1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg Business of Sports. Money in Sports. It's 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: one of the reasons why I enjoyed the Gun Money 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Night Countdown on the ESPN is we can talk about 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 1: some of the more interesting aspects of business of sports. 5 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: So there's all kinds of cool questions. So this is 6 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: a fund's puppets for the country is finally deeply getting 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: the memo about how amazing the sport is. I think 8 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: the sky's the limit for MLS. Increasingly we're spending more 9 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: and more of our time in a digital world, and 10 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: it's also becoming a really powerful place for commerce. It 11 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: is so nice to be back and to be able 12 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: to have fans back in the building stuff despite the 13 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 1: chaotic schedule. This is why we do what we do. 14 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. This is the 15 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports show. We explore the big money 16 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: issues in the world of sports on Michael Barr along 17 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:48,559 Speaker 1: with my special guest host for today, Damien Sass. How 18 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: our How are you man? I'm well man, Thanks for 19 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: having me as always. Uh, you know, this is a 20 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: very serious topic we've got to start out with, but 21 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: it has to be talked about as we all know 22 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: there has been a horrific elementary school shooting where nineteen 23 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: students and two adults were killed, and it happened in Valde, Texas. 24 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: The eighteen year old suspected gunman was also shot and killed. 25 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: I bring this up because Warriors head coach Steve Kerr 26 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 1: he was extremely emotional about what happened. Now, you have 27 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: to keep in mind Steve Kerr's dad, Damien, was killed 28 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: about four decades ago. Someone shot him and he later died. Uh, 29 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 1: let's play how Steve Kerr reacted when the shooting came about. 30 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: As he was giving press conference before reporters. I'm not 31 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: gonna talk about basketball. Nothing's happened with our team last 32 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: six hours. We're gonna start the same way tonight. UM. 33 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: Any basketball questions don't matter. Um. Since we left shoot 34 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 1: around fourteen children were killed four miles from here, and 35 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: and a teacher. And in the last ten days, we've 36 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 1: had elderly black people killed in a supermarket in Buffalo, 37 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: We've had Asian churchgoers killed in southern California, and now 38 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: we have children murdered at school. When are we gonna 39 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: do something? I'm tired. I'm I'm so tired of getting 40 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: up here and offering condolences to to the devastated families 41 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: that are out there. I'm so tired of the excuse me, 42 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. I'm tired of the moments of silence. Enough. 43 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: There's fifty senators right now who refused to vote on 44 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: HR eight, which is a background check that the House 45 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: passed a couple of years ago. It's been sitting there 46 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: for two years, and there's a reason they won't vote 47 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 1: on it, to hold on to power. So I ask you, 48 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 1: Mitch McConnell asked all of you senators who refused to 49 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: do anything about the violence and school shootings and supermarket shootings. 50 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: I ask you, are you going to put your own 51 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: desire for power ahead of the lives of our children 52 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: and are elderly and our church goers, Because that's what 53 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: it looks like, it's what we do every week. So 54 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: I'm fed up. I've had enough. We're gonna play the 55 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: game tonight. But I want every person here, every person 56 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: listening to this, to think about your own child or grandchild, 57 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: or mother or father or sister, brother. How would you 58 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: feel if this happened to you today. We can't get 59 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: numb to this. We can't sit here and just read 60 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: about it and go, well, it's at a moment of silence. Yeah, 61 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: go dubs, you know, come on, Maths, let's go. That's 62 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: what we're gonna do. We're gonna go play a basketball game. 63 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: And and fifty senators in Washington are gonna hold us hostage. 64 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: You realize that Americans, regardless of political party, want background check, 65 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: universal background us. We are being held hostage by fifty 66 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: senators in Washington who refused to even put it to 67 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: a vote. Despite what we the American people want, they 68 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: won't vote on it because they want to hold onto 69 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: their own power. It's pathetic of how to enough. Boy, 70 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: that's an emotional Steve kerb and he said it himself 71 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: right there, Damian, the game didn't mean a damn thing 72 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: after what happened in that horrific shooting. Yeah no, I 73 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: mean look, I mean you mentioned it earlier. Um Kurs 74 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: emotion runs deep, you know. I mean you look back 75 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: to nine eighty four when his father, Malcolm was shot 76 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: and killed by terrorists outside of the American University of 77 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: Beirut in Lebanon, And so you know he's been outspoken 78 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: about this topic for some time. Um, and I applaud him, 79 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: I mean, using the podium as a medium to deliver 80 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: a message that is just so very important to him 81 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,919 Speaker 1: personally and to us as Americans. I mean, kudos to 82 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr. And you know, Jason Kidd came in right 83 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: over the top, did exactly the same thing before the game. 84 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 1: So um, so it's a very serious issue, obviously, and 85 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: I applaud him for calling attention to it. And other 86 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:36,119 Speaker 1: sports community members also spoke about it. Lebron James, he's 87 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 1: extremely angry about the shooting. I know it's hard to 88 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: continue on to talk about other things, but this has 89 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,799 Speaker 1: to be highlighted. And like you said, kudos to Steve 90 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: Kerr for bringing this out. How long does this have 91 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: to go before something is done? I just shake my head. 92 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: I have nothing else to say. It's like, but he 93 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 1: said the one thing, and he's right. We can't get 94 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: numb to this. And uh yeah, well, I mean, I mean, 95 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: I mean, Michael, I mean, geopolitics is kind of weaving 96 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 1: its way through you know a lot of you know, 97 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: the things that we're covering in sports, you know, and 98 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 1: you're looking further than you know, the sale of Chelsea, 99 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: you know, um, you know, to to Todd Bowley and 100 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: the Dodgers, you know, Roman Abramovich. I mean that's all 101 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,720 Speaker 1: due to the war in Ukraine, right, So I mean, 102 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: you know these are real, you know, it's it's permeating 103 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: into everything we do and everything that is sports. So 104 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,040 Speaker 1: you know, these are serious issues and again you know, um, 105 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: you know, it forces us to kind of recalculate and 106 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: rethink about, you know, just where does sports sit within 107 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: the socio economic framework of the world today. If it's 108 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 1: a little hard for me to talk today, I apologize everybody, 109 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: but there's so much emotion involved here. And since you 110 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: brought up Chelsea. By the way, the British government they 111 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: cleared the sale of Chelsea, the Premier League soccer team, 112 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: but they had to make one major your concession, and 113 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: that was that it will involve the US group led 114 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: by Los Angeles Dodgers co owner Todd Bully and the 115 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: private equity equity firm. Clear like, they had to assure 116 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: that none of the proceeds from the three point one 117 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: billion dollars sale would go to the club's Russian owner, 118 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: Roman Abramovitch. That's right, And by um proceeds, we're talking 119 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: about three point one billion dollars worth of proceeds, right, Michael, 120 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,559 Speaker 1: So you know, I mean that's a lot of money. 121 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: And and so you know clearly that was you know, 122 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: that was a key element here, making sure that um, 123 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: you know, the man is sanctioned. You know, he's part 124 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,200 Speaker 1: of Putin's Cod Grey and you know that. You know, 125 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: they got to make sure that the Moneys aren't gonna 126 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: you know, flow to Russia to help them continue to 127 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: wage war on the people of Ukraine. And so you know, 128 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: I however they got that done, I don't I don't 129 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: really know. And again, there was a lot of stuff 130 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: going on around the sale. You know, you had Serena 131 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: Williams at one point mentioned you had you know, there's 132 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: a lot of things going on Swiss billionaires and anonymous 133 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: offshore trusts and would have you. So it's gonna be 134 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: very interesting, you know, just to kind of see where 135 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: this all shapes out. I think there's still a lot 136 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: more drama to come. Let's talk about the NFL, and 137 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: they are revamping the Rooney rule. This time. They're going 138 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: to include quarterback coaches in the revamping. Damien, Yeah, no, 139 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: I mean, and absolutely critical, right, because you know, most 140 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: offensive coordinators. Most head coaches, you know, they come up 141 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: they begin as quarterback coaches. Right. It's one of the 142 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: key positions, you know, in the offense. I mean it's 143 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: it is the key position really, so you know, Um, 144 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: so obviously this was not unexpected. I think this is 145 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 1: you know, kind of do I think really what it 146 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: what it says now is that you know, the each 147 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: NFL team is required to interview at least one minority 148 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: or female candidate, um, you know, for a quarterbacks coach. Right, 149 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 1: So I think that's that's the rule. And and you know, look, 150 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I think there's a few other 151 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: changes that were made, you know, um, one of which 152 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: was to the Pro Bowl, right, Um, you know they 153 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,199 Speaker 1: might actually be doing away with the actual Pro Bowl. 154 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: Oh let me, yeah, let's talk about that. With the 155 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: Let's let's be clear. I mean, you know, it's been 156 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: going on since night, you know, but with injuries and 157 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: COVID and you know, just the fact that you know 158 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: a lot of top players are still playing in the 159 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: playoffs at that point in time, it's just gotten to 160 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: be you know, it's it's lost its luster. But you 161 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: know what's interesting around the Pro Bowl is they've got 162 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks competition and skills competitions and all sorts of 163 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: different things that draw a ton of viewerships. So you know, 164 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: how do you kind of have the Pro Bowl without 165 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: having the Pro Bowl? We'll see, but you know, I mean, 166 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: you and I have some ideas. Maybe you can have 167 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: the punt pass and kick of it. Remember that one 168 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: thing used to have that in the old Monday Night 169 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: Football man, and a young John Elway came out. Man 170 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: is like, who knew later on he was going to 171 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: be part of it? But listen, the Pro Bowl has 172 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: gotten a lot of flak because it. Listen, people are 173 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 1: used to the NFL and they used to now hard hits. No, 174 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: we don't want to see anybody injured or anything like that, 175 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: but we're used to tackling, and you know, the Pro 176 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 1: Bowl lately, and especially when they used to have it 177 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: in Hawaii. I'm like, oh man, why am I watching this? 178 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:21,599 Speaker 1: And everybody's laughing and everybody's giggling man, and it's like, Okay, 179 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: that's nice. How's your mom? No, No, we don't want 180 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: we don't want to see that. It's I I would 181 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: like to go back to something you said earlier off Mike, 182 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: and it's right, and I think you said it to 183 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: You have a have a golf tournament around it, you know, 184 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: I have a pro am exactly. I mean, I mean 185 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 1: and by the way, you know, just like they do 186 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: with the match with with with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. 187 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: People will you know, the sports betting community will love that. 188 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: They'll eat that right up, you know they So it 189 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: could it could be. It could be a very interesting thing. 190 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: But look, I mean the one thing you can't argue 191 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,199 Speaker 1: about the probo I mean, it used to be a 192 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: junk in front of up players to go to Honolulu, 193 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: right and and now I think what what what it's 194 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: really become for me is you know, it generates a 195 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: lot of money for the community right now that it's 196 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: moving around from city to city. So you know, they 197 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: still need to kind of live up to their to 198 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: their promise to some of these cities that are are 199 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:10,959 Speaker 1: planning for it, you know, into the future. And I 200 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: think to that end, you know, they announced that Indianapolis 201 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: is granted hosting rights for the Combines in twenty three 202 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: and twenty four, so you know, there's there's there's a 203 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: lot of kind of that that goes on around these 204 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: NFL meetings, and some of that came out as well. 205 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: You know, remember the old superstars and they used to 206 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: you would take the the athletes from different sports and 207 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: then they would play in different different competitions, like you 208 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: had the obstacle course, and then you had bowling, and 209 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 1: then you had table top time. I mean, you had 210 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: all this going on. I'd like to see that, you know, 211 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,320 Speaker 1: just making the foot that. Yeah, I mean, I'd love 212 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: to see him play beer pong. This money to see that. 213 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: I want we should play some beer pong. Now. This 214 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: has been the Bloomberg Business of Sports podcast. I'm Michael 215 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: bar along with my man Damien Sassawurt. Thank you so much. 216 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,599 Speaker 1: By the way, where can we find your Twitter d 217 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: That would be at the sass Hour. That's my tquare handle. 218 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: Come take a visit. You can catch me on Twitter 219 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: at Big Bar Sports. You're listening to Bloomberg Business of 220 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: Sports on Bloomberg Radio round the world.