1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 2: Business of Sports can be intimidating for hard for a 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 2: starting to break into. 4 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 3: We really appreciate where our owners are actually there, you know, 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 3: with us through the journey. 6 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,159 Speaker 4: Teams ours especially then very intentional to diversify at all 7 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 4: levels of the company. 8 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 3: Maybe we're in the golden years for the NFL and 9 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 3: college football. 10 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 5: Our demographic reach has continued to expande. 11 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 4: This is going to be really unlocking the streaming platform 12 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 4: for sports fans. 13 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: Sports evaluations are rising. We'll see when they peak. 14 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 6: You don't have to be the best in your sports 15 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 6: to make a whole ton of money. 16 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 17 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 2: Do you This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show 18 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: where we explore the big money issues in the world 19 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: of sports. 20 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: Michael barn I'm Scarlett Foo and Tom de Minsasa coming 21 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 3: up on the show today we get you ready for 22 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 3: March Madness. 23 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 2: We check in with Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Navares 24 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 2: about the state of the league heading into the turn. 25 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: It this year. 26 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 7: The NCAA, you know, the total membership brought this upon 27 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 7: ourselves by not having a governance system that could flext 28 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 7: with the times and move quickly to adopt change. And 29 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 7: so we went from zero to sixty in the name 30 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 7: image likeness space. And while I support student athletes being 31 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 7: able to monetize their name image likeness, we do need 32 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 7: some guardrails and I really would like to see pay 33 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 7: for play get taken out. 34 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 4: We'll also talk about college basketball super nova Caitlin Clark 35 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 4: and what her rise means in the NIL era. 36 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,279 Speaker 7: Clark with the poll in her. 37 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 8: Hands, that great good is complete for the Iowa hawkays. 38 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 2: All that and more straight ahead on the Bloomberg business 39 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: of sports. But first, this week NFL free agency kicked off. 40 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 3: It's a great time to be alive, Michael Barr, and 41 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 3: we've already seen some very big moves eteen Kirk Cousins 42 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: going to the Falcon, Saquon Barkley moving to the rival 43 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 3: Philadelphia Eagles, and of course for you New York Jetpans, 44 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 3: we re signed Greg The legs areloin ye. 45 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: With all those big money signings already underway, we wanted 46 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: to check in with a friend of the show, Noel 47 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 2: Laon Montang. He is a former NFL pro and you 48 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: know that, and now director are for Dens Capital Advisors, Noel, 49 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 2: welcome back to the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show. 50 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 5: Absolutely always a pleasure. And when I get when I 51 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 5: get introductions like that, I almost just want to sign 52 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 5: off and just let it, just let it hang in 53 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 5: the air. 54 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 2: You are too kind, man. Hey, Well, let's start with 55 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 2: the elephant in the room. We got a lot of 56 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: signings that have taken place in the NFL. Russell Wilson 57 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: is the first one that comes to mind your thoughts 58 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 2: about that. He's going to the Steelers for a year, 59 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: and then I believe Denver is eating the contract for 60 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: about thirty eight million dollars and then the Steelers said, okay, 61 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: we'll pay you one point blah blah blah. 62 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 5: I think for the Steelers it's probably one of the 63 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 5: greatest contracts ever signed, potentially, and that's whether or not 64 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 5: Russell Wilson returns to whatever form he's gonna return to. Obviously, 65 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 5: he's got a you know, he's been a he's been 66 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 5: a tremendous quarterback over the years. He's been a little 67 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 5: bit down the last couple was it him? Was it 68 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 5: the team? We'll see. But the Steelers don't have to 69 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 5: worry about it. They're paying they're gonna pay rookies more 70 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 5: than they're paying uh, you know, rookie free agents more 71 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 5: than they're paying Russell Wilson. 72 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 3: Well, no, you got to you gotta correct me if 73 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 3: I'm wrong here, But tell me the most valuable player 74 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: of the initial days of free agency is an agent, 75 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 3: Mike McCartney, agent for Kirk Cousins, who signed a four year, 76 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 3: one hundred and eighty million dollar contract, by the way, 77 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 3: to play with Bijon Robinson, Kyle Pitts, I mean, Drake London, 78 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 3: I mean, I mean unbelievable contract. What does that do 79 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 3: for the quarterback position? What does that do for the NFL? 80 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 3: For the NFL this year? 81 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 2: One hundred eighty million, that's scarlet money right there. 82 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 5: I'll tell you what, Mike, Mike has been honestly running 83 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 5: the show in that respect for a long time. I mean, 84 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 5: going back to Kirk's years in Washington. The strategy that 85 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 5: they've been able to put together and then and then 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 5: execute on has been phenomenal. And and listen, you know 87 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 5: it's no offense to Kirk, but he was a fourth 88 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 5: round pick. You know, there was a there was a 89 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 5: quarterback draft ahead of him. So when you when you 90 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 5: look at the same team in RG three. So when 91 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 5: you look at the player and the path and these contracts, 92 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 5: I mean, it's outstanding what Mike's done. One note that 93 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 5: I'll make that I think Mike has really affected the market, 94 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 5: not only on the guaranteed side of contracts, especially at 95 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 5: the quarterback position, but also duration of contract, which is 96 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 5: something that we're seeing come a lot more to fruition 97 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 5: even with the cap increase. These these shorter contracts, big money, 98 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 5: shorter contracts, less risk, more reward for the player, and 99 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 5: you get back to the table. Quicker. 100 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 2: Oh my goodness, say Kwon Barkley, Yeah, Tiki Barber, they're 101 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: all like, you know, mad at each other. Now. Yeah, 102 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: Saquan one heck of a running back, left the Giants 103 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: going to the Eagles. That's why Tiki's all upset. But hey, listen, 104 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: it looks like for thirty seven mel for three years, 105 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 2: it looks like, you know, hole that that's well paid. 106 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 5: I would say, so, you know, and especially at a 107 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 5: position that's it's been tough to get those kind of contracts. 108 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 5: And listen, I'll be open about it. I love Tiki. 109 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 5: I've known him basically since I got into the real 110 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 5: football world back at Virginia when we played together. He 111 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 5: he loves to stir the pot. He's a competitive guy, 112 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 5: and I guarantee you he does not like that color 113 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 5: green down South on ninety five. Probably more about that 114 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 5: than it does anything. But once you go to social media, 115 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 5: people are gonna people are gonna make it whatever they 116 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 5: want to make it. 117 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 3: It's interesting just how active the running back market has 118 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 3: been given to where we've been in years past. Right, 119 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:01,239 Speaker 3: I mean it's been that position that I mean, Saquon 120 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 3: Barkley all but begged the Giants to pay him last year. Right, 121 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 3: And now you know, Tiki Barber is, you know, casting 122 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 3: shade on them. And you know, for me, I look 123 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 3: at you know, meat and potatoes. I look at the 124 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 3: offensive line position and I mean some of the you know, 125 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 3: left tackles that are I mean, they're still on the market. 126 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 3: Like why is you know, are certain positions getting attention 127 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 3: this year and why are others not? 128 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 5: I think that there is a big push for what's 129 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 5: going to sell tickets? And you know, unfortunately, and this 130 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 5: this hurts me, this pains me to say, but offensive 131 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 5: linemen don't sell tickets now. Granted as Saquon Barkley learned 132 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 5: very painfully in New York. When you don't have an 133 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 5: offensive line, you're only going to be so good as 134 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 5: a running back. And you know the quarterbacks have figured 135 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 5: that out too. But listen, very investing big money in 136 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 5: the positions that make them the most money, and what 137 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 5: they don't want to see is they don't want to 138 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 5: see Aaron Rodgers go down with an achilles injury four 139 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 5: games into the season after they after they go through 140 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 5: everything that they did to get them. They don't want 141 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 5: to see Kirk Cousins in Minnesota go down after a 142 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 5: handful of games to achilles tenent injury, ironically, So you 143 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 5: know they're putting the money where they're going to get 144 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 5: the most rate of return. But I think what we're 145 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 5: going to see in this next phase because listen to 146 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 5: Michael's point early, none of these contracts are official yet. 147 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 5: None of these teams have you know, detailed medical information 148 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 5: on there's agreements in principle, but we're going to see 149 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 5: some of these fall through over the next few days. 150 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 5: We're going to see people renig We're going to see 151 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,679 Speaker 5: people sign where they didn't say they were going to sign. 152 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 5: So these teams have work to do, and I think 153 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 5: in this next phase of free agency, you're going to 154 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 5: start seeing some of these offensive linemen start to fill 155 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 5: out these rosters where they know that, well, we've got 156 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 5: these star players, let's protect these star players. 157 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 4: No, I got to shift gears here and ask you 158 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 4: about women's basketball, because Caitlin Clark of Iowa is breaking 159 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 4: records left and right. She is, of course, already the 160 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 4: Ncublea did one all time leading scorer for men's and 161 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 4: women's basketball, and she just surpassed Steph Curry's record of 162 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 4: most three pointers hit in a single NC Doubla did 163 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 4: one season, of course. Or the controversy, if you want 164 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 4: to call it, that is that she is going to 165 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 4: enter the WNBA Draft rather than extend her time at 166 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 4: Iowa and cash in on those nil deals. Can you 167 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 4: weigh in on this debate? Is this a false debate here? 168 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 5: I think anytime you're dealing with a talent who is engaging, personable, noticeable, 169 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 5: you know, however you want to classify her, Anybody who 170 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 5: loses her, it's a loss. There's no way, there's no 171 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 5: way to counterbalance that. And she's a superstar. She transcends 172 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 5: you know, men's sports, women's sports obviously with her accomplishments 173 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 5: at IOWA. But at the same time, you know, she's 174 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 5: got away from a business perspective, if this is what 175 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 5: my long term future is to continue this sport and 176 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 5: performing at a high level in the sport for as 177 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 5: long as I can, how much am I tapped out 178 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 5: at what I can accomplish at IOWA from a business 179 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 5: perspective versus what the WNBA is going to give me 180 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 5: the opportunity to do. So how are those relationship is 181 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 5: going to transfer into the professional ranks I would imagine. 182 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 5: I mean, this is this is a conversation that we 183 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 5: have regularly. You're going to weigh the pros and cons 184 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 5: of this. You're going to look at what the cash 185 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 5: flow is going to be if you stay put, if 186 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 5: you move on. I mean, you know, it's actually completely related, Scarlett. 187 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 5: I'm sure this is exactly what Caleb Williams went through 188 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 5: with his team in evaluating the benefits of staying or going. 189 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 5: You know, with Caitlin, I think it's a little bit 190 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 5: different just because while all this is women's basketball, it's 191 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 5: not as big as the NFL. Well, you want to 192 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 5: know what it is for her, And I'll bet you 193 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 5: if you put her in Caleb Williams in a lot 194 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 5: of rooms and bring in a bringing, you know, opinion groups, 195 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 5: they're going to know who she is because that's how 196 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 5: big of a star that she is. So I think 197 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 5: for the Big Ten, for Iowa, certainly for the NC 198 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 5: double A, for her to move on and be an 199 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 5: alum that's going to be It's going to be unfortunate 200 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 5: for them, but it was going to happen sooner or later. Yeah, 201 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 5: And for her, I would just like to see her 202 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 5: do it in her best interest at the best timing 203 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 5: for her, because obviously she's given women's college basketball and 204 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 5: college basketball in general plenty to go on up to 205 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 5: this point. 206 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 2: Noel aka our hero, Thank you, sir for joining us 207 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 2: on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. Old friend. 208 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: We really do appreciate it anytime. 209 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 5: I really appreciate these conversations. Thank you all. 210 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 2: That's Noela Montaigne, the former NFL pro and director of 211 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 2: Redence Capital Advisors. Our thanks to him for joining us 212 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 2: on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. From one friend of 213 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,319 Speaker 2: the show to another, our colleague Jason Kelly of Bloomberg 214 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 2: Originals has a brand new show with none other than 215 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 2: a Rod former New York Yankee superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez. 216 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 4: It is called The Deal and you can catch it 217 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 4: on the Bloomberg Original stream every Thursday night at nine 218 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 4: pm Eastern, as well as on Bloomberg Television every Friday 219 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 4: night at seven pm Eastern. 220 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 3: On the last episode, Jason and Alex talk with Smack 221 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 3: Entertainment CEO Constance Schwartz Marini. Here's a sneak peak of 222 00:10:57,760 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 3: that conversation. 223 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 9: For me starting Smack, it was I wanted it. I 224 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 9: actually didn't plan on going on my own truly, Like 225 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 9: I didn't realize I was an entrepreneur because it wasn't. 226 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 9: I always joke about it, like kale and entrepreneur weren't 227 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 9: words you used back in the nineties. And when I 228 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 9: went on my own, it was because I got fired, 229 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 9: which was the best thing ever. So I'm so thankful 230 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 9: to them for, you know, telling me to hit the road. 231 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 9: But when I parted ways with Snoop, I had Michael 232 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 9: and I had done, but they weren't coach Prime and 233 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 9: straighth in the media, you know behemoth now and I 234 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 9: understood it. But wherever I was interviewing at they wanted me, Well, 235 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 9: you worked in sports, you'll work in sports. You produced Snoops, 236 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 9: reality show, you should be a reality show producer. You're 237 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 9: great at brand partnerships. So don't you get it, Like, 238 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,119 Speaker 9: I have twenty years of the best experience ever combining 239 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 9: what I learned at the NFL and what I learned 240 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 9: at the firm. That's what this company is. That's what 241 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 9: it's about. One of our new people that just came 242 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 9: into the company on the production side, he said to 243 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 9: me what McDonald's is to Hamburger's and what phones are 244 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 9: to Apple, Smack is to game changers. And I never 245 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 9: looked at it like that. 246 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 5: I actually had a little little. 247 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 9: Teary for somebody that didn't work at the company who 248 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 9: had that perception of us on the outside. I was like, 249 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 9: that's what it is. 250 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: That's Smack Entertainment CEO Constant schwartz Marini speaking with Jason 251 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 2: Kelly and Alex Rodriguez. You know, I had to say 252 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 2: that on the latest edition of The Deal, watching on 253 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 2: Fridays at seven pm Eastern on Bloomberg Television. Stream it 254 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 2: on Thursdays at nine pm Eastern on Bloomberg Originals. And 255 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 2: find the podcast on your favorite podcast platforms. Up next, 256 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: we turned to college sports and the Caitlin Clark Effect. 257 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 2: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. 258 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: Around the world, You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 259 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:58,559 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio. 260 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show where we 261 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 2: explore the big money issues in the world of sports. 262 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 2: Michael Barr along with Scarlett Fu and Damian Sassauur. Now 263 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 2: you've heard this name, Caitlyn Clark. My goodness, she has 264 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: set the world of basketball on fire. 265 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: Here comes Clark. How will she go for history? 266 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 3: The all time leading scorer in women's college basketball? 267 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 2: And now she is about to go into the w 268 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: NBA after taking Iowa. Just to notes and beyond in 269 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,559 Speaker 2: terms of her team in college and to talk with 270 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 2: us about the Caitlan Clark Fever, because I know I 271 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 2: have it our own Adam mentor Bloomberg's Adam mentor. Welcome 272 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 2: to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 273 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 5: Thanks for having me. 274 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: Man. This I have. 275 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 2: Said this many times and I'm gonna say it again. 276 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 2: I am looking at a woman who could possibly one 277 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 2: day play in the NBA because she is that good. 278 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 8: She is that good, and she's that exciting, and she's 279 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 8: that charismatic, you know. You know, this past week, she 280 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 8: was at the Big Ten women's basketball Championship in Minneapolis. 281 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 8: The championship game was at eleven am, and by ten 282 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 8: am there were people lined up outside of the stadium 283 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 8: on a Sunday morning to see her. And had Kate 284 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 8: and Clark not been playing, I can guarantee you you 285 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 8: wouldn't see a line outside of a stadium at ten 286 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 8: am on Sunday morning. And I was one of the 287 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 8: people who was there. She's just she's got that thing 288 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 8: that you know, gets people out to pay, buy tickets 289 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 8: and see a great athlete. 290 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 4: And it's not just her, right because the team overall. 291 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 4: There's chemistry on the team and they work well together. 292 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 4: Can you compare and contrast what it was like attending 293 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 4: that game, the Iowa game, versus some of the other 294 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 4: college basketball games that you've attended. I just want to 295 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 4: get a sense of what her star power really does 296 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 4: for women's basketball and women's college basketball right now. 297 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 5: Yeah. 298 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 8: Well, it's really interesting to go and see one of 299 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 8: her games. It's reminiscent to me of you know, the 300 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,480 Speaker 8: height of Kobe fever, the height of Lebron James fever, 301 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 8: where people are showing up to see the warm ups 302 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 8: of a player and the rest of the team is great. 303 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 8: Don't get me wrong, you know Iowa has a wonderful team, 304 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 8: but you wouldn't see you know, kids in particular standing 305 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 8: around the edge of the arena watching somebody, you know 306 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 8: take their warm ups for any of those other players. 307 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 8: That's something you see for Steph Curry. You know, if 308 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 8: you go and see the Golden State Warriors, people are 309 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 8: dying to see Steph Curry's famous warm up. You start 310 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 8: to get that a little bit with Caitlin Clark, and 311 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 8: it's just such a unique thing in the women's basketball game. 312 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 8: I don't believe that there has ever been another star 313 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 8: quite like this, even though there's been some fantastic players, 314 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 8: you know, in women's college basketball over the years, the 315 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 8: Sue Birds, the Diana Tarassis, the Britney Grinders, but for 316 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 8: whatever reason, they didn't have this thing, this elusive charisma 317 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 8: that brings people into the stadiums and gets them out 318 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 8: at you know ten am on a Sunday morning, you know, 319 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 8: eighteen five hundred people to see somebody so I've never 320 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 8: experienced this, and I'm a big women's basketball fan, especially 321 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 8: at the college level. People get excited. It's always a 322 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 8: very engaged fan base. Yeah, but it's never been so 323 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 8: personality driven. 324 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 4: And it's not just in person right because, Damian, the 325 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 4: number of households that watch the Iowa Nebraska game surpassed 326 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 4: that who watched the men's UNC Duke game. 327 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, now, well let's let's put some numbers around this, Adam, 328 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 3: seven billion dollars, that's what Fox, CBS and NBC are 329 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 3: paying for women's college basketball. Now, what happens when Caitlin 330 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 3: goes to the pros? What happens to those dollars, those 331 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 3: invest that invested capital, and what is in it for 332 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 3: some of these some of these news agencies like Fox Sports. 333 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 8: Yeah, well that's a great question. I mean, this is 334 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 8: not unprecedented in the history of sports. You know, NBC, 335 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 8: for example, face this in the nineties with Michael Jordan's 336 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 8: two retirements and in both cases ratings. They had paid 337 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 8: big money to get the NBA and all of a sudden, 338 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,159 Speaker 8: the NBA is swimming around aimlessly trying to find a 339 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 8: star to replace Michael Jordan. You know, We've seen it 340 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 8: in other sports, and now it's the NC Double A's turn. 341 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 5: Here. 342 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 8: You have a lot of money having been paid to 343 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 8: televise these games, the seven billion that the Big ten 344 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 8: has received from Fox, CBS and NBC. The NC Double 345 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 8: A just finished a one billion dollar deal just for 346 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 8: the Women's Final four and some other championships. You know, 347 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 8: I'm sure they would love to have another year of this. 348 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 8: So the question becomes, where does where? 349 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:37,160 Speaker 5: Where? 350 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 8: How do they replace Caitlin Clark? And Fox's answer is, well, 351 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 8: what if we pay her name, image and likeness rights 352 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 8: for another year to try to stay in the game. 353 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 8: And that's what they've contemplated, and they ended up not 354 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 8: doing it. But that's how desperate they are from a 355 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 8: business standpoint to keep her going. 356 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 3: Michael Barr, how much would it take for you to 357 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 3: stay in the moinne Iowa for one more year? 358 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,400 Speaker 2: Oh, looking at my wallet, you can offer me three 359 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,360 Speaker 2: bucks and the deed the boardwalk in park Place. Now, 360 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 2: I tell you, she is really something, and like you said, 361 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 2: it's something that Fox Sports they shouldn't necessarily now they 362 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: never offered it to her about you know, the name, 363 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: image and likeness. 364 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,439 Speaker 1: Maybe they did well, I. 365 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 4: Don't know, publicly they did not, Probably they. 366 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: Did not, But I mean Adam is not a bad idea, 367 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 2: and that's somebody they should keep in their hip pocket 368 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 2: down the road for the next superstar. 369 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 8: Well that's that's the point I was making in this 370 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 8: recent column. Is you know, basketball, more so than most sports, 371 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 8: is a star driven sport. I mean, of course, football 372 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 8: is where a lot of the money is and stars 373 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 8: help in football, but they're wearing helmets. You don't get 374 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 8: to know them on the court in the way that 375 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 8: you get to know a Caitlin Clark. I mean, some 376 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 8: of the fun of watching Caitlyn Clark is she's such 377 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 8: an expressive personality on the court. The tongue is out 378 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 8: when she hits a big shot. You know, you can 379 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 8: see her mouthing things that maybe we can't say, you know, 380 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 8: on a radio show, her a podcast. But all of 381 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 8: that adds to this allure. And then on top of it, 382 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 8: per game, and you know, it also helps. Of course 383 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 8: in basketball, there's five people on one team, and one 384 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 8: person can really catalyze that team and make it special. 385 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,880 Speaker 8: And so it's a star driven sport. And so for 386 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 8: Fox to say, hey, we want to keep this person 387 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 8: in there. It's recognizing that star driven sport, and it's 388 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 8: also recognizing that in some way, shape or form, these 389 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 8: networks that are doing so well by Caitlin Clark need 390 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 8: to find some other stars to keep this momentum going. Yes, 391 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 8: women's basketball has some momentum of its own, and there 392 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 8: are some up and coming stars, but you want to 393 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 8: keep them in the game. You don't want to see 394 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 8: them heading off to the WNBA early, which is something 395 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 8: that has arguably harmed men's college basketball over the years. 396 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 8: The stars don't stay alone around very long. It's a 397 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 8: year one and done, and then they're into the NBA. 398 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 8: The WNBA isn't quite there yet, but it's the money 399 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 8: is coming. You know, they have a new CBA coming 400 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 8: up in a couple of years, and that could pull 401 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 8: some of these great young players away and suddenly you know, 402 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 8: the fox Is are looking for a new star to 403 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:04,479 Speaker 8: replace the kateln Karks or the Juju Watkins or whoever 404 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 8: is that next up and coming face of the of 405 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 8: the sport. 406 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 3: Adam, you think we have a better chance of seeing 407 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 3: Caitlin playing read than in New York. No, I'm just kidding, 408 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 3: but I mean it's just I mean, look, it's funny 409 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 3: because you know, when we talk about disrupting sports, you know, 410 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 3: we never really think about college sports and what NIL means. 411 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 3: But I mean, and I joke obviously about our friends 412 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 3: in Saudi, but you know, just imagine if you know 413 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 3: they had an interest in, you know, the US education 414 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 3: system in a university, let's just for one example, and 415 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 3: they have the dollars to speak for it. I mean, 416 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,040 Speaker 3: who knows. I mean, the point I guess we're making 417 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 3: here is Fox, you know, CBS, NBC, you know, the 418 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 3: Saudi's what have you? You know, they can in today's 419 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 3: day and age, pay players to remain in college and 420 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 3: to remain in their college for longer. It's just an 421 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 3: amazing world we live in at them. 422 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 8: Right And I think there's two points to make on 423 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 8: that one. We know that players are getting paid to 424 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 8: stay in college right now. Michigan the national champions in football. 425 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 8: Prior to this season, they had NIL fundraising drives specifically 426 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 8: designed to key players on their team so they could 427 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,119 Speaker 8: make that championship run. So it's already happening. That was 428 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 8: small money. I can't quite remember. I want to say 429 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 8: that that fund was a few hundred thousand dollars. It's 430 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 8: gonna cost the lot more. 431 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 5: Than that if you want to keep somebody. 432 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 8: Like Kate and Clerk in college. But it's interesting, and 433 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 8: in terms of the Saudis, you know, I don't know 434 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 8: if the Saudis want to get involved in college basketball. 435 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 8: But the fact of the matter is there's a lot 436 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 8: of money in college basketball, and we have March Madness 437 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 8: coming up, and there's really no reason why the NCAA 438 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 8: should sort of have the monopoly on a spring tournament. 439 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 8: If somebody were to put together enough money private equity, 440 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 8: for example, working with some networks, to say, hey, we 441 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 8: have this amount of money that we are going to 442 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 8: guarantee to the schools, and we're gonna throw in some 443 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 8: nil money to the players. That might pull some you know, 444 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 8: some some big teams, powerfive, power for whatever you call 445 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 8: it now teams away. And suddenly the nc way March 446 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 8: Madness isn't what it was anymore. And there's this new 447 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,199 Speaker 8: I don't know, private equity funded or whatever it is, 448 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 8: funded different tournaments. So I think, you know, the disruption 449 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 8: isn't over, especially in women's sports, because it's it's so 450 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 8: new and so dynamic, right now, you can't assume anything. 451 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 4: Yet another challenge post to the NCAA, which is kind 452 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 4: of fending it off from all directions. So, now that 453 00:22:11,480 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 4: Caitlin Clark has said that she will enter the WNBA 454 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,199 Speaker 4: draft after the tournaments are over, we're looking at a 455 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 4: rookie salary of under eighty thousand dollars a year, and 456 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 4: there's been a lot of talk about how she's going 457 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,360 Speaker 4: to end up giving up a lot of NIL related revenue. 458 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 4: But it's not as if she doesn't have her choice 459 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 4: in terms of brands to represent and to have partnerships with. 460 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 4: So for someone like Kaitlin Clark, it's not Do you 461 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 4: anticipate that she will lose money by going pro to 462 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 4: the WNBA, I don't. 463 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 5: I don't. 464 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 8: I think that she potentially is going to make a 465 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 8: lot more money. First of all, I think from just 466 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 8: a pure basketball standpoint, I think her game can bloom 467 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 8: in the WNBA again with respect to her eye. With 468 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 8: teammates in the WNBA, she's going to have people players 469 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 8: with better hands catching her amazing passes. I think you're 470 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 8: going to see her go up so she can become 471 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,160 Speaker 8: a better player, and that's going to attract in its 472 00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 8: own way other endorsements. She's also the most prominent woman 473 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 8: athlete in the United States arguably in the world right now. 474 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 8: What comes with that, She has a Nike shoe deal, 475 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 8: she has another shoe coming out. I don't know what 476 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 8: Caitlin Kark gets paid per a shoe, but I think 477 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 8: she's you know, you know, she's going to be able 478 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:23,439 Speaker 8: to look at the WNBA salary. The WNBA you can 479 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 8: almost say like a side gig. I saw somebody refer 480 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 8: to Travis Kelcey's Kansas City Chief salary as his side 481 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 8: gig because he's making so much money from the endorsements. 482 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 8: She's become such a recognizable personality, you know, via the 483 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 8: State Farm ads, via Nike, that I think the other 484 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,159 Speaker 8: opportunities are going to be there, and she's going to 485 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 8: have this momentum as a pitch woman that arguably could 486 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 8: be even independent of whatever she's doing on the court. 487 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 8: So I think for her at least, there's a very 488 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 8: unique situation. And the other thing to consider is, you know, 489 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 8: the WNBA has never gone global per se. It's always 490 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 8: been a North American league. There's a CBA coming up, 491 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 8: There's going to be more money coming in, and I 492 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 8: think she's perfectly poised to benefit from that financially when 493 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:09,239 Speaker 8: it does happen, both in terms of salary, because there 494 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 8: is going to be more salary for WNBA players, but again, 495 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 8: if she becomes a global personality, the money is there. 496 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 3: Well, let's just put some numbers around it. One last 497 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 3: second here, Adam, Caitlyn Clark is probably for all intents 498 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 3: and purposes, going to get drafted by the Indiana Fever 499 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 3: as the top pick. She's going to get to play 500 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 3: with last year's Rooie the year I think Alliah Boston. 501 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 3: And here's some interesting numbers for you guys. Five hundred 502 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 3: dollars Fever home opener versus the New York Liberty on 503 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 3: May sixteenth. The average price for a Fever ticket is 504 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:37,439 Speaker 3: at one hundred and forty dollars for the season, up 505 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 3: from sixty dollars last year. And I think, Scarlett, I mean, 506 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 3: I think you and I are going to go to 507 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 3: this one Connecticut Swan May fourteenth, one hundred and eighty 508 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 3: three dollars to watch Kitlyn Clark players. 509 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 4: That's a bargain right now. Bargain bargain, Okay, So we'll 510 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 4: make it a business of Sports field trip, Adam, you 511 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 4: can come with us as well, since you have some 512 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 4: experience at any games. 513 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 2: Old man Barr has a prediction. Write this down next 514 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: year in the NBA All Star Game, the three pointer shootout. 515 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 2: It's gonna be Caitlin Clark there. 516 00:25:06,119 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: That's gonna happen. 517 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 4: That's a good one. 518 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:07,920 Speaker 2: That's there. 519 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: Ye bam, that's it. 520 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 2: There you go, Bloomberg's Adam Mentor, thank you so much, 521 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 2: sir for joining us on the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 522 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,360 Speaker 2: We really do appreciate it. Our thanks to Bloomberg opinion 523 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 2: columnists Adam Mentor for joining us. Find his latest work 524 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 2: by typing OPI n go on the Bloomberg terminal plus 525 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,879 Speaker 2: online at Bloomberg dot com. Up next, we stick with 526 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 2: college sports and talk with Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria 527 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 2: Navares ahead of March Madness Straight Ahead on the Bloomberg 528 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 2: Business of Sports from Bloomberger Radio. 529 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 1: Around the world, You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports 530 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio. 531 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports show, but we 532 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,200 Speaker 2: explored the big money issues in the world of sports. 533 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: I'm Michael Barr along with Scar and Damian sass Hour. 534 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 2: Marge Madness is right around the corner. San Diego State 535 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 2: was the runner up in last year's Big Dance, hailing 536 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: from the Mountain West Conference. 537 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: It's Butler's for two seconds. 538 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 2: He's got. 539 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 5: A San Diego State miracle. 540 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,959 Speaker 2: For her thoughts and what she sees for this year's 541 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 2: NCAA tournament and the overall college sports landscape, we welcome 542 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: back Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Navares. Gloria, welcome to 543 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 2: the Bloomberg Business of Sports. 544 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 7: Thank you for having me. 545 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 2: My goodness, have we seen the end of the traditional 546 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 2: amateur sports in America? Things have changed? 547 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 4: What a big picture question? 548 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:57,119 Speaker 7: Who yeah? I mean, you know, amateurism, the definition of 549 00:26:57,119 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 7: it in the college space is certainly changing. But I 550 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 7: would say the end of amateur sports or sports in 551 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 7: the academy, which is I think looks special about college sports. 552 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 4: So there's so many different areas to discuss when it 553 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 4: comes to college sports. I guess one thing I want 554 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 4: to get your take on is the decision by Dartmouth 555 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 4: men's basketball team to unionize. They're the latest group on 556 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 4: the Dartmouth campus to do so, but it definitely could 557 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:29,800 Speaker 4: set a precedent for other college basketball teams. How are 558 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 4: you thinking about this and how does this change how 559 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 4: the NCAA adjusts its approach to college sports. 560 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 7: Well, you know, and it's been a minute. I have 561 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 7: my law to agree, but I don't practice law. 562 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,360 Speaker 4: So actually that's a perfect approach then, because you can 563 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,159 Speaker 4: think through some of the legal issues, but you're not 564 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 4: sitting there thinking how would they tactically respond to this 565 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,680 Speaker 4: particular accusation or that particular charge. 566 00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,680 Speaker 7: Right, And you know, my initial reading of the case, 567 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 7: it seems to center around the control schools have over 568 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 7: student athletes, the range of you know, how often their 569 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 7: schedules dictated what they can and cannot do. So it 570 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 7: certainly is an interesting legal question, and I don't know 571 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 7: that over time we've spent a lot of time thinking 572 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 7: about how much or how little we should exert those 573 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,800 Speaker 7: controls of student athletes, because frankly, in my experience, most 574 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 7: student athletes you know, would want to train three hundred 575 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 7: and sixty days all the time, get extra reps in 576 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 7: the gym, and so it's a balance, you know, between 577 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 7: those that want to push that hard and those that 578 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 7: might want to dial back a little bit. 579 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 4: I think You're right, they do want to do that, 580 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 4: But how do they do that and go to school 581 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 4: at the same time, especially if you know they're part 582 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 4: of the Pac twelve, which is falling apart, and they'll 583 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 4: soon have to cross the country to participate in a 584 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 4: swim meet. 585 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 7: Well, you know, one of the most or positive storylines 586 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 7: around college sports and the NCAA is the graduation rates 587 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 7: student athletes because of the support systems and some of 588 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 7: the controls have been graduating at a higher rate than 589 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 7: general student bodies. 590 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 3: So, Gloria, I just have to ask you this. I mean, 591 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 3: you know, let's play a little bit of bracketology ahead 592 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 3: of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. If my numbers are accurate, 593 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 3: it's possible the Mountain West might see not one, not two, 594 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 3: not three enough on six six teams in the Sea 595 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 3: and in the tournament of sixty four. 596 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 9: Is that right? 597 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 7: Well, I am highly superstitious, like most people in athletics, 598 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 7: So I'm okay. 599 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: I'll answer for you. 600 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 3: Six bids behind only the big twelve in the SEC. 601 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: That's what I'm hearing here. 602 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 3: I'm hearing Boise State, Nevada, Colorado State, no timeouts. 603 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 6: For a rash no tests fire, Jo, you lost us. Fine, 604 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,720 Speaker 6: it's a party for the whole time. I ston't do. 605 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 3: Of course, san Diego State the runner up last year. 606 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 3: What two seconds he's gotta put us? 607 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 2: What the chapter. 608 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 1: A San Diego State miracle Mexico. 609 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 3: I mean, there's tons to pick from. 610 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 7: What I mean we are we are putting to hashtag 611 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 7: that sounds a little bit like six bids. 612 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 3: I mean, congratulations, that's just awesome. I mean, and obviously 613 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:37,400 Speaker 3: I mean the follow through from that, from participating in 614 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 3: the tournament. I mean, and you know for the conference. 615 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:41,960 Speaker 3: I mean, talk to us about the impact this is 616 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 3: going to have on the conference. 617 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:48,360 Speaker 7: Well, you know, certainly our San Diego States run to 618 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 7: the championship game last year. You can't put a value 619 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 7: on the exposure and the platform, the positive impact that 620 00:30:57,120 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 7: has for the school, their admissions, but not only the league. 621 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 7: What I loved about last year with San Diego State 622 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 7: really spent some time talking about how the Mountain West League, 623 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:10,000 Speaker 7: the schedule, the teams they played against, the environments they 624 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 7: played in really helped prepare them for that postseason run. 625 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 7: And this year has just been a testament to you know, 626 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 7: there's a lot of change there's a transfer portal. A 627 00:31:21,760 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 7: lot of times our talent, student athletes, coaches, administrators, ads, 628 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 7: you know, when they start to get really good, get 629 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 7: lured away. But yet we keep rebuilding, we keep coming back, 630 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:39,280 Speaker 7: We develop talent, we find talent. Our coaches' rooms are amazing. 631 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 2: I am going to ask you a question that was 632 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 2: asked to Senator Ted Cruz, and his response is that 633 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 2: by there's a fifty to fifty chance by the end 634 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 2: of this year there will be some legislation concerning the 635 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:05,480 Speaker 2: college athletics in going on for amateur status, particularly nil 636 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: your thoughts about that, Will there be some legislation you 637 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:12,720 Speaker 2: think so by the end of the year, Well. 638 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 7: I certainly hope so. I am a supporter of President 639 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 7: Charlie Baker's platform for reform in that space. Now, certainly, 640 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,680 Speaker 7: to some degree, the NCAA, you know, the total membership, 641 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:28,440 Speaker 7: brought this upon ourselves by not having a governance system 642 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 7: that could flect with the times and move quickly to 643 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,480 Speaker 7: adopt change. And so we went from zero to sixty 644 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 7: in the name image likeness space. And while I support 645 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 7: student athletes being able to monetize their name image likeness, 646 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 7: we do need some guardrails, and I really would like 647 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 7: to see pay for play get taken out of the 648 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 7: NIL space. But also, you know, we're dealing with young 649 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 7: people who are certainly amazing. But you know, you hear 650 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 7: stories about student athletes signing the rights into perpetuity or 651 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,720 Speaker 7: signing deals that don't come to fruition, or you know, 652 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 7: they're just there needs to be the institutional support systems 653 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 7: in that space to both health the athletes and to 654 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 7: safeguard their rights. 655 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 3: So, Gloria, let me ask you this. We've got the 656 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 3: Mountain West Basketball Championship. Are you in Las Vegas now? 657 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,280 Speaker 3: And what's it like over there? What's the what's the 658 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 3: buzz surrounding this year's tournament? 659 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 7: It's amazing. And yes, we've been in Las Vegas for 660 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 7: a couple of days now, and you know, Las Vegas 661 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 7: has really just attracted five collegiate tournaments and so what 662 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 7: I love about it, it's become the place to go 663 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 7: to start your march madness. You know, their people have 664 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 7: made this their pilgrimage. And even if maybe your team's 665 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 7: not doing as well as you hoped in any given year, 666 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 7: you're still coming because you can see a ton of 667 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 7: great basketball and be in one of the world's most 668 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:03,280 Speaker 7: fun vacation spots. 669 00:34:03,320 --> 00:34:04,960 Speaker 3: Well, that's one point. I mean, I mean just the 670 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:07,239 Speaker 3: fact that you have that tournament in Las Vegas right 671 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,640 Speaker 3: ahead of March Madness. I mean, what a better place. 672 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 3: I mean, it's just it's and I can see how 673 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 3: that might work for you. I mean what sort of 674 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 3: events outside of the tournament? I mean, are you planning, 675 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 3: are you meeting with you know, I don't know, different schools, 676 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 3: athletic directors, donors and the like. 677 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 7: Yes, we have our board meetings. We just met with 678 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 7: our presidential group. As they're all here and you know, 679 00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 7: all the different schools. It's really fun to see them 680 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,879 Speaker 7: activate around the event, their alumni associations. Everyone's wearing their 681 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 7: colors up and down the strip and yelling, you know, 682 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 7: go fill in the blank school when they see their 683 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:44,839 Speaker 7: fellow fans. It's super fun. 684 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 4: Gloria, before the Mountain West Conference, you were, of course 685 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 4: a part of the West Coast Conference, and before that 686 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 4: you were at the PAC twelve. When we talk about 687 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,399 Speaker 4: the PAC twelve, there's only two remaining members, Washington State 688 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 4: and Oregon State. Where are we with conference realignments? Because 689 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:06,600 Speaker 4: if geography doesn't matter anymore with USC and UCLA moving 690 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 4: to Big ten. 691 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 7: What does you know for the Mountain West. One of 692 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:12,760 Speaker 7: the things that I think has been a real asset 693 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 7: for us during this time of change is the alignment 694 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 7: among our presidents and the alignment among our schools. You know, 695 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:25,040 Speaker 7: we just did a huge strategic plan brand analysis process, 696 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 7: and one of the ties that binds is, you know, 697 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 7: the Mountain West schools, although dramatically different in their very 698 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 7: own ways as any league, they really pride themselves on 699 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:40,400 Speaker 7: accessible education. A lot of big public institutions, many of 700 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,239 Speaker 7: which are the only show in town. We have a 701 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,600 Speaker 7: very you know, a lot of first generation, no silver spoons, 702 00:35:47,719 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 7: blue collar work ethic, and so there's this you know, 703 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:57,280 Speaker 7: kind of toughness grit that I think is common between 704 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,239 Speaker 7: the Mountain West just lets you know, let the on 705 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 7: the floor prove what we're about. And so that I 706 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 7: feel has really helped us stay together. I'm optimistic that 707 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 7: this might be a settling point in the conference or 708 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 7: re alignment at least for a year, hopefully, because media 709 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:16,719 Speaker 7: deals have been signed, brant of rights have been committed to, 710 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,240 Speaker 7: and so I think as we work through the issues 711 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:23,839 Speaker 7: around the college football playoffs. I think everyone is looking 712 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:26,400 Speaker 7: forward to some stability in that space. 713 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:29,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, so you're talking about the culture of different schools 714 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 4: and the campuses kind of bringing them together with others. 715 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:36,080 Speaker 4: Does college football eventually down the road become his own 716 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:40,320 Speaker 4: thing and the other sports and there's conferences kind of 717 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 4: shake out accordingly? 718 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 5: You know. 719 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 7: I know that has been a call or a you know, 720 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:51,960 Speaker 7: suggestion because of what's happened around realignment. I personally very 721 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 7: much appreciate college football being attached to higher education, the 722 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 7: academy of higher education, and it just I don't know 723 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 7: that I've got my mind around. If you have college 724 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 7: football players on your campus and you treat them one way, 725 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 7: but the other you know, ninety percent of your athletic 726 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 7: department and the student athletes are treated another way. It 727 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 7: just seems to me that we're missing something there. So 728 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,880 Speaker 7: it would be my hope that we keep it all 729 00:37:21,960 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 7: together and figure out how to answer the issues that 730 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:31,280 Speaker 7: are different around college football, but keep them within college 731 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:34,760 Speaker 7: athletics and how we treat our other sports and athletes. 732 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 4: That's a big tall order there, Gloria, I really appreciate 733 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:41,800 Speaker 4: your joining us today. Gloria Navarrees is of course, the 734 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:44,280 Speaker 4: commissioner of the Mountain West Conference. 735 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:47,879 Speaker 2: This is the Bloomberg Business of Sports Show. We're here 736 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,320 Speaker 2: each and every week at the same time for my 737 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:55,719 Speaker 2: colleagues Scarlett Fu and Damian Sasaur. I'm Michael Barr. Tune 738 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 2: in again next week for the latest home of the 739 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:01,399 Speaker 2: stories moving big money and the world of sports. You're 740 00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 2: listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio 741 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:06,400 Speaker 2: around the world.