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John Wall Street on “Belichick”

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On a Monday-to-Friday basis, sports business and investment newsletter JohnWallStreet provides insights into the off-the-field  activities of entrepreneurs in the sporting world. Looking into the non-football aspects of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, JWS conducted a Q&A with Ian O’Connor, author of the best-selling book, “Belichick.”

JWS shared a couple interesting items from the interview and they are presented here today. If you’d like to see the entire interview, we recommend subscribing to the daily newsletter. Click HERE.

Bill Belichick has seven Super Bowl rings (five as a Head Coach) and is revered as the most successful coach in NFL history, but doesn’t do personal endorsement deals; his “evil genius” image has been cultivated not to sell products, but to reduce off-field obligations. The New York Times best-selling biography, “Belichick” touches on “Human Bill”, offering anecdotes meant to explain why the football coach opts to display a persona harmful to his financial interests. JohnWallStreet had the chance to speak with the author of the book, Ian O’Connor, to get his insight on Bill Belichick, Inc.; the company Bill formed and then shuttered before his first public speaking appearance (or product pitch).

JWS: When Agassi said, “image is everything”, he meant in terms of selling products, but B.B. has cultivated this enigmatic persona to avoid off-field responsibilities. Can you help explain the logic?

Ian: It’s a good question because his net worth is +/- $35 million (Forbes) and that seems awfully low for the leading character in the most watched TV drama, 17 out of every 20 times. He’s the most prominent figure in the NFL, which is the most prominent show on television. Just in terms of endorsements, he has left tens of millions of dollars on the table; money that comes with the credibility he’s established for sustained winning over a 20-year period.

I really believe part of the reason he hasn’t capitalized is his belief that everything in the organization is team centric, his whole program is built around team over self and if he were to capitalize on his fame outside of football, I think he would feel that he’s elevating himself above the team.

The other thing is, he’s always saying it’s a players’ game. I think he really means that. Had he gone ahead and really capitalized on his earning power through endorsements and corporate speaking, I think he believes that he would be in defiance of the values he preaches.

JWS: At one point, B.B. started a for-profit company (Bill Belichick Inc.) to field consulting, public speaking and product endorsement opportunities. It’s your belief Bill would make an effective pitchman. Why is that?

Ian: I did a book on the rivalry between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer is really the Founding Father athlete as a pitchman. He started IMG on a handshake with Mark McCormack. McCormack was succeeded by a guy named Alastair Johnston and I remember him explaining to me that the strategy with Arnie was to avoid selling him as a winner, because his window to win was going to be short. They didn’t really want trophies in his hands because that was going to end shortly and they wanted to sell Palmer to America as a successful person people could relate to. With Belichick, you get to actually sell winning because he’s won over such a long period of time.

Alliance Has Its Schedule

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NEW YORK – After the NFL plays its Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2019, the wait for the next pro football contest will be very short. That’s because the Alliance of American Football will kick off its inaugural 10-week regular season just six days later.

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Brad Childress

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The new league that features eight franchises, Steve Spurrier as a coach and Trent Richardson as a player kicks off Feb. 9 with two games — the Atlanta Legends visiting Spurrier’s Orlando Apollos and the San Diego Fleet playing at the San Antonio Commanders.

There will be two more games the following day with the Memphis Express visiting the Birmingham Iron, who employ Richardson, the former No. 3 overall pick in 2012 who was an NFL bust. The Salt Lake Stallion visit the Arizona Hotshots in the other game on Feb. 10.

“One of the driving factors behind the vision of The Alliance was the fact that millions of Americans simply stop watching sports and playing fantasy every February, the moment a Super Bowl champion is crowned,” said Charlie Ebersol, co-founder and CEO of the AAF. “There’s a significant void in the market that will now be filled with top-flight, professional football. The reception thus far in each of our eight markets has been tremendous, and unveiling our season one schedule is yet another significant milestone for the league.

“There are exciting matchups and storylines unfolding, and The Alliance is looking forward to giving fans exactly what they want — more football.”

The regular season concludes April 14 with playoffs to follow. The top two teams in the East and the top two teams in the West will make the playoffs.

In addition to Spurrier, the league’s other head coaches are Brad Childress (Atlanta), Dennis Erickson (Salt Lake), Tim Lewis (Birmingham), Mike Martz (San Diego), Rick Neuheisel (Arizona), Mike Riley (San Antonio) and Mike Singletary (Memphis).

Included in the list of regular-season matchups:

Professional football returns to San Diego in Week 2 when the Fleet host the Atlanta Legends.

Former Chargers coach Riley returns to San Diego when San Antonio visits the Fleet in Week 3.

Former NFL coaches Singletary (defensive legend) and Martz (offensive prowess) match wits when Memphis hosts San Diego in Week 4.

Offensive gurus Spurrier and Neuheisel do battle when Orlando visits Arizona in Week 6.

–Field Level Media

Sports Biz: Angels in the Outfield

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ANAHEIM – The Los Angeles Angels opted out of their lease with the city of Anaheim on Tuesday, casting doubt on whether or not Angel Stadium will remain their home.

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The Angels have played at Angel Stadium since it opened in 1966. It is the fourth-oldest park in the majors behind Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium.

The team has explored options in nearby cities Carson, Irvine and Tustin in recent years. The Angels haven’t negotiated with Anaheim officials since 2014.

“As we look to the future, we need the ability to continue to deliver a high-quality fan experience beyond what the original lease allows,” Angels president John Carpino said in a statement. “It is important that we look at all our options and how we can best serve our fans now and in the future.”

Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey said there was a deadline on Tuesday that prompted the action. She said the next chance to opt out is 2028.

“It’s today or 10 years from now,” Garvey told the Los Angeles Times. “There’s no option in between.”

Garvey said the Angels will look to sit down with the city’s new mayor and city council after next month’s election. Current mayor Tom Tait is in his final term.

The Angels’ discussions with Tustin stalled when the Orange County city asserted it wouldn’t provide funding for ballpark construction.

–Field Level Media

Basketball World Shocked by News of Death of FIBA Secretary General

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina/MIES, Switzerland – (Report from Official News Release) – It is with immeasurable sadness that FIBA on Sunday confirmed the passing of Patrick Baumann, FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member.

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Despite receiving immediate medical attention, he suddenly and unexpectedly succumbed to a heart attack during the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Basketball has lost a leader, an advocate and a friend and our thoughts are with Patrick’s wife and two children at this tragic time. The Secretary General of FIBA since 2002, Mr Baumann passed away at the age of 51. The current operations of FIBA will be taken care of by the Presidency and the Management Team.

FIBA President Horacio Muratore said: “On behalf of the entire FIBA family, I wish to express our deepest sympathies and pass on our condolences to Patrick’s wife Patricia, their family and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this very difficult time.

“Patrick was a lot more than FIBA’s Secretary General and an IOC member. He was a very close friend of mine as well as to countless people in the basketball family and the wider sport community.

“Under his leadership, FIBA moved forward by leaps and bounds, with the organization modernizing itself to the extent of becoming a model which fellow International Federations followed.

“Patrick was at the forefront of FIBA making radical changes to its governance structure, successfully building and moving into its own state-of-the-art Headquarters outside of Geneva as well as launching 3×3, its urban discipline which became a part of basketball’s program at the Olympics. He was also instrumental in the process of ‘ONE FIBA’, the coming together of all of FIBA’s Regional Offices into one corporate group, with everyone looking and heading in the same direction for the best interests of our beloved sport. Last but not least, he led the way in the creation and implementation of FIBA’s New Competition System.

“For all of this and for so much more, FIBA is forever indebted to Patrick. Without doubt we would not be where we are today were it not for everything that he did. His unwavering commitment, tireless work ethic and pure passion for basketball mean he will forever have his place in FIBA’s history.”

A Swiss national born on August 5, 1967, Mr Baumann was a former player, coach and referee who first joined FIBA as a lawyer in 1994 and was appointed FIBA Deputy Secretary General in 1995.

In 2002, he was unanimously appointed FIBA Secretary General by the FIBA Central Board. As such, he became only the third FIBA Secretary General, after Dr. William Jones and Borislav Stankovic.

Baumann officially started his term of office in 2003, a position he held until his death.

Stankovic and Baumann worked with the NBA to increase the global popularity of the sport of basketball by promoting the game and increasing participation.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Patrick Baumann,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “We were just together for the first FIBA World Basketball Summit in Xian, China — an event he established to bring together basketball stakeholders from around the world.

“Nobody was more dedicated to the growth of basketball than Patrick.  He loved the game and recognized its power to transform people’s lives.  He was also a dear friend and colleague who I attended countless games and events with over the past 20 years.  The NBA family mourns the loss of Patrick and we send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Patricia, his children, Bianca and Paul, and his many friends in the basketball and Olympic communities.”

The NBA’s interaction with FIBA and Baumann also included countless efforts at all ages of national team and 3×3 basketball events with USA Basketball.

“USA Basketball joins the international basketball community in mourning the passing of FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann,” said a joint statement from USA Basketball Executive Director Jim Tooley and Martin Dempsey, the acting chairman of the national governing body. “Under his leadership, basketball continued to grow in popularity across the globe. He has been a champion of young athletes, and his adaptations of international competition has improved the quality, fairness, and safety of the game. Our thoughts are with his wife, his children and his entire family. He will be missed.”

Baumann had an impressive educational background, including an MBA from the Business School of the University of Chicago, a Masters in Sports Administration Management from the University of Lyon in France and a law degree from the University of Lausanne.

Mr Baumann became a member of the IOC in 2007. He was a member of the IOC Evaluation Commissions for the Olympic Games 2008 and 2020, a member of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games 2012, chairman of the Evaluation Commission and Vice-Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games 2024. He was also appointed Chairman of the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games 2028 and was a member of various other IOC Commissions.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “This is a great shock which has hit us all very hard. We can hardly believe this terrible news. Particularly since, even today, we have seen him working hard, as we always knew him, for the sport he loved. We lose a young and sympathetic leader full of hope who was standing for the future of sport. Our thoughts are with his wife, his children and his family.”

To honor the memory of Mr Baumann, the IOC President asked for the Olympic flag to be flown at half-mast at the IOC Headquarters and at the IOC Headquarters at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires for three days. The IOC will also hold a memorial in the Youth Olympic Village.

Mr Baumann was appointed to the International Advisory Board of the World Academy of Sport in 2009. He was a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) since 2010 and was elected as a Council member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) in 2011 and re-elected in 2015. He was also serving as a member of the Executive Committee and the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

He was the President of the 2020 Lausanne Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee and, in 2016, was elected President of GAISF, formerly SportAccord, for the 2016-2020 term and President of SportAccord, former SportAccord Convention, in 2017.

Habs and Hab-Nots

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MONTREAL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – If the NBA decides to expand, organizers in Montreal wants the league to look north of the border. A Quebec business group led by former federal cabinet minister and senator Michael Fortier has spoken with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Fortier told reporters.

“Although the NBA and its commissioner have made it clear to us that they currently have no plans to expand the league, we have taken the decision to prepare for when expansion does take place, because we believe it will take place,” Fortier said.

The group has been meeting with potential Canadian and foreign investors to arrange financing. Fortier estimated the cost at between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in U.S. dollars, but said no public funding would be required.

According to Fortier, Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson is open to the idea of an NBA team playing at the Bell Centre.

The NBA currently has 30 teams, 15 teams in the Eastern and Western conferences. The league last expanded in 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Hornets) joined.

Seattle, which saw its SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City in 2008, has long been considered the favorite for future expansion. Other cities expressing interest include Louisville, Mexico City, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, San Diego and Kansas City.

–Field Level Media

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