1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports. Should Major League Baseball 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,840 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 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: players understand the power that they have. Michael. The future 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: of IndyCar racing is looking bright. Scott Sshnick very basic 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 1: math here, more bidders means more money. Evan Nobody Williams. 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: The team value has essentially quadruples. And the leaders in 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: the sports industry time to bring in our guest, Hal's Flimbrunner, 9 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Betman, Atlanta Braves president Derek Schiller, 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: Patriots President Jonathan Kraft. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Blar, I'm Evan Noby Williams, and I'm Scott Soshnick. 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: Every week at this time plus Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 13 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: we explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: Guess who we have today? A timely conversation with Jack Hennigan, 15 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: the QB for the Arizona hot Shots in the new 16 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: Alliance of American Football League. He sits down for a 17 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: conversation just days after Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's 18 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: Carolina Hurricanes all but pretty much bought the league with 19 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: a two fifty million dollar investment. You know, someone like 20 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: Dundon is not going to throw around that much money foolishly. 21 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 1: So to get a big name and some big money 22 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: behind the league that we're playing in as players has 23 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: us really excited. That's coming in a few minutes. But 24 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: first let's look at some of the top stories. And 25 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: oh my, can you talk about the worst moment for 26 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: this to happen? And is an embarrassing moment for Nike. 27 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: This week, Duke basketball star Zion Williamson suffered a wardrobe 28 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: malfunction of sorts. Let's listen to the play by play 29 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: from Wednesday night, and here's I on his first touch, 30 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: fell down at the freight through line. He's grabbing it 31 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: is right and left knee as the other way goes 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: Johnson to lay it in. In a scary moment here 33 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: at the outset is now Zia Williamson reaches down to 34 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: his left ankle. His shoe is off. It looks like 35 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: he stepped through his shoe. John Like the seam on 36 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: the shoe broke. His foot came through the shoe. Yeah, 37 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: the whole shoe just blew apart. That call from the 38 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: Blue Devil I MG Sports Network. What makes it worse 39 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: is Dad Williamson sprained his knee on the play. Former 40 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: President Barack Obama was there and he just had this 41 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: incredulous look on his face. And this is a mess 42 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: fort Nike. He said, he broke the shoe. That's what 43 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:17,839 Speaker 1: Obama camera got him. He broke the shoe. What maybe 44 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: I mean the worst part is the biggest star in 45 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: the game, the biggest rivalry in the sport, the president 46 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: already happens road row and here it is, this happens 47 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: between Yeah, this is a nightmare for Nike. Have you 48 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: thought the President had an astonished look on his face? 49 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: Imagine being the Nike basketball executive watching this range like 50 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: for some reason, you're not watching the phone ranging. I mean, 51 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 1: a lot of a lot of embarrassing stuff going out 52 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: on Twitter, right. Rivals Puma took a shot at at 53 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: at Nike. Buffalo Wild Wings tweeted, Hey, Nike, do you 54 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: need a beer? I think realistically this doesn't affect Nike 55 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: sales in any meaningful way. Where I think you you 56 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: may see it effect Nike and Zion Williamson decides to 57 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: go pro, He's going to be the most sought after 58 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: shoe contract we've seen for a rookie uh in in 59 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: a decade, possibly even more. Um And if this affects 60 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: Nike's ability to sign Zion Williamson to a long term deal, 61 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: and Zion Williamson turns out to be the next Lebron 62 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: James as people think that he might be, uh, that 63 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: is a massive, massive opportunity, no underscore. But like basketball 64 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: shoes ain't selling. Yeah, it's been a rough year for 65 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,679 Speaker 1: basketball shoes. Why don't forking over all that money for 66 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: Zion Williams. Because Zion Williamson helps Nike sell much more 67 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: than just basketball shoots right in the same way that 68 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 1: in the same way that the Nike brand is now 69 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: you know on PSG the soccer team and on Michigan 70 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: University Wolverine football team, right the the the Nike has 71 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: this amazing ability and to take its athlete endorsers and 72 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: use them kind of cross platform beyond just the just 73 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: the sport that they play. UM. So yeah, I think 74 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: that that that would be a bummer for Nike. If 75 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: Zion Williamson decides, you know, when I when I'm able 76 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: to make you know, tens hundreds of millions of dollars 77 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: for a show contract. I don't want it to be Nike. However, 78 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: you know that seems fairly unlikely. He doesn't get hundreds 79 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: of millions of giving you a segue now, I mean 80 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: over the course of his career he will, Yes, for sure. Well, 81 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: it may not be hundreds of millions of dollars, but 82 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: it's a decent chunk of change. Action Network, a digital 83 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: startup looking to capitalize on the spread illegal sports betting, 84 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: raised more than seventeen million dollars in its latest round 85 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: of funding, broken by Ira Budway here at Bloomberg and 86 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: then you're you're pretty close to this world though. Yeah. 87 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: The Action Network is a sports betting media site. You know, 88 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 1: they are trying to build a database subscription model where 89 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: if you're a serious sports better or even a casual 90 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 1: one and you want to read about the industry, read 91 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: you know, tips, suggestions, if you want to pour through 92 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: the data to figure out, you know, what team to 93 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 1: bet in in that college football game or this NFL game. 94 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: That is their business model they just raised. CEO was 95 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: on the show Patrick. He was on the show seventeen 96 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: and a half million dollars in this Series B round, 97 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: I believe would you say the part is the who here, 98 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: it's just the who's who? Yeah, Churning group, which is 99 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: you know, it was their biggest investor before Partial Sports 100 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 1: that they were in on this round. Again. This was 101 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,559 Speaker 1: led by Fritida the Ftida, the Ftida brothers of Vegas, 102 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: of UFC, David Blitzer Blackstone executive and you know, the 103 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: owner of the Devil's in the seventy sixers, Casey Washerman, 104 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: is involved. There's certainly you know that this is a 105 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 1: list that doesn't I mean, it's it's impressive. It certainly 106 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: is not surprising. I think a lot of these, you know, 107 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: this is increasingly in the past year since legalized sports 108 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: gambling has happened, that they are they want to get 109 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: a piece of this um and digital media seems like 110 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: a smart this is the way to be in without 111 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: really knowing how to get it exactly. Let's get back 112 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: to basketball NBA local ratings. Down the Knicks there, Well, 113 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: we get why the Knicks are down, but the first 114 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: get I don't get that either that Celtics down, bols 115 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: down thirty six. They're not good Knicks down forty one. 116 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: They're not good. Celtics down. I'm not sure why. I 117 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: don't know. I feel like cething fans have been pretty 118 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: upset about how this year is turn I mean, hasn't 119 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: been great, but they're they're still there. There's still nobody 120 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: wants to play the Celtics in the playoffs. I mean, 121 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: there's still a very good team and certainly among the 122 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: favorites to do something. Maybe it's just all the Kyrie talk. 123 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: He've dot a lot of talking. The national ratings are 124 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: also down right, t NTS down, ESPN down six UM 125 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: certainly Lebron moving west, you know, on a less favorable 126 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: time zone, it's got to be a factor there. Why 127 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: do you think that, You know, NFL ratings are like 128 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: a week to week fascination, but you know, when when 129 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: the NBA is featuring declines that are, you know, significantly 130 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: worse than anything we saw from the NFL over the 131 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: past couple of years, it seems to be less of 132 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: the NFL when you're the big boy, when you're when 133 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: you're the gorilla, the behem ith. So instead of being 134 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: the eight hundred pound gorilla in the room, you know, 135 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: they were the seven hundred and eighty pound gorilla in 136 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: the room. That was true of ESPN losing subscribers, you know, 137 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 1: that's that's something else we wanna talk abou one of 138 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: these days to sort of how things are going to 139 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,520 Speaker 1: ESPN plus and the growth and what do they have 140 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,559 Speaker 1: to do to make up for the for the sub's loss. 141 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: The information that website did something recently on that fascinating world. 142 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: But that's why, I mean, he gets so much attention 143 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: because it's the number one, the big boy. So if 144 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: you're Adam Silver, real quick are you this? How how 145 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: nervous are you about about these trendlines? I think Brian 146 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: Rollap said it best, like in the NFL that don't 147 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: worry about it nearly as much as people discuss it. 148 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: I think that's true for Adam Silver as well. It's 149 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: not a week to week, month to month. Let's see 150 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: how the end of the year plays out. Obviously, the 151 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,559 Speaker 1: closer to the playoffs you get, the higher the ratings. 152 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: They mean more, show me the playoff ratings. That's that's 153 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: what I want to say. If that'll tell me the 154 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: true interest of the NBA. Now let's get to this 155 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: week's interview with Jack Hannigan. Quarterback for the Arizona Hotshots 156 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: in the spanking brand new Alliance of American Football League. 157 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: He sits down for a conversation just days after Tom Dundon, 158 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: you know him. He's the owner of the NHLs Carolina 159 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: Hurricanes pretty much all bought the league with a two 160 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: d fifty million dollar investment. The cash injection came amid 161 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: reports that the a a F was running low on 162 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: cash and in danger of missing payroll, though a league 163 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: Spokespertson tells US players were never in danger of not 164 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 1: getting paid. Jack Head again, quarterback for the a F 165 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: Arizona hot Shots, Thank you so much for joining us today. Yeah, 166 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: thanks for having me on today. Guys, let me ask 167 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: you a quick question here. Is this a good week 168 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: for the Alliance of American Football. I mean, there's news 169 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 1: on both sides, but people talking about the league. Is 170 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: this a good week from your perspective? I think it's 171 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: a great week from my perspective. Um, you know, someone 172 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: like Dundon is not going to throw around that much 173 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: money foolishly. So to get a big name and some 174 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: big money behind the league that we're playing in as 175 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: players has us really excited. And I think some of 176 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: the negative press you might have been seeing about payroll 177 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: all that stuff. Um, that wasn't my experience. I know, 178 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:49,719 Speaker 1: me and the guys on my team were paid. So 179 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: I think it's a good week and cool to see 180 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: us get some publicity. And you know, we just had 181 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: an exciting week two of games, and so I think 182 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: here we're focused on getting ready for Week three and 183 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 1: all this other stuff is is exciting, but um, it's 184 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: just kind of a sign of what we've known all 185 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: along that this league's legitimate and you know, people supported 186 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:08,439 Speaker 1: all right. For those who don't know, let me just 187 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 1: jump in. When you said dundon, you were talking about 188 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: Tom dunnon. He's invested, or at least promised two d 189 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: and fifty million dollar investment in the league. In essence, 190 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: he bought the league. He's the owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, 191 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: So you do have some real sports business investment coming 192 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: into what is in essence a start up. Yeah, that's correct. Um, 193 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,439 Speaker 1: I think there's there's been some kind of other big 194 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: names as investors along the way, but he's certainly the 195 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 1: most notable and have it come sort of midway through 196 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: the season is exciting. I think showed that the first 197 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: couple of weeks went well from his perspective and the 198 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: perspective of the people running. Yeah, my mother always told 199 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: me don't ask this question, but I'm gonna ask anyway. 200 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: What do you get paid? You said your paycheck was there? 201 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: Some others worry what you are so rude? I stop 202 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 1: with your little pittance over there. Everybody's on the same 203 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: contract right well, but for people don't know how much 204 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: do you get paid? That's correct? Yeah, so everybody um 205 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: as t well may or may not know. This is 206 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: the first year of the league, so this is m 207 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: everybody in essence is a rookie, no matter how much 208 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: they've played previously. Um And everybody signed three year contracts 209 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: that are uh, you know, non guaranteed face value for 210 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: two hundred fifty grant. That's seventy this year, eighty if 211 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: you make it to your second year, and a hundred 212 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: in your third year. So um our pays you know, 213 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 1: over ten games seven grand a week, and everybody's getting 214 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: the same base. And then there are some kind of 215 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: incentive bonuses based on the performance of individual players and 216 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: your team in the league. But um you know that 217 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: that numbers also publicly out there, so I'm not divulging 218 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,599 Speaker 1: any secrets. We're speaking with Jack Hannigan, quarterback of the 219 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: undefeated Arizona hot Shots of the a FU and Jack 220 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,719 Speaker 1: conversations in the locker room. I imagine this is kind 221 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: of a different environment than football environments you've been in 222 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: in the past. Does the long term viability the status 223 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: of the league? Is that something that guys are talking 224 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: about a lot. I mean, especially this week, given everything 225 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: that's happened, certainly more so than than the other vironments 226 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: I've been in. I think most guys are pretty focused 227 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: on themselves. I think, almost to a player, people are 228 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: are in this league with the goal and the hope 229 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: of getting back to the NFL or to the NFL 230 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: for the first time. So while the long term viability 231 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: of the league is um certainly interesting to talk about, 232 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: I think people want to just know, A, Am I 233 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: going to get paid this week? Which you know we 234 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: did this week, and based on the investment, I think 235 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: we will all year, and then be UM, how am 236 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: I playing? And how is what I'm doing helping me 237 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: kind of get back to my ultimate goal of um, 238 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 1: you know, the highest level in the NFL. And I'm 239 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: correct in thinking that you're on the on the younger 240 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: end of of the roster from an age perspective. Right, Yeah, 241 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: that's correct. Um, So this is my first year out 242 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: of school and we have some guys who have been 243 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: been around a little bit longer, played a handful of 244 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: years in the NFL and things like that, So I'm 245 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: certainly on the younger side. So for listeners out there 246 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: who don't know who Jack Hennighan is, give us kind 247 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: of a brief rundown of your of your football career. 248 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: Sure things. So, um, I played in college at Dartmouth 249 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,079 Speaker 1: College in New Hampshire, UH small school um FCS football. 250 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: From there, I signed as an undrafted free agent this 251 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: past year with the San Francisco forty Niners. Um So, 252 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: I was there from April through the end of the 253 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: preseason as part of the ninety man roster and unfortunately 254 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: was cut at the end of the preseason and not 255 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: picked up anywhere else. So sorta was waiting around waiting 256 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: for the call, as many people do. Um started doing 257 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: a little bit of work kind of on a second career, 258 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: thinking that the football might be over. But oh, this 259 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: is this is bloomberg. Jack. You were private equity analysts. 260 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: That's that's correct. I won't I won't undersell it. UM. 261 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: I was working with Audex Private Equity there, a bio 262 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 1: firm based in Boston. I was working in the San 263 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: Francisco office. It was lucky enough to spend some time 264 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: during college there as an intern, and then was all 265 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: set to go back there UM full time even before 266 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: my senior year of football at Dartmouth. But UM sort 267 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: of had had a good year on the field my 268 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: senior year, and I figured there might be an opportunity 269 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:00,079 Speaker 1: to keep playing, and aud X was helpful enough to 270 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: work with me as I kind of pursued the dream, 271 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: and after it looked like it might be over on 272 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: the field, started working there in the late fall through December. 273 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: UM had a great experience there. You know, shout out 274 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: to David Wong and the San Francisco office UM and 275 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: the whole team there if they're listening. But after you know, 276 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: a couple of months, got the call from the Alliance 277 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: and I felt like it was sort of something that 278 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't be around, uh down the line, and I was 279 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,839 Speaker 1: excited to keep playing and I stayed in shape, so 280 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: it was an exciting time to get back out on 281 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 1: the field. Am I correct and saying you took a 282 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: pay cut to join the a F versus the job. Well, 283 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: it depends on the way you look at it, whether 284 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: it's annualized or week by week. But because I think 285 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: there's a lot of benefits to the a F that 286 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: I'm enjoying that maybe aren't financial, but you know, you 287 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: are probably right in that assessment. Can you take guess 288 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: through the difference between playing in the a a F 289 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: and the NFL white balls for batting practice? Sorry you 290 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: had to do exactly. I think the biggest thing is that, 291 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 1: you know, the NFL obviously has been around for so long. 292 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: The a F is this is our first year, so 293 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: we're still figuring things out. There's you know, no one 294 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: has been on the team. There's not really an established 295 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: kind of order or infrastructure. So uh, kind of the 296 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: aspect of figuring out things as we're going and not 297 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: having a precedent to this is how the league works. 298 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: This is you know, the guy that's been on the 299 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: team ten years and that sort of thing. Um, that's 300 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: been the main difference, especially having come in to an 301 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: NFL room as a rookie where most of the team 302 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: we're not rookies versus coming in here where everyone is 303 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: sort of sort of new. Um. And then the biggest thing, 304 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: and this might be specific to the Arizona team the 305 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: hot chats in the a F is Uh, we're pretty 306 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: clear that you know the goal is to make it 307 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: back to the NFL and uh, this is you know, 308 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: spring compliment as a league. But um, you know, if 309 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: the NFL called tomorrow, I think everyone on our team 310 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: would would be excited to go back and take the call. 311 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: So like recognizing our place for players in sort of 312 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: the hierarchy of weeks out there is is one thing 313 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: that's different because obviously when you're in the NFL, there's 314 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: there's nothing else and you're you're really excited to be there. 315 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: So that's kind of been the main thing overall. We're 316 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: chatting with Jack Head again, quarterback of the Arizona hot 317 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: Shots of the a a F. And Jack does what 318 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: you just said does that change the way players approach 319 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: of and if you're looking to stand out and get 320 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: back to the NFL, it's not necessarily the team goal, 321 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: it's it is about me, not we. Does that change 322 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: how the football is played? I think it potentially could. Um, 323 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: I haven't seen that with our team. Our coach for 324 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: New haisl and our g M Phil Savage have done 325 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: a really good job of building a team, not just 326 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: a group of individuals looking to go back to the NFL. Um. 327 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: I think if anything, it makes guys play harder and 328 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: play more together in some instances is because the football 329 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: world is a very small one and most of our 330 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: coaches are x NFL coaches in some capacity and are 331 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: are hoping to get back there. And of so, uh 332 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: people talking if you're kind of a notoriously bad teammate 333 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: or uh not willing to go along? So or did 334 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: you get along? Then um, you know that's going to 335 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: get around. And I think people are in the NFL 336 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: are looking for very good players but also very good teammates, 337 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: so potentially could change. But you know, when the lights 338 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: come on and the ball snapped, football football, And I 339 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: know you are a listener of the show even before 340 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: this interview, So can you help really solve one of 341 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: the problems we've had? You know, Mr underscore Novie Williams 342 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: was a lightweight football player at Princeton University, the winless 343 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: Princeton University. Does he have the right to say he 344 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: played college football. I think he does. I'll come it's 345 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: it's tough for me to give the benefit of doubts 346 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: to a Princeton guy, but I think it counts. Dartmouth 347 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: didn't have a sprints or lightweight while I was there, 348 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: but I know some people that have played it at 349 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: other schools, and uh, you know, those guys trained hard. 350 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: I don't know if it was the same way Princeton, Evan, 351 00:16:57,760 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: but I think you can. You can get away with it, 352 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: you know, with an asterisk maybe sweet, that's good. Okay, 353 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: with an asterisk, that's good enough for me. That's the 354 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: way to make everybody happy. Jack, You're invited back on 355 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: this sho I actually I do want to go back 356 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: to your to your college days for a second. You 357 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: played under under coach Buddy Tevens at Dartmouth, a guy 358 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: who I have a lot of respect for for For 359 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: people out there who don't know, um, Buddy is the 360 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 1: man responsible for the remote controlled tackling dummies that are 361 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: now being used by almost every NFL team a lot 362 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,159 Speaker 1: of college teams as well. He's kind of at the 363 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: forefront of trying to make football a safer sport for 364 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: the people who play it. What was the experience like 365 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: under buddy, and how do you feel, you know, kind 366 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: of broadly about the health ramifications of playing this game 367 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: long term? Well, I love playing for coach Stevens. He 368 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: everything he told me when you recruited me ran true 369 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 1: when I showed up on campus. And what was great 370 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: was you know, you see with the tackling dummy stuff 371 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: and some of the other things he's out there doing, 372 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: he's uh, you know, not willing, not unwilling to push 373 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: the push the frontier and to be innovative. So see 374 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: from a coach who maybe on the surface looks like 375 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: an old school guy, Um was great. Um, you know, 376 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: they kept us really healthy at at Dartmous. I think, uh, quarterbacks, 377 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: they're kind of a different question because we're soft and 378 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 1: they give us great practice. But for you know, all 379 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: my my teammates to played other positions. I think you 380 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: saw it, and they were fresher on game day because 381 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: our practices were we're tough and we're physical, but they 382 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: generally weren't physical against each other. We hit the m 383 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 1: v P dumb me or hit you know, other tackling 384 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: um machines and things like that. So our guys on 385 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: defense were tackling a lot, but they just weren't kind 386 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,719 Speaker 1: of hurting our skill players on offense while practicing their tackling. 387 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: So um, in that way and that the college level, UM, 388 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: I think that was really encouraging, and I think other 389 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 1: colleges are are following that way, whether or not they 390 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: kind of get the same publicity for it that we do. 391 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: You know, in terms of the long term health, I 392 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: grew up playing youth football and playing tackle in in 393 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: middle and high school and was fortunate enough to never 394 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: have really any serious injuries apart from kind of one 395 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: in high school. From my personal experience, I feel healthy now. 396 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: I think, uh, some of the safety concerns out their religitimate, 397 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: but people are doing a much better job now taking 398 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: care of their body, whether that be kind of their 399 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: shoulders and knees and elbows or their heads than they 400 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 1: were in the past. So as a player now, I 401 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: don't think guys are too concerned about the long term ramifications. 402 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 1: And you know, everything you do in life has a 403 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: little bit of risk, So UM, I think it's worth 404 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: it to kind of get the great experience of high 405 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: school football or college football if you can do it, 406 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: you know, personal decision for everyone. But he told me 407 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago that that he thought that 408 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 1: his Dartmouth teams hit more than any other team in 409 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: the country, pro or college in practice, just because they 410 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: weren't hitting each other, because they were hitting these dummies. 411 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: How different you know, as you said, it's it's different 412 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: for you as a quarterback, but for your teammates. How 413 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: different is a Dartmouth practice from a physicality standpoint from 414 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: an A A F practice. I think you know, Dartmouth 415 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: practice was certainly more physical, just because college practices tend 416 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: to be a little bit more physical than uh the 417 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: pro level, um in terms of what you can do 418 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 1: during the week when you have games at the end 419 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: of it. But um, yeah, I mean at the A 420 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: F level, we're not we have a smaller roster, but 421 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 1: we're not doing sort of the same tackling circuit that 422 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: our defense was doing in college. But the flip side 423 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: of that is, by the time you've reached sort of 424 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: the NFL level or the a F level, guys are 425 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,239 Speaker 1: really good tacklers, hopefully, and it is something that they 426 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: work on and they do form tackling drills during individual 427 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 1: But it's different, you know, showing up as a twenty 428 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: four year old and the a S who's maybe played 429 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:35,679 Speaker 1: a year or two the NFL versus uh, you know, 430 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: an eighteen year old at Dartmouth that really still needs 431 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: to do a lot more fundamental work than some of 432 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: my teammates probably do. Now we're talking with Jack and 433 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: again the QB for the Arizona hot Shots for the 434 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: A a F. The only thing I can bring to 435 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: the conversation, I've played ruling seasons of electric football and 436 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: I got a couple of paper cuts doing That's about it. 437 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: That's all I can I can't even say that you 438 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 1: know what Evan is doing. You know what what he 439 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 1: did that was that's cool. I would say it wasn't cool. 440 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 1: You're just not gonna say he played college anyway. I 441 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: would like to ask the different rules between the a 442 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,959 Speaker 1: F and of course in the NFL. And the biggest 443 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 1: thing that I noticed no kickoffs. Yeah, that's that's the 444 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 1: big one. And that, honestly, that's the one that I've 445 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: noticed the most two because in my football life, the 446 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: opening kickoff has always been sort of the sign that 447 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: the game started and it's a real game day. But 448 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: it's a little bit different without that, How does that 449 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: change the game when you don't have a kickoff, I'll 450 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 1: answer there's no kickoff, Yeah, I mean, but there is that. 451 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 1: Thank you very much. I'll i'll protect the guest. This 452 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: is me protecting the quarterback. There you go, Thank you, linebacker. 453 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: Appreciate what for bars? Next question? Yeah, yeah, yeah, thank 454 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 1: you very much. But that element has gone from the game. Uh, 455 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 1: the game is. It's a faster game. This is what 456 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: I got to deal with every dog all week. Jack, 457 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: You also don't have the game seems to be quicker. 458 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 1: Uh and and I think the fans really like that. Yeah. Absolutely, Um, 459 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: not having the kickoffs, you know, as you guys joked, 460 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 1: is the change. There's also no extra points. Um, so 461 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:13,880 Speaker 1: we end up, you know, going for two every time 462 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: if we score touchdown. And because there's no kickoffs and 463 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: no extra points, if it happens that you don't kick 464 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: any field goals, your kicker can end up on the 465 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 1: sideline for all the game. Um, that happened. Actually do 466 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: us last week's our kicker, Nick Folk, didn't get any 467 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: chances out there even you know, in an NFL game, 468 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: even if you don't kick any field goals, you'll you'll 469 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 1: get a kickoff. But yeah, the the quicker pace of 470 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: play I think to me was less noticeable while playing 471 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: than it was actually while watching, um, some of the 472 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: other games in the league on TV last weekend. So um, 473 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,320 Speaker 1: the play cock is a little bit shorter. The commercial 474 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: breaks tend to be quicker as well. UM, And I 475 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: think it makes it, you know, a more enjoyable experience. Um. 476 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: You know, everybody has the frustration of you know, short drive, 477 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: a short drive and a couple of long commercial breaks 478 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: when watching an NFL game, So that keeps people engaged, 479 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: I think, and uh, the games do go by a 480 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: lot more quickly. From a viewing perspective, it's been positive 481 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 1: from what I've seen. Another thing that's different what you 482 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: mentioned kind of at the beginning of the show. Everybody 483 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: is getting paid roughly the same amount, right, so the 484 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: best player on the team and ostensibly the worst player 485 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: on the team have very similar contracts. How does that 486 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: kind of work from a dynamic standpoint? Obviously very different 487 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: from you know, the training camp you were in with 488 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: the NFL, where there were high paid superstars and also 489 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: kind of low people on the financial totem pole. Um, 490 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: it definitely makes things different. There's no no getting around it. Um, 491 00:23:31,680 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: you know, in an NFL room, the amount of money 492 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: that guys are getting paid not only kind of changes 493 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: certainly your lifestyle off the field, but it does change 494 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: the way that you perceived the team's commitment to you. 495 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: If if you've signed a big extension, you know you're 496 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 1: going to make the roster, probably with good reason. But um, 497 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: none of that really exists in the a F. So 498 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: that was a pretty interesting element of our training camp. 499 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 1: We had a larger roster than we do now during January, 500 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: and there was not a great way to tell by 501 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 1: the numbers who would or wouldn't make the team because 502 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: there's a kind of salary cap or things like that 503 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: that the team has to be conscious of. So I 504 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: think it makes it a little bit more egalitarian, and 505 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 1: guys tend to buy into the kind of team ethic. 506 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: Not to say that they wouldn't if they were getting 507 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,880 Speaker 1: paid more, but um, it's really forced a little bit 508 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: when everybody's on the same playing field. There's a subset 509 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: of folks, you know, the people out there who think 510 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 1: the college athletes should be paid more. There's a group 511 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 1: of them that argue for you know, the kind of 512 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: this structure, right, A kind of a base salary payment 513 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: to everybody on the team, whether they're the you know, 514 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: the third string right guard or whether they're the star quarterback. 515 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: Kind of sounds like, at least at the a F level, 516 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: that this is kind of an egalatarian you know, it's 517 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 1: it's an evening out. It doesn't seem to be causing 518 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: Princeton guy following the Dartmouth guy's big word egalitarian, throw 519 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 1: some Syracuse in there as very perspicacious. What was the question? 520 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,200 Speaker 1: I mean, the question I guess is do you think 521 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: that that is something that could work at the college level? Right, 522 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: the same kind of theory where you know, regardless of 523 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,400 Speaker 1: how important you are to the team or how much 524 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: you play, everybody in the room is being paid the same. 525 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: I think you know something like that could work to 526 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:13,239 Speaker 1: start um, I think the a F is working on 527 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: a system where, uh, you know, your contributions determined sort 528 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: of your your bonus or things like that. And I 529 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: think I'm generally in favor of that system where you know, 530 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: let's say, at at a large college, the third string 531 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: right guard, to use the example you use, Although the 532 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: A lines you know, always important maybe would be paid 533 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 1: the same amount of base level as the Heisman Trophy winner. 534 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:38,640 Speaker 1: But there should be some I think, you know, when, when, 535 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: not if college athletes start getting paid, there should be 536 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: some system to make sure that that Heisman guy is 537 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 1: compensated for all the money he's bringing into the school. 538 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: My experience in college was was frankly not one where 539 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: the numbers probably would have worked out to justify paying us. 540 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 1: I mean, and Dartmouth is bringing in fans, but we're 541 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: not sort of bringing in the same fans that uh, 542 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 1: you know, Oklahoma or Alabama is. Um but I think 543 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: something like that could work at least was a start 544 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,199 Speaker 1: to sort of move college sports, major college sports in 545 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: that direction, um as I think they're heading. Hi, Jack, 546 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: can you just take me back to the dinner table. 547 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 1: As you were growing up, your dad, Lal, director of 548 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: labor relations at the NFL, worked for some teams. Were 549 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: you well versed in salary cap and revenue at a 550 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: young age? I was. I had to think a little 551 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: bit better understanding of sort of the numbers in the 552 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,440 Speaker 1: business behind the league than most guys growing up, and 553 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: certainly most players before they get into it. Um So 554 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:34,959 Speaker 1: I was really lucky, and you know thought my dad 555 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: had the coolest job in the world because on you know, 556 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 1: on during the week he'd go to work just like 557 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 1: anybody else. But on the weekends, you know, you'd get 558 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,440 Speaker 1: to take my sister and I uh to an NFL game, which, 559 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: which growing up was was really cool. Alright, that's Jack 560 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:48,480 Speaker 1: Head again, the quarterback of the Arizona hot Shots of 561 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 1: the Alliance of American Football and bar and Novie Williams. 562 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: How cool is this? His high school coach was asked 563 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: about Jack ready for this quote. He has Jerry Rice's 564 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:02,400 Speaker 1: work ethic, Einstein's brain, and Tom Brady's arm and looks 565 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:07,719 Speaker 1: the only thing left I was purposely left down for 566 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:13,679 Speaker 1: a reason. Are too much, Jack, Thank you so much 567 00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:16,200 Speaker 1: for taking some time. We do appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Yeah, 568 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,679 Speaker 1: thanks for having me appreciate it. First of all, it 569 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: was cool just to have Jack Hinnigan. He's a quarterback 570 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 1: and he's a pro quarterback, and Tom Brady's looks an 571 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 1: arm and n Einstein's brain, and I mean, he's a 572 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: good looking guy. You gotta say. This is radio. I'm 573 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 1: just saying he's a good looking guy. But but what 574 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:39,920 Speaker 1: I'm impressed about is that he understands that. Listen, I'm 575 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: trying hard to get into the NFL, but I'm gonna 576 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 1: do my thing in the A A F and uh 577 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: so far he gets that. Yeah. I mean, it's not 578 00:27:50,359 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: my takeaway. It's not that we didn't know this, but 579 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: to hear it and be reminded of it that there 580 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 1: were so many guys who just want another shot. Young guys, 581 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 1: not young guys, d just I mean, just man, it's 582 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,800 Speaker 1: what they want to do, and they'll just hang on 583 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: and play at a level for the chance, the chance, 584 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: long long odds, whatever, the chance that somebody might give 585 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 1: them a first shot, a second shot, another shot, a 586 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 1: last shot. There's a lot of guys like that. Yeah, 587 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 1: I kind of botched the question to him, but I'm 588 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: really interested to see how the how the locker room 589 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 1: dynamics play out in this league. In a football league 590 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: where everyone is paid on the same type of contract, 591 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: bonuses are a little different, but roughly everyone's on the 592 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 1: same wage scale. You know, Scott and Michael, you know, 593 00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 1: these are the egos drive hard in the sport of football. 594 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: UM very interested to see how that kind of dynamic 595 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: plays out with regard to what it might mean for 596 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: college sports as we get closer and closer to to 597 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: a world where athletes are are likely going to be 598 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: compensated in college This model of what it means for 599 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: for players, whether you're the starting quarterback, whether you're the 600 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,440 Speaker 1: fourth string quarterback, all to be compensated the same way. 601 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: I think it's a very You know what it means, Evan. 602 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: You know when teams go out for a little lunch 603 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: after practice or something, you know, the top draft pick whatever, 604 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 1: he'll pick up the check like they put the check down. 605 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: Everybody gets all arms in the where can you put this? 606 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: Got nothing? But oh no, no, do not, do not 607 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: admit that you've got a fifty in your pocket, because 608 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: then he's got it. That's all because it feels better 609 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: to be number one than number five. I'll wear a 610 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: number because of Mike. We have a chance to go 611 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: for three in a row. Good numbers are a good time. 612 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: When I first started wearing the number, I would just 613 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: have the Bloomberg business of sports. The number of the 614 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:45,480 Speaker 1: week time now of the number of the week, we 615 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:49,239 Speaker 1: did not discuss total. He did not. The number is 616 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: eleven number of people who watched the daytone of five hundred. 617 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: You know what, that's just so number of cars that 618 00:29:56,680 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 1: finished the day. Oh yeah, exactly. We'll give you this. 619 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:06,600 Speaker 1: You guys are on the right track, exactly. Danny Hamlin, 620 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:10,600 Speaker 1: congratulations for winning the Daytona five. How many cars finished? 621 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: A whole bunch of it? Was? It was wasn't that many? 622 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: I mean there was there was two major wrecks. Well, 623 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: actually were more than that, but obviously one they had 624 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: one car pile up involved uh and with the ninth 625 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: Sky you see the sparks and everything going into that. 626 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: Then there was another wreck where now I like Clint Boyer, 627 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:35,479 Speaker 1: he's a great driver, but he didn't clear car and 628 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: that touched off another wreck and you know, it was 629 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: fun but in seriousness, and we talked to Steve Phelps 630 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: about it. It was lowest rated Daytona. They need to 631 00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: come up with a plan. Like I know, they want 632 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 1: their hardcore and sometimes that's enough. But is there a 633 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: way to win new fans for NASCAR or is it 634 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 1: going to be about let's hold onto what we've got 635 00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: to try to hold onto what we've got. The rating 636 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: has been speak for themselves, but do do crashes enhanced 637 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: ratings when there are like massive eighteen car pile ups. 638 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,240 Speaker 1: Does that? Does that create an uptick and interest? But 639 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: you have to be watching to see the wreck. So 640 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: I maybe we're in a Twitter world. Maybe it'll be like, wow, 641 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: big record, check it out. I don't know. I would like, 642 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 1: you know, the art of the sport is what I 643 00:31:21,280 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: really adore. And I guess some people say, well, yeah, 644 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 1: there's got to be some crashes in it, but the 645 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: art of the sport is what's really important. And one thing, 646 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 1: by the real quick and god bless Indy Car. They're 647 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: doing this now. They're gonna have kind of like a 648 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: head protection, kind of a halo thing they have, Yeah, 649 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 1: like the like and have one day have the halo. Uh, 650 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: They're gonna have something like that. They're gonna test it 651 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: for the Indie five hundred and from the Indie five 652 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: hundred on for Indy Car racing for the rest of 653 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:49,959 Speaker 1: the season. They're going to have something. Most importantly, did 654 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 1: your family distributed? Did you have a nice five mile? 655 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 1: There was some disruption. Let's put it back. I don't 656 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:01,600 Speaker 1: want to tell what it is. You've been listening to 657 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,840 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports. We're here each and every week 658 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:07,520 Speaker 1: at the same time plus online as a podcast, and 659 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: you can catch that Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Michael 660 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: bar on Twitter at Big Bar Sports, I'm Evan Novie 661 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:16,440 Speaker 1: Williams at NOVI Underscore Williams, and I'm Scott Sashnik. You 662 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: can follow me on Twitter at Soshnick. Thanks for joining us, 663 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,160 Speaker 1: and please tune in next week when we speak with 664 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 1: Angela Riggerio, former IOC board member and member of the 665 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: women's hockey team. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 666 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio around the world.