Yeah, both knowledgeable enough to get good questions out to two guys who really know the business side of sports/sports media, but also both Witty and Pablo know when to keep things moving. I think Dan is a fantastic interviewer one-on-one, really knowing how to dig deep, make a personal emotional connection, and get super private stuff out about his subjects, even the usual stonewalls. But as a moderator he’s not as good. He’ll linger too long, try to coax more out of these guys than is actually there, etc. You see it on the regular show too, he’s herding cats and it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. He occasionally becomes the teacher that calls on the quiet kid, usually Jess (who I like, btw). But Jess doesn’t always have something to add. That’s fine! Let her be Roy, chiming in when necessary. Not everybody needs to be Mike or even Billy and Chris, who can at least riff if you need a tight five.
You'd think getting this dynamic away from Disney would decrease the likelihood of being talked to as if the United States, via their corporations and a military that is present in approximately 150 countries, is the the number one with a bullet contributer to climate change.
Even when Pablo is doing his show out of NY, please find a way for him to moderate these. When David is asked to drive it becomes Nothing Personal with special guest John Skipper, this is better.
I’m glad I am watching content like this. Would ESPN and FS1 talk about this? Of course not! I think Pablo hit the nail on the head. Principles and ethics are so easy to sell off because it happens every day at all levels of life. How is a working stuff like me going to say no to a billion dollars? Crying and gripping my pups, that’s how. In death, money will get you a nice coffin, but principles will at least get you an obituary that won’t have people judging you when you are gone.
I always enjoy u guy's sports business segments David & John & with Pablo hosting it's the cherry on top for me..I love the James Brown reference John lol. Great show gentlemen
🙌.. We all love these episodes, obviously, regardless of format.. Pablo being in the moderator seat, hadn't even crossed my mind, but now that we've gotten it, I can honestly say, you have found your perfect lineup 👏
Loved this but need to say John was way off in terms of comparing the Saudi league and mls. The average player is def a higher level in mls but the best teams are comparable especially now. We have one league showing us they are willing to spend, especially a few teams and another doing the opposite outside of Messi and is essentially a selling league despite a population that is massively larger. Also in terms of valuations I think one thing missed here is the security of a lack of relegation and how that boosts the valuations of mls teams.
Someone can definitely spend a trillion dollars. You wouldn’t buy houses or high-end cars but billion dollar businesses! Even if you spend it all (likely on appreciating assets), you would be richer! Absolutely crazy.
You guys need to focus more on what drives the valuation of the franchises - combination of some multiple of future profit + goodwill + etc. I keep hearing all the "benefit" is tied to the valuation of a team if sold. Isn't there a risk of valuations decreasing at some point as buyer pool decreases and buyers decide "why bother" at some point?
....like....these aren't private equity firms that invest, its a country. They don't follow the same rules in finance that we in the west do. Just look at the 4 Saudi teams being sanctioned for not paying transfer fees and wages or how Man City get away with Fincial Fair Play cause their main sponsors are also owned by the Saudi gov so its hard to follow the money. The US goverment isn't buying 5 percent of Manchester United. The cap has kept MLS financially safe but now its time to open it up. MLS to MLS buying of players like in other leagues, a bigger salary cap, getting rid of DP spots and letting teams pay big bame players. Sorry, im ranting and have to much to say. And yes the Prem model is not financially sustainable, the athletic wrote something about it. Fantastic pod man. Wish i was in this room chiming in!!!
Most if not all available rankings for global leagues have MLS between 8-16. So on average I would put it around 12.. Which isn't bad at all considering how young the league is and how hard the logistics are compared to their European counterparts.
For MLS, you guys are missing the transfer fees that the league and teams get when they develop young American and international players and then sell off for major fees. That is a big chunk of their revenue.
They have a salary cap. They can spend on 3 outside players outside of that cap. They cant build like the top teams in Europe. But it still helps with parity in the league. In Europe they dont have salary caps.
Forget sports washing. The Saudi PIF has the money to invest and they believe the rate of increase in franchise valuation will exceed rate of return on other investments. Yassir works for MBS. It's not about Yassir.
Bad conversation about the MLS they missed some fundamental things A. Once a lot of the top European guys heva either topped the European game or given up on it they want to move here (not for Saudi money, but someone like Griezmann can’t stay out of the US when he has a break) so i think they will be coming sooner then 34-38 in their careers. B. MLS already has tried to get multiple young players for the same money look at ATL united Thiago Almada is not the next Messi but hes a damn good creator and will play at a major club similar to Miggy Almiron but probably better
There isn’t a “Big 4.” There are only three widely popular sports in the U.S. Every other sport has a niche market, even if it’s a large one. The odds seem against soccer going mainstream anytime soon. There are no major American (male) stars. There are no top American teams. The games are extremely long and there is very little scoring. Those seems like enormous hurdles to clear in the U.S. market.
Tell me you don't know what you're talking about without telling me you don't know what you're talking about.. There are major male American stars. They just play in Europe.. They aren't global superstars but they are stars. Secondly, the games aren't long. They are around 100 minutes (90+stoppage) with no commercials... It takes about half as long as an NFL or MLB game. Scoring wise... Hate to break it to you.. but 21-7 is literally 3-1... and games get higher scoring than that on average. Lastly every market is technically a "niche" market except for gridiron and even they lose to teams.. Shit 3 franchises moved in one season just a few years ago.. NBA has lost teams to markets across the league and almost folded in the 70's.. Also, remember that it wasn't until the MLB's lockout where the NFL became America's #1 sport. Demographics change throughout different generations. There is no indication that MLS will stop growing and there is no reason to think that it will lose any sort of popularity, considering what it is doing as the 9th best league in the world... It's the worlds biggest sport and with the internet, the sports growth, and youth opportunities, there is now an actual path to play professionally. There was no such easy path 15+ years ago.... In fact you almost HAD to give it up. Let's not also forget that many of the stars in our own sports are now not even US nationals... The MLB and NBA is loaded with overseas talent.. I see no reason why soccer can not share a seat as one of the top major sports in the next 10-20 years. Just wait till World Cup comes to the US..
Basically, if you were selling a business and I was buying it, you'd have to show me every part of your books and all the inner workings of the business.
13:30 If some oil-based investment fund buys tennis or any sport, will women still be allowed to play? Would they be able to be leaders in their sports management? Would the investment funds demand women go back to the kitchen and have babies and nothing else? That's how they treat women from their own countries, why would we expect them to be different here?
Regarding MLS and it's "status" and where it can reside with X investment, I would suggest that there is an easier and probably cheaper route for MLS: get into UCL. Entry into UCL allows MLS to live the dream. USSF and MLS should be moving heaven and earth to join UEFA. The television rights to UCL in the US market when there are MLS clubs participating in it? Whoo-boy! It's probably just short of NFL rights. That's it. US would be a Top 2 sports country. Game over for even NBA.
Really disappointed by the conversation on MLS. Doesn't seem like a lot of research was done and some lazy comparisons to minor league baseball were just absurd
Samson talking morality always makes me laugh considering his voting record. And Skipper is great but doesn’t really know soccer if he thinks MLS is a top 8 global league considering there’s at least 7 in europe and at least two in south america, and that’s only talking top flight. mls is more equivalent to a second or third tier league on the european continent in terms of level of play
Love Samsons inferiority complex when it comes to MLB. Constantly needs to play down other sports leagues when in reality those sports are climbing and less people are watching the MLB
What's the difference between taking money offered from Saudia Arabia & giving weapons & billions to Israel annually? It's not like Israel is a moral country.
Ahh so u see the islamapobio leaking out of Pablo n Samson too. Israel is a champion in human rights when they're not slaughtering babies I guess which is everyday
So you like backing up Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Jihad terrorists that are trying to spread terror and no human rights in the middle east region and in other places around world? That sure sums up your character that is not so moral when it comes to understanding reality.
Sportwashing is such a dramatic term for something that in this day and age, if really a non issue....where does the fuel for your car come from? Fuel or the trucks and ships transporting the goods in your office. Your Gov't (and about every Gov't) does business with them. And the NBA and China was a great example. People will get all upset, but not look any deeper than skin deep in the topic. Something to be upset about. Companies, people, Gov't do business with people they wouldn't want as a friend ALL THE TIME. Get over it, people. And it's not "the downfall" in anything - except the idealist views. It's fact. Reality.
What are the negatives of sports washing? I never really understand it. The government will suck regardless. Idk why we need to isolate from a country based on views. Sports brings ppl together. I’m gay, I was too young to remember 911, but I remember when gay marriage was legalized in the USA. laughable that any American would be against competing in another country due to human rights violations.
@@michaeldemarco2415 He is kinda monotone, especially compared to the rest of the crew. And it doesn't help that every statement he makes comes loaded with a preamble and epilogue.
So we should ALL be in agreement that Pablo will be the steady regular moderator of "Skipper & Samson" 💜💜💜
I was a Pablo guy until High Noon. Still not a feeling Pablo like that. But this is a great fit.
Please do this more. Pablo is such a great mediator because he can follow and challenge the responses well.
Agreed. Much better moderator than Dan or Mike
💯 Pablo should be the the regular moderator/point guard of this show. It's the best version of this FANTASTIC content. 👍🏾
@@raphaelarmand9058acczaczaczzacczpz
One of many reasons why Pablo is a valuable asset to the show not to mention a funny guy who fits in well with the jokes and etc of the show.
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT when Skipper and Samson get together. It is always good, but it is much better with a moderator. Witty was good and so is Pablo
Yeah, both knowledgeable enough to get good questions out to two guys who really know the business side of sports/sports media, but also both Witty and Pablo know when to keep things moving. I think Dan is a fantastic interviewer one-on-one, really knowing how to dig deep, make a personal emotional connection, and get super private stuff out about his subjects, even the usual stonewalls. But as a moderator he’s not as good. He’ll linger too long, try to coax more out of these guys than is actually there, etc. You see it on the regular show too, he’s herding cats and it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. He occasionally becomes the teacher that calls on the quiet kid, usually Jess (who I like, btw). But Jess doesn’t always have something to add. That’s fine! Let her be Roy, chiming in when necessary. Not everybody needs to be Mike or even Billy and Chris, who can at least riff if you need a tight five.
You'd think getting this dynamic away from Disney would decrease the likelihood of being talked to as if the United States, via their corporations and a military that is present in approximately 150 countries, is the the number one with a bullet contributer to climate change.
Even when Pablo is doing his show out of NY, please find a way for him to moderate these. When David is asked to drive it becomes Nothing Personal with special guest John Skipper, this is better.
I’m glad I am watching content like this. Would ESPN and FS1 talk about this? Of course not! I think Pablo hit the nail on the head. Principles and ethics are so easy to sell off because it happens every day at all levels of life. How is a working stuff like me going to say no to a billion dollars? Crying and gripping my pups, that’s how. In death, money will get you a nice coffin, but principles will at least get you an obituary that won’t have people judging you when you are gone.
Pablo is who we have been waiting for to join Meadowlark!
Smart.
Funny.
Stoned.
I always enjoy u guy's sports business segments David & John & with Pablo hosting it's the cherry on top for me..I love the James Brown reference John lol. Great show gentlemen
🙌.. We all love these episodes, obviously, regardless of format.. Pablo being in the moderator seat, hadn't even crossed my mind, but now that we've gotten it, I can honestly say, you have found your perfect lineup 👏
Thank you! I was afraid that these went away with Witty. Master class discussion.
Pablo great addition here
Glad this is back. 👍🏾👍🏾
Samson has grown on me. He is such a great villain
Still the northern Sahara over here 😆 it's just a no. I don't hate him. He's just not my get down
Great content. Very informative and such a different perspective from the mainstream sports networks.
Great show. Anytime John Skipper talks, I listen.
This was awesome, thank you gentlemen.
Side note: he kill’s people. Was an unintentionally hilarious line by David
Hopefully Pablo does these
3 of my favorite Lebatard/Meadowlark Media folks,,excellent show gentlemen.
Prices Right bid for morality. Great summary Pablo exactly why they brought you on the pirate ship!
I accidentally watched the whole thing. Just lovely
Nothing says "I'm a southern liberal" like those glasses Skipper wears.
Not a half billion
A half TRILLION
As John said, you couldn't spend that much money even if was your job was to spend money
Sooooo good 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Pablo is a perfect guest.....Don Skip! 🙌
This was really good! Two thumbs up!
This is a much better discussion with someone to moderate it.
Loved this but need to say John was way off in terms of comparing the Saudi league and mls.
The average player is def a higher level in mls but the best teams are comparable especially now.
We have one league showing us they are willing to spend, especially a few teams and another doing the opposite outside of Messi and is essentially a selling league despite a population that is massively larger.
Also in terms of valuations I think one thing missed here is the security of a lack of relegation and how that boosts the valuations of mls teams.
Now I need a pod where David just learns the roster construction rules for MLS....wait until he hears about GAM 😂
Someone can definitely spend a trillion dollars. You wouldn’t buy houses or high-end cars but billion dollar businesses! Even if you spend it all (likely on appreciating assets), you would be richer! Absolutely crazy.
You guys need to focus more on what drives the valuation of the franchises - combination of some multiple of future profit + goodwill + etc. I keep hearing all the "benefit" is tied to the valuation of a team if sold. Isn't there a risk of valuations decreasing at some point as buyer pool decreases and buyers decide "why bother" at some point?
....like....these aren't private equity firms that invest, its a country. They don't follow the same rules in finance that we in the west do. Just look at the 4 Saudi teams being sanctioned for not paying transfer fees and wages or how Man City get away with Fincial Fair Play cause their main sponsors are also owned by the Saudi gov so its hard to follow the money. The US goverment isn't buying 5 percent of Manchester United. The cap has kept MLS financially safe but now its time to open it up. MLS to MLS buying of players like in other leagues, a bigger salary cap, getting rid of DP spots and letting teams pay big bame players. Sorry, im ranting and have to much to say. And yes the Prem model is not financially sustainable, the athletic wrote something about it. Fantastic pod man. Wish i was in this room chiming in!!!
Skipper saying MLS is 6,7, or 8 in terms of quality is preposterous.
Top to bottom....7 or 8 would be ok. There's forced parity. Leagues like Portugal have a couple REALLY good teams and the rest are trash.
@@tr_vmi4844competition and parity doesn’t equal quality
Most if not all available rankings for global leagues have MLS between 8-16. So on average I would put it around 12.. Which isn't bad at all considering how young the league is and how hard the logistics are compared to their European counterparts.
@@_Jake.From.Statefarm_15
"kimono-opening" LOL
Pablo this was brillant mate
Skipper it was actually Ted Dibiase that said Everybodys got a Price. Easy mistake to make.
"The Million Dollar Man, Dan-o!" - Stugotz
MLS are more like triple A. They're not losing money.
For MLS, you guys are missing the transfer fees that the league and teams get when they develop young American and international players and then sell off for major fees. That is a big chunk of their revenue.
They have a salary cap. They can spend on 3 outside players outside of that cap. They cant build like the top teams in Europe. But it still helps with parity in the league. In Europe they dont have salary caps.
Did Pablo get let go from ESPN
"Side note he kills people "😂
Side note he kills people 😂😂😂😂
When Skipper says deficit when he means debt…and 2% doesn’t make any sense in both regards…I have questions.
It’s a tradition like no other 😂😂😂
Forget sports washing. The Saudi PIF has the money to invest and they believe the rate of increase in franchise valuation will exceed rate of return on other investments. Yassir works for MBS. It's not about Yassir.
Where is God bless Miami?
Bad conversation about the MLS they missed some fundamental things A. Once a lot of the top European guys heva either topped the European game or given up on it they want to move here (not for Saudi money, but someone like Griezmann can’t stay out of the US when he has a break) so i think they will be coming sooner then 34-38 in their careers. B. MLS already has tried to get multiple young players for the same money look at ATL united Thiago Almada is not the next Messi but hes a damn good creator and will play at a major club similar to Miggy Almiron but probably better
There isn’t a “Big 4.” There are only three widely popular sports in the U.S. Every other sport has a niche market, even if it’s a large one. The odds seem against soccer going mainstream anytime soon. There are no major American (male) stars. There are no top American teams. The games are extremely long and there is very little scoring. Those seems like enormous hurdles to clear in the U.S. market.
It might be big 2 NFL and NBA
Tell me you don't know what you're talking about without telling me you don't know what you're talking about.. There are major male American stars. They just play in Europe.. They aren't global superstars but they are stars. Secondly, the games aren't long. They are around 100 minutes (90+stoppage) with no commercials... It takes about half as long as an NFL or MLB game. Scoring wise... Hate to break it to you.. but 21-7 is literally 3-1... and games get higher scoring than that on average. Lastly every market is technically a "niche" market except for gridiron and even they lose to teams.. Shit 3 franchises moved in one season just a few years ago.. NBA has lost teams to markets across the league and almost folded in the 70's.. Also, remember that it wasn't until the MLB's lockout where the NFL became America's #1 sport. Demographics change throughout different generations. There is no indication that MLS will stop growing and there is no reason to think that it will lose any sort of popularity, considering what it is doing as the 9th best league in the world... It's the worlds biggest sport and with the internet, the sports growth, and youth opportunities, there is now an actual path to play professionally. There was no such easy path 15+ years ago.... In fact you almost HAD to give it up. Let's not also forget that many of the stars in our own sports are now not even US nationals... The MLB and NBA is loaded with overseas talent.. I see no reason why soccer can not share a seat as one of the top major sports in the next 10-20 years. Just wait till World Cup comes to the US..
Kimono opening??
Basically, if you were selling a business and I was buying it, you'd have to show me every part of your books and all the inner workings of the business.
Pablo is the worst.
I enjoy a good kimono opening...that's what I told her lol
13:30 If some oil-based investment fund buys tennis or any sport, will women still be allowed to play? Would they be able to be leaders in their sports management? Would the investment funds demand women go back to the kitchen and have babies and nothing else? That's how they treat women from their own countries, why would we expect them to be different here?
In Tennis The Money is clean.
Regarding MLS and it's "status" and where it can reside with X investment, I would suggest that there is an easier and probably cheaper route for MLS: get into UCL. Entry into UCL allows MLS to live the dream. USSF and MLS should be moving heaven and earth to join UEFA. The television rights to UCL in the US market when there are MLS clubs participating in it? Whoo-boy! It's probably just short of NFL rights. That's it. US would be a Top 2 sports country. Game over for even NBA.
mls to join uefa?? omg, i just have to laugh at this.
Really disappointed by the conversation on MLS. Doesn't seem like a lot of research was done and some lazy comparisons to minor league baseball were just absurd
because americans dont get or understand, sport of football, they see it as traveling circus
I loved this episode so much! Pablo did a great job at giving skip a chance to speak and not let David cut him off. Although I do love me some David!
Samson talking morality always makes me laugh considering his voting record. And Skipper is great but doesn’t really know soccer if he thinks MLS is a top 8 global league considering there’s at least 7 in europe and at least two in south america, and that’s only talking top flight. mls is more equivalent to a second or third tier league on the european continent in terms of level of play
MLS is horrible, no one takes this league seriously.
@@kem1233not true it's just not top ten yet
Love Samsons inferiority complex when it comes to MLB. Constantly needs to play down other sports leagues when in reality those sports are climbing and less people are watching the MLB
WHERE IS #BECAUSEMIAMI??
I disagree with John Skipper, Messi and Sergio will make Miami a top 6 team.
mls is horrible.
“Double A” is such an ignorant take. This isn’t other sports where there’s only 1 good league in the world
What's the difference between taking money offered from Saudia Arabia & giving weapons & billions to Israel annually? It's not like Israel is a moral country.
Ahh so u see the islamapobio leaking out of Pablo n Samson too. Israel is a champion in human rights when they're not slaughtering babies I guess which is everyday
So you like backing up Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Jihad terrorists that are trying to spread terror and no human rights in the middle east region and in other places around world? That sure sums up your character that is not so moral when it comes to understanding reality.
woohoo!
This skipper guys stories around Manhattan is legendary. Guy loves prostitutes. Absolutely obsessed.
Damn son
Side note he kills people
Sportwashing is such a dramatic term for something that in this day and age, if really a non issue....where does the fuel for your car come from? Fuel or the trucks and ships transporting the goods in your office. Your Gov't (and about every Gov't) does business with them. And the NBA and China was a great example. People will get all upset, but not look any deeper than skin deep in the topic. Something to be upset about. Companies, people, Gov't do business with people they wouldn't want as a friend ALL THE TIME. Get over it, people. And it's not "the downfall" in anything - except the idealist views. It's fact. Reality.
Bobby Riggs threw the match. He was in debt to the mob for past gambling loses.
What are the negatives of sports washing? I never really understand it.
The government will suck regardless. Idk why we need to isolate from a country based on views. Sports brings ppl together.
I’m gay, I was too young to remember 911, but I remember when gay marriage was legalized in the USA.
laughable that any American would be against competing in another country due to human rights violations.
Pablo was not necessary to this discussion. Yes, I want more Sampson and Skipper, but less pablo
If he's the host so be it
Hunh Pablo is somewhat annoying. His vocal affect.
I don't really care. I've been contributing to the Saudi fund most of my life.
Same, and sooner people realize that they've been doing the same for decades they'll find out that they don't really care either
Dude had me til he condemned Saudis for oil and climate change instead of them violating human rights. What a dork.
too much Pablo. hes too monotone, same energy for everthing. i like these when they are Skip and Samson only.
If you don't like him then fine, just say that. But he is anything but monotone.
@@michaeldemarco2415 He is kinda monotone, especially compared to the rest of the crew. And it doesn't help that every statement he makes comes loaded with a preamble and epilogue.