1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: The whole concept of hosting but then playing at your 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: own home course is kind of strange to me, you know, 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: like it's kind of an unfair advantage, isn't it. You know, 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: if you're hosting and then you get to play at 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: your own home course, like you play that all the time. Um, 6 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: I think it'd be fair if you hosted but you 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: didn't play there, you know, I think that would be 8 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: a more fair fair for everybody. Really, put another logal 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: far nobody here is get in time. Welcome to the 10 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: fire pit with Matt Chinella. Well, here we are almost 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: exactly a week after Brad Hurlbut, the athletic director at 12 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: Fairleigh Dickinson and member of the local n C Double 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: A championship committee, who walked down the stairs of the 14 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: University club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, put his hand on 15 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: his chest and stomped on the hearts of the assembled crowd. 16 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: The opening sound bite was Inez Juana Marta, a senior 17 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: at Purdue who was in that crowd that day and 18 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: who admitted to me she burst into tears like you, Inez, 19 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: and the rest of those student athletes. We were all shocked, mortified, confused, angry, 20 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: and sad, but mostly we wanted answers. Over the course 21 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: of the next few days, I made several calls and 22 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: sent a lot of emails, asking players, coaches, and media 23 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: to recount the specifics of the week, which is Part 24 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: one of this three part series. Well, I was making 25 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: calls and emails in search of some answers. Barstool Riggs 26 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: was making calls and emails to create a consolation championship 27 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: for the women who lost a chance to finish their 28 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: year or career on the course, which is Part two. 29 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: As for Part three, I turned to Jay Billis, the 30 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: college basketball analyst who once played and coached at Duke 31 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: and is still a practicing lawyer in North Carolina. Billis 32 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: has spent the better part of a decade questioning and 33 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: assessing the dysfunction and flaws of the n C Double A. 34 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: Billis is brilliant. I always get smarter when I spend 35 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: time with them. It's Billis, bones, John Smoltz, and Tony 36 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: Romo who are on my modern Mount Rushmore of sports analysts. 37 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: Even if I don't care about the teams or the outcome, 38 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: I'll watch for the education about the sport and what 39 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: I'm seeing on the screen. In this case, I called 40 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: Billis to teach us about what we saw on those steps, 41 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: and I wanted to get a better understanding of the 42 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: National Collegiate Athletic Association what is the deal with the incident? Like, 43 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: why is the systemic you know, sort of dysfunction continuing 44 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: to happen, and how do we get out from underneath it. Yeah. Man, 45 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: it's been a long, long term problem for the n 46 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: C Double A, and it's it's all coming to ahead 47 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: now because of the attention that's been on all of 48 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: these different spots, in part because the pandemic, but we've 49 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: seen systemic issues with regard to gender equity where the 50 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: Double A talks a good game and but they don't 51 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: walk that talk. The women's basketball tournament, it was exposed that, 52 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: you know, the n Double I didn't treat the women's 53 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: tournament the men's tournament the same, and they've been taking 54 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: and rightfully so, a lot of heat over it. Right now. 55 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: The lacrosse tournament is in a minor controversy over roster limits, 56 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: in part having to do with COVID. But we've crossed 57 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: a lot of different lines with regard to COVID and 58 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: when the participants are complaining the coaches, administrators and certainly players. Uh, 59 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: it resonates and and it it rings pretty loudly in Indianapolis. 60 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: I think what we saw with the women's golf tournament 61 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: and Double A Tournament regionals at l s U was 62 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: yet another systemic issue. And I think the question arises, 63 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: is this really the N Double A's fault or is 64 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: it the fault of maintenance or the staff at the 65 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: golf course, or is it the tournament committee whatever it 66 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: may be. Well, ultimately the responsibility lies with the N 67 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: Double A. They're in charge of the championship. They put 68 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: all of these things in place. They're the ones that 69 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: chose the committee members and and chose the venue and 70 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: these you know, the rain didn't just pop up, you know, 71 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: like a pop up shower that lasted for a long time. Uh. 72 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: There could have been some adjustments and things done, uh 73 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: to to mitigate this and to to get the tournament in. 74 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: And you certainly aren't bound, especially in a pandemic, bound 75 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: by a manual that this manual wasn't carried down by 76 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: Moses from Mount Sinai on tablets, and you can make 77 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: adjustments and everybody would understand if the tournament has to 78 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: be over by Wednesday, that can be extended. That is 79 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: not that big of a problem. So I think right now, 80 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: given what we've been through getting to yes and getting 81 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: to a conclusion where the competitors can compete, it's not 82 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: good enough to walk down some stairs and tell a 83 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: bunch of athletes that, well, sorry, this is it and 84 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: then walk back up the stairs. That's just not good enough. 85 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:25,919 Speaker 1: And uh, and I think the n C Double A 86 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: has to take responsibility for that. I asked Billis if 87 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: he thought the situation in Baton Rouge was a gender issue. 88 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: We're a golf issue. Look at the hoops we jumped 89 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 1: through to have an n C Double A men's basketball 90 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: tournament and an n Double A women's basketball tournament. Now, 91 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: obviously those are big revenue producers, so there there are 92 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: more resources put towards those events. But if you're gonna 93 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: put a championship on, you got to put it on 94 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: the right way, and you have you have to get 95 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: you have to get this thing in and if it 96 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,280 Speaker 1: means you're gonna have to make adjustments, if it means 97 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to look at your manual and say, 98 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: you know what, I know what the manual says, but 99 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: here's what we're gonna do. Anyway. We're not gonna We're 100 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: not gonna tell these athletes no, um. We We're going 101 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 1: to figure out a way to to to play this championship. 102 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 1: I think you do it. And if it comes down 103 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: it's a question of research, like how much do we 104 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: really care about this? Because whether it's football, basketball, lacrosse, golf, 105 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: you name it, they're they're of the exact same importance 106 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: to the participants and the coaches. They may not be 107 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: of the same importance to viewers or or administrators frankly, 108 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: but they're they're the same importance to the competitors. And 109 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: and it's another thing about about talking a good game 110 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: versus walking it. Uh. The n C double A talks 111 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: about all these different student athletes, all of them being important, 112 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 1: and and then we see what's really important when we 113 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: this would not have happened. If it were a football game, 114 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: it would not have happened. If it were a basketball event, 115 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: it would have been played. But because it's it's a 116 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: golf event, I don't I don't think it's necessarily men's 117 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: versus women's golf. But but sadly we're talking about it 118 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: in women's golf taking a taken another hit. I think 119 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: if it were football or basketball, they would have figured 120 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: it out. I really believe that what is at the 121 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: core of your energy and passion behind you know, you know, 122 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: d n C Double A as as sort of this institutional, 123 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: sort of dysfunctional thing that kind of hovers above unpaid 124 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: athletic competition. I think, Matt, it's my experience with it. 125 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: You know, when I was in college a million years 126 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: ago in the eighties, I was a member of an 127 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: NSTA Double A committee. I was an athlete representative of 128 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: the n C Double A long Range Planning Committee. I 129 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: always joke that clearly we didn't do that good of 130 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: a job. Look where we are out. But I knew it. 131 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: I just my long range planning skills are so crappy. 132 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: But when when I was on the committee, I brought 133 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: up a lot of the same issues that we're dealing 134 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: with now, transfer issues. I didn't think the transfer policies 135 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: were fair. Uh then in order I think they're fair now. 136 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: I did bring up limited issues about athlete compensation, not 137 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: necessarily being paid, but being allowed to accept things, um 138 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: that other other students could accept and we wouldn't get 139 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 1: in trouble for it. And those things were usually shot 140 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: down for policy reasons and meetings by athletic directors and 141 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: commissioners and the like, who were great people and whom 142 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: I had great relationships with. But back then I was 143 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: a good soldier. You know, when a decision was made 144 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: that I didn't agree with, I supported the decision publicly 145 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: because I was a member of that team. I'm not 146 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: on that team anymore, you know. Now my job is 147 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: to analyze, you know, I mean they called me. We 148 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: used to be called color commentators. Now we're analysts. So 149 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: if I'm going to analyze the game, in the rules 150 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 1: of the game and all that, I have to analyze 151 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: policy too. I think I'm I'm suited to do it. 152 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: I think I understand it. I've studied it. Uh So 153 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: I don't feel shy about saying this is wrong, this 154 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: is right, this is good, this is bad. Um. I 155 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: don't feel one ounce of of of a problem in 156 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: doing that. Uh And I think we've seen though, Matt, 157 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: over the years, like maybe ten years ago, if I 158 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: would talk about these things, there were there would be 159 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: some people that say, I just talk about the game. 160 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: We don't want to hear about this crap. Just talk 161 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: about the game. I don't hear that anymore. Um. I 162 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: think if everybody sees it, given all the money that's 163 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: involved in these games, all the you know, these schools, 164 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: it was shown through the pandemic. These schools are media 165 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: their media rights content providers, and and I hope this 166 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: doesn't come across the wrong way, but the pandemic showed 167 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: us we didn't play football and basketball because the kids 168 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: wanted to play. That was a convenient thing to say, Well, 169 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: the kids want to play. Well, the quote unquote kids 170 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: in every other endeavoring university of life, they wanted to 171 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: participate in their stuff too, and they didn't get the chance. 172 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,480 Speaker 1: And it's because we didn't sell their We didn't sell 173 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: their content. You know, we owed that content to media 174 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: rights companies. And in order to get that content, the 175 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 1: schools had to get paid for that content. School had 176 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 1: to provide it. So, you you know, one simple question 177 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: and answer reveals it all. You know, name me one 178 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: non athlete student that was put on an airplane by 179 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: a university of the last fourteen months for a university function, 180 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: and you can't name one because there wasn't one. It 181 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,079 Speaker 1: was only it was only athletes. And and it even 182 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: goes to non revenue sports because those sports were content 183 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: provided uh to UM to the conference networks, you know 184 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: the SEC network, the SEC Network, Pack twelve network, that 185 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: they needed all those non revenue sports for their own 186 00:10:55,720 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: content uh to be provided. So look, it's a big business. 187 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: And that's why I talked about it. And that's why 188 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: these issues are being decided before the Supreme Court. That's 189 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,839 Speaker 1: why Congress has taken this up. That's why all these 190 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: states are passing at I L laws and uh. And 191 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: you know we're seeing it even in golf. Um. You 192 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,599 Speaker 1: know funny Matt with recently when the U S g 193 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: A and the RNA made an announcement with regard to 194 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 1: competitors being amateurs being allowed to accept more than in 195 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 1: the past surprize money. I had been asked about it, 196 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: and I said, I thought it was a great thing. 197 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: You know, I thought it was a really important step 198 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: not only for for amateur golf, but for but for 199 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: n C double A sports all that. And I got 200 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 1: I added, several club pros call me and say, we'd 201 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: like you to reconsider your stance on that because this 202 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: is really going to hurt club professionals. That if if 203 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: at a member local member guest or a member member 204 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: club championship, if if the competitors can accept prize money 205 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: and not not apparel through the shop, we're gonna lose 206 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:05,959 Speaker 1: a lot of money. And I started really thinking about it. 207 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: I'm saying, well, jeez, you know, I didn't really think 208 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: about it that way. But then I started thinking about, well, 209 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: they're really they're not talking about the principle of amateurism here, 210 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 1: that it's wrong for a competitor to accept that and 211 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: it's wrong for it to be provided. They were saying 212 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: it's wrong for it not to flow through our pockets, 213 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: and and but it was really interesting. I'm not I'm 214 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: not saying they were wrong in voicing concern over it, 215 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: because everybody's got their their interesting But but even in golf, 216 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: which I think is the the only true amateur endeavor 217 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: in sports, as you know, Matt, like an amateur golfer 218 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: decides when and if he or she will play or practice. 219 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: You know, if you're if you're practicing for the mid 220 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: Am or the U s AM and you've got a 221 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: family wedding coming up, you say, well, you know, I 222 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: can't practice for the U s AM. I can't even 223 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 1: play this year. You know, you think any n C 224 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: Double A athlete is saying, well, I got a wedding 225 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: coming up, I can't play. No way you're practicing and 226 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: you're playing, Um, you're a pro and uh and with 227 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: amateur restrictions. But amateur golf is different. But but I 228 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: was surprised at the sort of at the response of 229 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: the club pro. I didn't I just didn't think about it. 230 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: And it was an interesting point. But it was interesting. 231 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: The point wasn't being made on the principle of amateurism. 232 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: It was being made on We'll wait a minute, the 233 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 1: money still has to flow through us or we're going 234 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: to get hurt. I thought that was really interesting. Do 235 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: you see a day where the n C Double A 236 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: gets dismantled and there's a different way of going about 237 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: amateur athletics in the United States of America? Yes, and 238 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 1: no dismantled. No, because multibillion dollar businesses don't just fold 239 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: up their tent because they have to allow pay to 240 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: their employees. Um, they're not going to do that. We 241 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,719 Speaker 1: could we will see a different structure going forward. It 242 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: maybe that the Power five schools. I don't think they'll 243 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: break away, but they may form more of their own division. 244 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: We're certainly going to see things go toward where the 245 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: money is, just as we've seen with the college football Playoff, 246 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: that's only going to get bigger. It's only going to expand. UM. 247 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: And we're gonna see we're gonna see revenue generation enhanced 248 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: across the board with new revenue streams, streaming, all these 249 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: different things. Who could have imagined thirty years ago that 250 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: that conferences would have their own networks? Uh? Now that 251 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: does that help? Uh? Non revenue sports quote unquote non 252 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: revenue sports. I think it does. So I think we're 253 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,080 Speaker 1: going to see all of this continue to expand rather 254 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: than contract. UM. But but I do believe this that 255 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: that it's inevitable that athletes will will be compensated for 256 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: their name, image and likeness. And I believe beyond uh 257 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: and and it's inevitable that this is going to continue 258 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: to grow. UM. We've already passed the point of saying, well, 259 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: these are just extracurricular activities, just like being in the 260 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: band or the drama, a club, or it's not it's 261 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: not that UM. We're in the We're in a multi 262 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: billion dollar entertainment industry, and uh, and it is far 263 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: different from the U S Amateur. You know, the US 264 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: Amateur may be funded by the US Open and the 265 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: U S g A, but it's not run the same way. 266 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: And and the Southeastern Conferences run the exact same way 267 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: as the NFL, and and the the SEC Basketball is 268 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: run the exact same way as the NBA. They're just 269 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: many nfls and many NBA's. They pay, they pay their 270 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 1: coaches the same way. They operate the same way. The 271 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: only difference is the players are required to be enrolled 272 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: in school and go to class. That's the only difference. 273 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: Everything else is exactly the same. Billis makes the point 274 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: that so much has evolved for amateur sports, the business 275 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: of being the n C double A, the business of 276 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: being a school a college coach, the sports complexes and 277 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: training facilities, the merchandise and especially the distribution contracts, and 278 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: yet for the athletes, up until some lee, it's pretty 279 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: much all stayed. The same. Things are changing for the 280 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: athletes right now, and it's causing a lot of consternation 281 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: among administrators, like like old guys like you and me, 282 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: it's causing people a lot of problems. But you know what, 283 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: we didn't get to this point by accident. We've had 284 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: a ton of change in the last thirty forty years 285 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: on the revenue generation side. When I played basketball in college, 286 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: my coach was Mike Sachowski, same guy's coaching there now. 287 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: He made like seventy five thou dollars when I played 288 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: for him. He's making like nine or ten million now. 289 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: And nobody's complained about all those changes. But it's funny 290 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: now that the athletes who have remained the same all 291 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: this time, they're they're being allowed some some rights of 292 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: movement with transfers, and they're being allowed some a few 293 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: drips of compensation in n I L. And it's not 294 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 1: like we're turning the foss and on. We're just asking 295 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: how many drips out of that fausage should they be allowed? 296 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: And and we're talking about doomsday scenarios. Um, I don't 297 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: buy it. I don't think we're gonna have doomsday. I 298 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,919 Speaker 1: think the business will will be just fine, just like 299 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 1: it's been at every other step. When when all the 300 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: changes have been on the revenue enhancement side, now it's 301 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: going to be athlete enhancement some of their compensation and 302 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: what will be just fine there too. Another issue are 303 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: the inconsistencies within the rules and guidelines per sport and athlete. 304 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: Why not evolve the language and structure so they make 305 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: sense to everyone involved, most notably the young men and 306 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: women who are being exploited for their ability, namesake, and likeness. 307 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 1: I don't know why we're stuck on this um sort 308 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:45,359 Speaker 1: of amateurism, uh signifies some sort of love for the game. 309 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: I don't think it does. I just think it's a 310 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: it's you know, for for my level of golfer, All 311 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: it does is mean I can play more often against 312 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: somebody that I have a chance to compete with. That's 313 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: all it means to me. Like the big time amateur 314 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: offers are honestly are professional amateurs. I mean, I don't 315 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,199 Speaker 1: know if you and I have talked about this in 316 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: our times together when we played or or hung out, 317 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: but you know, several years ago, I've got a really 318 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: good friend at a at a club manufacturer. He invited 319 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: me out to one of their facilities and while I 320 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: was there sort of getting fitted for clubs and feeling like, 321 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: you know, feeling like a king and enjoying that. I 322 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: turned around. There are all these college golfers there that 323 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: we're leaving there with tons of gear and all this 324 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: stuff that I know they weren't paying for. And I 325 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:34,679 Speaker 1: don't I don't have a problem with it. But that 326 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: would be like if those were basketball players, they'd be 327 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: rung up as having violated every amateurism rule of the book. 328 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: So amateurism is really whatever we say it is at 329 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: any given time. And and look, it's an elitist concept 330 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: um because back in the day, in order to be 331 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: an amateur you had to have money. Amateurism came from 332 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: a place where the moneyed elites did not want to 333 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: play against the common man, did not want to compete 334 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: against the unwashed masses. And the way to eliminate the 335 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 1: common man was to make it amateur where the common 336 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: man couldn't afford to play. And uh, and that's not 337 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: what it is now. I think we're in a in 338 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 1: a more inclusive environment where, especially in golf, we're striving 339 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: to be more inclusive and to take the game to 340 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: the masses. But but whether it's golf or the n 341 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: C Double A or any of these things, like amateurism 342 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: doesn't enhance your love of the game. It just doesn't. 343 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: I've never bought that, and um and I don't. I 344 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: don't think I ever will. Like I love I love 345 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: these games, whether I'm paid or not. And I think 346 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 1: it's true of everyone else too. Just to wrap this 347 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: up on the n c Double A Women's Regionals and 348 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: the reason why I went down this rabbit hole and 349 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: why I'm gonna do this podcast and tell this story 350 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 1: in hopes that maybe it, you know, it doesn't happen again. 351 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:53,199 Speaker 1: The real crime here is that athletes didn't get a 352 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,480 Speaker 1: chance to be athletes, to prove that, you know, as 353 00:19:57,520 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 1: both individuals and as a team, that they have of 354 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,959 Speaker 1: the opportunity to keep advancing and playing for a national championship. 355 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: The rug got pulled out from underneath athletes. And that's why, 356 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 1: that's why it matters really to me. How do how 357 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: do we make that up to him? That's the thing is, 358 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: we talk a good game about wanting to let the 359 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 1: competitors compete, let them decide it on the field, and 360 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,440 Speaker 1: I believe that that opportunity existed at the Women's regional 361 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 1: that that they could have they could have found a 362 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 1: way to play and they chose not to for a 363 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: variety of reasons, and I'm not saying it came from 364 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: a bad place or they were bad people. I disagree 365 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,679 Speaker 1: with the decision, but ultimately, in all of these decisions, 366 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: the ones left holding the bag are the competitors, the players, 367 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: and and Matt like this has always frosted me. On 368 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 1: the basketball side, I don't know how you feel about this, 369 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: but or whether you hear it, you're you're far more 370 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 1: involved in golf than I am. But on the basketball side, 371 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 1: I hear every now and again when we talk about 372 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,879 Speaker 1: the policy or rules are all there, how things should 373 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: be done. You hear about our game, protecting our game. 374 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: And one of the things I've I've said of late 375 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: is it's not our game anymore. Like I don't play 376 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: basketball anymore. Um, I'm in a few different positions of 377 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,400 Speaker 1: leadership or or policy where I'm on a committee here there, 378 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: But but it's not my game. It's not our game, 379 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: it's their game. And I feel that way about golf. 380 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: This wasn't this wasn't the n C Double As Championship. 381 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 1: This is the players championship. And I believe that that 382 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: heaven and Earth should have been moved for them to play, 383 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: and I think it could have been accomplished and it 384 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: wasn't and that's a that's a major failing on the 385 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: part of the n C Double A leadership for that 386 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: not to have been played. And I think the reaction 387 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: you've seen and we've seen has been a direct result 388 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 1: of of the players not getting a chance to decide 389 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: it on the field of play. And and you'll never 390 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: can nobody will ever convince me that the right decision 391 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: was not to not to try. I'll end all of 392 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: this with final thoughts on the inc doable A from 393 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: three players. First, Kole Schroeder, the fifth year senior at 394 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:22,119 Speaker 1: Oregon State. Their job and Double A is to do 395 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: everything in their power to provide student athletes equal opportunity 396 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: UM to compete at the level that they signed up 397 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: to compete at. And they failed us thought was not 398 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: lived up to in any capacity this week. UM. And 399 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: it's quite sad Ellie Slama, who also plays for Oregon 400 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: State and who promises to keep peppering the incidently with 401 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: emails and letters until they make some changes and they 402 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: apologize for what they did in Baton Rouge. I mean, 403 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: the n b A is so vocal about having every 404 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 1: opportunity for student athletes to play and compete, and especially 405 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,920 Speaker 1: after COVID last year where our entire postseason and most 406 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: of our normal season was ripped away. They didn't even 407 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,520 Speaker 1: give any effort to make this happen, and they didn't 408 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 1: take anyone's feelings into consideration that there were a bunch 409 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: of fifth yer seniors that came back just for this opportunity, 410 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: and then it was once again just ripped away and 411 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: finally one more for menez Wanamarta of Purdue. What happens 412 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: should not have happened. Um, you know we're we're talking 413 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: about n C Double A Division one year. You know, 414 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: I expect more. That's that's all I'm gonna say. Hard 415 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: to argue with, as let's all hope something like this 416 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: never happens again. Unfortunately, with the n C Double A 417 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: in charge, competing schools acting as hosts, and with alumni 418 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: serving on the compromised committees, it seems these systemic failures 419 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: are here to stay. Now, go watch and support the 420 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: LTP Classic where they're finally getting a chance to play 421 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: thanks again to Jay Billis, all of the coaches, athletes, 422 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:07,640 Speaker 1: and barstool rigs for making this series possible and thank 423 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: you for listening. I'd also like to thank Link Soul 424 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 1: and part Points for their sponsorship of this podcast and 425 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,680 Speaker 1: the fire Pit Collective dot com