680 Speaker 1: and Emily Carr. Our talent producer is Ryan Papa Zachary, 919 00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:43,920 Speaker 1: and our intern is Sammy Katz. Our theme song Bubble 920 00:54:43,920 --> 00:54:47,759 Speaker 1: and Squeak performed by my great friend Creed Bratton, and 921 00:54:47,840 --> 00:55:00,080 Speaker 1: the episode was mixed by seth Olandski m