Sports Business Update

Am still searching for an interview we did with Tom Seaver upon his induction into Cooperstown and came across a sales demo we produced during my time with Westwood One. Here's some background for those who don’t follow media closely.  In the late 80’s, then a mostly music driven programming distributor, WW1 acquired the venerable Mutual Radio Network, longtime home of Notre Dame Football as well as radio talk shows hosted by Larry King and Jim Bohannon.   Soon after being signed by NBC to broadcast from my first Summer Olympics, WW1 would acquire the iconic NBC Radio Network, relocate it from New York to the suburbs of Washington, DC and in doing so create the world’s leading radio sports portfolio of platforms.  I really enjoyed starting my career there and thought I’d take you behind the scenes to hear how great it was.  If you listen closely, you will hear me doing some live coverage from the Olympics, Super Bowl and Daytona 500 among others before moving on to an executive role with ESPN.

Relive the year in sports that was 1992 as the Dream Team strikes Basketball Gold, Magic Johnson wins the NBA All Star MVP in his comeback from an HIV Diagnosis, Toronto's Blue Jays are World Series Champions, Mike Tyson is convicted of rape, The Chicago Bulls and Duke University are the kings of men's basketball, Richard Petty retires as NASCAR's Winningest Driver and so much more.

September 5th, 1995  (Baltimore, MD.) Cal Rikpen Jr. played in his 2,130th consecutive Major League Baseball game and helped the Baltimore Orioles defeat the California Angels, 8-0, in front of 46,804 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.  Sports Business Update Host George McNeilly was there for NBC and shares some of the atmosphere from the night the ironman record of Yankees Legend Lou Gerhig was matched, and then broken the following night.

Today on Sports Business Update we discuss partnership activation in sports.  With so much emphasis on our new normal with the pandemic including no fans at events, teams and players working in a so-called bubble and revenues lost, we thought it would be interesting to speak to a leader in minor league baseball. Our guest is Sarah Leo, Director of Partnership Activation for the Macon Bacon on the Coastal Plain League.

The following is taken directly from www.MaconBaconBaseball.com:

When a star baseball player graduates from high school, they have two choices in pursuing their baseball career:

1. Get drafted to play pro baseball.  If they’re drafted, and sign a minor league contract, they generally play in a Short-Season A-League team for a couple of years. Then they either advance to Single-A baseball or poof, they are sent home to start a different career.

2. Play college baseball.  If a player commits to play college baseball, then he cannot be drafted until after his third college season.   If he is then drafted, he’ll play in Single-A or Double-A baseball.   Major League Baseball scouts typically recommended to CPL teams college players they want to see more of.

In the Coastal Plain League’s 20 year history, more than 1400 players have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams. That’s about 70 players per year.  The quality of play is generally regarded at Single-A level.

The much-anticipated resumption of the NBA season is set for July 30. We have not had a game since March 11 when the league went on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Early last month, the NBA's Board of Governors approved a competitive format with no fans on site to be entirely hosted at Walt Disney World where a bubble has been created for each of the 22 teams who made the cut based on their records.  The NBA is not referring to it as a bubble, but rather a campus where each team’s players are part of a 37-person entourage of essential personnel.

 Today on Sports Business Update our guest is Joel Glass, Chief Communications Officer of the Orlando Magic.

Arnold Palmer's legacy is alive and well at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.  The 18-hole Shingle Creek Golf Club is a championship course designed by Arnold Palmer Design Company. Golfers can enjoy stunning views of the natural landscape while teeing it up to extra-long par 4s and par 5s, while facing a variety of shot-making opportunities along the way.  Today on Sports Business Update, Ryan Hosford, Director of Golf is our guest with host George McNeilly.

Some of the most forgiving golf clubs you will ever own, and at a great price.  Today Sports Business Update introduces you to Tour Edge and the EXS Exotics line of drivers, woods and irons. Host George McNeilly goes one on one with its founder and president David Glod

Today on Sports Business Update, we hear from PGA TOUR players Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk on competing for the second week in a row with no fans in attendance as action shifts to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Furyk, a former Ryder Cup Captain and current Vice Captain to Steve Stricker for Team USA, speaks in depth about whether or not we will have the biannual event as scheduled for September due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Host George McNeilly previews the Charles Schwab Challenge.  It's the first full field, PGA TOUR event since cancellation of the Players Championship three months ago.  In this report, you will hear from Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Harold Varner, III and defending champion Kevin Na.

Because of the continuing COVID-19 restrictions around events and public gatherings in the surrounding area, the 2020 John Deere Classic has been canceled.  Today SBU Host George McNeilly has an exclusive interview with Tournament Director Clair Peterson.

Peterson says tournament will, however, continue its commitment to the 2020 Birdies for Charity campaign, including a promise to deliver at least a five percent bonus to all participating organizations. Last year, the tournament raised $13.8 million for 543 organizations.