1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Hello, I'm Michael barn and I'm Scott Sashnik. This is 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast, where we explore the 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: big money issues in the world of sports and talk 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: to some of the biggest players in the industry. On 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: this week's show, we are speaking with the first former 6 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: player to have the Major League Baseball Players Union, Tony Clark. 7 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,799 Speaker 1: Very fortunate, very very blessed. Um. You know, I was. 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: I was active in the Union as a player, but 9 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: through some experiences prior to I wanted to get involved 10 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: and have a voice. We will have more without our 11 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: interview with Tony Clark in a few minutes, but first 12 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: let's look at the top stories of the week. Joining 13 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: us as Bloomberg Business of Sports reporter Evan Novie Williams, gentlemen, 14 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 1: let's begin with the big NBA trade of the weekend 15 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: with some other fixings. The big part. They're sending All 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: star point guard Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston in 17 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: exchange for Isaiah Thomas. In the Celtics front office, Danny 18 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: Age to talk to ESPN about the deal. It is 19 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: a high price tag. It is a great value that 20 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: we're giving up. We we love Isaiah and love Jake 21 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: Crowder and giving up a quality first round kick. But 22 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: you know, acquiring a year old perennial All Star, a 23 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,279 Speaker 1: player that you know fits a timeline for us and 24 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: is it is a fantastic offensive players, one of the 25 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 1: best offensive players in the league. And let's start with 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: some of the big winners of this trade. TNT, because 27 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: they have a double header coming up when they start 28 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: the season, and guess what the first game is. They 29 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: knew something they but you know this this I hearkened 30 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: back to a couple of years ago when I asked 31 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, what's it like 32 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: to be Lebron's boss? And he responded, Lebron doesn't have 33 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: a boss. And I couldn't help but think, why would 34 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: you want to invest in a business where even though 35 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: you're the boss, you're not the boss. I mean, Kyrie 36 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: Irving just decides I don't want to be here anymore. 37 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: So much for planning, so much from the meticulous putting 38 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: together of a championship roster. Boom, it's done. You've got 39 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: to blow it up. Yeah, And you think about from 40 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: a Cleveland perspective, when your star, one of your star 41 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: players Kyrie Irving. If he's demanding to be traded, this 42 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: is a pretty good haul if you're if you're the Cavaliers, 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: you get Isaiah Thomas back, you get a pick, you 44 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 1: get two other players. It worked out fairly well for 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: the Cavaliers given a tough situation. But Scott's right. The 46 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: big question here is does this make Lebron James happier? 47 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: Because he's a free agent at the end of next 48 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: year and he's already kind of leaking out there that 49 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: he's not so happy. This is all about getting Lebron 50 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: James to stick around in his home state. When did 51 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: this all change? This has been a star driven league. 52 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: Let's go back to the names Magic and Michael and 53 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: then Dream Team, and then you go into the next 54 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: to the next. This is about stars, the superstars in 55 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: the NBA more than the NFL because there's so few 56 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: of them. They have helmets. You don't really see him 57 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 1: in these linemen. You can be the best lineman in football, 58 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 1: but the fact is you're nameless and faceless. It's just 59 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: the jersey. But if you're the best NBA player on 60 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: your team, you're up close and personal that there's there's 61 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: a real affection. The fans have it, and they form 62 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: a bond. You have leverage. And we saw it in 63 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: the labor talks when Lebron and Steph and they showed 64 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: up opposite the owners. They got a lot of what 65 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: they wanted because this is a star driven lead. And 66 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: what an off season in general for the NBA. I mean, 67 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 1: we talked about the off season. We're talking about the 68 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: NFL A lot opening day for baseball. Johnny Manzel says 69 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: something and suddenly that's a one of every paper in 70 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: the country. The NBA during its off season has been 71 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: perhaps more compelling than it was during the entire season. 72 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: And don't think the NFL isn't taking notice. It used 73 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: to be the NFL seven three, six five. It seems 74 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: to me that all the chatter right now is NBA this. 75 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: It's trades, it's who's leaving, it's the drama, it's the 76 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: NBA has become the year round following see you are 77 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: the King of segways. Because our next topic has to 78 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: do with the NFL and the future have Commissioner Roger Goodell. 79 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: The league is reportedly planning to announce a via your 80 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: extension of his contract as as next week. So business 81 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: as usual for the NFL. I mean, that's what it 82 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: means to me. The one question if I'm really looking 83 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: down in that five year horizon, it's been about sports 84 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: betting and the revenue that may be generated. The NFL 85 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: has been pushing back against the idea of legalized sports betting, 86 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: while by the way, wink wink back channels investigating ge 87 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: what would we do? How do we prepare for this day? 88 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: You know, they do own a piece of a company 89 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: called sport Radar, which supplies the data all the betting 90 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: houses outside the US. So while publicly saying we're not so, 91 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: we're not in favor of this, they are preparing for 92 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: the day. But it's still business as usual with Roger, 93 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: no major shake up. This is a good perspective because 94 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: I think for a lot of fans, you think Roger 95 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: Goodell isn't doing a great job. The NFL has been 96 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: making headlines in the wrong ways and in the last 97 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: couple of years domestic violence, player discipline, certainly, the concussion issues, 98 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: and Roger Goodell's tenure. Revenue has tripled the fourteen billion 99 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: dollars franchise valuations have doubled. Uh he has stewarded the 100 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: league through some pretty tough times and done it very well. 101 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: Um and and that's why he's getting this extension. And 102 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: let's talk about this, guys. What do English soccer and 103 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: the video game candy Crush have in common? I want 104 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,799 Speaker 1: to know myself. His name is Mel Morris. Mel Morris 105 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: is is a tech investor. He's also the chairman of 106 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 1: Derby County, the soccer team UM and he is part 107 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: of a group of owners that are in the lower 108 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: tiers of English soccer that are looking at a lot 109 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: of the same questions we've talked about on the show 110 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: here in America about the changing digital media landscape, about 111 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,359 Speaker 1: pay TV and cable TV and maybe the money not 112 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: being there. And he's looking at a ways to revamp 113 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: the entire lower English Soccer league's revenue streams so that 114 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: it's that we're talking about the three leagues underneath the 115 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: English Premier League. There are some big teams in their 116 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: teams like aston Villa leads Fulham, teams that have a big, 117 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: big followings and they just don't have the revenue right 118 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: now commisserate it with the fans that they have. And 119 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: he's working to fix that. This is about how do 120 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: we make more money? How can we selectively get together? No, 121 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: we're not the EPL. No we're not Man City, We're 122 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: not Man United, We're not Chelsea. However, we do have 123 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: compelling content that a good number of eyeballs would like 124 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: to see. How can we better distribute it? How can 125 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 1: we better cash you, gentlemen? Always interesting as usual our 126 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: thanks to Bloomberg Business of Sports reporter Evan Novie Williams. 127 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: And now on the program, we are pleased to speak 128 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: with the first former Major League baseball player to be 129 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: the head of the Major League Players Union, Tony Clark. Tony, 130 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: thanks for joining us. Why don't we begin with players Weekend? 131 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: How did this all come about? Well, interestingly enough, for 132 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: the over the course of the last handful of years, 133 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: we've been trying to to have more dialogue uh and 134 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: in in the promotion of the players, in an effort 135 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: to try to make a connection with the guys who 136 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: have a lot of very backgrounds, who who have a 137 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: lot of different interests h and moving those more into 138 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: the forefront of the regional but but the national conversation, 139 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: and so over the last few years continue to try 140 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: to push to make something like this happen and we're 141 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: finally able to connect the dots this year on Players Weekend. 142 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: Do you have a favorite nickname that's going to be 143 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: on the back of the jersey? I do, I'll tell 144 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: you mine. I'm curious if you've got one. I don't 145 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: know that I have a favorite one. I will tell 146 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: you that the nickname process was an interesting one. Um, 147 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: if for no other reason, then you you you get 148 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: a list of nicknames and then you have to go 149 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: back and double check to see where what they may 150 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: mean or where they come from. And I'll tell you 151 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: that there were a number of nicknames that I thought 152 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: were fantastic, only to find out that they were connected 153 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: to something I wasn't aware of, or they inferred something 154 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:44,239 Speaker 1: that you know, I'm not completely naive, but inferred something 155 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: that I didn't wasn't aware of, I didn't know about. 156 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: But that process has been been fun. I don't do 157 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: not have a particular one, but even some of the 158 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: ones that that I've seen, including one that uh jumped 159 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: out at me a couple of days ago, which was uh, 160 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: Corey's brother Kyle took mine. Oh, I apologize. Everybody knows 161 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: Corey seeger of the Doggers, big young star. But his 162 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: brother Kyle plays for the Mariners, and on the back 163 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: of his jersey it will say Corey's brother. I love it. 164 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: It's got a big league literally feel to it. Yes, 165 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: yes it does. See the producers of the show, they 166 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: hate it because I'm a native Detroit and always slip 167 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: in Detroit every time I'm doing the show. So I said, Okay, 168 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: I won't do it this time. But when you played 169 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: for the Tigers from two thousand one and I was there, 170 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: you were there, you were a great first baseman for 171 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 1: the team, and you've been in the majors, you were 172 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: there for fifteen years, and you're the first player to 173 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: now head the Players Union. What is that like? Very fortunate, 174 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: very very blessed. UM. You know I was. I was 175 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: active in the Union as a player, not just as 176 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: a member. All of our our major league players are members. UM. 177 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: But through some experiences prior to I wanted to get involved, 178 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 1: UM and have a voice, uh in in how uh 179 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: my career are the rules that governed it, how it 180 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: was going to be managed, and got involved and uh afterward, 181 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,680 Speaker 1: uh like you, as you mentioned, I was very fortunate 182 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: to have played as long as I did and was 183 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,440 Speaker 1: trying to figure out what was next, was provided an 184 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: opportunity UM with UH with the p A my predecessor, 185 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: Michael wiener I mentor in in a lot of ways, 186 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: brought me on board. UM. Had absolutely no expectations of 187 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: being in the position that I am now, but but 188 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: very grateful UM for UH the the opportunity UM and 189 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: the appreciation from my peers UM as well as as 190 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: Michael bringing me on board to provide something that UM 191 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: uh he felt we needed. Otherwise things may have gone 192 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: markedly different. UM. Unfortunately, we we lost Michael a couple 193 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: of years back, UH, and that was why my role changed. UM. 194 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: But very fortunate to have have had the experiences and 195 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: relationships that I did while I played, being as involved 196 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: as I was as an active player, and then having 197 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: an opportunity now to to give back and provide support 198 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: to the guys both active and inactive, and even the 199 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: next generation of kids that are coming. What is it 200 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: like now, because you have to interact with the owners 201 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: when you're talking about trying to bring up issues from 202 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: the players to the owners, can you tell us about 203 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: that process, about what it's like from being a player 204 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: now you're the head of the union. Well, interestingly enough, 205 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: I was involved in a number of collective bargaining negotiations 206 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: as an active player, So there were opportunities even while 207 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: I was in uniform to be in the room and 208 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: and have those types of conversations and negotiations with with ownership. UM. 209 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: So they're they're they're different now not being an active 210 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: player and and not being in uniform, but bringing the 211 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: perspective of of a player, UM and having had some 212 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: relationships in those types of engagements prior to my my 213 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: current role, all had value UM and what we needed 214 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 1: to do uh here over the course of the last 215 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,880 Speaker 1: five or six years, and and and more recently last 216 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 1: year in negotiating our most recent collective Barney agreement, we 217 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: are chatting with Tony Clark, the executive director of the 218 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball Players Association, and Tony, engagement doesn't seem 219 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: to have been a problem for the baseball players. Why 220 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: is I mean data? You mentioned Michael Weener and Don 221 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: Fear before him. I know the other unions sometimes have 222 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: trouble getting their players to be engaged in the process. 223 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: Baseball known as the strongest union. What is the secret sauce? Well, 224 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: I think our our history is is is why our 225 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,719 Speaker 1: group is the way our group is. UM. It's a 226 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: very detailed history, It's a very challenged history, UM, but 227 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: it is a history littered with players UM, who have 228 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: taken stands, who have fought for their rights, who have 229 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: made advancements and and often did so at the expense 230 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: of their own individual careers, and definitely UH to the 231 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: detriment of of dollars that they were losing during the 232 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: course of any number of of of work stoppages over 233 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: the course of the last fifty some odd years. Guys 234 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: understand it and as a result, understand and appreciate the 235 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 1: responsibility they have each time we sit down to bargain UH, 236 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: and everything that may happen in between, how how crucial 237 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: their involvement and understanding of the moving pieces really is 238 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: is labor and management in baseball and sport in the 239 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: bigger sense? Is it really a partnership or are are 240 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: the two sides working together but really working for their 241 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: own interests? Well, I think it's a respectful partnership. There 242 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: are definitely interests that UM that we both have, and 243 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: there are definitely interests that are split UM. And the 244 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: idea is to try to figure out how to come 245 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: together and see if common ground can be found. Um. 246 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: As I just just talked about our history, there were 247 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,199 Speaker 1: times where common ground couldn't be found and decisions had 248 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: to be made, uh, in a way to to try 249 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: and move the conversation and or the industry forward. Um. 250 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: We've been able to navigate that space for some time now. Uh. 251 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: It still doesn't mean that we see eye to eye 252 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: on everything. Um, but the respectful dialogue has lent itself 253 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: to us not having had a work stoppage in some time. 254 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: And each time we sit down, the industry has grown 255 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: and moved and changed and adjusted, And so every time 256 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: you sit down is is more complicated than the last time. UM. 257 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 1: But we were we were able to get through it 258 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 1: in two thousand and sixteen, and we'll have to see 259 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: how things go during the term of this agreement before 260 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: we sit down in Sony, Colin Kaepernick did it last year, 261 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: and now we are seeing more athletes in the NFL 262 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 1: not standing for the national anthem. What would you do 263 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: one day if a player said he was not standing 264 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: for the national anthem? I would support him. We would 265 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: support him. The the look I'm I'm a navy brat 266 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: and my my wife as an Air Force brat. So 267 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: that wouldn't necessarily be the route that we would go 268 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: or that I would go. I should say we are 269 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,239 Speaker 1: talking about my wife, but that that I would go. UM. 270 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 1: Having said that, and what players have heard me say 271 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: already is if you want to bring attention to somebody 272 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,360 Speaker 1: or something and you feel passionate enough about it to 273 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: to demonstrate that concern, UM publicly will support you. Doesn't 274 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: necessarily mean on on any level that that things may 275 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: be offered. There's a an agreement, but we will support 276 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: guys taking that stand in that opportunity to present their thoughts. 277 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: And so you appreciate and respect um what has happened, 278 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: UM understanding that. UM, you know, and I think this 279 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,960 Speaker 1: is kind of what shifted a bit, putting putting the 280 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: challenges of of of a job aside generally and how 281 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: that may be manifest sting itself with respect to to 282 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: to to Kaepernick. UM, what we what we're seeing from 283 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: the guys is simply a a A I think a 284 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: group of guys still wanting to have a conversation and 285 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: keep in the conversation. UM, things that societally need to 286 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: be better. UM so UH that is the way they 287 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 1: are deciding to to to offer it. UM. Others have 288 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: simply offered words. Others have simply offered uh op eds. 289 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: Others have done interviews and and done the same where 290 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: they've they've presented what they believe and at the time, 291 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: and and so in this in this culture of of influencers, 292 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: in this culture of causes, UM seeing players and others 293 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: offer publicly what they believe to be an injustice and 294 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: a willingness to to try and get folks to talk 295 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: about it and using what they can to keep that 296 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: conversation going with an eye on affecting positive change that 297 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: we support. We are chatting with Tony Clark, the executive 298 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 1: director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, and Tony, 299 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: has your job. Has a union's job got an easier 300 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: or more difficult with the rise of revenue around sport, 301 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: the rise of franchise values. Does that make things easier 302 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: or more difficult for you? I'll take it a step 303 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: further and suggest that there are challenges, uh, that we 304 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: have that are now more reflective of challenges we've had 305 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: in the past. UM. Even putting aside how the industries 306 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: themselves have moved. In other words, the labor movement wayne 307 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: ebbed and flowed for some time, UM, and interestingly enough 308 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: that certain philosophies and positions have been taken over the 309 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: course of the last a dozen two dozen years or 310 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: so that have started to shape public sentiment. But the 311 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: truth is where we are now is largely where we 312 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: were before with respect to what's valued, what isn't value, 313 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: to what's being taken advantage of, and what's not to 314 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: where the attacks on unions UM have created a very 315 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: challenging place to be when you have conversations UM in 316 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: the general public, meaning UH, you talk about all of 317 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 1: the values that a union has, put the sports aside 318 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: for a moment, all the values that a union has, 319 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: and it's difficult to find someone who doesn't agree with 320 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:28,880 Speaker 1: the values. You get to a point, though, as soon 321 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: as you say the word union, where things shift in 322 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: the conversation. So it's a long winded way of saying 323 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: there are challenges. Uh. The challenges are eerily similar to 324 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: the challenges that existed before, except we are now in 325 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 1: a climate UM where even saying the word union offer 326 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: certain connotations to certain folks. And that's it's simply unfortunate, 327 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: but I would guess with those challenges also come unprecedented opportunity. 328 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 1: If I'm a guy, let me bring up some baseball stars, 329 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 1: Price Harper, Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Nolan Arronado, Jan Carlos, 330 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: and if I'm these guys, I am seeing opportunities that 331 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 1: weren't there before. And I'm also seeing unions act as 332 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: sort of venture capitalists these days. The nfl p A 333 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: has it's it's one team collective. The n b p 334 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: A is taking back its group license rights. You guys 335 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: have just come out within field chatter where your players 336 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: are getting closer to the game. What are these opportunities 337 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 1: and how can a union assist those players and getting there? 338 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: Unbelievable segue, nicely done up. Agree, Um, you know there's 339 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:37,200 Speaker 1: there's in this time again. I think I mentioned UH 340 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: influencers and causes, UM, and the idea you mentioned players weekend, 341 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: the idea of of fans general public getting to know players, UM, 342 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: their thoughts, their personalities, their interests, their causes. UM. It's 343 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 1: been interesting to watch that progression move more into the 344 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: forefront of the conversation and where even non sports fans 345 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 1: are connecting with Uh, players and members of the sports 346 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 1: community because of how culturally we're positioned. As a result, 347 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: there are opportunities, as you just mentioned, that exists today 348 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: that may not have existed near as often or as 349 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: much in the past. And so that is why I 350 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: believe you you are seeing what's happening with the m 351 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 1: v p A, and you are seeing what the nfl 352 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: p A is doing and has done for some time. 353 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: And you are seeing what it is that that we 354 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 1: are doing as well. Uh, as we dip our toe 355 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: into the water of of opportunities that are indep presenting themselves. Sony, 356 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,959 Speaker 1: there are fewer African Americans playing Major League Baseball today. 357 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: Why do you think that is. There's a lot of 358 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: reasons why. Um, the numbers have shifted. UM, I'll try 359 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: and hit on a few of them, knowing that we 360 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: don't have enough time to cover necessarily all of them. UM, 361 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: let me start first by suggesting that there are more 362 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 1: options now than there have been in the past. UM, 363 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: it's fascinating. My my son's a sophomore or will be 364 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: a sophomore in high school. And and UH, he was 365 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: talking the other day about how certain players have have 366 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: stopped playing on his team, his high school team, and 367 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:20,399 Speaker 1: you know, one is moving defensing, UM, and another is 368 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: moving to bowling. They were literally changing to sports that 369 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: I didn't even know existed in high school. UM, but 370 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 1: they're shifting. So having more opportunities means that you're your 371 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: group of of guys, of players, of athletes are going 372 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: to be more spread out. A second is going to 373 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: be opportunity UM. In other words, depending on where you're from, UM, 374 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: depending on who's around you, depending on the the leagues 375 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: that are available, depending on the the financial support that 376 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,640 Speaker 1: you may or may not have, may be a difference 377 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 1: maker with respect to where where you go and what 378 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,400 Speaker 1: sport you you engage in. Fast forward a little further 379 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: and you can talk about how a lot of parents 380 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: and a lot of kids are making decisions about next steps. UH, 381 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: realizing and appreciating that if I got to get a 382 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: scholarship to go to school, uh, basketball and baseball. Basketball 383 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: and football offer opportunities that baseball doesn't to the same extent. 384 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: So in other words, I can get a full scholarship 385 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 1: and those other two sports, and and the schools have 386 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: eleven point seven to work with in baseball. So from 387 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: a financial standpoint, even later, UM, if you continue playing 388 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: the game, you've got some decisions to make. So it's 389 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: a very complicated cycle of change and adjustments that we've 390 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 1: seen UM, and all of it UH is part of 391 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,959 Speaker 1: the conversation and why we've seen some numbers shift UM 392 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: in the fashion that we have. We've I think our 393 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: high point as an industry was UM and now we're 394 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: hovering in between that six and eight percent number. I 395 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: was a basketball player and a and a baseball play 396 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: and if you had asked me at eleven, twelve, thirteen 397 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: years old to choose one sport, I may not have 398 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 1: chosen baseball. UM. And a lot of kids are being 399 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: told that's what they've got to do now, and it's 400 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: been to the detriment of a lot of leagues, not 401 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: just baseball. So complicated issue one that we are very 402 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: interested in and concerned about, if for no other reason 403 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: than we we want to position ourselves to be a 404 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,160 Speaker 1: part of the positive conversation that can affect change by 405 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: presenting opportunities that may not otherwise exist. You're being modest there, Tony. 406 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:32,959 Speaker 1: You weren't just a multi sport athlete. You went through 407 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: Arizona Real Basketball School on a basketball scholarship. You have 408 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: no basketball at the time, was was the driving force? 409 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 1: Baseball honestly was something that I did after basketball season. Um. 410 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: If again, kind of going back to what I referenced, 411 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: if if I had to choose, I would have chosen basketball, um, 412 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: And I thought my future was on the hardwood. Unfortunately 413 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: it was until I got to college and and it 414 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: was injured and and never really came back from the 415 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: back surgery. I had my freshman year that figured, you 416 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: know what, let me, let me give this baseball thing 417 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: a fair shake and full full look and see what 418 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: we got. So I was I was very fortunate where 419 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: having been drafted out of high school but still going 420 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: to college and playing basketball and then playing minor league 421 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: ball during the summer, gave me an option, um afterwards, 422 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 1: to to focus in on that's a little different than most. 423 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: But today kids aren't even being given that opportunity and 424 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: being told to specialize earlier if you're ever going to 425 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: make it to the big league, and that's that's simply 426 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:31,360 Speaker 1: the wrong focus. Sony, Are you a music fan, yes, 427 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: Billy Joel, sure you know the entertainer, Yes, you know 428 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 1: he there's a line in his song that says, if 429 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: you're gonna have a hit, you gotta make it fit, 430 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: so they cut it down to three oh five. It 431 00:23:42,119 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: seems like he was prescient with regard to millennials and 432 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: the attention span. Right, that's that's what it seems like. 433 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 1: Everybody I want. Football is cutting out commercials, Basketball is 434 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 1: taking out time outs. Baseball wants faster, faster, faster. What's 435 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: your solution? Well, I think understanding and appreciating the where 436 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: we're at, how how folks are downloading information, and how 437 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 1: often they're downloading that information, how it is they're accessing 438 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: that content, um, when they're accessing it, how long they're 439 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 1: accessing it, when they access it. All of that is 440 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: is an appreciation against what everybody's seeing. So UM, it's 441 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: an acknowledgement across the entire sports industry and other industries. UM. 442 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: You know, how is it that we acknowledge the changes 443 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:28,640 Speaker 1: that have happened, We acknowledge the technology that's available and 444 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,239 Speaker 1: try to reflect that in in the business that is 445 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 1: UM and how we offer what it is that we're offering. 446 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,920 Speaker 1: So it's it's been an ongoing dialogue in baseball, it 447 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: will continue to be and we're having those conversations now 448 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: with Major League Baseball about how or if we can 449 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,960 Speaker 1: we can interject certain things into the conversation while maintaining 450 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: the integrity of the game itself and the one that 451 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: that we've all grown to love. But we're not the 452 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,199 Speaker 1: only ones doing it. So appreciating what it looks like, 453 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: I think is the challenge. UM. So again that you're 454 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: not changing the games so much that it's not recognizable, 455 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:05,119 Speaker 1: but being able to take into account what we're seeing 456 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: culturally and how that the generation of of of young 457 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: fans UM are investing their time and are investing their 458 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,120 Speaker 1: interests and UH, and then trying to to match those 459 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: two things up. And lastly, for your Tony, won't surprise 460 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 1: you that there's some interest here in the business of 461 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: sports show in the building, people always come up to 462 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:26,760 Speaker 1: Michael and me and say, hey, who you got this week? 463 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: So you know, you say, Tony Clark, and you know 464 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 1: what I'm hearing being in New York, Oh, Top nine, 465 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: Game five, two thousand and four. You're hitting the ball 466 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: too hard, right, you know, it's crazy or I didn't 467 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:39,719 Speaker 1: hit it hard enough. One of the two. You know, 468 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: It's it's amazing even til that this day. So I 469 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: was fortunate to make the playoffs a couple of times 470 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,879 Speaker 1: and was fortunate to to to be in an NLCS 471 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: and an ALCS. UM, but that it never got to 472 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,800 Speaker 1: the promised Land, never never got to be the last 473 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: team standing. And two thousand and four, that game, that time, 474 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: that ball, If that ball stays in the ballpark, things 475 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: may be markedly different. Or if, like I said, if 476 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: I had just see it harder and had gone out, 477 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 1: things could have changed. To UM. But it's interesting whether 478 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 1: you are a Boston fan or a Yankee fan. I'm 479 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: telling you that even as of a couple of weeks ago, 480 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 1: I ran into a Yankee fan who brought that play up. UM. So, 481 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: I guess I could be remembered for far worse as 482 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 1: a player, but that particular play is one that UM, 483 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 1: I try not to think about a whole lot, because 484 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: it was really the closest I had ever been um 485 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: to the World Series and what I believe would have 486 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: been the best opportunity to be the last team standing 487 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: at oh for alright, that's Tony Clark, the executive director 488 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,439 Speaker 1: of the Major League Baseball Players Association. Tony, thank you, 489 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: thank you, thanks for having me. No appreciate it. Takeaways 490 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,040 Speaker 1: from this and I think it has to do especially 491 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: with what's happening in the NFL about Colin Kaepernick and 492 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:06,480 Speaker 1: more players in the NFL not standing for the national anthem, 493 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: and I'm sure one day it's going to happen in 494 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 1: Major League Baseball, and Tony Clark talked about that. Yeah, 495 00:27:12,040 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: My takeaway is that he recognizes that players need to 496 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 1: show personality. Players need to break out of just this 497 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: conformity of the league, of the team that the millennials, 498 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: that young fans want, and like the individual player worked 499 00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:33,480 Speaker 1: in basketball with the stars like Kobe and Michael I 500 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: see that happening with the likes of Bryce Harper, with 501 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 1: Mike Trout. They want all of that coming out, and 502 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 1: Tony is willing to take the steps to make it happen. 503 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: Feels better to be number one than number five. I'll 504 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: wear a number because of mine. We have a chance 505 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 1: to go for three in a row, good numbers in 506 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 1: a good time, and let's first started wearing the number. 507 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,400 Speaker 1: I would just have the Floomberg business of sports. The 508 00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: number of the week, Michael are number of the week, 509 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: fifteen one, five, and here we go again. Facebook will 510 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:09,479 Speaker 1: be showing fifteen college football games in the fall. The 511 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:13,439 Speaker 1: important word here exclusively. That's very important in these deals 512 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: because you can't see somewhere else. So anybody interested in 513 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: these games from like the Mountain West Conference, you're gonna 514 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: have to go to Facebook. It's that creep. Here we 515 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,920 Speaker 1: go again every week, our guests, they're talking about content, 516 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:28,360 Speaker 1: content digital. How are people consuming where they wanted, how 517 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: they wanted on what device? Here we go. We're seeing 518 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,679 Speaker 1: it week in and week out. We're gonna get the 519 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: interest one day of television where the regular old way 520 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: we used to see TV, that's gonna be gone. We're 521 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: gonna one day be able to take in computer and 522 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: just take the line and hook it up to the 523 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: big screen TV and watch the streaming all over the 524 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: place that you said they'll take the line and hook 525 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: it up. Dude, it's wireless, it's broadband. How old are you? 526 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,960 Speaker 1: You know you have to take the computer. Don't you 527 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 1: have to take something from the like could you see 528 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:03,160 Speaker 1: where's the do hicky? And when I put into the what'son? 529 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: To call it? No? No, no, there's no hicky anymore. 530 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: Don't you have to take There's a line that goes 531 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: from the computer that hooks up in the back of this. 532 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this. When you listen to something 533 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: on your phone music and if you do when you're 534 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: putting that King Cole on on your phone, do you 535 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: have do you does your headphone? Do they have wires 536 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: that go into something? Are you that old school? Thank 537 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: you by Cracky. You've been listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports. 538 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: Were here each and every week at the same time, 539 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: exploring the world of money and sports. I'm taking my 540 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: Jarrett all. I'm Michael Bark, I'm Scott Sagnick. Thanks for 541 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: joining us. Please tune in next week when we speak 542 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: with the biggest and the brightest in the world of sports. 543 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: You're listening to Bloomberg Business of Sports on Bloomberg Radio 544 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: around the world and online as an Apple podcast on iTunes.