1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports where in a situation 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, the pandemic 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: here has really accelerated the investments that we've been havocating 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: for for a year. From a macro standpoint, I think 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: our sport industry is really forced to look at the 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: business a little bit differently. In depth conversations with the 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: leaders in the sports industry sport, there is a good 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: admiration we're still moving forward part of something much bigger 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: than the sport right now, the health and sadustry of 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: our stakeholders are real, smart important every moment. I think 11 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: we're all from a business respective thinking about the impact 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: that the virus is having across the country. In Bloomberg 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello everyone, I'm Jason Kelly. 14 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: Happy Monday, and I'm Mike Lynch. I hope everyone had 15 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: a great Father's Day weekend, and I'm Michael Barr and 16 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: the same as everybody out there. Happy Father's Day. Belated. 17 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast where we 18 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 19 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: A lot of drama this weekend in the front of 20 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: those sports guys on the links on the court. Uh, 21 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: some building drama as we head towards the Olympics. I 22 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: think you know where I'm going to start the final 23 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: four of the n B A is set Sons Clippers. 24 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: I dare say literally no one saw this final four coming, Lynchy. 25 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: If you are sitting in a in an office at 26 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,919 Speaker 1: tn T or anywhere any broadcaster, maybe even the NBA, 27 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,559 Speaker 1: this is not what you want from a ratings perspective. 28 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: And yet there's some great storylines here. There are, And 29 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: if you're also executive at ABC or ESPN, you're not 30 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: too happy right now with the fear of the four markets. Uh, 31 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,919 Speaker 1: not major markets. But there are some interesting side stories. 32 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: This Atlanta Hawks team taken over by Nate McMillan and 33 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: Trey Young playing with a damaged shoulder. Uh, they are 34 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: a pesky bunch that doesn't know how to quit. Um. 35 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: They would stow it a number of waves and runs 36 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: by a home crowd and a favorite the number one seed, 37 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: the seventies sixers, and as Elton john sinks, I'm still 38 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: standing baby. Yeah, pretty unbelievable. I mean so, Michael Barr, 39 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: as you look across this, uh, you know some of 40 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: these storylines. What what jumps out to you, Well, pretty 41 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: much the same thing you guy said earlier, I'm sure. 42 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: And when the Eastern Conference final is now the Hawks 43 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: and the Bucks and congratulations to you, by the way, 44 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: Jason's I know you you have the Atlantized and they're there. 45 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: But I'm sure the TV is guxs were saying, oh, 46 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: it's not not this man, because you've got the Suns 47 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: and the Clippers in the Western Conference. I could just see, 48 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:50,679 Speaker 1: uh something like Hawks Sons contest. At least you want 49 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: the Clippers in there. But if you have the Hawks 50 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: and the Suns, or worse, the Bucks and the Suns, 51 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: I I don't know. And again that's no disrespect to 52 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: the teams. I mean, anytime you get to this point, 53 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: you're doing something. But I mean for a TV exactly 54 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: that that's gotta be tough. So here's how unlikely this 55 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: Final four is the last time one of these franchises 56 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: won a championship in the NBA nineteen seventy one. That 57 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: would have been the Milwaukee Bucks. Uh. There are only 58 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: two titles among the four of them total, and one 59 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: of them belongs to the Hawks when they played in St. 60 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: Louis in nineteen fifty eight. I mean, these are not 61 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: perennial powerhouses by any stretch. I mean it's also interesting 62 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: when we go at level down to understand sort of 63 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: how we got here. The business of the NBA obviously 64 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: is robust. We know that to be a fact. They 65 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: came back to play, they managed through a lot of 66 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: different COVID protocols. And yet when we saw a game 67 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: one yesterday with the Phoenix Suns and the lot of St. 68 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: Angeles Clippers, Evan Booker went off at triple double, but 69 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: he was playing without CP three Chris Paul because he's 70 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: under COVID protocol. So this is still lingering Lynchy. You know, 71 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: all the sort of COVID after effects and not even 72 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: after effects, but the current state of the pandemic is 73 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: still going to have an influence on this championship. You know, 74 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: had the Clippers and Jazz gone to an extra game, 75 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: Game one would not have started until tomorrow night, and 76 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: then might have been a chance that CP three could 77 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 1: have played in this thing. But he's got to be 78 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: in isolation for ten to fourteen days and then has 79 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: to two negative tests within twenty four hours of each other. 80 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: So there's no guarantee your luck that he's coming back 81 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: in game number number two, and there's conflicting reports that 82 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: whether or not he's been vaccinated or not. He's told 83 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: some reporters that he was, and some other people really 84 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: question that. Yeah, so we'll see how how that plays out. 85 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 1: Of mean, obviously, he's one of the the big players 86 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: in all of this, literally and figuratively. He's the president 87 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: of the Players Association. You know, he's ubiquitous on your 88 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: air waves with state farm commercials and things like that. 89 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: And as you say, Trey Young down in uh down 90 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: in Atlanta has probably emerged, if you if you have 91 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: to think about it from the perspective of who comes 92 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: out of this, regardless regardless of what happens next, who 93 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,479 Speaker 1: comes out of this as the breakout star and someone 94 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: who is the most marketable or you know, increasingly marketable. 95 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: It's got to be Trey Um at this point. And 96 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: you know, I'll be a little bit of a homer here. 97 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: Even from a business perspective, I do think that you know, 98 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: l A obviously is a big market, but you're talking 99 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: about kind of the second fiddle team with the Clippers. 100 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: Um Atlanta is a fascinating market here. And I do 101 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: think that what has happened. And I was texting with 102 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: a bunch of friends last night in the aftermath of 103 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: the game. I mean, this potentially starts a flywheel for 104 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: this franchise under the Tony Wrestler ownership. You know, he's 105 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: only on the team for a hand full of years. 106 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: Here you've got Steve Coonan running the team who's very 107 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: seasoned marketing executive, marketing and broadcast executive. You know, winners 108 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: draw other winners, they draw other players. Um, so we'll 109 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: see what happens. And and as I've said to you guys, 110 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: I've said to a lot of people off air, these 111 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: guys are playing with house money in a lot of ways. 112 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: And uh, I think the matchup with the Bucks is 113 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: a tough one for the Hawks. For sure, Janice certainly 114 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: is coming into his own. I do want to do 115 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: a beat if we can, though, on the disappointment here 116 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: in our backyard, or and Michael barrs in my backyard, 117 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: Lynchy about the Kevin Durant led nets falling short. You know, 118 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: this was a team that I think three months ago, 119 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: certainly when all of these guys were healthy, or certainly 120 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: six months ago when when Durant and Irving and Harden 121 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: we're all healthy. This looked like a clean march to 122 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: to the finals for the Nets. It did. And we 123 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: all know, going back to Larry and Magic Johnson, that 124 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: the NBA is marketed by on individual play, not teams. Individuals. 125 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: You go to Michael Jordan's, you go to Lebron James, 126 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: you go to Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal. Who are the 127 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: personalities in this series right now? Both of them? You 128 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: get Chris Paul, he's out, Trey Young could emerge. He's 129 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: a very likable guy, and everybody likes the root for 130 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: the little guy against the Davy and Goliath. And I 131 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: think that I think the Trey Young is going to 132 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: grab a lot of attention nationally. But marketing going into 133 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: this thing to try to get the peripheral fan to watch, 134 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: who are you going to sell them on nice? I 135 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: don't know, there's nobody really you can you can you 136 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: can sell the peripheral sports fan and try to get 137 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: them in to watch these two series. Yeah. Interesting, The 138 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: last thing I'll say about the NBA, and and then 139 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: we can move on. And I'm sure we're talking about 140 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: this over the next few weeks, especially depending on who 141 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: goes to the final. I mean you have, in the 142 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: case of the Clippers, the Bucks and the Hawks, you know, 143 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: three pretty interesting owners in so far as you know. 144 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: Steve Balmer obviously with the Clippers, you know, taking them 145 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: to a new level. The Mark Lazarie lad ownership group 146 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: there in Milwaukee. This has been a promise really built 147 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: on jannest and of course Tony wrestler um down at 148 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: the Ox. This is this new wave of owners in 149 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: many ways, and I think it'll be interesting to see 150 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: what the knock on effects of all of that is. 151 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: So meanwhile, uh Covid also played a bit of a 152 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: supporting role or or an underlying um role in the 153 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: drama at the US Open, because Lynch this was fascinating 154 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: to see rom who you know, arguably had one of 155 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: the biggest setbacks, very setback just a couple of weeks ago, 156 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: and he comes back and wins the US Open. Tell me, 157 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: tell me what you saw. Well, here's what I saw. 158 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: I omginally flashback to two weeks ago Saturday night, when 159 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,719 Speaker 1: he walked off the eighteenth green at the Memorial with 160 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: a six shot lead. He was going to cruise in 161 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: the next day. When that ampionship pocket the one point 162 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: six million dollar first place check, two officials walked over 163 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: him and told him he tested positive for COVID nineteen. 164 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,559 Speaker 1: He dropped to his knees and said, no, no, not again. 165 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: He immediately had to go into isolation for ten days. 166 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: He couldn't come out until Tuesday of this week, when 167 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: all the other players had already hit Tory Pines on Monday, 168 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: and we're practicing. Meanwhile, he has a three month old 169 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: son who his parents had never seen. They were on 170 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: their way flying over from Spain. He was unable to 171 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: be with them when the grandparents saw the grandchild for 172 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: the first time. Now he gets to Tory Pines on Tuesday, 173 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: he's playing. He's behind everybody in terms of practicing. He 174 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: goes out there and he comes down in Bertie's seventeen 175 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: and he Birdie's eighteen. He takes the first place the 176 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: US Open, the first Spaniard to do it. Just to 177 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: feel good story all the way around. You know, I 178 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: had tears in my eyes went when when he won 179 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: that thing. So Michael Barr, you know, we talked about 180 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: this even even last week with Pete Baqua over at NBC. 181 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: You know, golf needs these characters, it needs these dramas, 182 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: this drama in some ways in the absence of Tiger 183 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: Woods especially. I mean I think you you pose that 184 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: question to Pete very directly. You know he had an answer, 185 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: and just like, oh, we got a bunch of young guys. 186 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: But but part of it is is that no, no 187 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: one can really match Tiger in a singular way. So 188 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: you need all these other storylines in part to or 189 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: or in some I guess, to draw a lot of eyeballs. 190 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: I never understood fans sometimes when you would see it 191 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: it's just not golf, but you'll see it in many 192 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: major sports where they will tell a story about an athlete, 193 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: a personal story as the event is going on, and 194 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: then some fans are like, I don't care all about it. No, no, no, no, 195 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: no no. Those stories make up why we watch sports. 196 00:10:55,320 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: We get emotional watching sports. We were rooting for this team, 197 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: or we're rooting for this golfer, and and Lynchy, you 198 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 1: hit the nail on the head. I was watching that 199 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: tournament when Rom dropped to his knees, and I'm like, 200 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: what just happened? I didn't understand what was going on 201 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: at the time, And I don't think the the TV 202 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: announcers knew what was going on either at first. Uh 203 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: as we went on and it's like, oh man, you've 204 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: got to be killing but good for that young man 205 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: twenties six years old and it it's it was nice 206 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 1: to see it, alright. So meanwhile, Lynchy, how much do 207 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: you love this? Like kepco Dsham But but but like I mean, 208 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: this is this candidly is the sort of drama I 209 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: hate to say it that golf needs two guys who 210 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: just flat out don't like each other. You know, it's 211 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: this is Ali Fraser, It's a Russell Chamberlain's, you name 212 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: it it is, you know, the Hatfields in the McCoy's. 213 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: And it's pretty it's pretty healthy. You know that this 214 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 1: big celebrit the match that's coming up with with the 215 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: Shambo and Michelson and Rogers and Tom Brady, I would 216 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: love to have them. And Phil Michelson even joke about it. 217 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: He said, wouldn't it be great if we could have 218 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: kept to take my place in this? And causes goes, 219 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: He pauses, he goes, but they wanted the PGA champion, 220 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: so no, but it really is something. I mean, I 221 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: was reading I believe on Sportica this morning about how 222 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: their social media impressions are way up these two guys, 223 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: because it is drawing in I mean, and this is 224 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 1: building exactly on what you were talking about. Bar like 225 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:38,079 Speaker 1: the notion you're bringing in new fans who are seeing 226 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: this on Twitter or seeing this on Instagram. And regardless 227 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 1: of what you know or don't know about the nuances 228 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: of you know which iron to play from what distance, 229 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: given you know the weather conditions, everyone can relate to 230 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: you know what, I just don't like that guy, and 231 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: and you're just seeing that play out. Uh and and 232 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: again it's not it's a reminder to me at least 233 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 1: that the way you're going to draw new fans is 234 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: not through a sort of stayed broadcast. It's gonna be 235 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: guys just being chippy with each other and you know, 236 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: tweeting something snarky or you know, saying something under their 237 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: breath or you know, in this case, sort of an 238 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: eye roll that ultimately goes viral. They should put Deshambo 239 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:30,559 Speaker 1: and Kepka in studio together. And Lynch, you brought it 240 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 1: up the Frasier Ali remember that in studio fight. Well, 241 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: we don't know. I'm there's this real or not? And 242 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: I was watching that, I'm like, WHOA, what's going on? 243 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: But you're right, Jason, golf needs something like this and 244 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: those stories is I'm gonna be blunt. I'm gonna play 245 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: it up because it's fun to watch and it's it's 246 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: about sports and and like you said, sometimes you not 247 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: going to like an athlete, male or female just because 248 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: you don't like that athlete. I mean that that happens. 249 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 1: So it's I think it's fun. So I can't wait. 250 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: The p g A actually has a forty million dollar 251 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: bonus this year. They're gonna they're gonna distribute among ten 252 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: players who move the needle on social media the most, 253 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 1: and the person who does it the most is going 254 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: to get a first prize of eight million dollars. Yeah, 255 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: so that's why you're seeing a lot of traffic now 256 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 1: from the players totally. And and you have to think, 257 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: I mean there's a part of me that thinks that 258 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: somebody's gonna catch like these two guys like on vacation together, 259 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: you know, at some point, you know, like hanging out 260 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: with their families and such of being like, well, we 261 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: got them. Yeah. I mean there is this kind of 262 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: reality show element to all of this, but it is 263 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: good for the game, you know, anything that engages people. 264 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: And I do think again, I just go back to 265 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: this notion of everybody's got you know, probably that man 266 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: or woman at their office is like, you know what, 267 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: I just I just don't like them, and you know, 268 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: you can really, um, you can really relate to it. 269 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: And that's the sort of thing that you know, the 270 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: the human piece of sports is always the thing, um 271 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: that is that is most most appealing. And one of 272 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: the things that we always see every four years or 273 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:23,520 Speaker 1: in this case it's been five is the Olympics and 274 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: and that human element obviously comes through. I mean it's 275 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: become almost a cliche, the sort of tug at your 276 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: heart strings back stories that we see as the Olympic 277 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: broadcast comes on. And if you didn't check out our 278 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: conversation last week with peepov Acua, the chairman of NBC Sports, 279 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: you should listen to that because he talks a little 280 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: bit about what's gonna go on. Um at the Olympics, 281 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: they're gonna have a thousand people. NBC Sports is to 282 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: stand up their broadcast I think a hundred people are 283 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: already over there. Um, the good news from the Tokyo 284 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: Games is that domestic spectators ten thousand are going to 285 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: be allowed out uh to actually watch the games in person. Lynchie, 286 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: I have to say, I continue to be surprised if 287 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 1: you had told me a month ago, or certainly three 288 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: months ago, Olympics definitely gonna happen. I was in the 289 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: Dowdies camp on that. I mean, this is this is 290 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: moving ahead, and it feels like the Japanese government and 291 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 1: even the Japanese people have said, all right, well, I 292 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: guess this is happening. Let's make the best of it. 293 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: I think they're saying, you know, we post we had 294 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: to postpone it last year. We don't have to postpone it, 295 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: but we probably should postpone it this year. At the worst, 296 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: maybe we can stage the games without any fans at all. 297 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: And now we've got ten thousand in there, but they 298 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: may be mute because shouting and yelling is prohibited when 299 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: you go to any one of these events, and you 300 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: must wear a mask, and you must go directly to 301 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: your venue and go directly home afterwards. Not know how 302 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: they're going to police that I mean you stop off 303 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: and just have a burger and a beer. Who's gonna say, well, 304 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: you got Michael, you need to go directly to your 305 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: home right now, putout that cheeseburger and step away from 306 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: the cheeseburger. Sir, please step away from the cheeseburger. You 307 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: can have a bowl of cereal at your home. Well, 308 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: headquarters are gonna hear about this. It is uh, it 309 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: is going to be very different. This is now the 310 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: Olympics were used to write no, but then think about 311 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: the you know, just just the trickle down effect. I mean, sorry, 312 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: we've got the ten thousand thousand max alright, so this 313 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: fifty ticket revenue is gone right out the window. The 314 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 1: ones that they've already sold, they've already refunded eight hundred 315 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: and forty uh different tickets at different price levels, concessions, 316 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: I mean, the list goes on and on and on. 317 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: It's the same discussion we've been having since COVID began 318 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 1: the trickle down effect. Uh So before we go, we're 319 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: gonna do a little walked down memory lane here, But 320 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: I gotta ask you about what's going on with uh 321 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: the Celtics. Let you know, I mean, here, I am 322 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: reveling in the pots of moving in and we've got 323 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: Paul Pierce, We've got Kimball Walker, Like, what's give me? 324 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: Give me the thirty seconds on what's happening with that 325 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: story franchise? They did a coach. You better assign Nate 326 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,959 Speaker 1: McMillan down in Atlanta pretty soon on the Celtics are 327 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: gonna scoop him up. That's gonna that's a b Kimber 328 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: Walker didn't play in any back to back games this year, 329 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: missed the first eleven. They owe him seventy three million dollars. 330 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: He's gone to Oklahoma City. Paul Pierce is launching a 331 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: new line of cannabis products. They're gonna be under the 332 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: label of the Truth. They're gonna be with marijuana operator 333 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: the hub Craft. It's gonna be lotions, it's gonna be concentrates. 334 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 1: That's gonna have a flower next fall. He claims that 335 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: after he was stabbed in two thousand in a nightclub incident, 336 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 1: that all the prescription drugs were given to him by 337 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: by team doctors didn't work at all, they were very addictive, 338 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: and smoking marijuana helped him relax sure his anxieties depression 339 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: and helped him sleep and somehow he passed all the 340 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: drug tests for twenty years while he was doing it. Yeah, 341 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: and of course Paul Pierce was in the headlines not 342 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: too long ago being fired at ESPN for an Instagram 343 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: live video that um, you know, maybe was not the 344 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: most appropriate thing for for an on air personality or 345 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: or even a or even a player. So it sounds 346 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: like he's sort of moving into, I dare say, a 347 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: more appropriate business for for the style um that he 348 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: is first doing. All right, so as we wrap up here, uh, 349 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: happy Father's Day belatedly to both of you. Hope you're 350 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: able to enjoy your family. So uh any sport, I 351 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: mean open it up and say and ask any good 352 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 1: sports related memories or just you know, a memory in general, 353 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: recent or or either personal or observed. Mine I will 354 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: say was observed and and not personal. And I'll wait 355 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 1: till the end. So Lynchy go ahead. I'm gonna have 356 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: to go with John Rom yesterday. I'm thinking of all 357 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: the great days I had with my dad just simply 358 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,400 Speaker 1: playing catch or watching um, the US Open together in television. 359 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: But John Rom yesterday when he held his little three 360 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 1: month old son and he said, you know you have 361 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: no idea what's going on, but you will know someday. 362 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: And just coming back from the from COVID winning it, 363 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: he got to see his parents out in the eighteenth green. 364 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: That tugged at my heart again, to use an overused phrase, 365 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: and that's my father's same memory. Happened less than twenty 366 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 1: four hours ago. Alright, bar you're up. I remember my 367 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:32,240 Speaker 1: father was a big fisherman and we had this little cottage, 368 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 1: uh in in Canada, in Ontario, Rondo Bay. I'll never 369 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: forget this. So we go up there, uh several weekends 370 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 1: and this particular Father's day we went fishing and there 371 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 1: was yeah, and I'm just I'm just like an eight 372 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,040 Speaker 1: year old kid, and you know, I'm fishing out there 373 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: and he's got the real and I got my little 374 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: cane pole and I called a fish and he said 375 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: that's good, Don, And then I got another one, and 376 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 1: another one and another one, and you can see it 377 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:09,920 Speaker 1: just has to face. His was going away. It's like, now, 378 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: what in the sam bill is this? Well? I just 379 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: happened to be a school of fish there, and uh, 380 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: the fish were biting for me anyway, we weren't biting 381 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: for that well, that's a that's a very nice memory, 382 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: very nice story. I'm going to close this out where 383 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: we began with the Atlanta Hawks. And if you were 384 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: watching the broadcast last night, you saw Trey Young. He 385 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 1: walked into the tunnel, then he popped back out, took 386 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: off his jersey and ran up a little bit of 387 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: ways into the stands and tossed his uh, tossed his 388 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: jersey to his dad, Uh, Rayford Young, who he is 389 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: named for his full name. Trey Young's full name is 390 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: Rayford Trey Young. UM. And there's a great tweet from 391 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: from his dad actually from last night, says, my relationship 392 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,840 Speaker 1: with the tray Young at the Tray Young is something 393 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: I hope all fathers have since sixth grade. I've texted 394 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: him before games to remind him of who he is 395 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: and how hard he's worked. He told me last night 396 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 1: with my Father's day gift would be so very sweet. Um. 397 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: And for all of us who have gotten the chance 398 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: to watch our kids excel at sports, there's nothing better there. 399 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: It's better than achieving anything yourself is is watching that happened, 400 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 1: so uh. It felt really good for for Tray to 401 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: have his dad there and and just a reminder. I 402 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: think of how far we've come, even over the course 403 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: of this pandemic, where you know, we all had to 404 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: watch our kids or watch our favorite teams via you know, 405 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: local live links and YouTube highlights and tweets and things 406 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: like that. Uh. To actually be able to to see 407 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: you know, to sort of see your own out there 408 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: is a very very special thing. So very happy that 409 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: despite the fact that he was very much an enemy territory, 410 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: that Rayford Young was able to see Tray pull out 411 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: that win. And good for Tray for sort of like 412 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: realizing that that would be a very special memory to 413 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: instantly have to toss that jersey to his dad. And 414 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: do you think the Philly security police could have just 415 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: stepped out of the way and let him come up 416 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: and give his father off two of them? You have 417 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: to toss it over two heads to get it there. Exactly. Yeah, 418 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: that's exactly. Well, that's true. That's true because let me 419 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: tell you, there were no Sixers fans hanging around there 420 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: at that point. They were they were going to drown 421 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 1: their sorrows somewhere somewhere in the Greater Philly area. I 422 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: think anytime you have Trey Young shoes and their nickname 423 00:23:34,160 --> 00:23:37,919 Speaker 1: the ice Tray. I think that's great. This is the 424 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. I'm Michael Barr. You can 425 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: follow me on Twitter at Big Bar Sports. And I'm 426 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,440 Speaker 1: Mike Lynch. You can follow me at Lynch e w CBB. 427 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: And I'm Jason Kelly. Find me at Jason Kelly News. 428 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: We're here each and every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday exploring 429 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: the world of money in sports tras. Again, at the 430 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 1: end of the week, we're gonna catch up with Benjamin Nazarian. 431 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: He's the CEO of thorough Body. They have gathered and 432 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: in impressive roster of athletes who are endorsing their products 433 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: all about recovery, as well as my interview with no 434 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:10,120 Speaker 1: less than one of the greatest of all time, David Beckham. 435 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,120 Speaker 1: So check that out as the week goes along. You're 436 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 1: listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio around 437 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: the world and online wherever you get your products.