Blogs | Sports Business Radio

Hollywood Screenwriter Mike Rich Joins Me on SBR This Weekend to Discuss "Secretariat" and Moviemaking

30 September, 2010 by Brian Berger

If you enjoy movies like I do, you won't want to miss my in-depth conversation this weekend with one of the hottest screenwriters in all of Hollywood - Mike Rich. We'll discuss Mike's new movie Disney's "Secretariat" (watch trailer here), which opens in theaters on October 8th about the 1973 Triple Crown winner.

Rays Fans: What's Your Problem?

30 September, 2010 by Tim Lemke

There are some very valid reasons why some baseball teams don’t draw big crowds. Poor play is probably the most valid excuse, but many franchises also have to deal with small markets, bad local economies, unattractive ballparks and competition from other teams and entertainment outlets. It’s easy to understand the small crowds in Pittsburgh and Kansas City. One can appreciate the challenge of generating big attendance for Orioles or Marlins games. Even the lackluster attendance in Washington is somewhat understandable.

The case of the Tampa Bay Rays, who rank 22nd in the league with just 23,000 fans per game, is much more baffling.

The Real Concern in College Athletics

23 September, 2010 by Jared Melzer

I really had no intention to write about college athletics, but last week I came upon an alarming statistic:

In the six years that Urban Meyer has been head football coach at the University of Florida, 27 different collegiate football players (or should I say student-athletes?) have been arrested, with a grand total of 30 arrests.

So while I get that the Reggie Bush-Heisman Trophy-USC-Pete Carroll story is interesting, sells papers, gets the clicks, calls into question USC's football history and starts the "Is USC a dirty program?" debate, I'm a bit more concerned and troubled by the statistic mentioned above.

The Yankees and Jeter: Just Pay the Man

21 September, 2010 by Tim Lemke

The New York Yankees do a number of things well. They win games. They pull in a lot of revenue. And they do a superb job of embracing tradition.

Yes, there is an arrogance to how the Yankees carry themselves as an organization, reminding people of their 27 championships whenever they can. But they also do a good job of taking care of the legendary players from the past. For the Yankees organization, it is not enough for players to feel honored to play in that pinstripe uniform. They must also feel honored to have played for the Yankees. No team has more old-timers days. No team incorporates their past players in events like they do.

Which brings us to the case of Derek Jeter. At the end of this season, Jeter will have nearly 3,000 hits. He'll have nearly 240 home runs. He'll have a career batting average well over .300. He will also be a free agent.

SBR Host Brian Berger Discusses Potential Work Stoppages in the NFL and NBA on NBC Portland

20 September, 2010 by Brian Berger

I made an appearance on NBC-TV in Portland (KGW) last night to discuss potential work stoppages in the NFL and NBA. I also chatted about the much anticipated debut of Major League Soccer in Portland in 2011. To watch my interview, click here.

Meet MLS Commissioner Garber - Special Offer for Portland Timbers Season Ticket Holders

18 September, 2010 by Brian Berger

This Tuesday, September 21st we'll once again team with the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center to host the next installment of our Sports Executive Speaker Series. Our featured guest will be Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber. The event will take place from 11:30am - 1:00pm at the Multnomah Athletic Club and includes lunch. If you're a Portland Timbers season ticket holder, and you'd like to get up close and personal with the Commish, we have a special ticket offer for you. Click here to see the offer and register. The offer expires ends at midnight on 9/19 so get your half priced tickets quickly. Hope to see you on Tuesday!

Ines Sainz Controversy - Should She Have Received a Media Credential in the First Place?

15 September, 2010 by Brian Berger

Obviously the story with the New York Jets alleged mistreatment of TV Azteca reporter Ines Sainz has generated lots of conversation this week. But is the conversation rooted in the right place? It goes without saying that male and female journalists should be treated respectfully and with equal access. But the gender equality story isn't the only story here. There's also the story that the line between "journalist" and "sensationalist fame seeker" posing as a "media member" is becoming more and more blurred by the day.

It used to be that journalists broke news and reported the news. Now there are many people posing as journalists who are simply trying to enhance their own personal brand. They want to BE the story instead of covering the story.

American Express Serves Sponsorship Ace at U.S. Open

14 September, 2010 by Jared Melzer

When we talk about long-term partnerships, you don’t need to look much further than American Express’ 17 year partnership with the United States Tennis Open. In struggling economic times when we often see companies cutting back on sponsorship programs, American Express has continued to see the value of partnering with USA’s Tennis Grand Slam event, which in 2009 saw a tournament record 721,059 pass through the turnstiles over the course of 26 sessions. Maybe even more impressive, net sponsorship revenue increased 6% according to the United States Tennis Association, which secured new partnerships with Esurance, Starwood Hotels, Mercedes Benz and Panasonic.

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber in Portland on 9/21 for Sports Executive Speaker Series Event

13 September, 2010 by Brian Berger

Sports Business Radio and the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon will feature Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber as the guest for their Sept. 21 Sports Executive Speaker Series event in Portland.

The series features an interview before a live audience with a key decision maker from the world of sports by Sports Business Radio host Brian Berger and Warsaw Sports Marketing Center managing director Paul Swangard. The series launched in February and has featured candid conversations with Portland Trail Blazers President Larry Miller and Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott.

For NFL Players, Social Media Hits Hard

10 September, 2010 by Chris Mike

If you’re a player in the NFL today you are painfully aware that average career span in the league is only 3.5 years. With such a short amount of time to be suiting up on Sundays, players are focused on making the most of every snap. And rightfully so, a player’s performance on the field will be the key factor in determining how much he can earn in those 3.5 years. But there is another area that professional football players are focused on these days. An area that may help them earn long after their days on the gridiron are over. We’re talking about the field of social media, which can be just as competitive and hard hitting as the NFL. It’s an arena where just like a vicious clothesline tackle; one ill-conceived tweet or Facebook post can end a career (remember Kansas City Chief running back Larry Johnson anyone?)