1 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to another episode of Strictly Business, the podcast in 2 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: which we speak with some of the brightest minds working 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: in media today. I'm Andrew Wallenstein with Variety. As the 4 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Genie Buss has long 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: been well known in pro sports, but now she's making 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: a name for herself in Hollywood with a few different 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: projects this year, including a Hulu documentary about her family's 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: history with the Lakers that came out last month, and 9 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: now another venture she owns is re launching in September 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: on TV stations nationwide, The Wow Women of Wrestling League. 11 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 1: Will be right back in just a moment to talk 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: about all this with gen Buss. We are back with 13 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: Lakers owner Genie Buss, hot on the heels of her 14 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: new Hulu documentary Legacy, the True Story of the Los 15 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: Angeles Lakers, as well as a wrestling venture we'll get 16 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: to a bit later in the show. Thanks for joining 17 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: me today, Jeanie. Thank you for having me so. First 18 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: of all, is it a coincidence that you've got both 19 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: of these projects going now? I know you're a businessmoman 20 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: who has interests outside of basketball, but is there any 21 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: kind of concerted push into entertainment going on. It's um, 22 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: you know, strictly coincidence that the timing of the launch 23 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: of both the docuseries on Hulu and the Women of 24 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: Wrestling you know event, and you know, just you know, 25 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: we we are in Hollywood. There's been a lot of 26 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 1: other projects that we've we've worked on, but these two 27 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: have really just kind of popped to the forefront. Sure, 28 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: And I mean you're no stranger to working with people, 29 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: uh with interests in the business, you know, going back 30 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: to Magic and of course Kobe and now Lebron. I mean, 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: are there lessons learned from their forays into entertainment? You 32 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: ever talk to them about this stuff? Um? You know no, 33 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: I mean all you know, very talented people, you know, 34 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: storytellers in their own right. Um, you know, we we certainly, um, 35 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: you know, over the years, Um, Hollywood has been an 36 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: important draw for us in terms of players seeing opportunities 37 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: with the platform that is given to them by becoming 38 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: a Laker and having not only the movie stars, TV 39 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: stars sitting in courtside, but also the producers, the directors, 40 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: the writers, you know, all of Hollywood comes together for 41 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,080 Speaker 1: Laker games. So there's just a natural synergy, and of 42 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: course we think about the cameos that that our players 43 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: have made on sitcoms and other uh, you know, I'm 44 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: thinking just popping into my head is when Shack was 45 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: on cur of Your Enthusiasm with Larry was one of 46 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: the funniest episodes I think, definitely, Um, and you know, 47 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: just you know, it just kind of lends itself to 48 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: these characters that we have that are larger than life 49 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: and the storytelling that can go with it. And so 50 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: with these natural synergies, I'm curious, in the past, have 51 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: you done things that have been entertainment related prior to 52 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 1: this documentary? And I'm just curious, Um, you know, for 53 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: for over a decade, um, you know, there's been different Um. 54 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: You know, I've worked with different producers in developing that 55 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 1: they are all fascinated with, you know, kind of the 56 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: woman in a man's world in business, but also that 57 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: it's a family business. So you know, Um, there was 58 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: you know, one producer that talked about that usually the 59 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 1: only women in power excuse me, that you see on 60 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: television or either doctors or lawyers or cops, and so 61 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: having a female in business, you know, but none of 62 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: those uh really kind of came together and tell Mindy 63 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: Kalen came along and working with her on a new 64 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: scripted series based on a character like me. Um that 65 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: we you know, really have the green light and are 66 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: moving forward. So what is the status of that? When 67 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: when would you see that? Um? You know, I don't 68 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: know exactly when. Um, you know when they think it 69 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: would air. You know, we're still in the development phase 70 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: and working on scripts. Um. You know. But Mindy is 71 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: you know, the producer and um, the creative behind it. 72 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: And she she loves basketball, she knows the business. She 73 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 1: knows comedy, so it'll be more of a comedy and 74 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: a drama. Um. But you know, like you know, when 75 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: you hear in development in Hollywood, you really don't know 76 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: what that means. Very true. You've been around clearly you 77 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: know how it works. But just one last question on that, 78 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: is it about Genie bus the real character or someone 79 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: based on you that's different name or what it's a 80 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 1: it's a character based on me, you know, working in 81 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: a family business and um, you know, how however creatively 82 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: she wants to take it. Um. You know, certainly, you 83 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: know we've we've we have a lot of stories I've 84 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: shared a lot of information with her of things that 85 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: have happened that you know, you a writer couldn't dream up. 86 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: So it's just it's a never ending resource of material. 87 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: Every day it's something different. So for the Hulu documentary, 88 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: I'm just curious I tell the story at this time. 89 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: Obviously the story of the Lakers is far from over. Um. 90 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: So what was it about the timing? Um? This project 91 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: started probably about seven years ago and you know, in 92 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: February it will be ten years since my father, Dr. 93 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: Jerry Buss passed away. And um, you know a few 94 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: years after he passed, Um, you know, we just talked 95 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: about how um, you know revolutionary, you know, the the 96 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: the ideas that he brought to the n b A, 97 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: the idea of marrying sports and entertainment. A lot of 98 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: people could point to to that moment when he got 99 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: involved in sports where everything kind of changed, and you know, 100 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: just telling his story, UM was important, Um, you know 101 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: to me and you know, the people who actually lived 102 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: through the story. So we just started talking about how 103 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: we would go about doing you know, telling the story. 104 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: And over time, you know, um, um, you know, became 105 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: partners with Haven and Entertainment and Kevin Mann as the 106 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: producer and bringing on Antoine fuquas the director and then 107 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: you know, all of a sudden, you know, then then 108 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: in real time we're winning a championship in so all 109 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: of a sudden, there was just this beautiful story arc 110 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: about you know, Magic coming back to the Lakers and um, 111 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: you know how he started with my dad and then 112 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: joined me and bringing back the Lakers into prominence by 113 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: bringing a free agent by the name of Lebron James 114 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,640 Speaker 1: to our team. So, um, you know it. You know, 115 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: it was a lot many years in the process and 116 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: and did not coincide with anything that HBO was doing 117 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: with a scripted show called Winning Times. Um you know 118 00:07:55,600 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: this this documentary, um you know, has been a labor 119 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: of love and um you know, and again it's important. 120 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: It was important to me to tell my dad's story, 121 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: uh to a generation now that may have heard his 122 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: name but didn't really know what what he did that 123 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: made it so special. And certainly his relationship with Magic 124 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: Johnson was unprecedented in sports. Um you know, you had 125 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: an owner, um, an older white male with uh you know, 126 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: a younger uh black athlete, and the relationship that they 127 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: put together was um, you know, they were. They were 128 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: soul mates on the court. They they inspired each other. 129 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: And you know, the idea that my dad was a 130 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: rookie owner drafted Magic Johnson and as a rookie he 131 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,960 Speaker 1: led the Lakers to win a championship that first year. 132 00:08:55,480 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: You know it just you know, it's just to be true, 133 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: right right out of Hollywood. You mentioned Winning Time, of course, 134 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: and I guess you're saying it was basically a coincidence, 135 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: the timing that, you know, but perfect timing, the sense 136 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: that it was a corrective to something that was pretty 137 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: controversial and there was lots of criticism about its depictions. Um. 138 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: One thing that struck me though, is you're probably the 139 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: only person in Winning Time who I think has a 140 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: rather flattering uh depiction. What did you think of seeing 141 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,200 Speaker 1: your own story? Well, I mean, I you know, people 142 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,439 Speaker 1: have said that to me as if I would that 143 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: would make me feel better. Um, it's you know, that's 144 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 1: season one. I'm sure I'm sure if they if they 145 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: continued season two or three or four, whatever, Um, you know, 146 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: they will you know, come after my character and certainly 147 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: not that I'm perfect, but you know I have done 148 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: some things that are controversial and and lived a you know, 149 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: rather you know, public life in terms of who I've 150 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: dated and uh so you know, I'm sure at some 151 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: at some level it'll be my turn of my characters 152 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: Tharn to be roasted. But um, you know, there were 153 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: there were Um you know, It's just I always thought 154 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: that um, you know, uh, the Lakers marks and logos 155 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: were you know, protected under laws and trademarks and copyrights. 156 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 1: But as I've learned through this process that there really 157 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: isn't anything that you can protect if you're a public domain. 158 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: And um, you know, as long as the story is 159 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: accurate or somewhat accurate, and doesn't you know, isn't intentionally 160 00:10:55,120 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: you know, defaming the people involved. And so um, now 161 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: do I Did they get things you know wrong? Yes, 162 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: they got things wrong. Did they get some things right? Yes, 163 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: they got some things right. Was there an intent to 164 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: defame anybody that I you know, I can't answer, only 165 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: they can answer. But you know I think that, Um, 166 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: they got a lot a lot of things right about 167 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: my dad, and you know I missed my dad, so 168 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,840 Speaker 1: you know, seeing him on screen, Um, they did a 169 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 1: lot of research. Um they every every time in the 170 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: show that uh my father you know, called my name 171 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: he used actual nicknames that that my dad called me. 172 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: So that really was you know, it brought me back 173 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: to some really positive memories and UM, you know, so 174 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: I you know, everybody has to decide whether they want 175 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: to watch it or not. But like I said, they 176 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: got a lot of things wrong, but they got some 177 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: things right. Okay, well at least it wasn't all bad. 178 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 1: And you know what also struck me about the Legacy 179 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: documentary is when you hear about, Okay, this is the 180 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: official version. Sometimes people were like, all right, this is 181 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: going to be very sanitized, but you don't really shy 182 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,439 Speaker 1: away from the family drama over ownership. And I was curious, 183 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: was that difficult to tackle? Um, it's actually been very 184 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: healing for I think for me in particular, and I 185 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: hope for the family, but I can't speak for my 186 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: family everybody in my family. But you know, people again 187 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: we're fascinated with UM. You know kind of what happened, 188 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: what transpired between my my brothers and I and UM. 189 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: It to me, it was very simple because it was 190 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: spelled out in legal documents exactly what was to happen. 191 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: And you know, they they were able to find some 192 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:06,800 Speaker 1: loopholes to challenge it, and so you know, we had 193 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: to deal with that, unfortunately very publicly. Um, but I 194 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: think we've all moved forward since then and we're all, 195 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: you know, telling our story to the public and and 196 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: you know, let the public here, you know, and I 197 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: think people will understand in a family, there's conflict, and 198 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: but what you do as a family is that you 199 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: it's always about the bigger picture. You know, there's always 200 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 1: going to be a tomorrow when you're in a family, 201 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: and you know how you move forward from the conflict. 202 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: We'll be back in just a minute to talk wrestling 203 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: with Genie Buss. We're back with Genie Buss and on September, 204 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 1: the WOW Women of Thing League is back through a 205 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: deal with Paramount will put this show on CBS owned 206 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: and operated stations as well as lots of other station groups. 207 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: I didn't even realize that you've owned WOW since eleven 208 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: and I'm just curious, you know, trace your history here. 209 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: What drew you to get involved in this in the 210 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: first place. Um. You know, it's a a passion project 211 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 1: for me because I knew that as time went on, 212 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: people would look at at me as a leader in 213 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: women's sports. Women athletics, and I looked around and I thought, 214 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, um, unless you know, there's so many college 215 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: female athletes, um that UM, you know, don't really have 216 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: a place to turn prow unless you're going into the 217 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: w n b A or becoming a professional tennis player 218 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: or golfer. There's really not a lot of places for 219 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: female athletes to shine. And UM, I am friends with 220 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: David McClain, who launched The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling that 221 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: a lot of people are familiar with because of the 222 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: Netflix series. UM, and I said to David, you know, 223 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: why don't we bring you know, women of wrestling back, 224 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: But let's evolve it from you know, the eighties and 225 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: bring it forward because now there are so many great 226 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: athletes that need a platform. And yes, there's women who 227 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: participate in wrestling, but other wrestling formats really don't feature 228 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: the women there the undercard, they're the side show. Wow 229 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: is all the only all female wrestling cast. And um, 230 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: it's it's fun, it's storytelling, its characters because UM, I 231 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: collected comic books when I was growing up, and I 232 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: was the kid that would tie the towel around my 233 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: neck and pretend to be Supergirl. And um, you know, 234 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: so it just it resonated with me because every girl 235 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: wants to get in touch with their inner beast, you know, 236 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: their inner strength. And um, this is women fighting their 237 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: own battles, not running to a man to save them, 238 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: and women standing up for what they believe in. Maybe 239 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 1: what they believe in is misguided or incorrect, but they're 240 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: going to stand up and fight for what they believe in. 241 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: And I think that message is really important for young 242 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: girls to to, you know, know what to believe, you know, no, 243 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: believe in themselves and be willing to stand up for that. 244 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: The Wow League has had a lot of stops and 245 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: starts over the years. It was on the Access TV 246 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: cable channel until and then the league shut down, So 247 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 1: I mean, why start yet again? Was? I mean, is 248 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: it possible the market essentially has been telling you that 249 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: there is no market for this kind of thing. Well, 250 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: you know, if if women listen to that, then that, 251 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: you know, the there would be no women's sports at all. 252 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: And so it's just taking people like me who believe 253 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 1: and are willing to invest as promoters and and figuring 254 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: out a sustainable model. And we finally found the right 255 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: partner in CBS Viacom and we are now launching in September, 256 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: um you know, and we have coverage over of the 257 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: the outlets in the United States were overseas, UM in Australia. UM, 258 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: you know. We're picking up markets as we go along. 259 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: And it's kind of like one of those things. If 260 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,719 Speaker 1: you build it, they will come. And we need to 261 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: put a flag in the ground. And now we finally 262 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 1: have the right partner that will give us the exposure 263 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:05,439 Speaker 1: that we so um desperately needed to show that women 264 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 1: can draw ratings, that women can be the center stage 265 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: and be the draw and this this was the sustainable 266 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: model that I that I feel that can you know, 267 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: last for generations, and that this is my investment back 268 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: into women and athletics. Well besides what sounds like a 269 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 1: really great, uh sort of TV distribution plan, I'm curious, 270 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: does this our incarnation of Wow differ from previous ones 271 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: if you learn from past versions of here's what we're 272 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: going to do differently this time, you know. I mean, 273 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: I think the product has always been strong, the storytelling, 274 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 1: the wrestling. It was just finding the audience and um, 275 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: you know, making sure that that the women, you know, 276 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 1: we're properly trained and you know, and finding those stars. 277 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I've fully expect that will find the female 278 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: version of Dwayne the Rock Johnson or John Cena, that 279 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: this will be a launching pad for you know, uh 280 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: stars that that um, you know, just really needed an 281 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: opportunity to gain attention and gain an audience. But how 282 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 1: I've always wondered when you use that sort of w 283 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 1: W E metaphor of the John Cena's of the world, 284 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: if they go if you create the next Rock or 285 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: Sina and they go off of wow, Um, how does 286 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: that help wow? Or is it about as those leagues 287 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: have managed to relays about fresh faces, new opportunities for women. 288 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 1: And you know, I just think that I know what 289 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,320 Speaker 1: it was like. You know, when I was eleven years old, 290 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: my dad sat me down and there was an event 291 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: on TV and it was Billy jen King versus Bobby Riggs, 292 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: and he pointed to the TV screen and said to me, 293 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:02,479 Speaker 1: this is going to change the world. And at that time, 294 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: you know, the the idea for me as a young kid, 295 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: a young girl, watching Billy Jen King play a man 296 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 1: like how it blew my mind and so it it 297 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 1: opened up these possibilities and and you know, I give 298 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 1: so much credit to Billy Jen King for the inspiration 299 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: and that has allowed me to become who I am 300 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: in business because she didn't put the lid on top 301 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 1: of what was possible. So I think that, you know, 302 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: women of wrestling is you know, just a small part 303 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 1: of an opportunity for for women to see and young 304 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: girls to say, hey, I can do that. I can 305 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: I can stand up there and be strong and and 306 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: be in touch with my strength. I don't have to to, 307 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: you know, you know, shy and cower away from a challenge. 308 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: You know, you talked about the Billy Jane King match 309 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 1: was which I believe was from like the early seventies. 310 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: And I'm curious. We've obviously come a long long way, 311 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: probably but almost fifty years since then. Are you looking 312 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: back across all sports, across wrestling, basketball, tennis, do you 313 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: feel that women's sports still has a ways to go 314 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,400 Speaker 1: or has come very far and there's been great progress. 315 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: I'm just curious to get your perspective. Well, I'm impatient. 316 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: It's come a long way since the seventies, but it's 317 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: still not where it needs to be. Um and you know, 318 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: but it takes like I said, it takes people like 319 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 1: me who are willing to invest dollars to create opportunities 320 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:44,199 Speaker 1: and then finding a sustainable model that's something that will 321 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: not only attract women to watch, but but families, kids, men, everybody. 322 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: We want. There's why the audience as possible. I mean, 323 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: the stereotype might be that, well, women's wrestling is just 324 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: for women. What do you think makes it palatable to 325 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: audiences of all ages, genders and whatnot. Well, I think 326 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: I think you know, um, with Wonder Woman, you know 327 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,239 Speaker 1: the movie Wonder Woman, females can be the lead and 328 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: ken drawn audience. And so it's it's it's proven. Now 329 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:23,919 Speaker 1: we just need more opportunities. We need to to you know, um, 330 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,439 Speaker 1: take that momentum and continue to build. And do you 331 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 1: think that the Glow Netflix show helps sort of prime 332 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:37,400 Speaker 1: the market? Absolutely? Um, you know, I think Glow reminded 333 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:42,960 Speaker 1: me of the love that people had for these characters 334 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: that um, you know, and you know, the opening of 335 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:51,479 Speaker 1: that series is about a female, an actress who didn't 336 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: you know, couldn't get any opportunity to open the door 337 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 1: and you know, used wrestling to you know, try to 338 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 1: get exposure, try to get more opportunities, so um, you know, uh, 339 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think this guy's the limit. Um, and 340 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: I think that this is a business model that will 341 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,880 Speaker 1: work so that it will you know, stay in business 342 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:20,399 Speaker 1: for generations to come. How involved are you in this, 343 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 1: because of course the Lakers must take up a lot 344 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 1: of your time. My partner, David McClean is, is you know, 345 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: chief operating officer. He has a staff. You know, I'm 346 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: I'm a fan. I just you know, I put up 347 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: the money and I, um, you know, I just honestly 348 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: when I tell you how much I love it, it's 349 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: the truth. And and i'm you know, the number one fan, 350 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 1: super fan, so I can go out and talk about it. Um. 351 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: But you know, I love watching the stories unfold. I 352 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: don't like to, you know, get tipped off as to 353 00:23:55,600 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: what might happen in any given uh season. Got it well? 354 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: I wish you the best of luck with wow and 355 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: congratulations as well as on legacy and and of course 356 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: for resigning Lebron. That's big two. Thanks for your time, Jeanie, 357 00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 1: Thank you, and this has been another episode of Strictly Business. 358 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:26,760 Speaker 1: Tune in next week for another helping of scintillating conversation 359 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: with media movers and shakers, and please make sure you 360 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: subscribe to the podcast to hear future episodes. Also leave 361 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: a review in Apple Podcasts Let us know how we're doing.