1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: This is the business of sports where in the situation 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: that we haven't dealt with in modern times, pandemic here 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: has really accelerated the investments that you've been advocating for 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: for years. Almost everyone out there is hoping that there's 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: some kind of return to normal by August September. In 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: depth conversations with the leaders in the sports industry, who 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: wants to be the sacrificial lambs that shows up at 8 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: the first big major sporting events were part of something 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: much bigger than the sport right now and the health 10 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: and safety of our stakeholders are both more important every moment. 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: I think we're all from business respective thinking about the 12 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: impact that the virus is having across the country. Bloomberg 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, I'm Jason Kelly 14 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:42,959 Speaker 1: and I'm Mike Lynn, and over the next hour we're 15 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: going to explore the big money issues in the world 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: of sports. A complicated week, to say the least, a 17 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: troubling week I think for everyone in this country. We're 18 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: going to talk in a few minutes about the protests 19 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: and some more recent events even in the last twenty 20 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: four hours. We're taping us on Thursday morning, Drew Brees 21 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: weighing in and very controversially, let's put a pin in 22 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: that for a second and talk about something a little 23 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: bit happier, which is, it looks like we've got a 24 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: plan for basketball. We do. And it's funny. Like most Americans, 25 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: I wake up every day and I said, I got 26 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: nothing to look forward to today except, of course, doing 27 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: this show issue. Of course. Yeah, yeah, let's be clear. 28 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: Let's be clear. But now this gives up sports fans 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: something to look forward to. Wow, Okay, July thirty one, 30 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: it looks like we're gonna have NBA basketball and they're 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: not going to be any fans. They're not going to 32 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: be any home crowd chants in the arena and Organs 33 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: pounding away. They're all gonna be playing in the same 34 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: arena down at Disney World. But we're gonna have it. 35 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: And you know, and if I'm a fan of the 36 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: six teams that mathematically we're out of the playoff picture, 37 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: like Washington, Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, San Antonio, and Phoenix, 38 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: I'm tripically excited because now there's gonna be basketball from 39 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: my team, and you know, they're all gonna be on 40 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: in Orlando um, the the NBA and their commissioner had 41 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: the best relationship of any player slash commissioner of the 42 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: four major sports, and they got it done. And I'm 43 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: and I'm looking forward to it, and I know that 44 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: a lot of other sports fans are gonna say bring 45 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: it on totally. I'm super excited too, And I really 46 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: I agree with you, and and just want to amplify 47 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: what you're saying, which is I love the fact that 48 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: there was very little drama, it seems, in getting this 49 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: done and now again and you're we're talking about this 50 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: where you came on air like who knows what's gonna 51 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 1: happen over the next few days. We hope that it's 52 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: not going to take a left turn. It was marching 53 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: as we're recording this toward some sort of agreement. They 54 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: seem to be uh agreed on all the major points 55 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: and hopefully the details don't derail anybody. You know, you 56 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: look at this as we have constantly been doing, and 57 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: I think it's important to point out you look at 58 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: this against the backdrop of the NHL, good job. You 59 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,399 Speaker 1: look at it against the backdrop of MLS. Good Maybe 60 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: we'll talk about that in a second and then you 61 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: have this outlier of Major League Baseball, which is just 62 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: finding new and different ways to mess this up. Well, historically, 63 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 1: the Union has always been the strongest, and their players 64 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: have said this before, have always been the most obstinate 65 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: in negotiations and even when you would just have a 66 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: casual encounter with them in the locker room, they have 67 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: to make everything very very difficult. There the spoiled brats 68 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: of the four major teams. They have to have I 69 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: wanted my way or I'm taking my ball and bent 70 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 1: bat and I'm going home. And this is there's no 71 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: different right now. Um, you've got young kids, um, you know, 72 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: high school of teenagers. Um, are their friends playing baseball 73 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: all across in the spring lacrosse under I mean, it's 74 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: so funny because you know, even over the course, I'm 75 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: glad you had that, because we talked about it all 76 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: the time in my house. And you know, my kids 77 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: are huge sports fans, and so we'll go to games. 78 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: And we were in l a last summer. Were into 79 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: a Dodgers game. That was cool and I had never 80 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: been to Dodger Stadium and so you know, and they 81 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 1: were super into that. We had great seats and but 82 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: they're not gonna watch baseball game one TV, and they 83 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: don't play baseball and they play lacrosse all in. I mean, 84 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: if I'm interviewing a baseball player, they're like, okay, let 85 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: me google that and see how this guy is. But 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: if I'm interviewing Paul Rabel, they are sitting up straight 87 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: and really excited about that. And I think it is. 88 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: I think we will look back at this year I 89 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: fear as an even bigger step down for baseball than 90 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: we saw twenty what is it twenty five years ago 91 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: with the strike and you know, you can argue that 92 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: baseball recovered, but I'm not sure it's going to recover 93 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: in a meaningful way from this. Well, there weren't any 94 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: other issues going on in the country at that particular time, 95 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: and there was our attention was so there was no 96 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: World Series, well you know what, the NFL was going on, 97 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: and the NBA camps were just starting up. NHL was 98 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: just dropping the puck in the first week in October, 99 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: and the heck with the guys, we'll see you next April. 100 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: And you know, we we we did forgive and we 101 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: did forget about it. But this with everything that's with 102 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: people out of work of people that are dying. The 103 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: whole pandemic now, the the George Floyd incident and the 104 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: reaction and the fallout from that, I don't think. I 105 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: think it's gonna take a long time for for people 106 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: to forgive baseball players if they if they wind up 107 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: canceling this season because of their selfishness. I agree. I 108 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: couldn't agree more, you know. I Meanwhile, I wanted to 109 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: pivot to something that is a little bit closer to 110 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: home for you geographically, uh, that I feel like we 111 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: didn't talk about and very close to my heart, which 112 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: is something else that's not going to happen, and that's 113 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: the Boston Marathon. And I have to say, I've run 114 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: the marathon a few times and it really, in a way, 115 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: in a very personal way, really disappointed me. Like I 116 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,799 Speaker 1: felt genuinely sad about the idea that, you know, folks 117 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: who had qualified for that, we're not going to get 118 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: the opportunity to do it this year. Yeah, it's the 119 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: first time in history that it has been canceled. I 120 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: followed it as a kid. I used to hang out 121 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 1: when I was in college for forty years. I covered 122 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: it from sitting on the truck and you know, face 123 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: to face with the lead runner to the anchor booth 124 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,840 Speaker 1: at the at the finish line. And this race turned 125 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: into um. It went from the elite people in the 126 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: world winning the race and now it's become the race 127 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: of the people who are running for an individual or 128 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: for causes. And the amount of money that are raised 129 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: for charity through this Boston Marathon is astronomical. For hospitals, 130 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: for for cancer research, for heart disease, for a l 131 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: s um. There are just groups of people. Teddy Bruski, 132 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: the former linebacker for the Patriots, suffered a stroke at 133 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: one time and he has a group called Teddy's Runners 134 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: and they run, uh, you know, for for stroke prevention 135 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: and stroke awareness. And so there's there's there's a myriad 136 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: of causes that are all losing tens of millions of 137 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: dollars because this road race has been canceled. But they 138 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: really had a choice because so many people come in 139 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: from other parts of the world to run this race, 140 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: and you just can't take the chance. And how do 141 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: you control it? I mean, how do you control and 142 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: and this race, as you've seen along the way, and 143 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: you did you you ran Boston, You said, right, I did. Yeah, 144 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: I've run it three times. Wow, good for you. That's uh. 145 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: I have great admiration for anybody that can do it. 146 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: But you see the people this shoulder deep yeah, when 147 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: you get down around Wellesley College and oh yeah, I 148 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: thought it so funny, said the wells of God thing, 149 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: because for those unfamiliar with the marathon, it is a 150 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: grand tradition that the women of Wellesley come out and 151 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: and I am not making this up, like literally are 152 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: kissing the runners as they go by. And I'm glad 153 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: you brought that up, because when it was canceled, I thought, well, 154 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: even if they had it, that that was one tradition 155 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: that was not going to go on. I think it's 156 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: fair to say, good lord, yeah it was. Yeah. And 157 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: I have three daughters. They all went to Boston College. 158 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: They loved lying the streets in comb When you went 159 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: by BC, that's when you're coming down to Cleveland Circle, 160 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: and that's when the crowds really start to thicken right 161 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: there from that when you come down Beacon Street. And 162 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: but you know, business wise, a lot of money lost totally, 163 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,679 Speaker 1: and well, I just think about Mike. I think about 164 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: the business lost in the North End you know, everybody 165 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: going to have their post dinners the night before. I mean, 166 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: the the economic grouple effective is massive, and it's such 167 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: a showcase of Boston and you've got the early Red 168 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: Sox same anyway. I could go on and on, but 169 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: I have to say, like I really like it. It 170 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: hurt my heart a little bit, um, you know, seeing 171 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: that decision made, even though I know it was the 172 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: right one. Pay Mayor Walsh. He said, it's just not 173 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: feasible this year. And I know they did everything they could, 174 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: They looked at every single possible way to do it, 175 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: and they just said, we just can't do it. We 176 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: can't take the risk, all right. You know, Mike, we 177 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: talked about this earlier in the week on our podcast. 178 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: You've been talking about it around your dinner table. I 179 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: know I've been talking about it around my dinner table 180 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: as well. We've spent every part of every day trying 181 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: to make sense of what's going on in our country 182 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: right now and the after the matter is is that 183 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: athletes are at the center of so many public conversations, 184 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 1: especially now. Talk to me about Drew Brees, because a 185 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: guy who is widely admired to say the least really 186 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: looked up to waited into this in a way that 187 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:22,239 Speaker 1: really drew the ire of a lot of his teammates 188 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 1: and a lot of pro athletes, even outside of football. Well, 189 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, Drew Brees said he didn't understand anyone who 190 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: wouldn't stand and put their hand over their heart for 191 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: the national anthem, and I obviously was referring to Colin 192 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: Kaepernick and other NFL players who did that wisely. Less 193 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: than twenty four hours later, on the Thursday morning, he 194 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: posted on Instagram and he said that he was he'd 195 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: like to apologize he totally missed the mark. Uh. He said, 196 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: I'd like to apologize to my team, the NFL and 197 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: anyone that I heard. I need to do less talking 198 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: and more listening. And I thought that was really a 199 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,559 Speaker 1: profound by him, you know. I I happened to do 200 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: an interview with Ari Fleischer, the press secretary for George Bush, 201 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: and I did it two days ago for another show 202 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: I do up here in Boston. And when he we 203 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: were talking about crisis control and reputation restoration, and he said, 204 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. He goes a long, long way, and he 205 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: cited a couple of examples of Mark McGuire, Yes, I 206 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: took steroids. I'm sorry. I apologize, and he eventually got 207 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: to work his way back into baseball. Andy Pettit said 208 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I took steroids. I was wrong, and his 209 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: whole thing went away. So I think this is gonna 210 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: help Drew Brees. UM, I know Lewis Riddick, who's uh 211 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: an African American former NFL player. UM applauded Breeze and 212 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: and welcomed his his his apology and thought it was 213 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: a great step in the right direction and and called 214 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: it true leadership, UM, rather than just just hiding behind it, 215 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: coming out and saying I was wrong, I made a mistake, 216 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 1: I missed the mark, and uh, I will I will 217 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: do everything I can, uh to to be more aware 218 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 1: and do less talking and more Yeah. I like, yeah, 219 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: I mean it's interesting you know, watching again, we're taping 220 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: this on on Thursday morning, and you know, watching it 221 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: all play out last night and see some of some 222 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: other athletes, Lebron James among them, you know, come out 223 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: ferociously against what what Drew Brees has said and essentially 224 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: saying you're missing the point. I mean, in terms of 225 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: what Kaepernick was trying to do. And I do think 226 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: that that backlash, of course led to the apology that 227 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: that you just described. It is a reminder of how 228 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 1: quickly these things can escalate, and we'll see, you know, 229 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: hopefully Drew Brees has been able to de escalate it, 230 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: as you said with with that apology, which did seem 231 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 1: heartfelt and sincere. Uh. It was a reminder to me 232 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: of how raw things are right now, um and how 233 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: immediate uh it can be. And we're seeing that in 234 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: in the streets of our cities every day, and we're 235 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: also seeing it play out in sports. And I do 236 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: wonder what you think this means as we go forward 237 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: in terms of, for lack of better term, sort of 238 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: athlete empowerment. It feels like we've come a long way, 239 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: I think in a good way in that you know, 240 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: we've always looked to players in many ways, but players 241 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: seem more uh inclined and more emboldened in a positive 242 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: way to to say what's on their mind. And we 243 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: do look to them as as leaders. And we could 244 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: argue or debate or however you want to frame it forever, 245 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 1: you know, what the role of athletes should be. And 246 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,559 Speaker 1: I go back to you know, I'm not a role 247 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: model from Charles Barkley, I believe, and you know, having 248 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: watched the Last Dance and seeing Dennis Rodman and sort 249 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: of reliving all of that, but you know, being an 250 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: athlete right now, and I know lot of folks out 251 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: there are playing the world's smallest violins for for athletes 252 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: because they do make a lot of money, but they 253 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: are in the public spotlight. And I think that has 254 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 1: really been proven this week. Well, I think it comes 255 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: with accountability, responsibility, and reliability. If if an athlete feels like, 256 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: you know, he should be a role model, then they've 257 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: got the perfect platform. Because young people aren't going to 258 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: listen to the president. They're not going to listen to 259 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: any civic leaders at all. None of us listen to 260 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: our parents when we were teenagers. And these are people 261 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: they look up to. These are people whose posters they 262 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: have on their wall. These are the people whose gear 263 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: they buy, who sneakers they buy, whose jerseys they buy. 264 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: And these people, many of them might not even realize 265 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: when an impact they had. They maybe should go back 266 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 1: and think about, Hey, when when I was seventeen, who 267 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: did I look up to? You know, I looked up 268 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,959 Speaker 1: to Michael Jordan's. But the other thing I'm concerned about 269 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: going forward, will these voices still be heard once the 270 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: games are restarted and resume. That's my big concern right here. Hey, 271 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: I'm in season right now. I'm just focusing on my 272 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: next game against the Orlando Magic. I'm in season right now. 273 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 1: I'm worried about my game against the Montreal Canadians. Will 274 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,679 Speaker 1: they continue to be vocal and take a stand and 275 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: and be out front once they're games resumed. That's a 276 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: really interesting point. Yeah. The other thing I thought about 277 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: there was a great story. I don't know if you 278 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: saw it. I meant to send it to you earlier 279 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: in the week because it really struck me that Michael 280 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: Rosenberg wrote for Sports Illustrated and I'll reach you the 281 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: headline and the deck because it says America doesn't benefit everybody, 282 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: and then the subhead is very few people spend their 283 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: lives at the bottom and the top, but elite athletes 284 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: often do. We should listen to them. And I thought 285 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 1: it was such a simple but profound statement that we 286 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: do have very few examples, and there are many more 287 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: examples in the world of sports of people who really 288 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: start out in very very difficult circumstances and then by 289 00:14:54,800 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: virtue of hard work and some luck and guild and 290 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: all these different things, and candidly are collective obsession with sports. 291 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: They are able to be both incredibly wealthy and incredibly influential. 292 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: And there aren't many people who can see both sides 293 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: of that maybe as clearly. And I know it's something 294 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: that Lebron James has talked about a huge amount, you know, 295 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: growing up in Akron and and uh and his whole experience. 296 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: So I did think it was worth remembering and worth noting. 297 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: That's why we do sometimes, I think, have to listen 298 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: to or maybe we should listen to some of these 299 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: athletes who are who are able to articulate this as well, 300 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: because they do have a range of experience that that 301 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: maybe sometimes overlook. I think every one of us needs 302 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: to look into the mirror and said, have we done 303 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: enough listening? Have we done enough to affect change? And 304 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: I think unfortunately this death of George Floyd and the 305 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: fallout will force all of us to do a great 306 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: deal of self introspection. I hope this is a great 307 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: learning experience for us. Right now, all right, I'm Jason Kelly. 308 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: You can follow me on Twitter at sin Kelly News 309 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: and on Mike Lynch. You can follow me at Lynch 310 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: e w c v B. We're here every week at 311 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: this time and catch her Apple Podcast On Monday's, Wednesdays 312 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: and Thursdays. You're listening to the Bloomberg Business of Sports 313 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: from Bloomberg Radio around the world.