1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. The world changing and 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: what are the things we can do to transform our 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: business and engage our fans globally in different ways, people 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,400 Speaker 1: are using their name and likeness to create more opportunities, 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: more steaks and companies. In order to turn the organization around, 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: we had to turn it around not only just on 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: baseball operations side, but other business operations side well, and 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: any other sport. Is very difficult, but I like to 9 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: plug my horizons and be able to expand. Sports need 10 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: to be consumed a lot and not to the big 11 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: competitive advantage for intual property holders of sports content in 12 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: the media landscape. Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Jason Kelly, and I'm Mike Lynch and 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm Michael bar Over the next hour, we will explore 15 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports and 16 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: to talk to some of the biggest players in the industry. 17 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: That's right. Coming up, we're gonna check in with Chris Collinsworth. 18 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: You know the sultry sound of his voice from Sunday 19 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: Night Football, But we've got a little bit of a 20 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: surprise for you. He is a major business owner as 21 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: well all about the data and analysis, something very close 22 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: to our heart here at Bloomberg. We're going to get 23 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,199 Speaker 1: inside his company as well as talk to him about 24 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: some quarterback controversies across the league, including up there in 25 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: a little stadium called Gillette Stadium. Lynchy, But first, uh, 26 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: let's talk a little baseball. Uh. It is the year 27 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: where they are going to renegotiate the owners and the players, 28 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: and we're starting to get some reports, Lynchy, that some 29 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: proposals on the table, and a proposal that if it 30 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: looks like a salary cap, and it feels like a 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: salary cap, uh it maybe they're not calling it that. 32 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: But what did you make of this initial proposal? It 33 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: has zero chance of being accepted by the players. In 34 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: in the nature of a Major League Baseball player, the 35 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: minute they joined the players Association, You've given a sheet 36 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: of paper. It says you must respond note any proposed 37 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: all immediately. Your first answer is no. It is there 38 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: is no. No. Matter what is offered, you must answer no. 39 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, as we know, is the only league 40 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: without a salary cap. The other leagues have adopted salary caps, 41 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: and they've worked well with the players and ownership. I 42 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: see a contentious offseason coming up now when the CBA 43 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: expires at the end of the World Series. They want 44 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: to put a floor in now of a minimum salary 45 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: salary cap of a hundred million dollars. Is already more 46 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: than a half dozen teams who are below the hundred 47 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: million right now, and you know, the players want to 48 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: increase that the the the payroll because and they want 49 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: to increase the luxury tack. They think that it's more 50 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: incentive to pay players more. Right, all right, So what's 51 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: fascinating about this? And you guys love going into your 52 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: way back machine. Let's go into the way back machine. 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: And here from a notable owner who talked about some 54 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: of the economics of paying players and how owners and 55 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,119 Speaker 1: players no less than Mr George Steinbrenner check it out. 56 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: I feel that it's necessary on the part of baseball 57 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: at this point to really reassess our priorities. We've gone 58 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: through and going into the eighties, we've been through a 59 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,279 Speaker 1: successful period, but a period that have seen costs skyrocket, 60 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: and as everybody knows, uh you, baseball is still the 61 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: best buy in professional sports and I want to keep 62 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: it that way. So in order to do that, I 63 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 1: think we have to have some semblance of reasonableness in here, 64 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: and that ownership must regain a position where they can 65 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: maintain the prices for the fans and at the same 66 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: time be fair to the players. All right, So George 67 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: Steinbrenner about thirty years ago, May he rest in peace, 68 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: Michael Barr. But I mean there is it's a little 69 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: bit rich given everything that we've seen with free agency 70 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: and how everything's changed and different owners, Steinbrenner willing to 71 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: really pay up to say the least for players that 72 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: he's talking about fairness and and mom and apple Pie 73 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: and all that stuff. Don't you think Billy Martin and 74 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: Kurt Flood are having a talk with George Steinbrether and 75 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: heaven right now about all of this. I have mixed 76 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: feelings about it because my thought was always, well, the 77 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:18,360 Speaker 1: salary cap is going to be the owner. If the 78 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: owner says, look, I can't pay this guy this much money, 79 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: he's not going to offer that much money. Now. I 80 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: get why the salary cap was there because the smaller 81 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: teams are like, hey, we can't compete through this and 82 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: that whatever. But you always had a salary cap because 83 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: the owner is gonna say no, I can't pay that period. 84 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: There's a story that Mark Schlereth when he was playing 85 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: for Washington in the NFL that he always talked about 86 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: when back in the day he had a contract and 87 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: the owner called him in and the owner tore up 88 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: the contract and say, you're gonna sign this new contract 89 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 1: for less money, And according to what Sila said, he 90 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: had to sign it because he didn't have a choice. 91 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 1: You try that today, now it's gonna be a totally 92 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: different thing. So I I don't know what to think 93 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: about this and the salary cap, because you know my model, 94 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: get what you can while you can, and you know, 95 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: if you can make it, go ahead. I mean, Lynchy, 96 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: you know you have this situation with baseball. It's struggling 97 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: to kind of stay relevant even though we're in the 98 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: midst of a pretty exciting season, maybe a little less 99 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: exciting this week. If you're a Red Sox fan, sorry, um, 100 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: but you know you've got a lot of drama. Just 101 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: look down the street from where we are here with 102 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: the Mets and their owner tweeting about some of the 103 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: lack of daisical performance at the plate, and yet this negotiation. 104 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: I mean, just to get down to brass tacks. This 105 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: negotiation is really going to determine the future of this game. 106 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,679 Speaker 1: This is a big, big time for baseball. And even 107 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: if this will automatically be rejected, there is some sense 108 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: of import around this negotiation, don't you think? And without question, 109 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: and I think there's there's a looming threat of a walkout, 110 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: lockout or a work stoppage comes spring training. Um, you 111 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: know I missed George Steinbrenner, right, I heard that sound 112 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: bite right there with just back back all kinds of 113 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: memories because he was the big villain he created. I mean, 114 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 1: he's talking about something that he actually created. He wanted 115 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: a control spending. Well, he went out and he'll signed 116 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: Reggie Jackson, Don Gullic, Catfish Hunter, Rich Gussage. And they 117 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: were the haves and almost the rest of the Major 118 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: League Baseball with the have nots. And they were competitive 119 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: with the Dodgers and the Red Sox and all the 120 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: and you could just predict every year which teams were 121 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: going to be in the postseason. Every once in a while, 122 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: a team like Milwaukee or Kansas City jumps in there. 123 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: In Tampa Bay. I don't know how they're doing it, 124 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: but you know, Major League Baseball will never be like 125 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: the National Football League. It will never have parody as 126 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: long as it does not have a salary cop. Yeah, 127 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: interesting to see where this goes. And you bring up Tampa, 128 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: I mean, they're one of those teams that is under 129 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: the hundred million dollar payroll that that would be, um, 130 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: you know, part of this negotiations that's going on, So 131 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: stay tuned for that. I mean, speaking of revenue, you 132 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: turn to what leagues other than Major League Baseball are 133 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: trying to do to sort of fill these gaps. And 134 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: we're talking about in the NHL helmet logos, we're talking 135 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: about now in the NHL putting logos on the sweater 136 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: as it were. These are logos that have already appeared 137 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: on NBA jerseys. These leagues are trying to find a 138 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: way to fill these revenue gaps that have been blown 139 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: wide open largely because of the pandemic no fans in 140 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: the stands. It's it's interesting. I think back to the 141 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: conversation we had earlier this week guys with Todd Ramassar, 142 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: he's the CEO of Life Sports Agency. He talked about 143 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: this very issue and the owners and the players having 144 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: to come together to figure out these different economics. Check 145 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: it out. You gotta just trust the other side or 146 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: you gotta try. You gotta work as a as a unit. 147 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: It's not players in the Union on one side, the 148 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: league on another side. It's you know, you've got to 149 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: deal with matters as a collective to make sure again 150 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: that you're having the outcomes that are beneficial to both sides. 151 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: And obviously he is largely representing players in the NBA, 152 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: where that relationship is much better and you are having 153 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: to figure out whether it is the logo showing up 154 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: on your uniform, whether it is COVID protocols. You gotta 155 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: trust the other side, and uh, you know, hopefully that 156 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: gets you where you need to get. Lynching absolutely. I 157 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: mean the NBA with these jersey patches, which not afensive 158 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: at all, they're pretty much the shoulder strap. They don't 159 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: bother me at all. Um, But they generated a hundred 160 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: and fifty million dollars in revenue. And now they're talking 161 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: about having a virtual images on the on the hard 162 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: court through while the game is going on, and that 163 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: won't bother me at all either. I know, I was 164 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: watching some of the games in the bubble. Uh. Last year, 165 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: and that's how they were getting some income and recouping 166 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: some income. Look, we see it all the time. You 167 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: watch a golf game. Golf has got it all over 168 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: his shirt, all over his hat. Tennis players have it 169 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 1: all over the place. You see it behind home plate 170 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: and backstops. It's it's time and I think that it's 171 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: it's a great alternative revenue source for the owners. And again, 172 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: as long as the players trust that, Okay, they're making 173 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: more money than making up for the money they lost 174 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: in and in uh in COVID, I trust them that 175 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: it's going to work out beneficial for all of us. Yeah. 176 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: I mean, and in normal times, bar, you probably would 177 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: have players basically saying like, all right, we're is my 178 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: cut of this uh this new money? I mean, just 179 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: to put one figure around it, the NBA annual sponsorship 180 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: revenue is one point four six billion dollars. I mean, 181 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: that's how much they're the league is getting from sponsors. 182 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: But does it affect the way you watch a game? 183 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 1: Bars sort of the more kind of commercial pop ups 184 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:23,839 Speaker 1: as it were, that that are shown up in h 185 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: L meet NASCAR. Because we at NASCAR, any racing fan, 186 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: we're used to that we we will see that. In fact, 187 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: the sponsors will stick out a lot more than the 188 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: driver in some cases, unless the driver is a big name, 189 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 1: because we'll we'll see, you know, there's the napacar, there's 190 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: the lowest car. Let's see all that going on the 191 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: track and then realize it's like, oh, yeah, those are 192 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: the sponsors. Uh. And it's it's time that has come 193 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: way overdue, you know, nh L. I will remember the 194 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: day here I go again. Remember when the rink the 195 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: wall had no advertising on it. It was just a 196 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: white wall, that was it. And now today you see 197 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: it all over the place. Yeah, absolutely well and from 198 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: a Jersey perspective. Mean, look, Europe was way ahead of 199 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: us and in this I mean, if you've been watching 200 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: football as they call it over there, you know those 201 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: jerseys have been sponsored for for quite some time. So 202 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 1: in some cases it's the US catching up today. So 203 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: psyched to be joined by NBC's own Sunday Night football 204 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: analysts and Pro Football Focus owner and chairman Chris collins Worth. 205 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: It is that time of year. His dulcet tones and 206 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: visage are going to be in our living rooms before 207 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: too long. Chris really good to have you with us. 208 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 1: It's great being here. This is fun. Were a little 209 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: crossover of football, a little business, a little whole thing. 210 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: You guys are tapping right into my life. I love this, Martin, Well, 211 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: thank you. Yeah, well you are. You're living it in 212 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: many ways. And and we've got a wide ranging conversation 213 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: ahead of us. I know. So Chris, tell us about 214 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 1: Chris collins Worth the businessman, because you've created this company. 215 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: It is so much in the zeit, guys, not just 216 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: of the game, but candidly, we are Bloomberg after all. 217 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: We love our data and analytics and it's a very 218 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: interesting product. Break this down for us. I wonder how 219 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: it came about and and and how you see it evolving. Yeah, 220 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: it was. I actually bought it. It's one of the 221 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: most miraculous stories I think I've ever heard. And I 222 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: can brag on these guys because I wasn't a part 223 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: of it. In the beginning. In two thousand and six, 224 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: a guy named Neil Hornsby, who was in England, fell 225 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: in love with the game of football. He saw one 226 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: game with Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins. He was 227 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: a computer key guru, whatever you want to call it. 228 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: Business man, and he fell in love with the data 229 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: and the stats of football. He said, they just didn't 230 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: have stuff like that for soccer and cricket and rugby 231 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: and some of the things that that he loved, and 232 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: so he just you know, it was the very beginning 233 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: of the internet, and he just sort of formed an 234 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: online club and a bunch of guys from England signed 235 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: up and they just started keeping stats and they just 236 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: started talking about the game of football. And you know, 237 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: they didn't think anything of it. They all had jobs, 238 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 1: they were all doing. It is just a hobby. And 239 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: in the later days, and then one day the New 240 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: York Giants or someone saying they were from the New 241 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: York Giants called and said, hey, you know, who are 242 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: you guys, and and you know, would you mind if 243 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: we use your data? And of course they all fell 244 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,040 Speaker 1: over dead. They couldn't believe that the New York i 245 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: it's actually were interested in their data, and so they 246 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: started talking about it and a relationship was born. And 247 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: of course soon after that, um, the New York Giants 248 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: are in the Super Bowl and I'm calling the game, 249 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: and my wife is she will do occasionally reads me 250 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: the Wall Street Journal whatever New York Times whenever the case. 251 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: When we're driving and she'll read various stories. So this 252 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: one story popped up and she goes, oh, you'll find 253 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: this interesting. I mean literally driving to call the super Bowl. 254 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: She's telling me the story about this guy Neil Hornsby 255 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: and their company from England and New York Giants are 256 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: calling it their secret weapon that's got them to the 257 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. And of course they won that game against 258 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: New England in Indianapolis, and and so she wanted me. 259 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: She goes, yeah, you should tell that story on the air. 260 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: I said, I'm not telling the story is some stupid 261 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: brit that come up with a couple of data points. 262 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: And I go, us, seriously, you know, I'm like totally 263 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: dismissive with the whole thing. So now fast forward about 264 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: four years and the NBC wants me to do a 265 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: postgame show and I'm like, okay, but I don't always 266 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: get to see the games during the day. You know, 267 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: we're putting the final touches on our broadcast and I've 268 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: sort of got it on in the background or or whatever, 269 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: and so I said, well, there's got to be somebody 270 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: online that has some you know, I can fake it. 271 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: With anybody, right, And so i'm I'm so I go 272 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 1: on and I find this PFF and I go in 273 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: and it's sad, it's pretty cool. And then as you 274 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 1: could pay nine and I go, okay, I put in 275 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: my credit card and it was really good. And as 276 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: you know, I've just done three or four of the teams, 277 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: and so I knew exactly you know, what the coaches thought, 278 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: what I thought, what my own film studies said, all 279 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: these all that different stuff, and I go, this is amazing, 280 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: this is really good. So I type in the little 281 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: contact us button that nobody ever uses ever on the internet, 282 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: and I type in. I said, hey, you know this 283 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 1: is Chris collins Worth. Uh, your stuff is really great. 284 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: I said, who are you guys? I just assume there 285 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: are a bunch of coaches or scouts and all that 286 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. And I put my phone number in there. 287 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: Literally like two minutes later, I get a phone call 288 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: from this guy with a British accent, and all I 289 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: can think of is son of BBB. I can't believe 290 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: is brit just hustled me out? As that's all I 291 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: cared about. I didn't even think of anything else. I go, 292 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 1: I was so bad. So I started firing questions that 293 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: this guy about inside linebackers and guards and special teams 294 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: and all the stuff that nobody would know about. After 295 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: about five minutes of him just firing answers back faster 296 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: than I can ask the question, I finally stopped again. 297 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: I said, who the hell are you? This is what 298 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: are you? You know? And he starts telling me the story, 299 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 1: And within a month I had bought the company. And 300 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: so it's been about a five or six year journey here. Uh. 301 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: We went from like eleven NFL teams that by the 302 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: service that now all thirty two. They had no college 303 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: football products. So that was my first thing. I said, 304 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: can you do college football? Because I knew how valuable 305 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,360 Speaker 1: to draft information would be And he said oh yeah. 306 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: I said, well, how many more people would you have 307 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: to hire? And he goes, oh, you know, I think 308 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: we had forty people at the time total working. And 309 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: he goes out, we can do it with our guys 310 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: that don't don't get it done. Well, now we have 311 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: six hundred and some people doing up just because it's 312 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: impossible to try. Everybody wants it sooner, faster, quicker. They 313 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,919 Speaker 1: want more stuff. I've hired more mathematicians than m I 314 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,200 Speaker 1: t I think, just try and figure out what all 315 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: this day to me. And it has just been an 316 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 1: incredible journey, it really has been. We've got um, You've 317 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: gone Durbin from silver Lake, their group, you know, you 318 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: gone bought into it. Dave Calhoun who's running Boeing now, 319 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 1: Dick Eversoul who ran NBC for all those days, NBC Sports, 320 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,920 Speaker 1: Chip Kelly, Chip Kelly who did nothing but just complain 321 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: about the f F every time I saw him. He 322 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: actually came in into Cincinnati to take a look at 323 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: it and asked if he could buy into the company. 324 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, you're unforwaitable. I wanted. I'll let you buy in, 325 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: but you gotta take back everything you said about So 326 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: it's just been wild. It's been really fun, though. That's 327 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: an amazing just confluence of events, and as you say, 328 00:18:46,920 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: like some really really interesting, big name backers alongside there 329 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: with you. You know, Chris, I was reading something the 330 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: other day that will come as no surprise to you 331 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: and and and wasn't totally shocking to me. But it 332 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: was the list of the twenty most viewed television programs 333 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: last year. And I think fifteen of them, give or 334 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: take fourteen fifteen were professional football. This is an amazing 335 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: product that you are part of creating. Why is it 336 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: so resilient, so popular? What is it about the game, 337 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: but specifically the game on television? Yeah, you know, I 338 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 1: think there's you're so intimate with the game on television. 339 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: I still I have season tickets to the Bengals, and 340 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 1: I go to the games when they play on Thursday 341 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: or Monday night or whatever. But you know, when I'm 342 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: sitting up in the stands, I'm watching the game, but 343 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: I'm like totally in la la land. I feel like 344 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: I'm watching little kids play football, and it's like I'm 345 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:59,360 Speaker 1: not I'm not analyzing, I'm not breaking it down. I'm 346 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: not doing in any of the stuff that i might 347 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 1: be doing on Sunday night. I'm just kind of watching 348 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: the game. And there's television timeouts and there's you know, 349 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: there's different things. I'm just relaxing, having a beer, having 350 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: a good time. Um. But when I'm calling the game, 351 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: and when hopefully when you're watching the game on NBC, 352 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,920 Speaker 1: I mean, you've got the sky cams, You've got all 353 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: the whatever is happening on the sidelines, whatever, the strange angles, 354 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 1: the man, the man breakdowns that you know, we all 355 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: go through with all that stuff, and it it feels 356 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: like I'm flying a seven forty seven or something. I've 357 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: got monitors all over I can see all these different things, 358 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 1: and you know, trying to give you guys something that 359 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: you didn't see. I always say that, you know, Al 360 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: is going to tell you what happened on the play 361 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: and what happened with the ball. And I'm never gonna 362 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: watch the ball, like when I broadcast, I don't watch 363 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,200 Speaker 1: the football at all. I watch anything but and then 364 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: try and give you something that you didn't see, right, 365 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: because we all do that. We all watch ball, and 366 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 1: that's exactly what fan should be doing. So it's just 367 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: it's such an amazing bit of technology now that you 368 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: can hear what they're saying on the field, you can 369 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: see from behind the quarterback, you can see what the defense. 370 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: It's just I just think it's an amazing watch. Uh. 371 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: And it gets better and better and better all the time. 372 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: And so for whatever reason, it is our national passion. 373 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: I've been to so many different events, and I mean 374 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: with politicians and movie stars and all these different people 375 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 1: and Inevitably, everybody starts the conversation with football. They all 376 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: want to know what's going on with their team. They 377 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 1: all want to know what you think about the games. 378 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 1: You know, It's just it's just a national passion and 379 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:54,120 Speaker 1: I'm glad to be a part of it. Chris, I'm 380 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:59,119 Speaker 1: a native Detroitter and I was writing the promo for 381 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 1: this show and I started out saying, former pro bowler 382 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,119 Speaker 1: and with NBC Sunday Night Football, And everybody said, well, 383 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 1: wait a minute. You got to remember that a lot 384 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: of people don't remember that time when you played. I 385 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: do because I covered you when you played in the 386 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: Silver Dome in the Super Bowl. And I guess I'm 387 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: I'm wondering now the time you played to today, how 388 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: has the business of football changed? Well, you have to 389 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:37,640 Speaker 1: remember free agency was was brand new then. I mean, 390 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: there really wasn't any when I first got in the 391 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 1: league and I played in the Super Bowl at Pontiact 392 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: there my first year. Um, basically you either took what 393 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: the team offered you or you went home. There was 394 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: I mean, try to imagine another job where you go 395 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: into your boss and and you say I think I 396 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 1: deserve a raise, and he says, nope, I don't think 397 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: you do, and that's it. There aren't any other options. 398 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: So in my second year, fortunately for me, was the 399 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: USFL started and I signed what was known as a 400 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: futures contract to play with the Tampa Bay Bandits and 401 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: Steve Spurrier who was down there, and so I got 402 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: paid um to sign a deal where I wasn't gonna 403 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: play with them for another two years. So I had 404 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: made the Pro Bowl a couple of years in a row, 405 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: my first couple of years, and they signed me to 406 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: this deal, and so I I made more money signing 407 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: that contract that I never played on that I made 408 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 1: by playing with the Bengals for the first four years 409 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:49,239 Speaker 1: that I was there. So it's a it was just 410 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: a weird world where now I think it's pretty much 411 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: market economy at work, and now the money is completely 412 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 1: different than what it was back in the day. That 413 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: was those were some tough negotiations. It was like you 414 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 1: didn't know what the next words out of your mouth 415 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: should be. Like they're like I think I should make that. 416 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: They said no, and then you go, all right, where 417 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: did you get set the stage for us for this season? 418 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 1: Especially as you look at we're just let's start with quarterbacks. 419 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: You know, they are the lynchpin in so many ways. 420 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,399 Speaker 1: We've got some controversies around there. They really affect the 421 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: economics of the game and of of specific teams. How 422 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,120 Speaker 1: do you get your head around where we are right now? Um? 423 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 1: I think you start with Patrick Mahomes. Um. He's sort 424 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,239 Speaker 1: of following the Tom Brady model. And and you know, 425 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: everybody just talks about this guy making half a billion 426 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 1: dollars and how wow, nobody can believe it. I'm here 427 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: to tell you right now, he took a team friendly contract. Um, 428 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: he was he could have made more. Were they going 429 00:24:56,440 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: to tell Patrick they weren't going to pay him? You know, 430 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: he could have made anything he wanted to make and um, 431 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: And so I think the fact that he took a 432 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: little less uh set the market clearly. But Josh Allen 433 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: comes right back in on top of that and makes 434 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 1: almost what he's making in the forty free range. Uh. 435 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: And then you know you're gonna have Baker Mayfield, You're 436 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: gonna have Lamar Jackson, and they're all gonna slide somewhere 437 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: in there. I would imagine, at least from what I'm 438 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 1: here in from Cleveland. It sounds like that they may 439 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: let Baker prove a little bit more that he was 440 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: the quarterback of the second half of the season instead 441 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 1: of the first half of the season. Uh, going forward, 442 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,120 Speaker 1: But you know, it's it's a new day, and we 443 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: really haven't even seen the the real new TV money 444 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: kick in yet. So there's gonna be a lot of 445 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 1: people out there that are gonna start thinking, a wait 446 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: a minute, Now that's happening there and they've got this 447 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: amount of money. Then, you know, I just think we're 448 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: gonna enter a whole new era down these player contracts, 449 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: and you might even see some of the Patrick mahomes 450 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 1: going back in after a period of time and going 451 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: you know, hey, wait a minute, guys, remember that conversation 452 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: we had. Yeah, I know, you've got your first game 453 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: is Tampa Bay in Dallas, but three games after that, 454 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: you're coming to Foxboro for the return of Tom Brady, 455 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 1: probably the biggest regular season game in the history of 456 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 1: Boston Sports. I don't think your salespeople have any trouble 457 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: selling spots for that one. Would that be probably one 458 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:39,160 Speaker 1: of the highest rated regular season games? Are you anticipating, Oh, ever, 459 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:42,679 Speaker 1: that'll be one of the highest ever. Um. This is 460 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 1: when you start your your nightly prayer session that Tom 461 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:50,880 Speaker 1: Brady comes through healthy the first month of the season, 462 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: because it is it's just everything, you know, I mean, 463 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,800 Speaker 1: it is um the whole week. I mean, you can 464 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: imagine there'll be a month leading up to it. You 465 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: know what is this mean? You know? Is was it? Was? It? 466 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: Really that Brady was more important than Belichick and they 467 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 1: didn't even make the playoffs of that? I mean, I mean, 468 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: you know what this is gonna be. It's just gonna 469 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 1: be insane. And I also know Bill Belichick very well, 470 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: and he's gonna say all the right things and Tom 471 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: will say all the right things. But you know, those 472 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 1: two guys are gonna want this one. This is this 473 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 1: one something play add on a little bit if you 474 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 1: want to with this game, because it's just gonna be 475 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: even if it's not in their minds, the rest of 476 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: us want to see this one, and we want to 477 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 1: see what happens when Belichick puts together a defense against 478 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: Tom Brady playing quarterback, and Tom Brady, who's seen all 479 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,760 Speaker 1: those defenses of practices and knows all the tricks of 480 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 1: the trade from Belichick and all his inner workings of 481 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:56,400 Speaker 1: his mind. I mean, it's just two grand masters going 482 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: at it in a great chess match and they you know, obviously, uh, 483 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but I 484 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: think you could make the equal argument maybe one of 485 00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 1: the best head coaches and defensive coordinators of all time. 486 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 1: Chris as a former SEC player. I got to ask 487 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,520 Speaker 1: you about, you know, what appears to be this realignment 488 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:19,680 Speaker 1: as it were, that's happening in college football. You sort 489 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 1: of synthesize that with with what's going on with N 490 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: I L, which obviously the rules are going to be 491 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: very different. How does all of these changes or how 492 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: do all of these changes that seem to be happening 493 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: at the college level sort of bleed into or affect 494 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: pro football in your estimation, Yeah, it's it's gonna be different. Um, 495 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: I I guess we already kind of have this now, 496 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 1: but I think it's going to be more pronounced that 497 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: you're going to have, uh, some super leagues emerge starting 498 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: with the SEC, and that we are we are going 499 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: to begin to see, uh, other teams just can't compete 500 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 1: because there's gonna be whether it's in IL, whatever it is, 501 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: there's gonna be money floating around the college game. I guess. Uh, 502 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: one of the out of the Alabama quarterback there's nicknamed 503 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: kool Aid already has a kool Aid contract for like 504 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: eight hundreds thousand dollars or stuff that they were telling me. 505 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,480 Speaker 1: So there's just gonna be But then there's also gonna 506 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: be extraordinary pressure from within that team. Now we're used 507 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: to quarterbacks making all the money, but at least offensive 508 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 1: linemen still get paid. You know how you're gonna get 509 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: the quarterback making all the money and the other guys, 510 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: you know, still trying to put together Nichols to go 511 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 1: to McDonald so um, you know, I I it's the 512 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: whole dynamic everything. Usually it's never as bad as we 513 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: all think it's going to be, and there's it all 514 00:29:48,600 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: works out. But different. Yeah, it's gonna be different. It's 515 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 1: gonna be different fast here in the near future. What 516 00:29:56,360 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: do you think about now the seventeen game season and 517 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:04,440 Speaker 1: we have a shortened preseason now, but seventeen games. I 518 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: used to be one of those guys where yeah, I 519 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 1: make the season eighteen games, you know, But it's I 520 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,280 Speaker 1: worry about injuries, is what I'm trying to say, and 521 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: I just wonder what your thoughts are. Yeah, I think 522 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 1: I think we're going to begin to see, um, the 523 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: possibility of teams giving slightly injured players weeks off. Um. 524 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: The season is so long now, and what we've learned 525 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: year after year after year, just like what happened with 526 00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: Tampa last year. You know, Tampa sitting there at seven 527 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: and five at one point in the year, and and 528 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: I literally had just predicted that they were going to 529 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 1: win the Super Bowl after they be Green Bay, and 530 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:52,600 Speaker 1: I think it was I watched the whole tape of 531 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 1: that and I said, there's no reason this team doesn't 532 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: win the Super Bowl. They're that good. And then I 533 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: turned around. I think our next game was with Tampa Orleans, 534 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: and New Orleans beat him thirty eight to three, and 535 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:07,360 Speaker 1: I go, You're the biggest dumbass of all time ever 536 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: again the rest of my life. Um. But yeah, it's 537 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:16,680 Speaker 1: a you know, I I think that we're we're just 538 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 1: right now in the middle of anything can freaking happen 539 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 1: in this league, you know. I I just don't know 540 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:30,120 Speaker 1: who it is that has no chance whatsoever. Houston probably 541 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,520 Speaker 1: would be the one team that everybody would would talk 542 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 1: about but it's just so compelling, and all three of 543 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 1: you should write down who you think is gonna win 544 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: each division, who's gonna go to the super Bowl, and 545 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: put it in an envelope, And if you want to 546 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: have a really good laugh at the end of the season, 547 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: go unseal those envelopes and take a look at what 548 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:56,360 Speaker 1: your predictions were. Or even better, try and do it 549 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: with the draft. Try and go through on draft weekend, 550 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,800 Speaker 1: Like I really study the film and I watch all 551 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:05,959 Speaker 1: those guys that get drafted, and I put together my 552 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:10,480 Speaker 1: own mock draft stuff and it's comical. You go back 553 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: a couple of years later, go, oh my god, I 554 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: thought that guy was so good he couldn't play a lick. 555 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: And so I think that at best we're all guessers 556 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:25,520 Speaker 1: in the first round. If they get them right, it's 557 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: a great year. So it's it's a magical thing. It 558 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: really is people that have spent their whole lives doing 559 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: something and you still can't pick out the best football 560 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:39,640 Speaker 1: players from college football. It's amazing. Cam Newton, mac Jones, 561 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick. I did a show with him for about 562 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 1: fifteen years. You know him. He wouldn't tell you if 563 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 1: your pants were on fire. But can Pro Football Focus 564 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 1: predict who will be the starting quarterback for the Patriots? 565 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: Camra Mac and your thoughts? Yeah, I'm going to be 566 00:32:57,200 --> 00:33:00,800 Speaker 1: surprised if it's not Cam. You know, I really thought that, 567 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:03,719 Speaker 1: and I think Mac Jones a good player too. I 568 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,960 Speaker 1: thought there was a real chance in the draft that 569 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: the Patriots who were gonna do whatever it took to 570 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 1: trade up and get Justin Fields, especially you know when 571 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: he started falling, because then it would have given them 572 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: Cam as the starter now and a big body, mobile, physical, 573 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: can run the football, you know, read options, all that 574 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: kind of stuff, strong arm kind of guy, and then 575 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 1: would have given you the same exact kind of guy 576 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: to be the next in line after that. Yeah, they 577 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 1: didn't do that, you know, they ended up with with Mac. 578 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:45,280 Speaker 1: And when you watch Matt Jones play, you go, oh, 579 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 1: I kind of get it. And I'm gonna say this 580 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 1: very very carefully, because people lose their minds when you 581 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: start comparing anybody to Tom Brady. But when you just 582 00:33:55,800 --> 00:34:00,240 Speaker 1: look at them on the field and play style, there 583 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: is a similarity, you know. So I don't know if 584 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: if maybe they felt that the Mac Jones style fit 585 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 1: their offensive play caller and Josh McDaniels better. You know, 586 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:18,759 Speaker 1: I I just I don't know, but I know that 587 00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 1: Nick Saban and Bill are like best of friends. And 588 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,360 Speaker 1: Nick Saban must have thought really highly of this guy 589 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,839 Speaker 1: that you talk Belichick into it, And um, I thought 590 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 1: he was incredibly poised in that first preseason game. He 591 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 1: just looked apart. You know, he passed the eye test. 592 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:40,320 Speaker 1: So I I think you're gonna see Cam early. Um, 593 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:44,600 Speaker 1: but I do think we'll see Mack before the year's out, Hey, Chris. 594 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:47,720 Speaker 1: A couple of months ago, Roger Goodell issued a statement 595 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,800 Speaker 1: on COVID protocol and the word that stuck out was forfeit. 596 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: If a team violates that, they could forfeit the game. 597 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 1: But you know, closer to home, players would forfeit a 598 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: game check, even on the offending team on the other side. 599 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:05,680 Speaker 1: Can this divide a locker room? Um? You know there 600 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 1: are players in there with wristbands on who aren't vaccinated. 601 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,840 Speaker 1: Not vaccinated. If it ever came to a forfeit, I 602 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,759 Speaker 1: mean to the leaders and the and the veterans step 603 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: in and say, look, guys, you know, let's get our 604 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: act together here. This is a tough situation. Don't you 605 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:23,320 Speaker 1: think a really tough situation. But I think the NFL, 606 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,240 Speaker 1: even though they never admitted, it's been pretty much mission 607 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 1: accomplished because that peer pressure. Think about that that one 608 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: team could be a vaccinated have zero COVID issues on 609 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:43,240 Speaker 1: the team, none anywhere in the building. The other team 610 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: could have COVID issues and not be able to play 611 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 1: the game, and the team that was perfect would have 612 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,680 Speaker 1: to forfeit their game check. And I brought it up. 613 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:55,320 Speaker 1: We had our production meetings with the NFL, and I said, 614 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: I go, how's that sitting around the National Football League? 615 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: That you could be do everything right, have no COVID 616 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 1: issues and you could still forfeit a game check. They're like, 617 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: it's not good. There's not a lot of enthusiasm for 618 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 1: that one. But what it's done is it's driven people 619 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: to get vaccinated. The Atlanta Falcons now vaccinated. I think 620 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: around the league the number is at this point. So 621 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:25,839 Speaker 1: are there gonna be a few Kirk Cousins out there 622 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: that just aren't gonna get it done? Yeah they are, 623 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:33,800 Speaker 1: but we've already seen their quarterback room get wiped out, um, 624 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 1: you know, for five days of practice. So um. But 625 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:39,719 Speaker 1: and the other thing that's gonna happen out of this, 626 00:36:40,719 --> 00:36:43,080 Speaker 1: and we're all, I think we're already starting to see 627 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:46,759 Speaker 1: it is those people that are unvaccinated. You'd better be 628 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 1: a damn good player, you know, because it's gonna be 629 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:52,680 Speaker 1: If it's a tie, they're probably gonna stick with the 630 00:36:52,719 --> 00:36:57,600 Speaker 1: vaccinated player. Yeah, amazing. So I have my credit card 631 00:36:57,640 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: out ready to buy a subscription to Pro Football Focus 632 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: because I'm a deep, deep, deep fantasy sports guy. I 633 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 1: love playing fantasy sports, and my favorite time of the 634 00:37:10,760 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 1: year for fantasy sports, the NFL is here. How can 635 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 1: your company help me beat the snot out of these 636 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,360 Speaker 1: other guys who are in the Bloomberg Fantasy Football League. 637 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:28,880 Speaker 1: I promise you that you will see things and you 638 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:33,320 Speaker 1: will get information you have never had in your life. 639 00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 1: If you don't win, I'll tell you I'll give you 640 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 1: a money back guaranteed. You go over there, you get PFF, 641 00:37:41,120 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 1: get the ultimate version of it, get the elite version, 642 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,399 Speaker 1: pay the pay the money into that thing, and if 643 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: you get me, you call me back and I will 644 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:52,960 Speaker 1: pay your money back. That is how confident I am 645 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 1: that they will make a different same thing with gambling, 646 00:37:56,120 --> 00:38:00,200 Speaker 1: same thing with fantasy. You just you go over there 647 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: and you you're gonna see things you never knew about football. 648 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:07,839 Speaker 1: I I every day those guys are giving me information 649 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 1: that I never even thought about, these mathematicians and data scientists, 650 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:16,920 Speaker 1: and it's unbelievable. I mean, some of the most important 651 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,839 Speaker 1: people in the game of football right now never put 652 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,960 Speaker 1: a helmet on in their entire lives. It's just a fact. 653 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:25,640 Speaker 1: All right. Well, before we let you go, Chris, I 654 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: gotta ask you. I mean, you know, looking at your 655 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:31,839 Speaker 1: CV and and seeing all that you've done as a broadcaster, 656 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: you know, even beyond what we know you you best for. 657 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:40,360 Speaker 1: You really understand this business so well. Future of media, 658 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,200 Speaker 1: future of television. You know you've got the data side 659 00:38:43,239 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 1: obviously covered through through your company. How how does that 660 00:38:48,200 --> 00:38:51,239 Speaker 1: change in the near to mid term. We know it's 661 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:56,000 Speaker 1: a super popular product, football is, and yet the consumption 662 00:38:56,080 --> 00:38:59,040 Speaker 1: and the production of it continues to change. How do 663 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:03,800 Speaker 1: you keep up? Yeah, it's it's hard, right. There's thirty 664 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:07,640 Speaker 1: two teams and every day there are news stories and honestly, 665 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: when I go in to call a game, uh, my 666 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 1: goal is to try and get to know as much 667 00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:15,799 Speaker 1: as the local cab drivers know about that team. You know, 668 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:19,640 Speaker 1: it's like, I mean, there are people in Pittsburgh that 669 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:23,760 Speaker 1: have watched every single game the Pittsburgh Steelers have played 670 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:27,480 Speaker 1: since they were five years old and knew what football was, 671 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:31,879 Speaker 1: and so just you know, because we only get uh, 672 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:34,759 Speaker 1: you know, it's impossible to keep up with everybody and 673 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:38,839 Speaker 1: still do your job. But it is also very very 674 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:43,319 Speaker 1: very fun. You know that every week I get the 675 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,319 Speaker 1: deep dive into a couple of teams. But to answer 676 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:50,040 Speaker 1: your question, UM, I do think it will get to 677 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:53,520 Speaker 1: be more and more vertical. Uh that people are going 678 00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 1: to want exactly what they want and there. If you're 679 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: a fantasy player, you cannot get enough fantasy information. If 680 00:40:02,080 --> 00:40:05,319 Speaker 1: you're a gambler, all you want is the gambling aspects 681 00:40:05,320 --> 00:40:09,800 Speaker 1: of it. If you are a fan of just one team, um, 682 00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:12,440 Speaker 1: you know, I I don't care what the other teams 683 00:40:12,440 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: are doing. I think you should do an entire pregame 684 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:18,439 Speaker 1: show about the Atlanta fountains. And that's all I care about. 685 00:40:18,480 --> 00:40:21,359 Speaker 1: I don't want to know anything else or about Notre Dame. 686 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:23,359 Speaker 1: All I want to do is know about the Notre 687 00:40:23,440 --> 00:40:26,839 Speaker 1: Dame Stanford game. ESPN, don't show me any of those 688 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:29,160 Speaker 1: other games. I want to I want two hours on this, 689 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 1: and I think that's where we'll be headed. I think 690 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 1: you'll be able to get as much as you could 691 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: possibly get on those individual matchups. And the reason I'm 692 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:41,719 Speaker 1: saying that is because the PFF, that's exactly what we're 693 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:44,400 Speaker 1: going to build. You want what you want, you to 694 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:46,800 Speaker 1: be able to go as deep as you could possibly 695 00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 1: go and get as much information on anything as you want. Well, 696 00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:53,920 Speaker 1: it has been an absolute pleasure for us to spend 697 00:40:53,920 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 1: some time with you, Chris, you know, going deep, as 698 00:40:57,040 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 1: you just said, on on your career andthing that you're doing, 699 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:03,719 Speaker 1: both in the booth and outside. I think you got 700 00:41:03,719 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 1: some you know, you got some new subscribers, so you 701 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:08,960 Speaker 1: know it's well worth your time just just on that alone. 702 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,120 Speaker 1: You got me, man, I'm there. So we really really 703 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:15,200 Speaker 1: appreciate it. And uh, I can't wait to listen and 704 00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:18,400 Speaker 1: tune in as the season gets underway. Guys, it was 705 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:21,840 Speaker 1: a real pleasure and you just call whatever you need alright, 706 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:24,799 Speaker 1: So guys, obviously great to catch up with with Chris Collinsworth. 707 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:26,799 Speaker 1: I mean it's funny. You know, he's one of these 708 00:41:26,840 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 1: guys that you feel like you know him because you 709 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:31,600 Speaker 1: you listen to him just about every week. You know, 710 00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:34,719 Speaker 1: Sunday Night football. You've been waiting all day for Sunday Night. It's, 711 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:37,440 Speaker 1: you know, a juggernaut of a show. And then you 712 00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:40,319 Speaker 1: turn around and understand this guy is a business man, 713 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:43,280 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, this is this is no joke, Lynchy, 714 00:41:43,360 --> 00:41:47,480 Speaker 1: This this PFF product Neil Hornsby in England. I'm never 715 00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:50,960 Speaker 1: going to forget that I was sitting, I was in Phoenix, 716 00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:53,200 Speaker 1: I was in Arizona when the Giants meat the Patriots. 717 00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:55,880 Speaker 1: And I was in Indianapolis when the Giants meat the Patriots. 718 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:57,719 Speaker 1: And now I know what the secret weapon was. It 719 00:41:57,760 --> 00:41:59,920 Speaker 1: wasn't Mario Manning him making the catch in front of 720 00:41:59,920 --> 00:42:04,719 Speaker 1: the Giants. Yeah, some dude over in the UK his 721 00:42:04,920 --> 00:42:08,440 Speaker 1: secret weapon that beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl 722 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:11,680 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis. No, I know. I love bar I love 723 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:15,959 Speaker 1: this idea that Collinsworth basically is like I just got 724 00:42:16,160 --> 00:42:19,399 Speaker 1: I just got hoodwinked, like you know, then when when 725 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:21,560 Speaker 1: he gets the call from this guy and uh, and 726 00:42:21,600 --> 00:42:24,000 Speaker 1: then it turns into one of these like fairytale stories 727 00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:26,319 Speaker 1: of like I like the company so much I bought it. 728 00:42:26,719 --> 00:42:31,320 Speaker 1: It's crazy. Yeah, what was that? I'm not only the president. 729 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:37,399 Speaker 1: I'm also yeah, you know, it's two things. I am. 730 00:42:37,640 --> 00:42:40,879 Speaker 1: I am so glad that Chris Collinsworth gave me some 731 00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:45,919 Speaker 1: street cred because when we talked about the games, when 732 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:49,640 Speaker 1: you know the other teams got also forfeit their paycheck, 733 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:56,160 Speaker 1: Chris Collinsworth used almost the exact same words. I said that, 734 00:42:56,480 --> 00:43:00,400 Speaker 1: you know, it's you know, I've done everything right and 735 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,600 Speaker 1: and now I'm gonna lose a paycheck. How's that sitting 736 00:43:03,640 --> 00:43:07,680 Speaker 1: with you? Thank you, Chris, because I feel exactly the 737 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:11,000 Speaker 1: same way. And so but let's talk about that for 738 00:43:11,080 --> 00:43:13,920 Speaker 1: a second. Agoint So what happens in your esta? I mean, 739 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:18,439 Speaker 1: does the league have to make a change. I don't 740 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:21,920 Speaker 1: think the lead is going to change, I think I mean, 741 00:43:21,920 --> 00:43:24,560 Speaker 1: he certainly didn't indicate that the legal face like, yeah, 742 00:43:24,600 --> 00:43:26,879 Speaker 1: it's sort of sucks, but what are you gonna do? Yeah? 743 00:43:26,960 --> 00:43:29,920 Speaker 1: I think it's one of those deals where Okay, this 744 00:43:30,000 --> 00:43:33,879 Speaker 1: is the way it's going to be, and collins where 745 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:37,160 Speaker 1: it said it right, if you're not uh dag going 746 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:40,640 Speaker 1: good player, you know the tie is going to the 747 00:43:40,719 --> 00:43:43,600 Speaker 1: vaccinated player. Yeah. Yeah, I thought that was a really 748 00:43:43,640 --> 00:43:46,279 Speaker 1: interesting insight. Lynching. I thought he said mission. I think 749 00:43:46,440 --> 00:43:50,680 Speaker 1: the two words, mission accomplished. It was the word forfeit 750 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:52,800 Speaker 1: was put out there as a threat, you know, a 751 00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:55,520 Speaker 1: veiled threat to the owners, and also a veiled threat 752 00:43:55,719 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 1: to the players as well. And the vaccination rates are 753 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:02,759 Speaker 1: increasing with every single team. And so he said mission accomplished. 754 00:44:02,800 --> 00:44:04,399 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna take it that. I don't think there's 755 00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:06,840 Speaker 1: gonna be any forfeits this year. I don't think anybody's 756 00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:08,279 Speaker 1: gonna lose a game check. I think more and more 757 00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:10,640 Speaker 1: players are gonna get vaccinated. I think guys that are 758 00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 1: wearing these wristbands and eating in another room and working 759 00:44:13,120 --> 00:44:15,359 Speaker 1: out in another room and these facilities are finally gonna say, 760 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:17,120 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm part of a team. You know, 761 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:19,520 Speaker 1: I'm not an individual guy. I'm gonna get vaccinated. What's 762 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:21,520 Speaker 1: the what's the harm? So I think it worked. I 763 00:44:21,520 --> 00:44:24,200 Speaker 1: think he put it. He has a great way with words, 764 00:44:24,520 --> 00:44:27,160 Speaker 1: mission accomplished, and it said it all. It's almost like 765 00:44:27,160 --> 00:44:29,239 Speaker 1: he should do it for a living. Yeah, you know, 766 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:30,759 Speaker 1: I'd be good at it. You know, maybe we should 767 00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:32,600 Speaker 1: get him back on here, We should let him know that. 768 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:35,120 Speaker 1: Maybe you know that he has a future in broadcasting. 769 00:44:35,719 --> 00:44:37,880 Speaker 1: And he pulled a Joe name of two. He guaranteed 770 00:44:39,640 --> 00:44:42,759 Speaker 1: for Michael Barr. We should let the rest of the 771 00:44:42,840 --> 00:44:45,839 Speaker 1: league know that they can just you know, just pay 772 00:44:45,880 --> 00:44:49,320 Speaker 1: their money, don't Okay, tell them that, all right, but 773 00:44:49,360 --> 00:44:51,839 Speaker 1: don't tell him about my secret weapon. Yeah there we guy, 774 00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:54,560 Speaker 1: Yet I had to say that. You know we're recording this. 775 00:44:56,040 --> 00:44:59,279 Speaker 1: Everybody will keep it quiet. Yeah, that's just just a 776 00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:01,879 Speaker 1: mus all right. Let's head to the number of the week. 777 00:45:02,520 --> 00:45:05,879 Speaker 1: My goal will be pick I'm not kids. Feels better 778 00:45:05,880 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 1: to be than the one, than number five. I'll wear 779 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:09,279 Speaker 1: a number because of Mike. We have a chance to 780 00:45:09,320 --> 00:45:10,880 Speaker 1: go for three and a row good numbers at a 781 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:13,000 Speaker 1: good time. When I first started wearing the number, I 782 00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:16,319 Speaker 1: would just have the improud Bloomberg business of sports, the 783 00:45:16,440 --> 00:45:21,960 Speaker 1: number of the week. Oh Jason, we missed you, man boy. 784 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:28,359 Speaker 1: How did Scarlett do? Uh well? How she ran into 785 00:45:28,360 --> 00:45:33,160 Speaker 1: the buzz saw? That is Mike Glinch. Yeah, yeah, I 786 00:45:33,239 --> 00:45:36,320 Speaker 1: was a gentleman. I let ladies guests first. Oh there 787 00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:40,080 Speaker 1: you go. Uh this one. Let me set it up 788 00:45:40,080 --> 00:45:42,160 Speaker 1: a little bit here. And this is from our friends 789 00:45:42,160 --> 00:45:46,200 Speaker 1: at sport Acoe, Dish Network and Sinclair Broadcasting. They have 790 00:45:46,280 --> 00:45:50,279 Speaker 1: agreed to a brief extension of their expired deal, and 791 00:45:50,320 --> 00:45:55,000 Speaker 1: in doing so, they ensured that of the affiliates with 792 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:58,239 Speaker 1: the four major network CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox will 793 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:02,520 Speaker 1: remain on the air in about three point five million homes. 794 00:46:03,080 --> 00:46:08,440 Speaker 1: Now that said, Vally Sports in the rs N s, 795 00:46:08,520 --> 00:46:12,439 Speaker 1: they're expected to remain dark in dish and sling TVs 796 00:46:12,440 --> 00:46:17,239 Speaker 1: eleven million households in less than an ideal outcome for 797 00:46:17,640 --> 00:46:23,200 Speaker 1: Sinclair subsidiary Diamond Sports Group comes through. Now, okay, you 798 00:46:23,239 --> 00:46:25,560 Speaker 1: got all that. I'm already confused, but go on, all right, 799 00:46:25,719 --> 00:46:30,160 Speaker 1: what I want to know is the Sinclair subsidiary, Diamond 800 00:46:30,239 --> 00:46:34,360 Speaker 1: Sports Group, they purchased the channels in twenty nineteen for 801 00:46:34,640 --> 00:46:43,319 Speaker 1: what alright, So this is Diamond Sports Group, the Sinclair subsidiary, 802 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:45,560 Speaker 1: and these are the regional sports networks. These are the 803 00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:55,840 Speaker 1: regional sports network. Big money there. Um, it's got to 804 00:46:55,880 --> 00:47:01,840 Speaker 1: be in the billions. I'm gonna go. I'll go and 805 00:47:01,920 --> 00:47:13,120 Speaker 1: even ten Okay, I'm gonna go ten point one billion. Well, Jason, 806 00:47:13,960 --> 00:47:17,360 Speaker 1: you guys are over. But it was to your advantage 807 00:47:17,400 --> 00:47:20,080 Speaker 1: to go first because they purchased it in twenty nineteen 808 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:25,040 Speaker 1: for nine point six billion dollars. He's back, baby, It's 809 00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:33,160 Speaker 1: all happening. Wow. I mean, but listen, I mean to me, 810 00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:35,560 Speaker 1: I mean the fact that we both went as high 811 00:47:35,600 --> 00:47:39,880 Speaker 1: as we did and we're not that far off. It 812 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:42,000 Speaker 1: goes to what we were talking about, Chris Collinsworth. I 813 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:46,080 Speaker 1: mean that these like live sports and specifically football, are 814 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:51,319 Speaker 1: worth so much money because so many people tune in. 815 00:47:51,880 --> 00:47:54,760 Speaker 1: It's just it's just crazy. You've been listening to Bloomberg 816 00:47:54,800 --> 00:47:57,400 Speaker 1: Business and Sports. We're here with you each and every 817 00:47:57,440 --> 00:47:59,799 Speaker 1: week at the same time, plus online wherever you get 818 00:47:59,800 --> 00:48:02,839 Speaker 1: your podcast. You can check that out for the extended 819 00:48:02,960 --> 00:48:07,320 Speaker 1: version of our conversation with Chris Collinsworth. Catch our podcast Monday's, 820 00:48:07,360 --> 00:48:11,000 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Jason Kelly on Twitter at Jason 821 00:48:11,080 --> 00:48:13,799 Speaker 1: Kelly News and I'm Mike Lynch. I wish I had 822 00:48:13,800 --> 00:48:16,040 Speaker 1: a guarantee like Michael Barr, and you can find me 823 00:48:16,080 --> 00:48:22,120 Speaker 1: at Lynch e w CBB Pro Football Focus at www 824 00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:25,920 Speaker 1: dot PFF dot com. Oh, I'm sorry, I said the 825 00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:30,440 Speaker 1: quiet part out loud. Uh. Michael Barr on Twitter at 826 00:48:30,480 --> 00:48:33,320 Speaker 1: Big Bar Sports. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 827 00:48:33,360 --> 00:48:35,640 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio around the world.