1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello. 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelley and Mike Lynch and I'm Michael Barr. 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: And this is the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, where 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: we explore the big money issues in the world of sports. Well, gentlemen, 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: happy Monday. At some sports to watch over the weekend, 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: that's for sure. We're gonna talk a little bit about 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: the Kentucky Derby. In a minute, we're gonna talk about 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: the NFL Draft and football the global version of that 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: over in Europe. Man, the super League. That whole controversy 10 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: is not going away. Let's start with the derby. Though. 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: We were really happy last week. And if you didn't 12 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: catch the conversation, uh, we caught up with Bill Carstangin 13 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: who runs Churchill Downs. He was pretty optimistic about what 14 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: was going to happen at the derby, and you know, Lynchy, 15 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: I think he got his wish in terms of it 16 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: was a good race and a lot of people were there. 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: We were joking before we came on the air here 18 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: that felt like more than fifty one thousand. They definitely 19 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: staged them correctly. I guess I don't know what did 20 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: you think I think that. I think that about quarter 21 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: of six they just told all the security people at 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: the gate just leave your post and let anybody in 23 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: that wants to come in, and good for them. It 24 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: looked a great festive atmosphere. Um, we presume most of 25 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: those people, with all those people have been vaccinated, because 26 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 1: very few were wearing masks. I'm not sure what the 27 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: outdoor policy is in the state of Kentucky, but this 28 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: is the second best handle they've ever had, uh, from 29 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: all sources. They handled eighty seven million dollars in bets, 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: which is only second to I mean when they had 31 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: a two d fifty million walk up and the week's 32 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: handle was million, which is the second best of all times. 33 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: So people were itching to come back. They proved it. 34 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: They put their money where their mouth was. Well. And 35 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: you know, Michael Barr, we talked a lot with Bill 36 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: about this last week, and I really direct him in 37 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: the conversation because it was it was largely about you know, 38 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: took place right there in your wheelhouse, your sweet spot, 39 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: which is the gambling world. And I mean, this is 40 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: a gambling event in many ways. Obviously, it's a cultural event, 41 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: it's a sporting event and things like that. But as 42 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: Lynchy just laid out by the numbers, this is a proxy. 43 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: It feels like for how enthusiastic the broader world of 44 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: gambling is. Oh yeah, And I tell you something else 45 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: that's going to happen. You're gonna see more of the broadcast. 46 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: You're gonna see more of the card before the Derby. 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: Did you see the race before the Derby? I guess 48 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic or whatever it is. 49 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: That was a dead heat. The race was a dead heat. 50 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: And I'm like, oh my goodness, it's like people now 51 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: are going to be watching those races. Before my family 52 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: was asking, well, how many races are on? As you know, 53 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: I said, wow. It's fact is for years we just 54 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 1: had the Kentucky Derby and that was it on television. 55 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: And now we're seeing the races before and and before 56 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: the Derby, and I think that's gonna be a thing 57 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: that's going to be staying for a long time. I 58 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: gotta tell you, Lynchie, this surprises me to to some 59 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 1: extent because if if you told me even five years 60 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: ago that you know it's going to be a very 61 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: vibrant sport come t one that's gonna be horse racing. Um, 62 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: I mean, because the other element is And this went 63 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: largely unnoticed because we were, you know, in the midst 64 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: of the really in the teeth of global pandemic. But um, 65 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: go figure, horse racing not the cleanest sport in the 66 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: in the world. There's been a lot of controversy and 67 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: even the trainer who won, Bob Baffert, he's been investigated. 68 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: Mean that got the dude has been investigated a lot, 69 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: but still some controversy. And yet we keep coming back. 70 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: Not only do we keep coming back, but more people 71 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: are coming to the sport. Does that surprise you? No? 72 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: Not With the Kentucky Derby, I think a general and 73 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: horse racing, we think it's a sport. It's it's a 74 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: dying school. But now the Kentucky Derby, because this is 75 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: one of the American great events, like the d five 76 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: of the Day, hone to five hundred, the super Bowl. 77 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: It's a one day event and it's if you ask 78 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: most people what's on their bucket list, I guarantee the 79 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: Kentucky Derby is on most people's bucket list. It's on mine. 80 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: I mean, every time I get down there, I gotta 81 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: go next year. We gotta go next year. I gotta 82 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: go next year. And I had that same feeling watching 83 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: all the festivities that people standing in line at the windows, 84 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: and you know, there was I'm sure some contact lists betting, 85 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 1: but those windows, those lines were really long, and those 86 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: people were all looking over each other's shoulder when they 87 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: were standing there. Yeah, I mean, it is funny to 88 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: see and and good in a lot of ways to 89 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: see people out and about and cheering on sports. And 90 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: we've we're getting more and more used to seeing it, 91 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: especially you know, as the weather turns nicer and baseball 92 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: season is in full swing. You know, the Atlanta Braves 93 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: us said over the weekend that in the next couple 94 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: of days they're going to a percent there at truis Field, 95 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: and I'm not sure they're gonna sell out trus Field. Sorry, 96 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: I'm embraced saying like full disclosure, but it's not exactly um, 97 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: the most robust UH fan base, even when they moved 98 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: it to the suburbs. But uh, it is notable that, 99 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: like a handful of other stadiums and arenas down especially 100 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,279 Speaker 1: in the South Texas, the Texas Rangers were the first, 101 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: I mean, they opened the season. And this is really 102 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: important economically, bar because butts and seats means dollars, especially 103 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: for the game of baseball. And even if your team 104 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: is you know, isn't so good. I'm not talking about 105 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: any specific team here. We just save the Tigers. Yeah, 106 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: you know, we're dead last, but we try to get 107 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: to that stadium. We still want to enjoy uh an 108 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: outing and like you said, putting bottoms in the seats, 109 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: that means a lot an afternoon of just watching baseball. 110 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: I don't care what anybody says. It is still a 111 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: relaxing time and it is still a fun time and 112 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: if you can afford it, you can take the whole 113 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: family out there and enjoy it. Yeah, I mean there 114 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: is a there is an l men I think, and 115 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 1: and we're in this period I feel like, you know, 116 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: the people keep talking about the Roaring twenties and what 117 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: people are going to spend their money on as we 118 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: get back to a little bit of normal, and it's 119 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: going to be when we're gonna go right back to experiences. 120 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: And you know, we talked about baseball probably more than 121 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: the average person on this show because we're all baseball fans. 122 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: I mean, there is something special about the game. I 123 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: really hope that they can continue to figure it out. 124 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: I was up watching my son's lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon, 125 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: and you know, it was one of these nice Saturday 126 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: afternoons and the burbs on the high high school complex 127 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: where you know, they were playing on the football the 128 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: cross field, and then just down below the baseball team 129 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: was warming up. And there is something I think for um, candidly, 130 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 1: especially for sort of men of a certain age, which 131 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: which we all are give or take. Um, you know, 132 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: about seeing that that green grass in the outfield. And 133 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: there's still a lot of money in baseball, there's still 134 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 1: a lot of fandom. They feel like they're squandering it 135 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: almost every day. But um, but I think they'll get there, Lynchy. 136 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: I'll tell you who is not squandering it right now 137 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: is the NFL. The NFL Draft, which has become a 138 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: musty event, was even more must see this year. A 139 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: lot of drama heading into it, some off the board 140 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: drama as it were, with Aaron Rodgers. We could talk 141 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: about that in a second. But the draft overall incredibly watched, 142 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: watched more than the Oscars the previous Sunday, which I 143 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: think is mind blowing in many ways, but for good 144 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: reason that there were. There was a lot of movement, 145 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: a lot of star players. This is why football continues 146 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: to be the number one sport in America. Lynching, and 147 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: they know how to do it. This, this rotating around 148 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: city to city with the draft is really a great, 149 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: great idea. I thought they were crazy when they moved 150 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 1: out of Radio City Music Hall. I thought that was 151 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: a great venue. But this is enormous and he had 152 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: a great deal of drama this year. You had the 153 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: five quarter acts and and it really worked out for 154 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: our New England Patriots when San Francisco took the instead 155 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: of taking mac Jones, took the quarterback from North Dakota State, 156 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: and that just let mac Jones slide all the way 157 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,239 Speaker 1: down to number fifteen and just right into the hands 158 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: of Bill Belichick. Um enormous interest, uh, an enormous amount 159 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: of people watching, an enormous amount of money being dealt 160 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: out to the first round picks, and so interesting. Bar mean, 161 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: one of the things that struck me I was looking 162 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: at a graphic this morning about how rich are that's 163 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: not the right word, but how well represented I guess 164 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: the power five and especially the sec were in this 165 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 1: draft class. Once again, the SEC the number one conference 166 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 1: in terms of players in the draft. And you ask yourself, 167 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: so why did Division one football and especially the Power 168 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: five push so hard to play football in the fall 169 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: even though students weren't on campus, even though they were 170 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 1: putting people's health at risk, and many of the players 171 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 1: were willing to do it. This is why this is 172 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: the end goal for the top programs and the top players. 173 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: They want to go pro and those schools they put 174 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: teams on the field and you know, not as luck 175 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: would have it, but as expected they end up getting drafted. 176 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,839 Speaker 1: Like you said, it is as a fan now my 177 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: mindset seeing the games in the fall because I want 178 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 1: to see, all right, this guy is gonna go here, 179 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: this guy is gonna go there. And of course Trevor 180 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: Lawrence they like me. They like me. Yes, that happened, 181 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: just like the oscars. But this is something that we 182 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: talked about this earlier, that there's a lot of money 183 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: in the in the fall leagues for for college football, 184 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: and this is why they played. Yeah, I mean, Lynchy, 185 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: it just is is amazing. I do want to do 186 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 1: one quick beat though on um on the Patriots, which 187 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: which you mentioned, because I mean, I don't know, I'd 188 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: like I look at that, and I think everybody who's 189 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: not necessarily a die hard New England Patriots fan or 190 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: a Bill Belichick fan just watch that unfold on Thursday 191 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: night and just said, Yeah, we knew this was gonna 192 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: happen by hook or by crook. Uh, this was gonna 193 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 1: happen one or the other. It's a big pick up 194 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: in many ways. I'm not sure quite what it says 195 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: about Cam Newton, except that now they've got options. I 196 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: think Cam Newton may start the season or he may 197 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: not even be on the roster by Labor Day. There's 198 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: one of those two scenarios. It depends how fast Mac 199 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: Jones comes along. And someone had a great line here. 200 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: Everyone thought that the Patriots would have to trade up 201 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: to get someone like mac Jones, and they said Bill 202 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: Belichick just set back like Michael Corleoni and says, here's 203 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: my offer. Nothing. Yeah, yeah, he winds up. Who might 204 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: be the best in terms of prototypical professional quarterbacks of 205 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: the of those five? You know, Mac Jones might be 206 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: just a notch below of a Lawrence. Yeah. Well, I mean, 207 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: I keep me honest here. I mean there have been 208 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: some comparisons to a now former Patriot who was very 209 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: very successful there for for quite some years before he 210 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: took his talents to Tampa Bay. Um Mark Jones is 211 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: is no joke, and he obviously has played within a 212 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: very rigorous system at the University of Alabama, and UH, 213 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: I just it's it's pretty remarkable. Meanwhile, Michael Barr, Aaron 214 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: Rodgers stole at least a little bit of the pre 215 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: draft uh publicity and buzz and all of it when 216 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,439 Speaker 1: he said I'm not really sure I want to come 217 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: back to this team. Now Green Bay is basically saying, 218 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: too bad, you're coming back. And I was reading some 219 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: stuff for the weekend that essentially says he doesn't have 220 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: that strong of a hand in terms of really getting 221 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 1: out of there. But notable and and I think notable 222 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: insofar as we're still going to see more quarterback movement, 223 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: which there is no more there's no bigger sort of 224 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,679 Speaker 1: economic engine in professional football than who your quarterback is, 225 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: how much you're paying him, and you know what that 226 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: positions you to do in the regular season and certainly 227 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: the postseason. To say that Aaron Rodgers will not be 228 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: back at Green Bay No, I'm not gonna say that 229 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: and go out on the limb, but I will say, 230 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: in order to keep peace in the valley, there's got 231 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: to be a new contract coming. Yeah, because Aaron Rodgers 232 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: obviously is is not not a happy camper at Green Bay. Uh, 233 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: And I gotta say, I know I'm getting off the 234 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: path here. He wasn't bad as a host on Jeopardy, 235 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: So if he wants to just say, you know what 236 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: I'm done, you know he could go off and do 237 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: something like that. So it's I just wonder what Green 238 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: Bay is thinking now because this all came out right 239 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: at the point of the draft. Uh did that affect 240 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: how they were going to draft or what was going on? 241 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: I don't know. Well, Lynchi, it's interesting too that we're 242 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: seeing and I was reading about this every the weekend 243 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: as well. This notion that what seems to at least 244 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: be trying to come to the NFL, especially when it 245 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: comes to quarterbacks, is what we've seen in the NBA 246 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: now for a few years. The contracts are different, the 247 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: structure of the league is different, the relationships between players 248 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: and owners in the league is different. But you know, 249 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: you think about what we heard from Deshaun Watson before 250 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: a lot of his legal troubles came into play. What 251 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: we've heard from Russell Wilson with the Seahawks the most 252 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 1: sacked quarterback last season, which you know is not a 253 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 1: good thing if you're a quarterback for sure. Um and 254 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: now Aaron Rodgers essentially kind of putting their hands up 255 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: and saying, I don't want to do this anymore. That's 256 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: a lot easier to do from running your business perspective 257 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: in the NBA. It's not so easy in the NFL. No, 258 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: I mean, the Major League Baseball is the easiest place 259 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: to do. They the players have a lot of leverage. 260 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: They don't in the National Football League, though they gave 261 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: up an awful lot of that the last time they 262 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: had their Collective Bargaining Agreement, which I think was so 263 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: might have given this up back in that's when they 264 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: had all their their different draft slots. Which is why 265 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: you never see players holding out the camp because they 266 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: can't hold out for any more money. It's actually slotted 267 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: according to the c b A. So there's not a 268 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 1: lot of leveraged with National Football League players. Yeah, so 269 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: we'll we'll see how this all plays out with Aaron Rodgers. 270 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: But but again, if you do see more of these 271 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: quarterbacks start to move around, especially these marquee quarterbacks, and 272 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: also and Lyncha, I'm I'm glad you brought it up earlier. 273 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: Part of this is going to depend on the summer 274 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: workouts and and what happens in this time leading up 275 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: to this season in terms of whether this very robust 276 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: rookie class is ready to you know, start under center 277 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: when when the season start. So we'll keep an eye 278 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: on that. One of the issues we've got to talk about, 279 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: which is not going away anytime soon, clearly, is the 280 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: aftermath of the Super League, just the disastrous proposal that 281 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: was put forth by some of the top teams in Europe. 282 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: Manchester United, they are owned by the Glazers. Speaking of 283 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they owned that fine franchise as well. 284 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: The Glaziers. Let's just say they've never been beloved as 285 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: owners there in Manchester and they have been the subject 286 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: of many, many protests. Well, this protest over the weekend 287 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: was arguably one of the biggest and most impactful that 288 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: we've ever seen because it actually for the first time 289 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: I believe this has ever happened they basically breached the 290 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: complex and were in Old Trafford on the field, on 291 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: the pitch as it were. They had to delay the game, 292 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: They had to postpone the game between Liverpool and Manchester United. 293 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: These are two of the teams both owned by American 294 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: ownership groups. But this was really a protest, mostly in 295 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: this case against Manchester United. Um, Lynchy, this isn't going away, Um, 296 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: these guys that these UH fans, the supporters are not 297 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: happy about this. It's unclear what sort of change is 298 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: going to come, but it felt notable to me that 299 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: that they are still pretty rilled out. Well, they affected 300 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: change with the Super League and they did it immediately. Well, 301 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: I don't think they'll be able to affect change in 302 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: terms of ownership here. The Glazers first of all said 303 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: we're not selling. And then they said, okay, we're still sell. 304 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: Here's our price tex six point five billion dollars, which 305 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: is five times or six times more than they paid 306 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: for it back in fifteen years ago. So, but this 307 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: is the temperature of of of the European soccer fan 308 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 1: right now is over a hundred one degrees, let me 309 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: put it that way. Yeah, yeah, So how do you 310 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: think this ends, Michael Barr. I mean as someone who 311 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: watches sports, you know, especially from the ends perspective. We've 312 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,439 Speaker 1: talked on this program about how this is not the 313 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: sort of protest that you would see in America, that's 314 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 1: for sure. I mean American owners that have gotten away 315 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 1: with worse things than this, you know, most notably, you know, 316 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: moving entire franchises across the country. Fault they could pull 317 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: h an Ursay and and that could happen. You know. 318 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: It's see that there's so many problems I've got with this. 319 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: First of all, yes, I understand Manchester United fans. You're 320 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: passionate about your team, but you don't go running out 321 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: on the pitch. Then you destroy television equipment and then 322 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: people will you put people's lives in danger running out there, officers, 323 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: the staff at the stadium. It's then this crazy idea 324 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: in the first place of the Super League is what 325 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: brought this on all together. And and I'm just like 326 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: you know, Gang, it was a gray match that was 327 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: supposed to be Manchester United and Liverpool and it got 328 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: all postponed. It's it's nothing wrong with being passionate, but 329 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: you don't go out there and bust up the cameras 330 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: and and all the other stuff out there. I mean, 331 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: enough enough. If if you don't want to watch the team, 332 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: they don't watch the team. If you if you don't 333 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: if you want them out, you don't go put people's 334 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: lives in danger because of that. I'm sorry, I had 335 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: to get that off my chest. Yeah, I mean, Lyncha, 336 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: I think the problem I hear what you're saying, bar, 337 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 1: I mean, I think the issue is there. There's a 338 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 1: huge amount of frustration. Um. And I'm certainly not condoning 339 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: violence in any sense, but you know, there is this 340 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,879 Speaker 1: sense that they want to affect even more change. I 341 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: mean they want the Glazers to sell the club. I 342 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 1: mean that that is for sure what they want. UM. 343 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: The Glazers, for the record, have said and reiterated over 344 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: the weekend they're not going to do that. UM. You know, 345 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: I'm guessing our our friends up at Fenway Sports Group 346 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 1: are looking at this and essentially saying there but for 347 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: the grace of God, go i. UM. They have largely been, 348 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: up until the Super League proposal, seen as better stewards 349 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: of their club, Liverpool, that they are the owners of Liverpool, 350 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: um than the Glazers have of Manchester United, But um, 351 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly how this ends, and whether this 352 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: uh Embolden's other teams and their supporters to to continue 353 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: to to protest, whether there is legislation that comes, whether 354 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: there's a change in the ownership rules in the Premier 355 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: League to go more to a German model where essentially 356 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: the communities own the teams more outright, Lynchy, I just 357 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: I don't know, and I don't think anybody really knows, 358 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: but it is it is interesting that, as you say 359 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: that the temperature is still very very hot. I did 360 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: an American football game over in Limerick, Ireland, Fordham University 361 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: against holy Cross University and John Morris, a former Patriot 362 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: player and an alumni go holy Cross, and I would 363 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: the broadcast team. And we got to the stadium and 364 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 1: there was barbed wire separating the grandstand from the pitch. 365 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: Now we played they played it on a hurling field, 366 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: which is they probably needed for the hurling fans, but 367 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: we were just absolutely stunned that there was barbed wire 368 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: all the way around in the end up, that the 369 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: grandstand went from one end zone and wrapped around all 370 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 1: the other end zone was like a big, big question 371 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: mark and that gave me my first sense of the 372 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,680 Speaker 1: passion of the European sports fan and it was a 373 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: little bit, a little bit shocking. I'm not saying you 374 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: have to put barbed wire up now, but I would 375 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: think when these games go forward, especially Manchester United, uh 376 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: no fans allowed, no matter whether everyone's accidated or not, 377 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: because they have not demonstrated that they can behave themselves 378 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,679 Speaker 1: and don't. I would not be comfortable if I was 379 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: an official on the field, if I was a player 380 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: on the field. This is why we can't have nice things. 381 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: We'll see what happens for sure. Well, a lot more 382 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: sports coming up this week, gentlemen. This is the Bloomberg 383 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: Business of Sports podcast. I'm Michael Barr on Twitter at 384 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: Big Bar Sports, and I'm Mike Lynch. You can follow 385 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: me at Lynch e w CDB, and I'm Jason Kelly. 386 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: Find me at Jason Kelly News. We're here each and 387 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday exploring the world of money 388 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: and sports. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports on 389 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world and online wherever you get 390 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: your podcasts.