1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports where in the situation 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, pandemic here 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: has really accelerated the investments that we've been advocating for 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: for years. From a Macrow standpoint, I think our sport 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: industry is really forced to look at the business a 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: little bit differently. In depth conversations with the leaders in 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: the sports industry. Who wants to be the sacrificial lambs 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: That shows up that the first big major sporting event 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: were part of something much bigger than the sport right 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: now and the health and safety of our stakeholders that 11 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: works much important every moment. I think we're all from 12 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: the business respective thinking about the impact that the virus 13 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: is having on across the country and Bloomberg Business of 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hi everyone, I'm Jason Kelly, and 15 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: I'm Mike Lynch and I'm Michael bar Over the next hour, 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: we will explore the big money issues in the world 17 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: of sports and talk to some of the biggest players 18 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: in the industry and guys. It's a special edition of 19 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: the show in honor of Martin Luther King Day. It's 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: a holiday, but it's also a day of reflection, and 21 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: so we thought a really idea would be to catch 22 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 1: up with the Players Alliance. That is a group of 23 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: current and former Major League Baseball players of color who 24 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: have gotten together to do some really important charity work 25 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: to raise awareness around some of the economic gaps that 26 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: exist in the game. And we are very honored to 27 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: have with us the guy who helps start at all 28 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: former Major League Baseball All Star and the president of 29 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: the Players Alliance, Curtis Granderson. Curtis, really great to have 30 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: you on the line. We've been john about baseball before 31 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 1: we came on uh the show here. What a thrill 32 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: for all of us. Tell us what you're up to. 33 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: It's a really important organization that you are leading. Tell 34 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: us what it's all about. Well, thanks for having me 35 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: on here. Super excited to be chatting up with you all. 36 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for that. And the Players Alliance 37 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: has been amazing. It's come together very quickly, bablished this 38 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: past Sumber with everything that was going on, everybody sitting 39 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: at home in the middle of the pandemic, and then 40 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: we have all the social injustice issues just right in 41 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: our face. Baseball players collectively we're saying, hey, we gotta 42 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: start doing more than just posting something on social or 43 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: creating a video staying we want to see change. And 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,959 Speaker 1: I think it was a combination of a perfect storm. 45 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: Everyone was at home, couldn't go anywhere. People start to 46 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: figure out how to do it all virtually with doom 47 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: and other different ways, and guys were able to easily 48 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: start connecting with each other. And through that a hundred 49 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: fifty current and former black baseball players got together to 50 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: start what's called the Players Alliance, and from that point 51 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: we've been able to have mentor calls with recently drafted 52 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: black players. We've also done calls with some academic individuals 53 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: from Jackie Robinson scholars that are at some of the 54 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: top universities in the country. And we're just in the 55 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: middle of getting ready to wrap up our cross country 56 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: Pull Up Neighbor Tour, which was thirty three cities over 57 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: the course of forty days, starting all the way up 58 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: in the Bronx and Brooklyn and wrapping up finishing up 59 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: in California. You brought up Jackie Robinson and all the 60 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: players that are in your Alliance. They donated their salaries 61 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 1: on Jackie Robinson Day. And you go more into that, well, 62 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: it was a crazy time this year. Again, I mean 63 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: I think that word could be used a lot for 64 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: but specifically around Jackie Robinson Day, which was pushed this year. 65 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: Jackie Robinson Day historically is always on April fift of 66 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: course with tax Day, so it's one of the good things, 67 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: so keep in mind of that. So we have a 68 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: good side of it on that. But of course, since 69 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,359 Speaker 1: the season didn't start on time this year, we still 70 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: wanted to recognize Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball, 71 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: so it was later this year, and then it fell 72 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: on the weekend of the events that happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 73 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: So when all that was happening in unfolding, the Milwaukee 74 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: Bucks basketball team decided not to play that game, and 75 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: that word started to get around to the other sports, 76 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: and baseball players said, hey, you know what, some of 77 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: us are not going to play as well. Now, when 78 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: this was happening, some teams were already playing, and players said, hey, 79 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: I didn't get a chance to go ahead, and you know, 80 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: let my always be heard. We already were playing. What's 81 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: one of the ways we can collectively do something. So 82 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: the recommendation was, hey, let's donate our salaries from Jackie 83 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: Robinson Day weekend because we also feel like this is 84 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: an important weekend where players should be playing, and they 85 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: definitely wanted to be out there representing that side of it, 86 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 1: but they also wanted to do more and that included 87 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: players like myself who were former players that also donated, 88 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 1: and collectively we were able to raise over a million 89 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: dollars just from players saying, hey, you know what, I 90 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 1: want to do more than just this one thing. And 91 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: that's where that money came from. And that's where the 92 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: money ended up going to help take care of this 93 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: pull up Neighbor tour that we did to go and 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 1: provide COVID resources, provide foods and food and secure areas, 95 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: and also baseball equipment. So a lot of kids that 96 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: were receiving their first gloves and bats for the first time. 97 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: You know, we all can remember, Curtis, one day we 98 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: first got our first baseball glove. My guards, if you 99 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: gave you a hundred thousand dollars, you traded in for 100 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: that new glove and put the elastic band around it 101 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: and put it with a ball and then put it 102 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: under your pillow. Um, will this be uh? A year 103 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: after year annual thing or right now is it just 104 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: funded for a one year project? Well, this particular funds 105 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 1: that were raised for Jackie Robinson Day went for this project. However, 106 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: as we continue to unroll, we definitely want to continue 107 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: to see this thing unfold, and it may morph, it 108 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: may change a little bit, because again we're still so new. 109 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: We're about eight months into inception and we're still trying 110 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: to figure out what lane we want to go into 111 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: and how best we can help out the communities we 112 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,799 Speaker 1: play in and the communities we call home. Those thirty 113 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 1: three cities that we selected, a lot of them were 114 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: Major League city, but they're also where the players lived 115 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: and called home. So that's how they were able to 116 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: come out there and be in those communities and do that. 117 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: So we definitely need to see how best to do this, 118 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: how best we can impact and we're looking to do 119 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: something very similar as we continue to unfold. The feedback 120 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: has been amazing. The players that were there, the people 121 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: that were receiving items, both black players and white players 122 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: that were all able to participate of all really enjoy it. Curtis, 123 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, go back to the to the origins of 124 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: the US, if you will, because you know, as you said, 125 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: it will go down in history as a memorable year, 126 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: to say the least. And and obviously I think we 127 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: started to look at player empowerment across the professional and 128 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: even the college and high school ranks in a different way. 129 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: Tell us about how baseball players approached this. Tell us 130 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: about some of the conversations that you had with with 131 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: other black players, as you really were a part of 132 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:34,799 Speaker 1: this national conversation. But as this thing unfolded, it started 133 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: at the Helm with Cameron May, Ben d. Gordon and 134 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: Edwin Jackson, three guys that have played with so many 135 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: different teammates. They're kind of like the community had, They 136 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: know everybody in this game, and the three of them 137 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 1: just started reaching now, going we gotta do more, we 138 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: gotta do more. And that's how we ended up expanding 139 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: to get to the hundred and fifty with myself included there. 140 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: And the crazy part about it is, even though this 141 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: year is summed up and so much focus was on 142 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: it and so many conversations were publicly being had, a 143 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: lot of these conversations in the black community, especially amongst 144 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: black athletes, had been being had for years, decades before 145 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: we were having them huddled up in our locker rooms. 146 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: We were having them as we're traveling to and from 147 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: different cities. We're having them in the off season as 148 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: we're working out with guys just about different things about Wow, 149 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: we'd love to see this change, We'd love to see 150 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,119 Speaker 1: this improved. How can we haven't seen this happen yet? 151 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: And now this year with all the negativity that happened 152 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: this year, some of the great things that have come 153 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: out of this is that conversation isn't just one side, 154 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: and now it's not just us. We've started to have 155 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: these conversations with Major League Baseball, with the players Association, 156 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: with ownership, with different people that are in positions now 157 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: to be able to help to start to see some 158 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: of those changes happen. So it's been great to see 159 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: that on fold. It's also been conversations in the communities 160 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: where players live in, so it's been great to see 161 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: that the conversations that we've been having are now starting 162 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: to expand. People want to listen to what you got 163 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: to say, and they also are trying to provide anyways 164 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: that they can help out as best they can. You 165 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: have a model from the Alliance, One Team, One Dream, 166 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: be the Change can you explain that it's it? You know, 167 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: it's all said and done. We're all moving in the 168 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: right direction together to get to where we want to 169 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: see this have where we want to see it happen. 170 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: And if you think of baseball, and I heard I 171 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: heard this from a player and he said, you start 172 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: looking at the four major sports baseball, football, basketball, and hockey, 173 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: and if you really break down the demographic of it, 174 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 1: baseball is the one that kind of gives you the 175 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: the best representation of the United States because you have 176 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: players from all over the world. You have black and 177 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: white and Latino and Asian and old and young and 178 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: all these different demographics. And the other three sports it's 179 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: very heavily shifted on one side, the heavily black, heavily white, 180 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: and not much representation of everybody else. So the fact 181 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: that we have all of this together on a players standpoint, 182 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: we all can definitely be pushing to see the change 183 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: that we want to see. And it's not just of color, 184 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: it's of gender, it's of equity, all these different things. 185 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 1: We're starting to see women coaches, women gms. You know, 186 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: we're starting to see black ownership in the game. We're 187 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: starting to see more kids getting introduced to the game, 188 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: both male and femail, both brown, black, white, and all 189 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: the colors. So collectively, a lot of players have been 190 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: thinking these things. Some haven't been able to voice their 191 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: opinions publicly. Now they're able to do so there's a 192 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,479 Speaker 1: strength in numbers. There's that one team model, that one 193 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: moving towards where we want to see this ultimately get to. 194 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: And that's where it all comes in. That's where the 195 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: mission came from, and that's what we're going to collectively do. 196 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,199 Speaker 1: We know we can't do it all by ourselves, and 197 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: we need everybody to be a part of our teeth. Curtis, 198 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: I think this is just a fabulous program going here. 199 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: You've got some great momentum this year, and and part 200 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: of the reason is that, as you said, a lot 201 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: of the guys were sitting home with nothing to do. 202 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: Now let's the spring training opens on time and the 203 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 1: current players are back working for six or seven months. 204 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: How do you sustain the momentum that you've already built up. 205 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: It's a challenge, for sure, and that's one of the 206 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 1: concerns that we had this summer when everything was unfolding. 207 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: Once basketball starts, once football stops. We don't want this 208 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: conversation to stop. That has to continue to keep going, 209 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: and so far it's been good. Unfortunately, it's been a 210 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: very slow off season in baseball this year from the 211 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: free agent spot. There's only been one big trade that 212 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 1: just recently happened. So because of that, a lot of 213 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: the momentum, a lot of this team is still there. 214 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: You're hearing about it, you're learning about it, you're seeing 215 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 1: the players lines out there doing this tour that's going on. 216 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: But to your point, the fact that a lot of 217 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: these active players are gonna get back on the field 218 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: and they're gonna get busy playing, and I think that's 219 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: where our makeup is really good, where it's not just 220 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: the active players. You have recently retired players that are 221 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: still recognizable such as species to back, Chris Young, Chris Dickerson, 222 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 1: and myself, mixed in with new players coming into the 223 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: game and players that are obviously playing. So this thing 224 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 1: will continue to keep going and continue to keep the 225 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 1: momentum while the guys on the field do their thing, 226 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,240 Speaker 1: Guys like myself that are now sitting back, you know, retired, 227 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: we can continue to push the agenda in the right 228 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: directions where we want to while also incorporating them because 229 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: Jackie Robinson Day is gonna fall again on April fift 230 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:21,920 Speaker 1: this year, once the players are playing, and of course 231 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: we're gonna be looking to do things in the community 232 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 1: around that time. And as the season on bold as 233 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: players are heading to their different cities they play in, 234 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: their hometowns, are going back to there's going to be 235 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: different initiatives and thinks we can roll out over the 236 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 1: course of the year, Curtis, you know, especially with the 237 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: perspective of being retired as you as you look at 238 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,839 Speaker 1: the state of baseball and and sort of sticking with 239 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: the activism uh theme a bit. You know, the NBA 240 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: gets a lot of credit for this, you know, whether 241 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: it's Lebron James or other players who have been you know, 242 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 1: so vocal and have used their platforms. You know, Baseball, 243 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, maybe doesn't get all of the attention that 244 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 1: it should or all the plotts that it does. Why 245 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: do you think that is? And and and what's your 246 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: perception of kind of baseball's place uh, you know, you 247 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: described its place in the Big Four from a from 248 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: a level of diversity, but what is baseball need to do? 249 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: More of either from a laite perspective from a players 250 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: association perspective to sort of ensure that this continues. Well, 251 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: I definitely think that individuals like a Lebron James n 252 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:31,560 Speaker 1: b A and even some of the players that are 253 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: in the NFL, not only are they talented individuals, they've 254 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: done a lot of great things in the community, but 255 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: they've done a great job in their respective sports and 256 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: the sport itself of making sure that they're marketable, they're recognizable, 257 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: that they're known not only in the cities they play in, 258 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: but throughout the country and throughout the world. And I 259 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 1: think that's one of the big areas where baseball has 260 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: kind of struggled a little bit and definitely needs to 261 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: look to improve. If you think about just baseball fans 262 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: in general, you know, everybody out of this call grew 263 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: up cheering for their teams, and there were spective areas. 264 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: Baseball is very regional. So whether you're a Detroit Tigers fan, 265 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: of Boston Red Sox fan in Atlanta Braves fan, you 266 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: probably really knew and loved your team, but the other 267 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: teams you didn't know too much about. You didn't get 268 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: a chance to see them on TV that much unless 269 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: they came into your ballpark, which the way our schedules are, 270 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: you don't always play everybody. It makes it very challenging 271 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: and difficult to know which player on that other team 272 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: is doing very well that maybe looks like you have 273 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: the number that you like, listen to the music that 274 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: you like. Where is this uniform the way you like? 275 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: You don't get to always get a chance to see that. 276 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: But I think that's one of the ways that we 277 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: can start to kind of change that, and it's gonna 278 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 1: take some time. I think, first and foremost, if you 279 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: can make sure that every team is getting an opportunity 280 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:49,079 Speaker 1: to play on national television, the ESPN, the TBS is 281 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: the MLB networks of the world and play in prime time. 282 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: You know, there's some great teams that are getting an 283 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 1: opportunity to play. For example of Tampa Bay Rays last 284 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: year playing in the World Series, but didn't get very 285 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,959 Speaker 1: many opportunities to play on the prime game, and you 286 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: didn't get a chance to see some of these great 287 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: players that are doing amazing things out there. You finally 288 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: saw him in the playoffs, but at this point we 289 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: played a you know, a full season. We didn't get 290 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: a chance to see all these guys. So those are 291 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: some of the little things I think that you can 292 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 1: do to start, you know, laying the foundation and go wow, 293 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: I really like you know that Randy and Rosa Rain, 294 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: a guy from the Tampa Bay Ray's. You know, he's 295 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: he's hitting home runs, he's strong, he's got an amazing story. 296 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: He had COVID this year. He was doing push ups 297 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: and now he's come back and he's doing great things 298 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: on the field. That story gets lost if he's not 299 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: getting a chance to play in front of everybody. So 300 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: those are some little things I think that can easily 301 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: be done to get these guys out there. So when 302 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: they do speak up, when they are out there trying 303 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: to voice their opinions about change, people can hear it, 304 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: understand it, and maybe you want to get behind it. 305 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: Martin Luther King Day, and it's a day that many 306 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: people have off, and it's it's now fallen into the 307 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: category of more like Fourth of July Day, and people 308 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: have the day off, but maybe have forgotten the meaning 309 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: of what it was all about, because I remember when 310 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: there was the struggle to even get this as a 311 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: national holiday. Can you relay your experiences of what it 312 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: means to have Martin Luther King Day. It is amazing. 313 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: Like you mentioned that it becomes a three day weekend. 314 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: Let me plan my trips accordingly because of it, and 315 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: and go from there, which which is a you know, 316 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: byproduct of it. And there's definitely nothing wrong with that. 317 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 1: But like you mentioned, I mean there's times where not 318 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: everybody recognized it. And to understand what this individual did, 319 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: not only for just people of color, for just rights 320 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: for all people, to have everybody be treated, to get 321 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: opportunities to allow myself to become a major League Baseball player, 322 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: to allow us to have this conversation right now, to 323 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: allow the audience that's listening to be able to do 324 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: so and possibly do it next to somebody that doesn't 325 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: look like them, and do it comfortably. Those are all 326 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: different things that Martin Luther King was fighting for and 327 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: pushing for and felt that we should have and it 328 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: definitely shouldn't be forgotten. You don't have to take the 329 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,600 Speaker 1: whole day or the whole weekend to go ahead and say, Okay, 330 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to dedicate all my energy and all my 331 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: time to him. Just a little bit of remembrance for sure, 332 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: Definitely goes a long way. You can't forget that. The 333 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: reason we're able to be where we are today, it's 334 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: heavily in part because of what he was able to 335 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: do and what he stood for. My heroes were Hank Aaron, 336 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Reggie Jackson. They were the faces 337 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: of Major League baseball. On the opening day rosters. This year, 338 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: only sixty seven black players were on the entire rosters, 339 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: roughly eight percent. What what has happened to the lack 340 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: of black players in Major League baseball? Is it? Does 341 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: it start at the grassroots level in little league and 342 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: high school? Is there no interest or is their lack 343 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: of opportunity? This is a big question, and I think 344 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: there's a lot of avenues of what's causing that. And 345 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 1: there's actually two teams that started the season without a 346 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: black player on their opening day roster, the Kansas City 347 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,199 Speaker 1: World and Tampa Bay Rays, So that even puts that 348 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: into even more perspective. And the percentages, as you mentioned, 349 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 1: around sixty seven guys playing, I think it averaged out 350 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: so about eight percent of the league was African American. 351 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: And then you look at the draft that happened this summer, 352 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: eight percent of the players drafted were African American. So 353 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: the numbers have been very consistent across the board. There 354 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,399 Speaker 1: hasn't been an uptick on it. Now there has been 355 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 1: a lot of talk about, hey, maybe at the grassroots level, 356 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: we have to make sure that we can see to 357 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: introduce the game, make sure it's available, and make sure 358 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: we get kids playing. But to my understanding, especially talking 359 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: to a lot of our membership that is on the 360 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,120 Speaker 1: Players Alliance who has kids that are in that youth 361 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: baseball space, they're seeing kids of color that are playing. 362 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:49,919 Speaker 1: The one challenge that they're running into is that we 363 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: want to make sure that they continue to keep playing, 364 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,359 Speaker 1: that they don't end up being priced out of this game, 365 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 1: whether it's from a travel standpoint, from an equipment standpoint, 366 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: from an accessibility endpoint, or even being scouted and recruited standpoint, 367 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: and then if they get the opportunity to play at 368 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: the next level, potentially college, that it can become affordable. 369 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: We have players that are in the Alliance that had 370 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: opportunities to play college baseball it chose not to chose 371 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: to go to the draft instead because they weren't able 372 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 1: to get that full scholarship for their ability and weren't 373 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: going to be able to afford to go to college, 374 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: so playing professional baseball with the better option for them. 375 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: So there's a couple of little challenges I think along 376 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: the way that if we can just modify a little 377 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: bit here and there, it not only improves in the 378 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: black community, but it improves for everybody. Continues to keep 379 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: everyone who wants to play the game to have the 380 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: ability to do. And that's where you want to be at. 381 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: You just want to make sure that, hey, if I 382 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: want to play, that I have the opportunity to play. 383 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,120 Speaker 1: The only reason I don't want to only the only 384 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: reason I end up not playing is because I choose 385 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: not to, not because financially I can't do it. Well, Curtis, 386 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,239 Speaker 1: this has been a ton of fun for us. And 387 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: before we let you go, uh, we're hoping that you'll 388 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: play along with us because, uh, the estee Michael Barr 389 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: tortures us every week with a number of the week 390 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: that we have to guess and we would love for 391 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: you to play this game with us. Are are you 392 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:11,880 Speaker 1: up for it? Let's do it alright? Alright, Barr over 393 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: to you. And by the way, Curtis. I have I 394 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: have very much embraced other people getting involved in this because, 395 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 1: as you're about to see, I am terrible at it, 396 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 1: and so I just I want to share the share 397 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: of the misery. So alright, bar alright, see Jason, that's 398 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: why you're going to start first. The number the number three? 399 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: Any hints, No, nope, I guess that number me? All right? Four? 400 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: Can I ask? Can I ask some questions? See? This 401 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: is what I'm talking about, Curtis. This is like these 402 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: guys are just like putting into me. Uh, three hundred 403 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: and forty four. It has something to do with sports, 404 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: I hope, Um, three hundred and forty four. Um. I'm 405 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: gonna say the number of successful field goals that Lynch 406 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: he kicked when he was at Harvard. I was gonna 407 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: go with batting average, but you didn't say, like point 408 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 1: three said I'm gonna come back. I'm gonna hear what 409 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,439 Speaker 1: the other options are? Number of home runs career home 410 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:44,080 Speaker 1: runs for one Curtis Granderson. Wow? Wow, Yeah, I got 411 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 1: lucky a couple of times. I didn't even know that. Now. 412 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: The key is, Curtis, The key is how many at 413 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: fem Way Park. Oh wow? Finally I know I hit 414 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: I do one that's very rememberable. Memorable for me is 415 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: my first time playing there. I hit a home and 416 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 1: off of him Wakefield, and because it was Wakefield and 417 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: it was Spinway, it was my first time there and 418 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 1: I was like, oh man, I hit one there. So 419 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 1: that was really cool to be able to do that 420 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 1: one man, Lynch are good at this. You gotta start 421 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 1: going first. This is like, you know anyway, now, I 422 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 1: bow to your I bow to your supremacy. And and 423 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: by the way, Chris, it's a lot of home runs, 424 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, Like I said, I got lucky a lot. 425 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: You know, pictures through really fast. They provided a lot 426 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 1: of the powers. Look and if you look at a 427 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: lot of my home runs, they just barely went over 428 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,199 Speaker 1: the spence. Because I was always on to the motto 429 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: that the further you hit it, they don't give you 430 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: any more points. So all I gotta do is just 431 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: over the fence. That's what I special. Now here's a 432 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: bonus question for you, Linchie. The number of blades of 433 00:21:56,080 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: grass at America Park didn't field the outfield the boat? Yeah, well, 434 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: I want to know that. I want to know the 435 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: distance between out and the left Field corner of America 436 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: Park to the edge of Ford Field, and it looks 437 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: like it's about ten yards really really close, isn't That 438 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 1: was the trite question right there. You know, here's an 439 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: interesting one for you guys. So when they built Ford 440 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,479 Speaker 1: Field in America, there were rumors that they were going 441 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,160 Speaker 1: to put a sliding dome between the two of us 442 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: so it would go over And that would have been 443 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,679 Speaker 1: amazing because I'm played in those cold games in April, 444 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: even in the World Series, it was snowing out there, 445 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: so I wish they would have put that thing over there. 446 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 1: But they never ended up getting it done. It ended 447 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: up just being over Ford Field and not over America. 448 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 1: That's just that's the problem with the Tigers. Just to 449 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: put this in perspective, Curtis Grandison hit more home runs 450 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: than Jack Clark, Dave Parker, Boomed Owel, Darryl Strawberry, Bobby Bonds, 451 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: Willie Horton, Lance Parish. The list goes on and on 452 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: and on. Pretty good, pretty good company, then my man, 453 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,119 Speaker 1: pretty good company, thank you. You know, the crazy. But 454 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: I met Joe Strawberry and he's a monster. He's huge, 455 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: and I remember the first thing he said to me, 456 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: goes man, you're a little man. Where do you get 457 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: this power from? That's fantastic, fantastical, Curtis Grander said, of course, 458 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: all Star, We've proven your credentials right here on this show. 459 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: Also President of the Players Alliance. It was really an 460 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: enjoyable and timely conversation with you. We're eager to learn 461 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: more from some of your colleagues about everything that's going 462 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: on at the Player's Alliance. Good luck to you. Hope 463 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 1: you'll come back and visit with us, especially as the 464 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,119 Speaker 1: season gets underway and hopefully baseball looks a little more 465 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:52,439 Speaker 1: normal in in twenty one for sure, And thank you 466 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: very much for having me. Excited to continue to see 467 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: what we can do. It's gonna take some time, but 468 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: we're up for the challenge. You gave a Tiger's fan 469 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: a great thrill. Thank you, buddy, Thank you for the pleasure. 470 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: Thank you. Guys. Let's learn more about the group from 471 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,400 Speaker 1: Chris Young. He's a former Major League Baseball All Star 472 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: who's been deeply involved with this from the beginning. Tell 473 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 1: us how you got involved and and sort of why 474 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: it's important to you. First of all, thanks for having me, guys. 475 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: I'm really excited to be here with you. UM. I 476 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: got involved from the very beginning. From the very beginning, 477 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,480 Speaker 1: there was a large group text questions that that pretty 478 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: much went out to the majority of players of color 479 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 1: UM within the league. And that's minor league guys, major 480 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: league guys, ex players, UM, which is myself now. And 481 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,920 Speaker 1: from that message, I believe a few guys got together 482 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: and came up with the idea of how we can 483 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:46,800 Speaker 1: make a difference, because pretty much when you're a player, 484 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: you have so many questions. They're going through the club 485 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: off on how it can be impact the game, how 486 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 1: can we get more players of color within the game, 487 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,320 Speaker 1: and and normally it just ends it that it ends 488 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,959 Speaker 1: as a conversation and nobody ever goes anywhere with it, 489 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: and you pretty much depend on Major League Baseball or 490 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 1: any other you know, outside enteresting to step in and 491 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,719 Speaker 1: pretty much take care of it for you. But I 492 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: think the players can together and they decided that, you know, 493 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 1: if you want to see real change, if you want 494 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 1: to be productive, you want to do something about it. 495 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 1: You know, sooner or later, you know we're gonna have 496 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: to you know, put our resources um us our own 497 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 1: resource of our own time you know our own you know, 498 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,160 Speaker 1: experience into play and and try to make it different ourselves, 499 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: which is where I think some guys got together. Um. 500 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: I know I was called early on by Curtis Granson 501 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: and TSA Bathian camera May been handing Jackson and asking 502 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,879 Speaker 1: if this is something that I'll be interested in and 503 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: and when you bring something like that to me, you're 504 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 1: something like player and land. Um, you know my history 505 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,600 Speaker 1: in the game, the amount of players that all they 506 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 1: have to call pass with it seems like a like 507 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: a no brainer for me, and every stuff being in 508 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: it's It's been amazing to see how much the alliance 509 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: has been in to do in a short amount of 510 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 1: time during the pandemic. So, um, you know, hopefully you 511 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 1: can be pushpot you here talking to some other players 512 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 1: who retired from very particular sport. A couple of them said, 513 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 1: sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone 514 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: to bring about positive change. Can you reflect more on that? 515 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: I can. I can, um, and I think what many 516 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,239 Speaker 1: players I mean, but I can't. I can't see for them. 517 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: I can see for myself. Somebody were to say that 518 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: to me, The main thing I think about is just 519 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 1: all the relationships, all the great relationships I had with 520 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 1: all of my teammates, you know, no matter you know, 521 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 1: what their race was or with their background where they 522 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: were raised. You know, I had really good relationships with 523 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:42,440 Speaker 1: all those guys. And it comes a time where yes, 524 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: I'm out the game now, but a lot of things 525 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 1: that were happening in the world really created an environment 526 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: for some uncomfortable conversations that needed to happen. And sometimes 527 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 1: when you're the one speaking out and you're the one, 528 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 1: you know, putting your personal opinions out there, there could 529 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: be some guys in your path that, you know, I 530 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: almost feel like they don't even know you. So I know, 531 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: we came out with a video in the very beginning 532 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:08,920 Speaker 1: talking about social injustice, and solely from that video that 533 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: we put out, a lot of my ex teammates called 534 00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 1: and they're asking, like, are you all right, what's going on? 535 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: I've never seen you like this before, and whatever it 536 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: may be. But what it did cause in a in 537 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: a good way, is that it is called a lot 538 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: of conversations that we were able to have and it 539 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 1: really helps us understand each other better and and help 540 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: us understand you know, what we you know, how we 541 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: view what's going on in the world right now? Hey, Chris, 542 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,120 Speaker 1: it's Mike Lynch up in Boston. UM. I was a 543 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 1: sportscaster in those two seasons you played with the Red 544 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,199 Speaker 1: Sox parts of sixteen and seventeen. I always remember you 545 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 1: as one of the nicest guys on the team, a 546 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: guy that was always out in the community. Uh never 547 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: said no to any charitable Uh cause when you were asked, 548 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: and I know it's a lot to ask of a 549 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: lot of Major League Baseball players, is that party always 550 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: been party of the DNA to just be involved with 551 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: causes and in the community and to reach down to 552 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: help others. It has been um, but full disclosure. It 553 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 1: was much easier while I was playing, because while you're playing, 554 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: you have a lot of opportunities come the way that 555 00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:13,679 Speaker 1: we're pretty much you know, you jump in. You you know, 556 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 1: people know where they want you to be seen, and 557 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: you kind of going, you know, the best, and you 558 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: try to make a difference when you can. I think 559 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: what makes the difference with the Alliance is that, I 560 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: mean weally one is making those decisions. We're the ones, 561 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,879 Speaker 1: you know, making decisions on where money goes. Um, you 562 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: know what communities we want to go and try to 563 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: be involved in what what what kids. We want to 564 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: try to reach out to and and our success solely 565 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: depends on decisions that we make. So I think that 566 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: brings a different dynamic into it. From my personal experience, 567 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: I know with me have Curtis granteds in the CC 568 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: to BATIOM and OOSE, guys who have huge foundations too, 569 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: have done a whole lot for their respected communities. And 570 00:28:50,080 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: this is something that says very um used to and 571 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: comfortable with. For me, Um, I don't know, I'm an 572 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: older player or ex player. UM, this is something that's 573 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: new for me and I've I've been having involved being 574 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 1: a part of Well. Chris, we really appreciate you spending 575 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: some time with us. Uh. It's a great organization. We're 576 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: happy to learn more about it and the best of 577 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,080 Speaker 1: luck to you. Thanks again. Okay, thank you guys so 578 00:29:13,160 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: much for your time. I'll really appreciate it. Let's wrap 579 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: up the show by talking to Chris Dickerson. He is 580 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: another Major League Baseball player, used to be in the 581 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 1: league and now he's doing great work with the players lines. 582 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: You know, I guess we're trying to understand and really 583 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: fully appreciate, you know what you feel that the power 584 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: of players are and former players are at this moment 585 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: and why this this movement is so important as we 586 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: get deeper into one which candidly doesn't feel like it's 587 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: going to be much easier. Yeah, yeah, uh boy, I 588 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:50,520 Speaker 1: mean it's just yeah, you know, like they said, it's like, 589 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 1: you know, fifty eight weeks of of two thousand twenty basically, um, yeah, 590 00:29:56,040 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: we're just getting in this awful just roll over that 591 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: going on, and it's it's real, it's really it's really unfortunate. 592 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just like you you know, we went 593 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 1: through this uh you know last year during the summer, 594 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:14,959 Speaker 1: and you know, it's just it's very strange time. Um, 595 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: you know, as we're talking about the Players Alliance and 596 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: that the events that led up to the creation of it, 597 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: and then it's just like we're you know, we open 598 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: up all the all these wounds and it's just like 599 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: it and it keeps going. It's almost like we're just 600 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: going further and further into and it's kind of one 601 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: of those things where're not really sure what the actual 602 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,280 Speaker 1: expectation was. It's not like we're going to get this 603 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: turned around overnight or just how this country is operating 604 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: right now as far as UM, you know, you know, 605 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 1: race relations and just you know that at at its 606 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: core that we're that we're still starting to see. But 607 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: you know, UM, but you know, what we're doing in 608 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 1: the in the community right now, especially with the tour 609 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: is you know, we wanted to identify that, you know, 610 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: the stories that we've you know, what we've experience into 611 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: our experience in UM in Major League baseball, UM as 612 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: black men, and how UM the landscape is you know, 613 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: dramatically changed over the last twenty years and the decline 614 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: and in some of the underlying reasons that are in 615 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,480 Speaker 1: direct parallel to what's happening in our society, you know, 616 00:31:18,640 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: from just the sheer lack of resources and opportunities that 617 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: the people of color get in the in this country. 618 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: And so that's UM, you know, and that's what you know, 619 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: the tour is is a big part of what we're 620 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: doing right now is just getting kids equipment, UM, which 621 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:38,960 Speaker 1: is one because you know, again, UM, you know, the 622 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: landscape of youth baseball has changed dramatically where you know, 623 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: it's no longer free there were and this is across 624 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 1: all youth sports, not just baseball. I think you guys 625 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: can agree on that as well. Um, if you guys 626 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: look at hockey, stocker and all these sports, it's all 627 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: a paid a play system, and there are a lot 628 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:58,480 Speaker 1: of families, um, even you know middle class wife families 629 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:00,480 Speaker 1: that are getting that are now getting rice out of 630 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 1: youth sport and so um, you know, we're just trying 631 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: to identify in through stories and I think that's where 632 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 1: the the amazing things was being in the group conversation 633 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:12,040 Speaker 1: when we first started. This is hearing people's stories and 634 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: hearing and understanding what the biggest needs among um, you know, 635 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 1: black neighborhoods and kids of color to get back into baseball. 636 00:32:21,520 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 1: And that was one thing that was identified by by 637 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:28,720 Speaker 1: CC is that it starts with equipment. So um, you 638 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: know the same as tour roll along. It's it's pretty special. 639 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 1: But you know, while we're doing all this good, we're 640 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 1: still dealing with all this all this other bs. That's 641 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: that's still continuing even before the Nightmare of Uh. Something 642 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 1: I noticed about youths, especially when it came to baseball. 643 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: When I was a kid, it was just pretty simple. 644 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: We would get a bunch of our friends from one block. 645 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 1: It's like, hey, let's get up a game. Let's get 646 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:58,400 Speaker 1: the guys from the other block, and let's go get 647 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: the bat and you know, don't forget your ball and 648 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 1: let's go. And you don't see much of that anymore 649 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: in baseball. And I guess I ask you why, that's 650 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: a really good question. Um, you know, I think listen, 651 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: I think it kind of for me. You know, it's 652 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:18,800 Speaker 1: like one of those means you see on social media, 653 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: and there's one in particulars always stuck with me, and 654 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: it's on one side it says, I'm so glad I 655 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,960 Speaker 1: grew up doing this, and it was kids playing outside 656 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 1: rather than doing this, and it was a bunch of 657 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 1: kids huddled around there on their phone. You just don't 658 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: see kids outside playing. You don't see kids playing outside. 659 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 1: You don't see them riding bikes together. You don't see 660 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: him playing baseball in the street. Um. And I think 661 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: that is just kind of where it's at. I mean, 662 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:46,840 Speaker 1: these kids are you know, they're kind of they're constantly 663 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: on their phones, are playing video games, They're connected to YouTube, 664 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 1: you know, streaming or whatever the case is. I think 665 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:57,680 Speaker 1: there's just so many more forms of entertainment to where 666 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:00,760 Speaker 1: kids just it takes their attention and they're simply just 667 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:03,920 Speaker 1: not interested in going outside and and and being involved 668 00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: with with sports. And the ones that are kind of 669 00:34:08,200 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 1: I think, um, you know, especially in baseball, they're kind 670 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:13,920 Speaker 1: of it's it's not so much like a it doesn't 671 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: feel like it's a recreational sport anymore. I think you 672 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: look at all these websites like ranking kids and you know, 673 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 1: this is the top kid for class two thousand and thirty. 674 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:28,560 Speaker 1: It's like, you can't just play baseball anymore. You always 675 00:34:28,560 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: have a label. You're always competing for some you know, 676 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:34,719 Speaker 1: for some showcase or from some elite team or this 677 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: prospect wire. It's it's so it's so odd. It's like, um, 678 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 1: it's like these kids are like it's almost like it's 679 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 1: like a like a cattle show. It's like, oh, this 680 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 1: kid in this kid class in two thousand eight, you know, 681 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:51,880 Speaker 1: smooth hands, blah blah blah, quick back. It's like, you 682 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 1: can you there's no such point there's that's the thing. 683 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: You're not just playing in the street anymore. It's you're 684 00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:00,359 Speaker 1: you're trying to give your in and the your thing 685 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: is and it's not the kids. I mean, it's their parents. 686 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: It's like, oh, you know, Timmy has to be playing 687 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,160 Speaker 1: on this team. If Timmy is going to go and 688 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:08,960 Speaker 1: be on this elite team and get the best and 689 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 1: the best, and you know it's going to be the best, 690 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:13,640 Speaker 1: and he's got to play on this team and coach, 691 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 1: you know, Johnson says he has to play, you know, 692 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: for this league for this amount of time in order 693 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 1: to get in front of college scouts, like college you know, 694 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 1: college coaches like duties. He's twelve, and I think there's 695 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:32,359 Speaker 1: he's he's twelve, and there's that's and that's where we're at. 696 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 1: I think we're just so out of line with so 697 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:40,399 Speaker 1: many different aspects of youth sports and it's and it's 698 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:44,200 Speaker 1: very and it's really troublesome. And you know, as a parent, 699 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to say that that I understand. I 700 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,600 Speaker 1: understand where they're coming from. I think that college tuition 701 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:55,400 Speaker 1: UH is a burden that that um that parents are 702 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:58,560 Speaker 1: terrified of and they're trying to do everything in their 703 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:02,400 Speaker 1: power to get their kids scholarship to relieve the financial 704 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: burden of college UM. As you know, these prices continue 705 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:09,240 Speaker 1: to soar, it's like we saw even with this remote learning, 706 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:11,760 Speaker 1: you have schools like Harvard that are still charging full 707 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 1: tuition um for remote learning and they're not you can't 708 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: even step on campus, but they're still charging full tuition 709 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,760 Speaker 1: and that you know that that system needs to be fixed. 710 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 1: And through that, I think that will alleviate a lot 711 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 1: of this pressure that their parents put on their kids. 712 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:33,320 Speaker 1: And so you know, it's uh, you know, it's just layers. 713 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:36,719 Speaker 1: It's layers upon layers, and it's unfortunate because you know, 714 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 1: those the street ball games were the best. Everybody knows that, 715 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: right absolutely, Chris, uh uh did you I agree with 716 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 1: you what all you're saying about youth coaches labeling kids 717 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 1: that we all have seen twelve year olds who are 718 00:36:48,600 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 1: the biggest bullies in the neighborhood and by the time 719 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:54,000 Speaker 1: there was seventeen, Uh, they disappeared and the little skinny 720 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 1: kid that and then in the sixth grade all of 721 00:36:56,239 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 1: a sudden became the best player on the team. I 722 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 1: agree with you a thousand percent. The um pace of baseball. 723 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:06,239 Speaker 1: Do you think that's discouraging young kids from picking up 724 00:37:06,239 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: a ball and bat as opposed to go and maybe 725 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:12,799 Speaker 1: too lacrosse or some other sport the pace. Um, I 726 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: can't really say much on the pace. Again, it's it's 727 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: one of those things I think it's just it's a 728 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:21,759 Speaker 1: it's it's not a necessary, it's a culture dynamic, but 729 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,000 Speaker 1: it's just where we're at, like as a society. It's 730 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: like we're you know, everything in you know, modern media 731 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: and the forms in which we communicate, in which companies 732 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,560 Speaker 1: communicate and advertise, it's all in short form too to 733 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:39,840 Speaker 1: go to basically too to speak to this quote unquote 734 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:43,360 Speaker 1: is declining attention spans. So you know, everything is format 735 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:46,320 Speaker 1: into like a minute to thirty seconds to fifteen second cliffs. 736 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: And that's exactly what if you look at these at 737 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,879 Speaker 1: these big brands, everything is in like you know, are 738 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,240 Speaker 1: these media companies, everything is now in short form media. 739 00:37:55,400 --> 00:37:57,799 Speaker 1: It's TikTok, it was Vine, it was you know, it 740 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:00,799 Speaker 1: went from okay, we can do like videos and create 741 00:38:00,840 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: YouTube to shortening down the fifteen second thirty clips and 742 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:05,279 Speaker 1: that's kind of where we're where we're at. It is 743 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 1: like because of these attention spans and because of simply 744 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 1: because if you look at the actual metrics and the analytics, 745 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:14,600 Speaker 1: people that click on these videos, they don't have an 746 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:16,960 Speaker 1: attention span for more than ten seconds. They'll probably get 747 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,000 Speaker 1: through ten and then they'll and then they'll switch it off. 748 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 1: And that kind of you know, started started with you 749 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,080 Speaker 1: know how we have TV and streaming services because nobody 750 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,440 Speaker 1: cares about uh these you know ads or commercials. It's 751 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:30,160 Speaker 1: like thirty seconds they're they're switching to another channel already. 752 00:38:30,200 --> 00:38:33,360 Speaker 1: You know, how can we feed the attention span um faster? 753 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:36,400 Speaker 1: And so it's just the reflection on where we're at 754 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:38,800 Speaker 1: with baseball. It's it is a reflection of that. It 755 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:41,640 Speaker 1: just simply doesn't move fast enough for people with for people, 756 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:43,879 Speaker 1: and even while you're there, while you're at the game, 757 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:46,040 Speaker 1: we see this whole safety protocol go up with the 758 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:48,520 Speaker 1: next because people aren't even paying attention to the game 759 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:51,200 Speaker 1: half the time. They're on their phones. They're doing this 760 00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:53,640 Speaker 1: and you can see it throughout the game. And I 761 00:38:53,719 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 1: remember one game in New York and this kid got 762 00:38:57,120 --> 00:38:59,919 Speaker 1: hit and I will always forge, I will never forge 763 00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:02,799 Speaker 1: yet to share his reaction, and he was just his 764 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 1: hands went up over his face. He turned completely around, 765 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: but you could hear it and it was like I 766 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:10,560 Speaker 1: saw the kid, you know, three pitches prior. He was 767 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 1: looking he was in the second row, he was looking 768 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 1: straight down, he was on his phone. You know, nobody 769 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:18,080 Speaker 1: seemed to be paying attention. And that was you know, 770 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: that was two thousand and twelve, two thousand and thirteen, 771 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:21,759 Speaker 1: and so where we're at today, it's like it's only 772 00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 1: become the presence of your phone and the attention in 773 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:27,400 Speaker 1: which you give it has only become more prevalent. And so, 774 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:30,560 Speaker 1: you know, that's just it's where we're at as a society. 775 00:39:30,680 --> 00:39:34,440 Speaker 1: So the game itself and going three hours and trying 776 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:37,960 Speaker 1: to shave off time, which has been wildly unsuccessful as 777 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:41,319 Speaker 1: far as addressing the you know, game time. I think 778 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:42,800 Speaker 1: a couple of years ago it was like an average 779 00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:44,719 Speaker 1: of three hours and ten minutes, and we obviously we 780 00:39:44,760 --> 00:39:47,120 Speaker 1: put rules into place and to get it down to 781 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,239 Speaker 1: roughly three minutes. You know, it's to three hours. And 782 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:51,720 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of this we're like, okay, 783 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of your report, like all 784 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:56,120 Speaker 1: this stuff and the you know, the change of you know, 785 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:59,360 Speaker 1: the play the clock and you know, the commercial breaks, 786 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:01,160 Speaker 1: it's like, all right, we stayed the whopping three and 787 00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,319 Speaker 1: a half minutes from the average game time. This year, 788 00:40:03,320 --> 00:40:08,319 Speaker 1: it's like okay, sweet Yeah, well, uh, on the on 789 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:10,920 Speaker 1: a happier note, we really admire the work that you're 790 00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: doing the Players Alliance and uh getting more equipment to 791 00:40:14,880 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 1: two kids who need it and really uh trying to 792 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,919 Speaker 1: to up end that that yawning gap that you very 793 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:25,919 Speaker 1: well described that it is a money driven uh thing, 794 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:28,480 Speaker 1: that is for sure in terms of the the opportunity 795 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:30,279 Speaker 1: to play play a game that we all love. So 796 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:32,279 Speaker 1: Chris Stickerson, thank you so much for your time. We 797 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 1: really appreciate it. Thank you so guys. I really liked 798 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:37,920 Speaker 1: that because we obviously got time with the man himself, 799 00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:40,640 Speaker 1: Curtis Granderson, who put it all together, but you know, 800 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:43,839 Speaker 1: getting the different perspectives from the different players. They come 801 00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:47,120 Speaker 1: from similar but different walks of life. They obviously have 802 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:50,799 Speaker 1: a very cohesive mission with the Players Alliance. I have 803 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:53,239 Speaker 1: to say, I'm just speaking for myself here. I was 804 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:57,719 Speaker 1: glad to hear this level of enthusiasm and dedication from baseball. 805 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:01,759 Speaker 1: I feel like the NBA especially so much credit for 806 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:04,960 Speaker 1: what they've done around player empowerment and talking about equality. 807 00:41:05,239 --> 00:41:09,400 Speaker 1: This is some really important work that they're doing in baseball. Lynchy, Yeah, absolutely, 808 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:11,880 Speaker 1: And I thought the most important part of our conversation 809 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,520 Speaker 1: with Curtis Granderson was talking about this was really so 810 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:17,120 Speaker 1: many things went on this year, but it was a 811 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:20,120 Speaker 1: year of education, and it was a year of conversation. 812 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:22,920 Speaker 1: In my favorite word for this year, a year of listening. 813 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:25,720 Speaker 1: And you know, he said that when when he was playing, 814 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 1: he hung around with the black guys and the hotel 815 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:30,239 Speaker 1: room where they go out to dinner together, and they 816 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:32,920 Speaker 1: talked about their issues among themselves, but they never talked 817 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:37,840 Speaker 1: with their with their other teammates, from white guys, Asian guys, 818 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:41,680 Speaker 1: Hispanic guys. And they finally opened up these conversations and 819 00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:44,440 Speaker 1: there was some great listening. Um, so I thought it 820 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 1: was really something that has everybody's antenna up. And not 821 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:52,600 Speaker 1: only was there some listening and some good conversation, there 822 00:41:52,640 --> 00:41:54,919 Speaker 1: was some action. So I thought it was a great 823 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:57,960 Speaker 1: start and a good part of the conversation. Yeah, interesting 824 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:01,600 Speaker 1: bar to to hear these guys talk about baseball in 825 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:04,800 Speaker 1: a slightly different way. And you also, like the former players, 826 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:08,480 Speaker 1: I think giving back to the game, right, Oh my goodness, yes, Uh, 827 00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:12,000 Speaker 1: you think about m O K Day and something that 828 00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:14,880 Speaker 1: we brought up during the show, and and I was 829 00:42:14,920 --> 00:42:18,719 Speaker 1: glad to hear it. Yes, usually we think of think 830 00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:21,319 Speaker 1: of it as like a long weekend and uh we 831 00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:25,200 Speaker 1: but we don't put the importance of what this day 832 00:42:25,320 --> 00:42:29,200 Speaker 1: actually means and the people that fought to even get 833 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:33,040 Speaker 1: this day on the calendar and what it means. Absolutely. Yeah, 834 00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:34,880 Speaker 1: that was a very good reminder. I'm glad we were 835 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:37,240 Speaker 1: able to do this. You've been listening to a special 836 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:39,759 Speaker 1: edition of Bloomberg Business of Sports. We're here each and 837 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:43,200 Speaker 1: every week for you across the week, plus online wherever 838 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,320 Speaker 1: you get your podcast. Those drop on Monday's, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 839 00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:49,360 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly. Find me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News. 840 00:42:49,719 --> 00:42:51,480 Speaker 1: And I'm Mike Lynch. You can find me at Lynch 841 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:54,640 Speaker 1: w CDB, and I'm Michael Barr on Twitter at Big 842 00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:58,080 Speaker 1: Bar Sports. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from 843 00:42:58,120 --> 00:43:02,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Radio around the world on where I W