[Cracked Sidewalks] "ESPN is the one who told us what to do"

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

"ESPN is the one who told us what to do"

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (muwarrior92)

"ESPN told us what to do" is a claim that one ACC Athletic Director made over the weekend as it relates to the possible destruction of the Big East.

This shouldn't surprise anyone.


CBS's Gary Parrish weighs in on whether ESPN fueled the demise of the Big East.


Meanwhile, Boston College's AD also stated that they are the ones blocking UCONN from coming into the ACC to protect their turf.  Former Marquette #2, Father Leahy, is mentioned several times in the article.



http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/10/espn-is-one-who-told-us-what-to-do.html

[lab_warrior]

[brewcity77]

The ACC and ESPN cost the Big East member colleges their share of a contract likely in excess of $1.5 billion. Of course, the exposure value would inflate that amount as well. I say start the lawsuit at $2 billion.

[Dawson Rental]

The ACC and ESPN cost the Big East member colleges their share of a contract likely in excess of $1.5 billion. Of course, the exposure value would inflate that amount as well. I say start the lawsuit at $2 billion.

And what exactly would be the nature of the complaint?  ESPN and the ACC are better at running their businesses than the Big East and NBC/Fox?  Fortunately, beating your business competition is not yet illegal.

What it does setup is the inevitability that collegiate football (especially) and basketball players ARE going to get paid sooner rather than later.  All that surrounds the conference games of musical chairs just totally undermines any claim to amateur status by collegiate football.  After the BCS schools finish climbing to the top of the revenue mountain, they'll likely find themselves facing financial catastrophe when they will suddenly have to pay their athletes.  ESPN will not be adversely impacted by this, and may even get an edge as universities will feel pressure to make TV deals that add any new revenue.  At that point perhaps the ACC will consider the wisdom or lack thereof of taking advice without considering the motivations of those who are providing that advice.

[brewcity77]

Seems to me that ESPN telling the ACC to poach teams because of failed contract negotiations would be tampering with the Big East's potential profitability. I'll admit I'm not a lawyer, but I would say at the least the basketball schools would have a case if they can display lost revenues based on these actions. Of course, that probably won't be until the next television contract is sorted and the discrepancy is known, and maybe there's nothing illegal here, but it sure seems like this has to be some form of illegal tampering.

[GGGG]

It actually could be considered an illegal restraint of free trade.  I doubt it will go anywhere.

[Pakuni]

And what exactly would be the nature of the complaint?  ESPN and the ACC are better at running their businesses than the Big East and NBC/Fox?  Fortunately, beating your business competition is not yet illegal.

What it does setup is the inevitability that collegiate football (especially) and basketball players ARE going to get paid sooner rather than later.  All that surrounds the conference games of musical chairs just totally undermines any claim to amateur status by collegiate football.  After the BCS schools finish climbing to the top of the revenue mountain, they'll likely find themselves facing financial catastrophe when they will suddenly have to pay their athletes.  ESPN will not be adversely impacted by this, and may even get an edge as universities will feel pressure to make TV deals that add any new revenue.  At that point perhaps the ACC will consider the wisdom or lack thereof of taking advice without considering the motivations of those who are providing that advice.

Unlikely to succeed, but if ESPN were found to have encouraged SU and Pitt to abandon a potential contractual obligation (should one exist) to the Big East, they could pursue a tortious interference claim. That said, the likelihood of success probably isn't worth the risk of of burning bridges with the "worldwide leader" (I just threw up in my mouth). 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Legal or ilegal it sounds very unethical.  It's all very sickening to say the least.

[Dawson Rental]

Legal or ilegal it sounds very unethical.  It's all very sickening to say the least.

I once heard something along the lines of: "If you see your competition drowning in a pool, you should put a water hose in their mouths."  Such is the way of business, particularly big business.  Not so long ago, collegiate athletics saw itself as something more than just another big business.  For BCS conferences, at least, those days are now gone, and I am convinced that someday probably sooner rather than later, they will rue letting things get this out-of-hand.

"sickening to say the least"
+1

[muhs03]

The ACC and ESPN cost the Big East member colleges their share of a contract likely in excess of $1.5 billion. Of course, the exposure value would inflate that amount as well. I say start the lawsuit at $2 billion.

Three schools sued BC for damages and were awarded $5M (1.6M per school). I wonder if UConn regrets doing that...and telling BC that they will never play them in any sport ever again. Sounds like BC is helping make sure they live it to that promise.

In retrospect, I wonder if all of this could have been avoided if the schools voted to increase the exit fee from $5 to say $20M AFTER the schools voted down espn's first offer. Perhaps the increased exit fee would have forced Pitt and Cuse to at least stick around long enough to see what kind of deal the conference would get nine months later. That wasnt done and conference members were sitting ducks.

[avid1010]

Three schools sued BC for damages and were awarded $5M (1.6M per school). I wonder if UConn regrets doing that...and telling BC that they will never play them in any sport ever again. Sounds like BC is helping make sure they live it to that promise.

In retrospect, I wonder if all of this could have been avoided if the schools voted to increase the exit fee from $5 to say $20M AFTER the schools voted down espn's first offer. Perhaps the increased exit fee would have forced Pitt and Cuse to at least stick around long enough to see what kind of deal the conference would get nine months later. That wasnt done and conference members were sitting ducks.

The situations are not comparable if the rumors surrounding Pitt. are true.

[muhs03]

The situations are not comparable if the rumors surrounding Pitt. are true.

Who's to say Pitt woudnt have left anyways (even after a new contract)? And just like the ACC contract, Im sure the new BE contract would have provisions that allow espn to renegotiate if teams leave (or are added). I guess if teams want to leave one conference to go to another, I dont have a problem with it. These are decisions made by Chancellors and Trustees and fly way over the heads of journalists and especially bloggers and twitter accounts. And what is so shocking about the ACC consulting the very company that will pay them with a revised contract? Who should they have gotten advice from? Tagliabue?!?!?

[GGGG]

Oh remember those days when we thought hiring "Tags" as a consultant was really going to help the BE?  Ah...yeah...the innocent days of yesteryear.

[brewcity77]

This is worth a read...supports a potential lawsuit:

http://outkickthecoverage.com/big-east-unlikely-to-lose-bcs-bid.php

[Aughnanure]

This is worth a read...supports a potential lawsuit:

http://outkickthecoverage.com/big-east-unlikely-to-lose-bcs-bid.php

Also offers the best reason how/why the Big East will survive.

[Dawson Rental]

Who's to say Pitt woudnt have left anyways (even after a new contract)? And just like the ACC contract, Im sure the new BE contract would have provisions that allow espn to renegotiate if teams leave (or are added). I guess if teams want to leave one conference to go to another, I dont have a problem with it. These are decisions made by Chancellors and Trustees and fly way over the heads of journalists and especially bloggers and twitter accounts. And what is so shocking about the ACC consulting the very company that will pay them with a revised contract? Who should they have gotten advice from? Tagliabue?!?!?

I guess that it is shocking only to those who still believe that (as arguably once was the case) University Presidents made these decisions based on criteria other than the almighty dollar.  Now that it is clear that the buck is the only consideration, consulting ESPN is the smart thing to do... at least until it costs BCS football its amateur status.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Anyone naive enough to think the Jesuit "NetworK" wasn't put in motion here?  A vow of poverty is one thing, but business is business.

[Dawson Rental]

Anyone naive enough to think the Jesuit "NetworK" wasn't put in motion here?  A vow of poverty is one thing, but business is business.

If only ND were a Jesuit school....

[Aughnanure]

and Villanova...

[Dawson Rental]

and Villanova...

Jesuit school or not, I bet that Villanova is showing the other basketball schools its cards.

[Dr. Blackheart]

If only ND were a Jesuit school....

Talking BC primarily with the Catholic Cartel