1 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, radio News. 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 2: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,239 Speaker 3: Business of Sports can be intimidating for hard for a 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 3: start to break into. We really appreciate where our owners 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 3: are actually there, you know, with us through the journey. 6 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: Teams ours especially have been very intentional to diversify at 7 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: all levels of the company. 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 3: Wybe wringing golden years for the NFL and college football. 9 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 4: Our demographic reach has continued to expand. 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 5: This is going to be really unlocking the streaming platform 11 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 5: for sports fans. 12 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: Sports evaluations arising. We'll see when they peak. 13 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 3: You don't have to be the best in your sports 14 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 3: and make a whole ton of money. 15 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 6: Hello, this is the Bloomberg Business of Sports where we 17 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 6: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: I'm Michael Lebarr and I'm Damian sas Alix Scarlett. 19 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 6: Who is on assignment. Coming up on the show, we 20 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 6: talked with Baseball Hall of Famer Fox Sports lead MLV 21 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 6: analyst John Smoltz about the baseball playoff race and the 22 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 6: passing of hit King Pete Rose. 23 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 3: If you watch the game and you were trying to 24 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 3: teach somebody how to play the game, you would teach 25 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 3: it exactly the way Pete Roach played the game. He 26 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 3: did everything you could do to enhance his team in 27 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 3: the hustle and never took anything for granted. He's one 28 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 3: of the greatest all time players in the history of 29 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 3: the game. 30 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: We'll also talk about a former NFL executive that's suing Fandle. 31 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 6: All that is straight ahead on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 32 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 6: But first, the deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly 33 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 6: is back for another season. 34 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: And they're kicking off the new season with a couple 35 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: of tennis champions won Billy Jean King and Alana Claus. 36 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 6: And here to talk to us about that conversation and 37 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 6: what's coming up for the new season is the man himself, 38 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 6: Bloomberg Originals chief correspondent, old friend of this show, Jason 39 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 6: Kelly Jak Welcome back to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 40 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 4: Thank you, guys. 41 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 7: I'm glad that I can be the lead into like 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 7: a true Atlanta legend. And John Smoltz, I mean you 43 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 7: take me back with it with that that's amazing. 44 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 6: Oh man, it's he's the best. 45 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: That's SMA he's the best man. 46 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 6: It's another season, uh, you and a Rod together. The 47 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 6: first season was great, and now the second season is 48 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 6: going it is going to look like Gangbusters because you're 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,399 Speaker 6: going to start with Billy Jean King. 50 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, totally. 51 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 7: I mean absolute icon guys, as you know, and you 52 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 7: know Billy Jean and her wife Alana, also a former 53 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,519 Speaker 7: tennis champion now the CEO of Billy jan King Enterprises. 54 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 7: This is a very potent duo in the business world, 55 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 7: I have to say, and you know, you guys talked 56 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 7: to lots of interesting and famous people on this show 57 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 7: as well. 58 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 4: I had some butterflies going into Billy King. I'm not 59 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 4: gonna lie. I mean, she is truly iconic. 60 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 7: You know, this is someone who reshaped the sports landscape 61 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 7: and the business of sports maybe more than any other 62 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 7: single human being when it comes to equal pay, obviously 63 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 7: starting with tennis. But the thing that really comes through 64 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 7: I think in this conversation with her and Alana is 65 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 7: she and they are all in on women's sports right now. 66 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: You know, I remember when Holly Hunter portrayed Billy Jen 67 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: King in two thousand and one and when Billy beat Bobby. 68 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: I mean, she is truly iconic, but what she been 69 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: up to in these later years of her life. Talk 70 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: to us what she's up to on a professional and 71 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: a personal standpoint. 72 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 7: Yeah, so she's eighty years old, and you know what's fascinating. 73 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 7: You know, Alana says at one point in the interview 74 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 7: in a very sort of poignant way. I don't know 75 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 7: if she meant it to be, but it was very sweet. 76 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 7: She essentially said, I'm just so glad Billy is here 77 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 7: to see all this happening. And you know what she's 78 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 7: been doing, Damien, what they have been doing together. But 79 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 7: you know, Billy has really been outfront and using her 80 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 7: icon status to do is to really push this notion 81 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 7: that women's sports is a good business. And you know, 82 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 7: one of the so they've made several investments. They are 83 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 7: investors in angel City FC, of course, the Professional Women's 84 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 7: Soccer League, our soccer team here in Los Angeles. 85 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 4: I'm actually talking to you from LA. 86 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 7: That's notable because at the recent two hundred and fifty 87 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 7: million dollar valuation, it is the most valuable women's pro 88 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 7: sports team in the world. So that is obviously turned 89 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 7: out to be a pretty good investment. And they have 90 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 7: invested in the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have invested in 91 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 7: the sparks of the WNBA again here in Los Angeles. 92 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 7: But what's most interesting, I think is they have led 93 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 7: the charge on professional women's hockey and they use their 94 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 7: connections through the Dodgers and the ownership group there to 95 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 7: really get some serious backing. And you know, they think 96 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 7: that's going to be a big new professional sport for women. 97 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: You know, take me through a little bit. I mean, 98 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: she's just so iconic. I mean, she won the Presidential 99 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: Medal of Freedom back in two thousand and nine. She 100 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: just was given the Congressional Gold Medal again for her 101 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: work with you know, equal rights for women and education society, 102 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: et cetera. But you know, I mean, at some point, 103 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,799 Speaker 1: you know, she's got to take some time and rest, 104 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: you know. I mean, she's been so active for so 105 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: many years. Talk to us a little bit about you know, 106 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: what's motivating her? How does she get out of bed 107 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: every morning? I mean, come on, you know, I mean 108 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: this is somebody who I mean again in her eighties 109 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: and yet she's I mean, Michael Barr, She's still winning 110 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: awards from the President of the United States. 111 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 6: I have to remember that, Yeah, she. 112 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 8: I have to. 113 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 6: I mean, just my childhood. Just I know she'd talked 114 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 6: about that that famous match Man with Bobby Riggs because 115 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 6: I was glued to the TV set. 116 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 7: Then yeah, well, I mean to answer your question, Damian, 117 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 7: I mean, I think she feels I know, she feels 118 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 7: so motivated to seize this moment, which is clearly more 119 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 7: than a moment. You know, we talk about this notion 120 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 7: of is it a movement or is it a movement? 121 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 7: She's been a part of this movement, you know, for 122 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 7: fifty sixty years, and I think what's so interesting is, 123 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 7: you know, what we know from history, you know, to 124 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 7: paraphrase is, you know, things happen slowly and then all 125 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 7: of a sudden, And while it feels like it's all 126 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 7: of a sudden, you know, we're talking about the WNBA 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 7: in a completely different context now with Kitlin Clark and 128 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 7: Angel Reese and their rivalry and what that's done for viewership. 129 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 7: We're also seeing you know, women's sports really be on 130 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 7: television and accessible and drawing crowds, not just in person, 131 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 7: but you know through traditional media, through social media as well. 132 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 7: And you know, I think for Billy and Alana, they 133 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 7: they want to take advantage of this. I mean, they're 134 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 7: also by the way we're talking about the business and sports, 135 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 7: they're obviously very savvy and very canny investors, and they 136 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 7: see that not just is this something that's like, you know, 137 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 7: that's about equality, This is about making money. You know, 138 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 7: this is about the business. And I think the other 139 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 7: thing that Billy talks about a lot in this interview 140 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 7: is this notion of you know, she's been a mentor, 141 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 7: longtime mentor to lots of athletes in tennis obviously, but 142 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 7: beyond and I think one of the things she's very 143 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 7: keen to do is empower those athletes to understand their 144 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 7: own businesses and leverage their brands, leverage their influence to 145 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 7: make a difference. And so I think she's highly motivated 146 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:44,679 Speaker 7: to do all of those things. 147 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: You know, Jason, curiously, just hear your thoughts on that. 148 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: I mean, Kitlyn Clark. We all know the impact she's 149 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: had obviously on women's basketball, you know, the professional women's 150 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: hockey League. You know, I don't you haven't found there 151 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: Caitlyn Clark yet obviously, But my question is more about, 152 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: you know, the talent there. Right they kicked off the 153 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: season and you know, earlier this year. You know, I 154 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: think they're coming up with their second season, you know 155 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: next year. You know, where is the talent coming from? 156 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: Is it coming from Canada? I mean it's coming from Russia. 157 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: I mean, where's it coming from? 158 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 6: You know? 159 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: I mean I don't know many women who play hockey 160 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: in New York. I mean, Jason, forgive me, but you know, 161 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: talk to me a little bit about you know, where 162 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: these women are coming from. About you know, what's driving 163 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: the leak forward. 164 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 7: I think you'd be surprised at how much demand and 165 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 7: participation there is. You know, I have a friend actually 166 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 7: at Bloomberg who's daughter. They live in New York in 167 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 7: Westchester County like you and I do, and they've got 168 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 7: an incredibly active travel team that goes up and down 169 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 7: the Northeast, the mid Atlantic, out west to play. 170 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 4: This is a thriving business. 171 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 3: Wow. 172 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 4: You know, we've talked on this show before. 173 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 7: I believe about you know, cal Ripken and youth sport 174 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 7: and hockey is something that you know has really become 175 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 7: energized on the youth level for boys and for girls. 176 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 7: You know, also keep in mind that, you know, one 177 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 7: of the things that really tracks a lot of what 178 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 7: Billy Jean has been doing over the past fifty years. 179 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 7: It's not a coincidence that we're also celebrating the fifty first, 180 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 7: fifty second, I believe, anniversary of Title nine. And that's 181 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 7: obviously changed the landscape for women and girls to participate 182 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 7: in sports, and so this has been coming for a 183 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:32,199 Speaker 7: long time. What's fascinating about the Professional Women's Hockey League 184 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 7: is this idea that people are really showing up to 185 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 7: do it. I mean, I believe they They set a 186 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 7: record in Canada, so not surprisingly in Toronto Toronto Montreal 187 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 7: teams were playing. They had twenty one thousand people, largest 188 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 7: crowd ever for a professional women's hockey game. So again, 189 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 7: the market is there, and I think one of the 190 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 7: things that's true in hockey, that's true in soccer, that's 191 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 7: true in basketball. To your point about Kaitlin Clark is 192 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 7: if I was having this conversation with somebody just yesterday. 193 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 7: What has been proven is that if people are able 194 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 7: to watch it, they will And one of the things 195 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 7: that has really happened over the last couple of years 196 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 7: is you see a ESPN, you see CBS, you see 197 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 7: other both traditional and non traditional media companies investing in 198 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 7: showing women's sports because people are gonna watch it, and 199 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 7: that's certainly what we're seeing the WNBA and obviously part 200 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 7: of the business case for the Professional Women's Hockey League 201 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 7: as well. 202 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: The deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly. Alex Rodriguez, 203 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: you know, we've got SMOLTI coming on here. Talk to 204 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: us about what Alex is telling you behind closed doors 205 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: about this Major League Baseball Playoffs picture. I mean, who 206 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: does he like? Is he thinking the Yankees might have 207 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: a chance to pull this one out? Or is he 208 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: is he a believer in Michael Barrs Detroit Tigers. I'm 209 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: curious what's he saying? What's what's he whispering? 210 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 7: Well, I mean, obviously I can't speak fully for him, 211 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 7: but I will tell you something that he has said 212 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 7: a lot, which is sorry, bar, but a Yankees Dodgers 213 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 7: World Series is a dream come true from Ajor League Baseball. 214 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 7: As you guys know from from knowing Nolex a bit 215 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 7: and listening to to what we've been doing. He is 216 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 7: a very sharp businessman. You know, he's an owner of 217 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 7: the Timberwolves and the Links in the NBA. He understands 218 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 7: the business of baseball as well as anyone. You know, 219 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 7: we had a World Series last year in a very 220 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 7: exciting season that ended up with the Rangers and the Diamondbacks, 221 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 7: and it was I think the technical term is. 222 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,319 Speaker 4: Want won't when it comes to range. 223 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 7: They you have the Yankees, the Dodgers, You've got a 224 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 7: lot of big market teams in and that's really good. 225 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:41,680 Speaker 4: That's good for baseball. 226 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 7: So I think what Alex would tell you is, obviously 227 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 7: his heart is with the Yankees. The Yankees haven't won 228 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 7: a World Series since he was on the team in nine, 229 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 7: so they feel overdue. Aaron Judge obviously is a generational talent, 230 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 7: and so I think the idea of having Judge versus Otani, holy, 231 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 7: I mean, that's just that's just great baseball. 232 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 8: Now. 233 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 6: Yes, you know, I love a rod and I am 234 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:14,439 Speaker 6: a realist. Thank you, my man. Jason Kelly, you you 235 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 6: are You are the best. Bloomberg Originals Chief correspondent Jason Kelly. 236 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 6: By the way, check out The Deal with Alex Rodriguez 237 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 6: and Jason Wednesday nights at six Eastern on Bloomberg Television, 238 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 6: or stream at at eight eastern on Bloomberg Originals. Plus 239 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 6: find the podcast on Apple Spotify and all your favorite 240 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 6: podcast platforms. 241 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 3: Up. 242 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 6: Next, we turn the fan duel and a former NFL 243 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 6: executive taking it to court. Damien Sassa or Michael Barr, 244 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 6: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberger Radio. 245 00:12:49,760 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 2: Around the world, You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 246 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 2: from Bloomberg Radio. This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports 247 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 2: where we explored the big money issues in the world 248 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: of sports. I'm Michael Barr, along with Damian Sassauer, Scarlett 249 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 2: foo Is on assignment. FanDuel finds itself in the middle 250 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 2: of a lawsuit that calls into question whether it's doing 251 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 2: enough to prevent irresponsible gambling. Former NFL executive Met Patel 252 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 2: pleaded guilty in December to stealing over twenty million dollars 253 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 2: from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now he's suing FanDuel, saying that 254 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 2: the company knew he was a gambling addict but encouraged 255 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 2: him to place more bets. For more, we turned to 256 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: Bloomberg legal reporter Chris Dolmich. Chris, thank you for joining 257 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 2: us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. We really do 258 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 2: appreciate it. Let's start with the FanDuel suit. Can you 259 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: take us more into that. 260 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 3: Yes. 261 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 5: So the former executive I'm at Patel was a He 262 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 5: was a He was a finance executive in the Jaguars, 263 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 5: you know, finance department. He pleaded guilty earlier this year 264 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 5: or last year, i should say, to stealing more than 265 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 5: twenty two million from the team through it's a scheme 266 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 5: involving virtual credit cards, which are just credit cards that 267 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 5: are you know, they're not physical. They're issued to team 268 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 5: employees to pay for various expenses when they're doing team business. 269 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 5: And he allegedly opened some in his name and some 270 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 5: in others' names and charged a lot of money on 271 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 5: there and classified them as legitimate expenses when in reality 272 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 5: they were going to buy watches, or for trips or 273 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 5: for other luxury stays, and also for a lot of gambling. 274 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 5: And after he pleaded guilty, he was sentenced to seventy 275 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 5: eight months behind bars in March. He basically said this 276 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 5: was the product of his gambling addiction, that he was 277 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 5: constantly gambling. 278 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 9: And he was showed by the Jaguars earlier this year. 279 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 5: While he's he's in prison seeking sixty six million dollars 280 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 5: from him, which is triple the amount of the twenty 281 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 5: two million then he stole. 282 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 9: But yesterday he filed a lawsuit. 283 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 5: Here in federal court in Manhattan alleging that FanDuel allegedly 284 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 5: fed into his addiction basically by off constantly offering him 285 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 5: enticements to gamble more money, and had him signed to 286 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 5: a VIP host who constantly texted him said you know, 287 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 5: why aren't you betting today, accompanied him on trips that 288 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 5: FanDuel provided to the Masters to Formula one races, to 289 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 5: other sporting events, and essentially just said like he was, 290 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 5: they were the conduit that they constantly prayed on him, 291 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 5: knowing that he was, even though they ignored signs that 292 00:15:57,720 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 5: he was an addicted gambler. 293 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 9: And really key to the suit, ignored some of their own. 294 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 5: Protocols for know your customer and protocols set up for 295 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 5: money lawn to prevent money laundering, saying they should have 296 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 5: known that this money was coming from an illegitimate source. 297 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 5: And in fact, in the lawsuit there's some distinct allegations 298 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 5: about the what the VIP host did to enable some 299 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 5: of these deposits to go through, essentially saying, you know 300 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 5: when some of the deposits were working or the system 301 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 5: was rejecting him, he would facilitate the deposits to go in. 302 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 9: So it's Chris very interesting. 303 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: You know, Chris, let me catch you cut in here. 304 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: I mean, a casino is not a bank. I mean 305 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: when I think of know your customer in KYC rules 306 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: and regulations, right, I mean direferent bankers, right. And I 307 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: get that when you're clearing transactions, you know, cross border 308 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: or otherwise, you need to kind of know where the 309 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: source of the funds are coming from. But this is 310 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: a casino, right. People come in with their cash and 311 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 1: put it on a table, get some chips, and they gamble. 312 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,119 Speaker 1: I mean, talk to me about from a legal perspective, 313 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: how this potential potential suit is any different. 314 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 9: So it's not, it's not really that's a and that's 315 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 9: a very good point. 316 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 5: You know, usually we're dealing with foreign countries and things 317 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 5: like that. But casinos and really the sports books are 318 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 5: what it's issue here, not necessarily physical casinos. And as 319 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,719 Speaker 5: the attorney to file the case points out, you know, 320 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 5: brick and mortar institutions have for a long time been 321 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 5: kind of had been able to avoid the the kind 322 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 5: of restrictions that are placed on some of the online 323 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 5: betting services now, mostly because, like you said, people bring 324 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 5: cash in, they're generally you know, they might get a 325 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 5: cash advance, or they might be able to charge to 326 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 5: their card, but you don't. 327 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 9: It's generally a personal transaction. 328 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 5: You're not really looking at somebody coming in and laundering 329 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 5: money through the casino, even though that's obviously probably happens 330 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 5: once in a while. But it's just because it's cash, 331 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 5: and cash comes from places sometimes you don't know. So 332 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 5: in this aspect, it's really that part of it is 333 00:17:58,400 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 5: a little different in that. 334 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 9: It was kind of the facilitation of the. 335 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: It's the VIP of courtiers. Yeah, it's right. So you're 336 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: saying that they think they have a smoking gun. I 337 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: guess in this case that the VIP went over in above. 338 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,400 Speaker 1: I guess in order to you know, I guess, get 339 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: mister Pateel to reach into his his pocket and take 340 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: twenty two million dollars if someone else's money and gamble it. 341 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 6: I mean. Now we got to add too, is that 342 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:30,239 Speaker 6: he is suing Fan Duel to get two hundred and 343 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 6: fifty million dollars in damages. So let's say on something 344 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 6: that happens, he gets it, he pays off all of 345 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 6: the debt, the sixty six million, and then has the rest. Michael, 346 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 6: if that happens, that's all I want to say. I know, 347 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 6: I know, I'm just I'm just saying, Chris, that could happen. 348 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 5: Yeah, Look, anything could happen in a case like this. 349 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 5: I mean, this is a long shot meteor right, but 350 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 5: I mean, look, this is a novel theory. The lawyer says, 351 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,880 Speaker 5: this is the first really kind of case that's been 352 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 5: brought in terms of that VIP concierge scenario where he's 353 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 5: getting you know, really getting handed you know free, you know, 354 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 5: sixty million dollars in gambling credits, constant messaging. It just 355 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 5: kind of goes beyond like the old cases where somebody 356 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,239 Speaker 5: would you know, go into a casino and spend all 357 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 5: their money as and the lawyer that filed this lawsuit 358 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 5: also represented Sam antar As, the former Crazy Eddy CFO 359 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 5: connected to that case back. 360 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: In the day, and they. 361 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 9: Did lose that case. It's on appeal. 362 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 5: The lawyer hopes to get somewhere with appeal, but the 363 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 5: judge in that case very clearly said a casino has 364 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 5: no obligation to stop problem gamblers, essentially saying, you know, 365 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 5: it often goes hand in hand with alcoholism and things 366 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 5: like that, and it's very hard for casinos to prevent 367 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 5: people from gambling and they want to gamble. I mean, 368 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:06,120 Speaker 5: they could certainly ban people who cause problems or who 369 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 5: have been known to cheat, but it's been pretty well 370 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 5: established that casinos do not really have an obligation to 371 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 5: stop people from gambling. 372 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: Well, let me ask you this, Chris. I mean, let's 373 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: go back to, you know, the case of a meat Patel. 374 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: You know, he bet he stole twenty two million dollars 375 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: from the Jacksonville Jaguars. He gambled it away, and now 376 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:26,119 Speaker 1: the team is suing him for sixty six million dollars. 377 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: He's in jail. I mean, how can the team even 378 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: ever hope to recoup any fraction of that? I mean, 379 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong. You know, a meat Patel stole 380 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: from them. He needs to pay that money back over 381 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: time if he can, right, But I mean, like what 382 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 1: happens next? I mean, like, can the Juguars really assume 383 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: that they're going to get dollar one from a meat Patel? 384 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 5: Well, the first problem, of course, is that he's in prison, 385 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 5: so any kind of litigation against him is going to 386 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 5: take a while. He's going to have to respond to 387 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 5: any document, you know, to any allegations. He's going to 388 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 5: have to go through the through the percept. And it 389 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 5: might be that that the Jaguars are kind of setting 390 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 5: themselves up to attempt to recover from FanDuel. At some point, 391 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 5: they might need a legal ruling that Patel is not 392 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 5: legitimately on the hook simply because he stole the money 393 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 5: and he's going to have to pay it back to 394 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:23,679 Speaker 5: restitution or through whatever judgment comes against it. Yeah, so 395 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 5: that it's hard to believe that they would get a 396 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 5: double dip here, especially because I don't I haven't looked 397 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 5: at the docket in his criminal case recently, but he's 398 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 5: it's almost guaranteed that he was ordered to pay restitution 399 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 5: or ordered to forfeit any illegitimate funds, but he may 400 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 5: not have the money. So in that case, it's it's 401 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 5: kind of like we've seen some major judgments here in 402 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 5: this court, you know, specifically the FTX case, but that's 403 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,440 Speaker 5: going to come from a bankruptcy estate. So whether fan 404 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 5: whether the Jaguars can recover that money from Patel. That's 405 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 5: a long shot, I would think, but they in the 406 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 5: end might go after FanDuel That might be a long 407 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 5: shot as well. 408 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: But well, I mean, let's remember Chris and Michael Barr. 409 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: You know this Shod Khan, I mean, the Pakistani American 410 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:12,199 Speaker 1: billionaire businessman and owner of the Jaguars. He's no dummy, right, 411 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: I mean, he also owns Fullham at the in the 412 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: Premier League. I think he owns all elite wrestling. I mean, 413 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 1: he is, he is, definitely he's no dummy. So I imagine 414 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: that sixty six million dollars suit, you know, against the 415 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 1: meat Patel is there for a reason. 416 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 6: Oh yeah, and by the way, sure we should mention 417 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 6: too that the lawsuit was filed in New York. I 418 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 6: know we're talking about the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the lawsuit 419 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 6: was filed in New York. 420 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 9: Yeah, that's it. 421 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 5: I mean, it's it's a pretty common to have a 422 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 5: commercial dispute here. It puts it in the you know, 423 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,679 Speaker 5: it puts it on the front page of the Bloomberg 424 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 5: and the homepage and everybody else followed the story. 425 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: So, you know, I thought it had something to do 426 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: with fand being is Fandel based in New York. I wonder, 427 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:54,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know, I guess. 428 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 5: I mean, I mean, that's the most likely reason, and 429 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 5: that they are that's the the suit location. But it's 430 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 5: also because you know, they know, filing this in state 431 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 5: in federal court in Jacksonville is not going to get 432 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 5: as much attention as it would here in Manhattan. 433 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 6: Well, we're going to see how this plays out. I 434 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 6: remember saw the video up hotel when he was walking 435 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 6: into court, and yes he was in the suit, but 436 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:24,959 Speaker 6: he didn't answer any questions to reporters, you know about 437 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 6: you know, the stolen money or anything like that. He 438 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,719 Speaker 6: looked down trodden Ben that I can imagine, you know, 439 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 6: he goes, he goes to the high life of going 440 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 6: to Formula one racing, advantage football, change football, the yacht 441 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 6: here and this. 442 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: Gend free gambling credits. I mean that was the other 443 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: thing that I think really is interesting about this case, 444 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: just to cut in there, is that this was a 445 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 1: time when DraftKings and Fandle and all these shops were 446 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 1: giving out you know, if you bet two dollars, you're 447 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: getting a free dollar or a free chip, so to speak. Right, 448 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: And so you know, a lot of that was probably 449 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: given to him also, just to keep him in the game. 450 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 6: I'm not gonna lie, Chris, I was offered some of that, man, 451 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 6: not a dag one million dollars obviously, but yeah, it's 452 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 6: like you bet twenty five and we'll give you a 453 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 6: free twenty five nickel. 454 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 3: Yeah. 455 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 6: So we'll see how this plays out, Chris. You are 456 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 6: so kind, Chris, so much for joining us on the 457 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,280 Speaker 6: Bloomberg Business of Sports. We really do appreciate it. 458 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 8: Man. 459 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 6: Before we get into our next conversation, we've got some 460 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 6: sad news from the basketball world. This past week, we 461 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,919 Speaker 6: learned that Basketball Hall of Fame center to Kembe Mutombo 462 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 6: passed away. One of the league's greatest defensive centers of 463 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,399 Speaker 6: all time and known for his shot blocking and his 464 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 6: signature finger wag, his legacy extends well beyond the court. 465 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 6: After Retiringtuombo dedicated himself to philanthropy. A few years back 466 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 6: to Kimba. Mutumbo spoke to Bloomberg about why giving back, 467 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 6: especially to his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 468 00:24:58,640 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 6: was so important to him. 469 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 8: I give credit to my parents I saw from the 470 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,960 Speaker 8: young age since I was born, and I see my 471 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 8: parents especially my mom and dad who am no longer 472 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 8: with us, serving the community and trying to set in 473 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 8: the best example for their neighborhoods for their children. To 474 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,160 Speaker 8: make sure doctor we live in the great community where 475 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 8: everybody off the childa and canty childa. 476 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 6: To kem Bab Mutombo died of brain cancer at the 477 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 6: age of fifty eight. Up next on the show, we 478 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:34,200 Speaker 6: dive into playoff Baseball. MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz 479 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 6: join us next. 480 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 3: I just think baseball this year doesn't have a prohibited 481 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 3: favorite to where you could just say, hands down, this 482 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 3: is the team to beat anybody, and I mean anybody 483 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 3: that even includes the Detroit Tigers. 484 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 6: For Damien sass Hour, I'm Michael Barr. You're listening to 485 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 6: the Bloomberg Business of Sports Bloomberg Radio. Around the world. 486 00:25:55,160 --> 00:26:00,440 Speaker 2: Your listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 487 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 6: Thanks for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports, 488 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 6: where we explore the big money issues in the world 489 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 6: of sports. I'm Michael Barr along with the Damien Sassaur 490 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:13,159 Speaker 6: Scarlet fu Is on assignment. We've got the baseball playoffs 491 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 6: just getting underway and here to help us look ahead 492 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 6: to who might be this year's World Series champion. We 493 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 6: got an old friend here on the show, John Sports, 494 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 6: Fox Sports lead MLB analysts and Hall of Fame baseball 495 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 6: pitcher John. Hello, my man, welcome back to the Bloomberg 496 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 6: Business of Sports. 497 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 3: Well, thanks for having me. It's always a pleasure to 498 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:40,359 Speaker 3: talk to you guys. 499 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 6: Okay, I'm gonna do my bragging. I'm gonna get it 500 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 6: out now. Er you see what Tigers? You see him? Man, 501 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 6: Oh my gosh, these guys. 502 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 8: Want and this should end the run. 503 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 9: And that'll do it. The Montel magic continues. 504 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:00,680 Speaker 10: The Tigers Sweetney Our shows five two will move to 505 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 10: the American League Division Series. 506 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 6: How are they doing in Smoltzy with one of the 507 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 6: lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball and here they are 508 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 6: in the playoffs. 509 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 3: Well, part of the new format. I'm sure Major League 510 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 3: Baseball was hoping we would get stories like this, and 511 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:22,119 Speaker 3: then some people don't like stories like this because of 512 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 3: what you just said. But I think it's fantastic. It's 513 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 3: a It's a miracle, right, I mean, it's no things 514 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 3: short of a miracle. When you think about the history 515 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 3: of baseball, the percentage of chance they had to get 516 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 3: to the postseason was less than point zero one. So 517 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 3: they've done it with a momentum, with strategy, with youthfulness, 518 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 3: and they don't think their bubble is going to burst 519 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,439 Speaker 3: anytime soon. So that's a great place to be. But 520 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,320 Speaker 3: at the same time, you know, they almost have to 521 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,760 Speaker 3: play perfect, and that's okay, and he's got them believing 522 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 3: in a system that works, and they are a dangerous, 523 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 3: dangerous team. Nobody wants to play Detroit Tigers because it 524 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 3: creates chaos, and baseball's played best when it's got some 525 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 3: uniform and structure, and they are the opposite of that. 526 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 3: So I'm from there. Of course I was signed by 527 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 3: the Tigers. Ye I feel like my broadcasting career would 528 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 3: come full circle if ever I got the chance to 529 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 3: do a world series that the Tigers are in, knowing 530 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 3: my history and my upbringing. And then of course I 531 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 3: got a chance to do a World series for the 532 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 3: Atlanta Breys, which speaks for itself because I played my 533 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 3: entire career pretty much for them. 534 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: Tarik Scooball, I mean it's really him and everyone else, right, 535 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: I mean the al Cy young front runner and then 536 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 1: everybody else. I mean, talk to me about this, I 537 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: mean the pitching by committee approach to baseball? Can that 538 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:45,240 Speaker 1: actually work? 539 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 3: You know? That's the only unfortunate thing that people try 540 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 3: to copy theories in formulas. This doesn't work long term, 541 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 3: and everybody wants to believe it can. But the reality 542 00:28:56,960 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 3: of it is it can work in a short vacuum, 543 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 3: in a short series, reason in a postseason. The reason 544 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 3: it can't work long term is you're asking so many 545 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 3: components to be perfect every single time. It only takes 546 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 3: one guy to mess up the routine. It works better 547 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 3: when you got a scuobrel. Yeah, you dominate in the game. 548 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 3: And that's what people try to get away from. They 549 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 3: think they can reinvent the game by all kinds of 550 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 3: information and replace this guy for this guy, and do 551 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 3: this and do that, and on paper it makes sense, 552 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 3: but paper doesn't win you a championship. It can help, 553 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 3: but it doesn't win you a championship. And I know 554 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 3: we're in the day and age of information and all 555 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 3: this different technology, but let's just call it what it is. 556 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:42,479 Speaker 3: This is an unbelievable run. It is not something you 557 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 3: can duplicate. If you could, we'd see more of these 558 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 3: stories every year, and we just don't. 559 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 6: In Detroit, there's nobody and you know me, I'm a 560 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 6: diehard Detroit fan. Nobody in Detroit saw this coming. You're 561 00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 6: exactly rights. 562 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 3: Multi well, when you think about the Roight Sports when 563 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 3: in your lifetime as the Lions stolen all of the 564 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 3: uh the kind of attention and only now in an 565 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 3: upside down world in Detroit, the Tigers can kind of 566 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 3: believe that the Lions are getting So it's pretty cool. 567 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 3: Detroit has some of the greatest fans in the world. 568 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 3: They just suffered for so long and this is a 569 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 3: this is a long time coming for the Tigers and 570 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 3: they're there. This is not a fluke like they're coming 571 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,400 Speaker 3: and their window of winning is is is now pretty 572 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 3: pretty extended having gone through this well. 573 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 2: Small toy. 574 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: You're talking to a Yankees fan here, So I am 575 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: not at all sorry to see the Houston Astros depart 576 00:30:40,960 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: this this postseason with you, but I have to ask you, 577 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you know you can't help but respect. Alex 578 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: Bregman right. 579 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 3: Gregman swings in a fly ball left field back in 580 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 3: toward the corner slater on the track. 581 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 9: Look's up with the fence done. Hold run Alex Pragman 582 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 9: into the first row. 583 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: And a routine ground ball the third base for the 584 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 1: second out of the year. I mean, is that really 585 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: the last time we're going to see one Alex Bregman 586 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: in the Houston Astros uniform. 587 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't know. I mean, there's payrolls, and then 588 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:11,080 Speaker 3: there's an opportunity to keep certain players that have become 589 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 3: rich in your history. I don't know if they can 590 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 3: afford his contract, but it's something that you know, Jim 591 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 3: Crane is one of the best owners in all of baseball, 592 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 3: maybe all of sports. So I'm sure they'll try to 593 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 3: figure something out. 594 00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 8: Yeah. 595 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, I mean, look, that wasn't the only matchup 596 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 1: we saw over the weekend, right, I mean the Kansas 597 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: City right, you know, talk to us about the Al 598 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: Central huh. Three teams from the Central and then the Yankees. 599 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 9: That's that's it. 600 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: That's it's left. I mean, who would have saw that coming? 601 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 3: Well, nobody, right, I mean, Kansas City's been doing this though. 602 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,000 Speaker 3: They're more ready than the Detroit Tigers, who are going 603 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:47,480 Speaker 3: to be ready, and yet here we are. Listen, give 604 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:51,479 Speaker 3: these organization credit. Kansas City made some sneaky great moves 605 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 3: at spring training. Right before you know, they're free agents. 606 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:59,479 Speaker 3: So this organization again cannot afford to go out and 607 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 3: spend money like the other big boys can, and they 608 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:05,000 Speaker 3: cannot afford to make bad decisions, and they've made a 609 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,239 Speaker 3: lot of good ones lately. So two markets that are 610 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 3: benefiting from you know, young talent that is here for 611 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:12,480 Speaker 3: a while. 612 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:15,840 Speaker 1: You know, you talk about young talent, and you know again, 613 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 1: I'm a New York Yankee fan. You know, Michael bar 614 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:19,680 Speaker 1: and I are here, you know, in New York. And 615 00:32:19,720 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 1: one Bobby Wood Junior is coming to town. I mean, 616 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:24,320 Speaker 1: let's talk about the twenty four. 617 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 9: You can ball smack. 618 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 10: Down the right field line toward the corner at a 619 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 10: ref Snider's reach didn't one off the fence. Carca is 620 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 10: in a score, Massy raises around third, he comes in 621 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 10: standing two Rundovil Bobby Whitt Junior files take the lead 622 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:39,640 Speaker 10: in the bottom of the four. 623 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: I mean, what is going on with this kid? I 624 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:43,400 Speaker 1: mean he is amazing. 625 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 3: Huh, He's amazing. He's got every tool set, he's got 626 00:32:46,640 --> 00:32:50,520 Speaker 3: every ability to dominate a game. And that's that's really 627 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 3: what we've needed since the rule changes. We've needed this 628 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 3: to happen for our game because it was getting too stagnant, 629 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 3: it was getting too slow, And now you know, the 630 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 3: sports vibrant again with action and with just unbelievably young, 631 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 3: great talent. 632 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 6: Now I know that, yes I am rooting for the Tigers, 633 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:15,320 Speaker 6: but I know all the TV executives want to see 634 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 6: a New York Yankees Los Angeles Dodgers matchup in the 635 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:24,840 Speaker 6: World Series because that would bring so many eyeballs to 636 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 6: the World Series in the Fall Classic. 637 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 3: Well, you're not kidding about that. I mean, there's all 638 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 3: kinds of dream matchups, but you never in the game 639 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 3: of sports usually doesn't work itself out that way. And 640 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 3: right now, you know, LA's got a lot to do 641 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:46,160 Speaker 3: to get through some pretty incredible teams in the National League. 642 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:49,880 Speaker 3: I'm not saying the American League journey is not tough 643 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 3: in itself, but when you think about the potential matchups 644 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 3: the Yankees could have played, They've got another dangerous team 645 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 3: in Kansas City. So I just think baseball this year 646 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 3: does have a prohibited favorite to where you could just say, 647 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 3: hands down, this is the team to beat anybody, and 648 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:10,760 Speaker 3: I mean anybody that even includes the Detroit Tigers. Maybe 649 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 3: they have the least amount of opportunity to run the 650 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 3: gamut and win it all. But anybody can win the 651 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:18,800 Speaker 3: championship this year, and that's good for the sport SMALLTI. 652 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:20,840 Speaker 1: Look, we know the Braves are playing with house money 653 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: this season. I mean they had a lot of injuries, right, 654 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:24,839 Speaker 1: But I mean talk to us a little bit about 655 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 1: what we can expect from them now that their season's over. 656 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:28,880 Speaker 1: I mean, are they going to be able to retain 657 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:30,759 Speaker 1: all this talent? Are we going to see him get 658 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 1: return to the field in twenty twenty five? 659 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 3: Now, they're going to dominate next year. I mean, that's 660 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 3: just they are because they've got that They've got guys 661 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:40,799 Speaker 3: locked up and they've got guys coming back. Now that's 662 00:34:40,840 --> 00:34:43,800 Speaker 3: being said, if everybody's healthy, if they run into injuries, 663 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:47,200 Speaker 3: they can't afford rosters to have your superstars go down. 664 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:48,920 Speaker 3: At the eight that they were going down, it was 665 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 3: an incredible, incredible run that they put on without the 666 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:56,879 Speaker 3: resources that they normally have. So give them a lot 667 00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 3: of credit. But I think they're going to be very 668 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:02,919 Speaker 3: good next year. And and the one thing that they've 669 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,360 Speaker 3: done is locked up their superstars. Now they got to 670 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:05,920 Speaker 3: keep healthy. 671 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:11,359 Speaker 6: Unfortunately, we had a sad moment that happened several days ago. 672 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:16,919 Speaker 6: We lost Charlie Hustle. Pete Rose. Your thoughts about him 673 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,640 Speaker 6: and what he brought to the. 674 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,239 Speaker 3: Game, Well, Pete Rose was a guy that if you 675 00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:23,800 Speaker 3: watch the game and you were trying to teach somebody 676 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:26,320 Speaker 3: how to play the game, you would teach it exactly 677 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 3: the way Pete Rose played the game. He did everything 678 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:32,520 Speaker 3: you could do to enhance his team in the Hustle 679 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:35,000 Speaker 3: and never took anything for granted, he's one of the 680 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 3: greatest all time players in the history of the game, 681 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,360 Speaker 3: and no one's going to deny that. Obviously, off the 682 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:44,440 Speaker 3: field stuff that definitely took away from him being in 683 00:35:44,440 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 3: the Hall of Fame. But I don't think you could 684 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,359 Speaker 3: say that he's not a Hall of Fame player. And 685 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:53,600 Speaker 3: so from Pete Rose to leaving us where he did. 686 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:57,120 Speaker 3: You know, time is going to tell whether or not 687 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 3: he gets in the Hall of Fame that he's passed away. 688 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:06,200 Speaker 1: Smulti, we know your role on the amateur circuit in golf. 689 00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:10,200 Speaker 1: We know about your pro am achievements. How's the golf 690 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 1: game looking here this time of year. I mean it's 691 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:13,480 Speaker 1: getting a little long in the tooth, it's getting a 692 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,480 Speaker 1: little chilly up here in New York. What's going on 693 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 1: down here in Atlanta. 694 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 3: We've got incredible weather and I'm getting ready to pack 695 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 3: my bags for twenty five days. So when you think 696 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,959 Speaker 3: about the way that this postseason is going to shake out, 697 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:30,879 Speaker 3: I'll be on the West Coast to start. So there's 698 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:32,400 Speaker 3: a lot of golf to be played. There, a lot 699 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:34,800 Speaker 3: of late games. And I got to talk to you 700 00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:38,800 Speaker 3: guys about an event that's coming up. Oh yeah, yeah. 701 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,240 Speaker 3: This event is called the Pro Series. It's a Pro Cup. 702 00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:44,279 Speaker 3: We're having it in December at Innisbrook and Tampa. It's 703 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 3: a four sport Ryder Cup. It's going to be the 704 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 3: first of this kind. It's going to be epic baseball, basketball, football, 705 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,839 Speaker 3: and hockey, twelve man teams playing in a round Robinder Cup. 706 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,880 Speaker 3: I'm the captain of baseball, and we have a lot 707 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:00,920 Speaker 3: of pressure on us because we have a bench and 708 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 3: we got a great roster. 709 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: Oh captain, my captain, Can you give us any color 710 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 1: on who your roster might be? 711 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 3: Oh? 712 00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 8: Yeah, yeah. 713 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 3: We've got guys already pretty locked in, like Mark Boulder, 714 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 3: one of the best golfers in all of celebrities. Tyler 715 00:37:15,560 --> 00:37:19,160 Speaker 3: Clifford is phenomenal. Josh Donaldson hits at four hundred yards, 716 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:25,120 Speaker 3: Ran McCann, Tom Glavin, Vin Mallar, Kyle Loch, Joe Carter, 717 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 3: and we got more. So we we are. We are 718 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:33,160 Speaker 3: definitely looking forward to this. I just love the strategy 719 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:36,359 Speaker 3: in the competition. I'm I'm I'm I'm a competition at 720 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,880 Speaker 3: it and this is something that gives me more competition. 721 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 6: John Smoltz, I love you, man. I got I got 722 00:37:45,239 --> 00:37:48,239 Speaker 6: to learn golf. I tried to play it once and 723 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:49,720 Speaker 6: I'm horrible. 724 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: That's on me. 725 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:50,719 Speaker 8: That's on me. 726 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:53,279 Speaker 1: I'll get you up. That's on me. We'll get you 727 00:37:53,320 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 1: to tame recked. 728 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:58,080 Speaker 6: Enough Baseball Hall of Famer pitcher and Fox Sports MLB 729 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 6: analyst John Small, Thank you, man. We appreciate it. 730 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:03,560 Speaker 3: Buddy, a pleasure. Thanks for having me, guys. 731 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:06,600 Speaker 6: And most of all, thank you for joining us on 732 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:10,280 Speaker 6: the Bloomberg Business of Sports. For Damien Sasauer, I'm Michael Barr. 733 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:15,480 Speaker 6: Subscribe to the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast on Apple, Spotify, 734 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 6: and all your favorite podcast platforms so you never miss 735 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:22,280 Speaker 6: an episode. Tune in again next week for the latest 736 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:25,440 Speaker 6: on the stories moving big money in the world of sports. 737 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:29,600 Speaker 6: You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of sports from Bloomberg 738 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:38,440 Speaker 6: Radio around the world.