1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 2 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly and I'm Mike Lynch. We're here Monday's, 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Wednesdays and Thursdays to explore the big money issues in 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: the world of sports, talk to some of the biggest 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: players in the industry. So, Mike, I have to say, 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: it's a little bit of a weird week in some ways. 7 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: We're in this in between phases. We're waiting for sports 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: to come up, and we're also looking at a sports 9 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: world that continues to wrestle with the aftermath of the 10 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: killing of George Floyd, all the different responses. You know, 11 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: I have thought a lot about our conversation with Trell 12 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: Davis earlier this week, and that went on as a 13 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: podcast on Monday. I don't know if it's stuck with 14 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: you as much as it did with me, but I've 15 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: been thinking about it a lot. I have too, and 16 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: I and I thought about how it has really just 17 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: sort of woken everybody up that either played the game, 18 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,959 Speaker 1: is playing the game, or follows like the game. And 19 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: by the game, I mean every single sport that's going on, 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: I mean this entire planet right now is tuned into 21 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: what happened to George it in Minneapolis. And this isn't 22 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: going to be just a one day pay homage, kneel 23 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: down and pay your respect. I think this is really 24 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: going to affect change. I'm more than any incident that 25 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: in recent memory that I can think of, This will 26 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: affect change well. And I think you need to look 27 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: no further than than the NFL, right. I mean this 28 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: notion that the NFL stood so strong, you know, for 29 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: better and worse depending on how you viewed it, you know, 30 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: against doing much of anything in terms of empowering their 31 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: players to protest. And certainly the Kaepernick issue, and obviously 32 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: Goodell's statement was notable given the lack of discussion of 33 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: Colin Kaepernick by name, and that's been made a lot 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: of but the idea that Roger Goodell, of all people 35 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: in the NFL, of all institutions, did a one eighty 36 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 1: uh and Darl Davis talked a lot about that, you know, 37 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: and and the notion of it was a long time 38 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: in coming, but it did happen, and I think the 39 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: notion that it happened was really important. I think you 40 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: think back what happened with Drew Brees and Drew Brees 41 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: saying something and then reversing himself when we talked about 42 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: this on the show last week, but I agree with you. 43 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: I think something has changed and it's not going away. 44 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: And I do think it speaks a lot to uh, 45 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: the empowerment that's going on. And anyway, so I just 46 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: I wanted to kick off the show by sort of 47 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: referencing back to to Terrell Davis, because I it's not 48 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: often that I find myself calling back to an interview, 49 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: even in just conversation with people and I and I 50 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: will also say, um, not to gass you and me 51 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: too much, but I have gotten a lot of feedback 52 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: on on that one to just you know, everyday listeners 53 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: who who listened to the whole interview with Terrell Davis 54 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: because his personal stories. And I think that's another notable 55 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: thing that's happening right now is that a lot of 56 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: folks are being much more willing to share some pretty 57 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: emotional stories and very personal stories about their experiences. And 58 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: I think once you hear those stories, you can't unhear them. 59 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: And and it's hard to it's hard to say no, no, no, 60 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:03,840 Speaker 1: there's nothing going on here. You know, there's two key 61 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: words here and this whole thing and this whole reaction 62 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: by by everyone that I think are important. You just 63 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: mentioned one of them here h E A R and 64 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: listen l I S T E N. I think for 65 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: decades most people have been hearing people talk and complain 66 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: about social injustice, but they've never really listened. And and 67 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: I think that's the key here, is that people are 68 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: actually listening. I listened with great interest when Terrell Davis 69 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: was telling us how his dad instructed him and his 70 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: friends when they drove their car and were pulled over 71 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: by a white police officer, keep your hands visible on 72 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: the wheel at tendant to stare straight ahead, yes sir, 73 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: no sir, because it was a regular occurrence. And that's 74 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: something that's never happened to me, it's never happened to 75 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: the majority of white people. And when I listened to that, 76 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: I said, Wow, what a way to grow up in fear, 77 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: you know, every single day, I mean, just sitting on 78 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: top of you. He talked about an electrical box that 79 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: they all hung out on the uh and they just 80 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: uh you know, uh. And outside of San Diego when 81 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: he was a kid and the cops would pull up 82 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: and they would just you know, start harassing them for 83 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: no reason at all, and they were just kids hanging 84 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 1: out on a regular Friday or Saturday night, just doing nothing, 85 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: just shooting the breeze, talking about sports, talking about girls, 86 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: and and that never happened to me. And you know, 87 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: and I listened, you know, I and maybe before I 88 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: was just hearing the stories, but I never was listening 89 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: to them. So I think those are the two key 90 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 1: words here and listen now. I think you're exactly right. 91 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: And and it is I think a reminder to that 92 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: sports really does sit so much in the culture of 93 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: everything and our everyday lives. And obviously you and I 94 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: make our livings and part doing this and talking about it, 95 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: uh and following it. But you know, for regular everyday folks, 96 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: I mean, it is so important, and we're hearing uh 97 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: more and more about it, and to your point, listening 98 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: to more and more athletes speak out, you know, one 99 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: to to make a little bit of a pivot, you know. 100 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: One uh. Their controversial athlete who, by you know, all accounts, 101 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: is not very much in the zeitgeist of these discussions 102 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 1: that we're having right now, but still is incredibly popular, 103 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: is none other than Connor McGregor and he is apparently 104 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: hanging it up. What is the record for hanging it 105 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: up and coming out of retirement for for for wrestlers, 106 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: boxers in UFC, mixed martial arts fighters. I mean, Muhammad 107 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: Ali must might have retired five times in back Larry 108 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: Holmes that and every time they came back, the purse 109 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: was bigger and larger than ever. And you know, the 110 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: last time I think McGregor came out, they had a 111 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: huge It was one of the biggest nights in the 112 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: history of uf UFC. I mean that was that was 113 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: a big, big night. So this is we have not 114 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: seen the last of Connor McGregor. And I would bet 115 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: the farm on that that this is that's all part 116 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,679 Speaker 1: of a promotional gig. And you know he's only thirty, 117 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: I say, only thirty one years old, which is probably 118 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: you know, above ordering getting old and in that sport. 119 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: But you know it's p T. Barnum and Bailey and 120 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: Um and that, and we all recognize it for what 121 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: it is. And yeah, good for him, good for that 122 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: well and also I mean I think it it's an 123 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: interesting time too for the UFC, and we've talked about 124 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: it on this show. Too that you know, they were 125 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 1: one of the first sports to come back. They continue 126 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: to be controversial in just about everything they do and certainly, uh, 127 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 1: Connor McGregor has not been uh shall we say, a 128 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: model citizen throughout any of this. And as you say, 129 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: it's part of the show. And he retired in sixteen, 130 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: he retired in nineteen. Now apparently in twenty he's doing 131 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: it again, so probably haven't seen the last of him, 132 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: but you know it, it is notable in the sense 133 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: that I do think that for the everyday sports fan 134 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: who's not following mm A or UFC, wouldn't you say 135 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: he's the best known fighter in sort of the broader world? Oh? Absolutely, 136 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: without question. I mean, can you name the heavyweight champion 137 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: of the world right now in boxing? No? I can't, 138 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: I cannot. And one time that was that was a 139 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 1: title that it might have been the most respected and 140 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: revered title on the planet. The heavyweight Champion of the 141 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,799 Speaker 1: world is Joe Lewis, is Rockey, Marciano is is, Muhammad Ali, 142 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: is Joe Frazier, uh is George Foreman? Who is it now? 143 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: I have no idea, but I can tell you Connor 144 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: McGregor is and I bet you every single kid you 145 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 1: know under the age of twenty one can tell you 146 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: who he is. That's right, Yeah, And it does speak 147 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: to the popularity. And you know, like our hate Dana White, 148 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: what he's done with the UFC has been pretty remark wing. 149 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: This is a story that I've followed actually from the 150 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: Wall Street in private equity perspective, because it's partially owned 151 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: by KKR, well known private equity firm obviously, as well 152 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: as Endeavor Ri Emmanuel's big entertainment and management companies. So anyway, 153 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: watch this space. He'll probably be back, but for the moment, 154 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: Gregor has retired on the sidelines as well, still major 155 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: League Baseball. You know, it's funny. A friend of mine 156 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: is a minor league baseball owner, and a run int 157 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: him in the neighborhood every now and again, and I 158 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: feel like every time baseball ums up, we just kind 159 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: of stand there and shake our heads. And I know 160 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: you're a baseball fan and I am too, Mike, and 161 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: I just I don't know what to do when it 162 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: comes to baseball anymore. And it just I've gone from 163 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: sort of annoyed to a little bit sad as I 164 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: read this and all the back and forth and maybe 165 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: we'll get a season, but whatever victory anybody gets, it 166 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: feels like it's going to be pyrric at this point. Well, 167 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: I think the worst emotion you can have toward anything 168 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 1: is apathy. You can have you can have anger, you 169 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: can have elation, and those are both good because but 170 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: apathy is the worst. And I think that's what's settling 171 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: in with your average sports fan right now, is like, 172 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, hey, wake me up when it's settled. And 173 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: if it's not subtled, we don't have baseball. I don't 174 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: really care. And that's the real danger. You know, you 175 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: and I have talked. You've got teenage kids and their 176 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: their friends in in the spring are overwhelmed we're playing 177 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: lacrosse instead of high school baseball. And that's pretty much 178 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: the case around a majority of this country right now. 179 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: And and major League Baseball. We've always said this. They 180 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: have the most powerful union, and they have the most 181 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,160 Speaker 1: obstinate members of that union, and and they usually win. 182 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: It's very often that they mean simple things like scheduling 183 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: a day night doubleheader can't be done without the approval 184 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: of Major League Baseball players, which is ridiculous. Show some 185 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: of the power they have, but you know, there's a 186 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 1: lot going on. They made a proposal last night to 187 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: count to the owners. They want to play eighty nine 188 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: games now, and the owners on Monday, I think, proposed 189 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: seventy six games. You know, when you start getting de 190 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:27,680 Speaker 1: pro rated and money and then that that's when the 191 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: average fan says, you know, I'm checking out, Wake me 192 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: when it's over. You know. One of the things that 193 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: I think is interesting, and I wonder if you agree, Mike, 194 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: is this has been a negotiation, unlike in the other sports, 195 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: that has just been completely played out in public. I 196 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: feel like a lot of these discussions were happening in 197 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: the NBA and in the NHL, and yet, and I 198 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: do think this owes to the strength of the commissioners 199 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: in the respective leagues. They were able to essentially more 200 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: or less handle it in house. Look, we have a 201 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: lot of colleagues across the sports business who are have 202 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: fantastic sources, and they were giving, you know, little hints 203 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: here and there. But I do not recall seeing a 204 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: negotiation play out this publicly. And let's be honest, a 205 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: negotiation that plays out this tip for tat publicly is 206 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: never going well, that's never a good sign. Right now, 207 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: the old saying don't hang your dirty laundry on the 208 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:21,959 Speaker 1: on the clothes line outside. You don't want your neighbors 209 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: to see it. And this applies to these negotiations right here. 210 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: I remember back the work stoppage ninety four, we had 211 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: canceled the World Series and people were discussed it. They 212 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:35,560 Speaker 1: did come back, but the difference this time is, you know, summertime, 213 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: it's the only game in town. Right now, they're not 214 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 1: going to be the only game in town. And we've 215 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,559 Speaker 1: had this conversation about them being lost in the shuffle 216 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 1: with the NHL, with the p g A, with the NBA, 217 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: and with the NFL preseason games coming around. You know, 218 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: you look at every city in this country that has 219 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: an NFL team and a Major League Baseball team, and 220 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: preseason games start in August, and a game that means nothing, 221 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: and when the start is only played maybe a quarter 222 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 1: at the most, the ratings for NFL preseason game in 223 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: August would outdo a Major League Baseball game in the 224 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:15,599 Speaker 1: same city. I'm talking places like New York, Boston, UH, Tampa, 225 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: Chicago that have Major League Baseball teams and NFL teams, 226 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: and you know that that's a telling sign right there. 227 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: So if and that's when relations are good, that this 228 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: this happens, now, they're gonna get buried by all these 229 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: other sports, and I mean buried in the ratings. I 230 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,679 Speaker 1: couldn't agree with you more. And I think the most 231 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: notable one. I mean, obviously the football element is is 232 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: clear from history as you just laid out. The one 233 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 1: that they've never really had to contend with because it's 234 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: been so early in the season is the NBA. And 235 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: you know, the NBA as ascendant as it is right 236 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: now and candidly as exciting as season that we were 237 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: seeing in the n b A. And you think about 238 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: what's going on with the Lakers, you think about what's 239 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: going on with the Bucks, you think about what's going 240 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: on with the Clippers, and this is going to be 241 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: They're going to be able to generate a lot of excitement. 242 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: And so even if baseball does manage to come back, 243 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: I do feel like a lot of everyday quote unquote 244 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: sports fans are going to be really zoomed in on 245 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: what's happening in Orlando with the n b A. And 246 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: that's something we haven't really had to see before because 247 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: the playoffs, you know, we would be I think at 248 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: this point we'd be done or very close to done 249 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:33,320 Speaker 1: with the n b A uh season, and you know, 250 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: we'd be onto baseball in a normal year. And obviously 251 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: this is nothing even close to resembling a normal year. 252 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: But I do think that that's something that I hadn't 253 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: thought that much about until you said it that specifically 254 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: with the n b A, I mean NHL. I'm not 255 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: sure how much overlap there is, but I feel like 256 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: the NBA has probably taken a lot of um, a 257 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: lot of things away. I mean. The other thing, because 258 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: we've talked about lacrosse in this context, is don't forget 259 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: the Premier Lacrosse League, Paul Rabels League. They're going to 260 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: be doing their tournament, their quarantine tournament at the end 261 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: of July as well, and so that could coincide with baseball. 262 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: So and that's gonna be playing on NBC on NBC 263 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: Sports and I think main NBC at times because they're 264 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: able to they have been able Paul Rabel and his 265 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 1: brother Mike, who run the league, have been able to 266 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 1: negotiate taking some of the broadcast time that was supposed 267 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: to be allocated to the Olympics, and that's where lacrosse 268 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: is gonna say, you're gonna have more people seeing a 269 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: lacrosse game on TV than have ever seen lacrosse probably 270 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 1: cumulatively in the course of human history, over uh that 271 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: few weeks. I mean probably one of the things I'm 272 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: really missing are I missed a couple of weeks ago 273 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: was going to uh your home stadium, Gillette and watching 274 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,199 Speaker 1: the n C Double A Final four, which is the 275 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: biggest lacrosse scene every year, and it switches. I actually 276 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 1: I think this year it was supposed to be back 277 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: in Philadelphia. They do two years, two years Boston, two 278 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: years Philly. But that's a madhouse and you see the 279 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: popularity of that sport. Crowing. I could talk about lacrosse 280 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 1: for a lot of time anyway, Well that you know, 281 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: you're right about that n C Double A thing. It's 282 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: it's almost like a festival. It's almost like woods like 283 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: like Woodstock. People just come in in droves. They packed 284 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 1: the stadium. And one of the guys who was responsible 285 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: for getting it to Gillette is one of the biggest 286 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: lacrosse proponents of all, Bill Belichick. Um, he has a 287 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: lacrosse stick in his office. He's often seen out in 288 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: Gillette Stadium, you know, just play playing catch with one 289 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: of his sons with his lacrosse stick. And he was 290 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: very instrumental in convincing Robert Kraft to bring the n 291 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: C Double A to Gillette. So, um, he's a big, big, 292 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: big fan. You know. One of the other point I 293 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: wanted to make about eyeballs and making choices under the 294 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: Baseball Player's proposal, which they made last night of eighty 295 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: nine games, they want the schedule to go July tenth 296 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: to October eleven. If the NBA Finals went seven games, 297 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: game seven would be October twelfth. So in that period 298 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: from let's say October one through the twelve, are you 299 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: gonna be watching Major League Baseball games? Are you gonna 300 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: be watching the finals of the NBA? And there no 301 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: just no question, no choice, Yeah, no question. If you 302 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: have the chance to watch the Bucks versus the Lakers, 303 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: I mean, come on, I mean, which is which is 304 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: by all accounts how it could end up, or even better, 305 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 1: if you could be watching the Lakers versus the Clippers 306 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: at that point like that, that would be insane, Like 307 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: you'd be insane to be like, oh, no, I'm gonna 308 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: watch a regular season Braves game, and I love the 309 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: brightest but good lord, all right, so let's talk a 310 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: little golf. One of our favorite conversations that you're gonna 311 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 1: hear this weekend is with Jay Monahan, and that's because 312 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: golf is back, and I do wonder You're a very 313 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: serious golfer. And full disclosure, I loved this interview in 314 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: part because you were able to draw on I mean, 315 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: you are a local legend, but you were able to 316 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: draw on some hyper local knowledge when it came to 317 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: Jay Monahan. Well, Jay Monahan and his family, his father 318 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: and his grandfather and great grandfather's play at this local 319 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 1: club outside of Boston, Winchester Country Club, and and they 320 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: their names are all have been on plaques since nineteen 321 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: thirty eight. So I think one of the great accomplishments 322 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: for Jay Monty, and one of the great one of 323 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: the reasons he's so good with the players is that 324 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: he's played the game. He's not a corporate suit that 325 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: sits the top in an office and makes decisions. He's 326 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: with them and interacts with them, and and this is 327 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: a fascinating conversation which I think everyone's going to enjoy 328 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: Joey's Jay is very frank, he's very open, he's very 329 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: and um, he's a terrific guy. And he he cares, 330 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: you know, he cares about the health and well being 331 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: and the safety as much as he cares about the 332 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 1: dollars and cents that are coming in or not coming in. 333 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: And so all I's turned to Texas this weekend, right, 334 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: I mean this is a big deal. Yeah, yeah, And 335 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: you know there was one I thought very Jay money 336 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: and just announced this after we did our interview. The 337 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: eight forty six tea time will be vacant, no one 338 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: will tee off at and and everyone will pause for 339 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: a moment of silence. Of course, that was the eight 340 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: minutes and forty six seconds was the amount of time 341 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: that the officer's knee was on George Floyd's neck. So 342 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: coming up in them colonial all four days at everyone 343 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 1: will pause on the course, nobody will tee off. So 344 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: I thought that was that was something that j and 345 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: you know and people that he talked to implemented, And 346 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: it's gonna go on there. It's gonna go on next 347 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: week when they go to South Carolina or at Hilton Head. 348 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 1: And I think I think for the first five tournaments 349 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: safe schedule. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how people 350 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: react in general to golf being back. And it does 351 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: feel like one of these moments. I mean, it feels 352 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 1: sort of like the opposite of what's going on with baseball, 353 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: in the sense that baseball mate sort of fade away 354 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: because it can't get its act together. At the same time, 355 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: you know, golf, which has struggled I think with its ratings. 356 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: You know, they're sort of the Tiger years and the 357 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: non Tiger years. And obviously last year was a big 358 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: year with Tiger winning the Masters again and and all 359 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: of the emotion and candidly, all the money and all 360 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: the eyeballs that came back to the sport because of Tiger. Uh, 361 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: this could be an interesting moment for people to pay 362 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 1: a little more attention to golf. And we were talking 363 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 1: about this a couple of weeks ago with the Match 364 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: Part two. That people do like golf, they like watching it, 365 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: they like when they can connect with the players. I 366 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: guess one of the questions, and you would know this 367 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: better than I, is is there a chance that we 368 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: could have sort of a breakout player in the near term. Well, 369 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: we could Uh, some of the international two big great 370 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: international players will not be in the field, Adam Scott 371 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:21,439 Speaker 1: and Tommy Fleetwood because they had to come over here 372 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: early enough to quarantine for fourteen days before they be 373 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: clear to play. Tigers not playing in this tournament. I 374 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,240 Speaker 1: don't think he's committed to anything until the memorial, which 375 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,800 Speaker 1: is in July. So the big question is gonna be 376 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: will people watch a non Tiger event. I think there's 377 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot of curious eyeballs on this tournament. Hey, 378 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: what is it like without fans? Is there going to 379 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 1: be contact between the caddy and the player? Um? You know, 380 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: what's what's it gonna be like? You know, without someone 381 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: on the course saying well, he's got a seven iron 382 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: from a hundred and sixty eight yards right now, It's 383 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: gonna be different. So I think you're gonna get the 384 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: the die hard golf people and you're gonna get the 385 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: curious sports fan. Last question for you, and maybe we 386 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: can talk about this a little bit more tomorrow. Have 387 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: you watched the Lance Armstrong documentary Part one so far? 388 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: Al Right, maybe we'll talk about that next week because 389 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:09,959 Speaker 1: I'm gonna talk a little bit more about it and 390 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: sort of the comparing contrast with Last Dance, because it's 391 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: in my mind it's not as good. But is that 392 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: my homework? That's the homework assignment. Yeah, exactly. I've only 393 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: watched part one two, so we'll both watch part two 394 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: and then we'll give everybody a review. Alright, Well, later 395 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: this week, as we talked about, we are going to 396 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: speak with PJ Tour Commissioner j Monahan. You heard us 397 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about that conversation. It was a 398 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: fun one and you learned some things about Mike Lynch 399 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: that you need to know. So you'll catch our podcast 400 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: right here every Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'm Jason Kelly 401 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: on Twitter at Jason Kelly Days, and I'm Mike Lynch. 402 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: You can find me on Twitter at the Lynch e 403 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: w c v B. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 404 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 1: Sports from Blueberg Radio around the world.