Monday, August 7, Hour 2

Streaming live. I mean, I heart radio AM. This is I on the Ball with Steve Ribera and Jay Gonzalez on Box Sports fourteen fifty. Hey, welcome back to I on the Ball here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. I'm Steve rob here. Jagon's all's good stuff with John probably gets stuck good. We had to do Tuesday, and you know, John was you know, John was one of the people who was kind of plugged in as much

as anybody. He's the guy who broke the US play USC thing when that broke, So you know, it was good to get all of his perspective over. You know, thirteen months of stuff right right, No, a lot of stuff, and it's to be continued because although Arizona's not involved, it's Pack four. And I just saw Stanford doesn't want to get into the Big twelve. They're poop poo and I think they want to give the Big Pai. Yeah, so there and then uh uh the cal who knows what's

gonna happen to them? And then I think the obvious two are gonna go merge with the mountain. The mountain with them, right, so we'll see. I think his point to the Washington State as much as you are good at what you do right and overachieving. Yeah, it's not good enough sometimes, Yeah, sometimes you know you could be you could be the good the best dude in the room, the best dude, and treat people right. If the girls don't want you, they don't want You're not gonna ask you

to dance. You're not gonna dance. You're not gonna dance. No, that's that's exactly it. Okay, we're gonna get to some more class. Let's go to some more uh, some more stuff from the from the news conference. We're not gonna take any calls right now. We'll beat you back probably on the other side of on the other side of Ryan done. We're gonna talk to Ryan Dunn, who runs a youth sports program that uh um, you know, they do after school stuff, they do summer stuff.

The school year is getting started so well, and he's leaving town this week. Whyding to get him on this week, but he's leaving town tomorrow. Why don't get a chance for him to talk about because as always, you know, Steve and I are big proponents of youth sports and just get your kids out playing in the yard. Man, not hanging out playing video games. We're gonna talk to Ryan, so we're gonna break away from the subject. But a lot more to a lot more to talk about regarding the from

the press conference today. You know, um again, the whole issue, one of the big hanging issues throughout the thing was what about a SU what about arising an SU? Yeah, they're gonna split up, Okay, and uh, well, but I have a question after this. Okay, all right, let me play that and then we'll uh, we'll we'll talk about that. So here's here's what the problems had to say about what the situation

was with ACU. This was something that I thought the two of us thought it was in the best interests of the state, uh form both of our universities, um, for the rivalry, for us to stay together. I mean, I watched what happened in Texas with Texas and uh um Texas A and M, and you saw Coach Gundry get pretty fired up at the press, you know, the media day for Big twelve about you know, Oklahoma made the decision to leave us and it you know, bedlam this year is

gonna be real badlum. Just to be the last one for a long time. I hope this they'll continue to play. We didn't want to get into a situation where, um, where we just kept the territorial cup forever because we got it. We wanted to stay together. But the regions, um, the regions were very supportive and and really like the fact that that we were in interacting so much. Oh that's the end of class. Okay. So so the question was asked about Arizona State in Arizona, but it wasn't

directly asked it and I didn't ask any questions. You would ask the question for us and were they married together? Were because we've got conflict in reports? Did they have to go together? Were they married together? Or was it all up to the border regions? I think they I think they wanted to go together, but they weren't gonna I if the Big twelve wasn't going

to take asu, Arizona was still going to go. That's what I thought, That's what yeah, But I was, Yeah, we should have asked clar We'll get them on the show again and ask him that question, because that was the biggest thing. Well, Arizona doesn't have to go without you know, you can go without them. Blah, blah blah. But it's good that they're gonna go with them because now everyone talks, not everyone. A lot of people talk Washington Washington State are separate or we're gonna We're gonna

stay separate. The rivalry is kind of like fizzle for a while, at least the one in Arizona. It's not right. He did talk about the fact that BYU and Utah are back together that man, I mean, that's gonna be mean. It's already used mean, yeah, exactly. Um. Again, another one of the questions was about, um, you know, when when did did did? Uh? Was Arizona in pretty serious talks with when did that start? With the Big twelve? And here's what he Here's

what Robins had to say. I would say over the last uh six months, Um, there have been there have been people reaching out who I have, you know, good relationships with UM and and I think I I only talked to our commission new commissioner uh one time. I think I at the Final four was the only time I remember actually sitting down and talking to him. And and I've been consistent in what I've said in the press. I can't think about entertaining an offer from the Big twelve. I don't even know

what our deal looks like. And I want to give that, uh my full attention and see what the deal looks like. And I think all the presidents and chancellors in the Pac twelve did that, and I think Oregon and Washington certainly did that. Uh. And at the end of the day, it was I think it was just not a strong enough deal for everybody to stick together with some unfortune. Okay, Um, there's that. So what else do we got? Okay, Well, there was a question who's to

blame? Yeah, right, you know who's to blame? Tough question that really, that's a tough question because there's so many people. Well that's but there's it's like a smoker's board of everybody. Yeah. Yeah, they're blaming all over the place. You blame the pact off for being dumb and the way they are, well the things that's all the money that this is one of the over over things that we talked about it. I'm not a very bright guy, but I don't work for university and we know people that do,

and I think they're smarter than they think. They're smarter than they are, right, because sometimes you overthink things, and here we are. They overthought it. They overthought it. They really did. Here's what you had to say if if people if people want to start blaming people, they're playing people to blame. You can make your own narrative, which many people have. Um But I think I think the no question that the media companies have

had a big influence on this. You know, I would love to see the day, uh when the university residents and chancellors at what a second, we're pretty smart here. Why don't we organize ourselves and we're in control. I don't see that happening for a while, but that would be the goal, right is is we would be the ones that we're engaging with the media companies to sell them something that was valued other than we're getting whipsald around and

moved here. I mean, I'm hoping we're going to be with the Big twelve for a long time, but we may be part of you know, Mega Conference United next So I don't think there's blame. I think everybody's doing what they think is in the best interest of their universities themselves. Media company. I mean, we had conversations with Apple, you know, I think Apple is one of the most innovative companies in the world, one of the

most successful companies in the world. But they had a business model also that they had to make money. They're they're not just investing money for the fun of it. They had to make money from it. So I understand it, but I don't I don't think there's there's blame. I think people if you want to go back to USC and UCLA, I can't fault them. They're they're trying to do what's best for their university. Um do I like it? No, I'm sad about it, but we all got to move

forward. So let me ask you a question. Jay. Over the last couple of days, we've saw this and and and it's the football team and the basketball team that drives this whole right engine, right, And we see tweets from the minor lead the lower They tell me the no, no, the lower sports though, oh yeah, the Olympics for tweets. Now, this is not a good deal. We're gonna miss the traut. You know, our parents can't see us. We chose here because it's close to the

family, Bubba, and we know that we had suffected. The travel is going to be a pain in the ass. Blah blah blah. So it's a catch twenty two for me and thinking that, Okay, you guys wouldn't probably exist if you didn't have football or basketball. But we acknowledge what you're saying right, well, you handle you kind of got a roll with it. You know, you do have to go with it, and there's nothing you can do about that. So they have ever write the bitch to complain.

Well, the option was if if if they didn't do this deal and they get a lesser deal and have less money, you might stare eliminating scholarships or anyone of a number. And that's a good point. And that's a good point. So survival is what it is these days. I want to play. This is a combination clip going back to the reason for the decision and then just kind of what it means, you know, for Arizona going

forward. This is both Robin's and Heike talking about that. I think after long and careful analysis of the deal combined with um, you know, the decisions that we all had to make making the best interests of our universe. Very obviously we were talking to UH President Crow and President Randall at Utah, and UH we just thought this was the best direction for us to move forward with UH. For UH. You know, the students here are fans,

our faculty and staff, and the state of Arizona. UM. We thought the future was going to be brighter UM being a member of the of the Big Twelve and all the UM opportunities that that afford us. I think they've been very aggressive. I like that. I think they're thinking about new ways to UM to highlight the conference. And I think our our students and UH coaches and staff will will appreciate that approach to college athletics UM. And you

know, it's it's not an all streaming deal UM. And and I think people, you know, certainly families who can't travel, I want to be able to see their UH, their their loved ones on TV. So I think it's a very exciting deal for us. You know, our intention all along us to see what the Pac twelve UM could pull together UM, what that deal might be UM. Ultimately, though, this is a you know, the environment in college athletics is moving quickly. It's changing. We've got

to be able to adapt. We need to make sure that we can UM put the university and our athletics program in a position to be nationally recognized, nationally competitive, to allow our student athletes to compete at the highest level. UM those those are critical to our athletic program. So when when I look at it, you know, it's about sustainability, it's about um stability, it's about guaranteed revenue planning. UM those are critical for having a balanced and

an appropriate athletic program. UM and and I think this grows our ability nationally. We are we have opportunities to be exposed in all the different time zones across the country we compete, you know, in a way coast to coast. I think it can really help our program grow as well. So UH

fans have the opportunity to be engaged at a whole different level. Finally, you know, we're on the platforms both linear and UH you know, direct to consumer opportunities that really allow our fans, our alumni, recruits parents to see this program at a very high level on a regular basis. So J another thing you hear David talking about that, you hear Robin's talking about the

visibility and the exposure. Wasn't the PAC ten, PAC twelve? What are those great conferences that people watched and people saw when did it lose its luster? Because if if this is going to give them more visibility, what were they just doing? They lost a lot of that. They lost a lot of that in the last TV deal because you couldn't get PACK twelve because where because you didn't have them on direct TV every all their great games were on

late at night. You know, PAC twelve after dark became a thing, but it also became a thorn in the side. You would hear talk show host say, while that game came on at ten o'clock my time, I

couldn't step and watch the whole thing. That it happened during this time of Larry Scott when the PAC twelve network didn't get the foothold that they thought it was going to get, and and that that's when the PAC twelve started losing its visibility and people, I mean half of half of do we talk about how you know, they were having trouble getting games and the teams and the NCL play tournaments, the various tournaments, whether it's baseball or softball or basketball

or whatever. They weren't getting the notoriety and the visibility that they felt they should deserve for a conference. It was in a lot of ways, every every bit as good as other conference. And the funny thing is they bring back to these things. The PAC twelve hasn't won a PAC twelve has not won to a tournament, a big tournament since Arizona one ninety seven. Right, they went to a couple with him in LA. They had football two thousand and four. Right, it's kind of like been a competitor, but

not a really good one. They've only ever had two teams in the playoffs. Yeah, the USC teams. Right, No, but you know what, since it went to a fourteen playoff, it's been Washington and then Washington Oregon the once it got in. Yeah, yeah, so you know, I mean that's what happens. Even I think that that's in the end. I think that's that's what I feel. This is gonna be good. From a from a visibility standpoint, people stop saying where's Arizona or where's you know,

where's the conference? You're in the Big twelve now and they're gonna be a part of all of that. Like everybody, do you think that you know? For years, so now we have legal time. For years, Arizona and Arizona State got confused, got confused. People from I you think it's gonna be a renewed of that confusion. I think, I think,

I think more people will be aware. I really have the difference of the difference because they'll see them more often because a lot of people, a lot of people in the East Coast, they don't even know the PAC twelve existed. Hey, they don't even know your Mexicools the state exactly. All right, let's take our Breakcorad and come back, Ryan Dune. It's gonna talk about his the youth sports programs. We wanted to break away from the subject

for a little bit. Then we'll be back. We'll maybe play a little bit more of the got a couple more clips from left from the riot, from their press conference, and some stuff from Tommy Lloyd today as they get

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surgery. I I'm a mom. Hey, welcome back to I on the Ball. Here old Fox Sports fourteen fifty Steve Rivera, He's Jay Gonzales. Knowing the phone, we have Ryan Dunne from TGA Premier Sports. Ryan, how are you doing good? How you guys doing? Thanks for having me. We figured who better to get us off the twelve talk just into sports is Ryan. I was just gonna say, are you sure you guys won't want to happen me on today? All this realignments talk? We need a

break, Ryan, We need a break. Got uh you know, well you know we talked. I mean we spent the whole time talking about on Saturday golfing, right, I mean it was like the only the only conversation we had except for you know how you know what's the number, but um, you know, we we've had you on before talking about your your program. You're come, You're come, it's a company, but you do you do have these uh school programs where you know, parents can you know,

sign up their kids for different sports. So just give us a basic overview of what you guys do and how you go about this. Yeah, sure, so, yeah, basically our company, you hit the nail on the head. Big portion of our company is we do after school sports at the actual elementary schools and middle schools. So we go out, we provide sports programs. We offer golf, tennis, cheerleading, flag football, floor hockey,

ultimate frisbee, volleyball or some of the sports that we offer. And yeah, we offer um you know, usually they're about six to eight week sessions and we have coaches that go out and teach these classes. Usually the classes are once a week for like I said, that six to eight week session and then really they're getting introduced to sports. And the nice thing about it is is, um, well, a couple of things, We bring

all the equipment out so the parents don't have to buy any equipment. And then the other thing is that they get to keep them at school for an extra hour after school's over, so for the parents at work and I can't quite get there right after school's over, we're there to provide the sports program and keep them at school for an extra hour or hour and a half. I know you're just in your second or third year. What are you in? This is a year two? How how much have you grown? Because

it seems like it's a very popular situation. It is. We've we've grown a lot. We've added some new schools this year. I think we've got about a half dozen new schools at least that we're adding into the mix for this quarter here in the fall session. So yeah, it's definitely grown a lot, even our summer camps, so we got camps to go on when school's not in session, and our summer camps grew quite quite a bit from last year. So yeah, we're real happy with where it's gone so far.

Yeah, we were talking about how, you know, how busy you guys have been even even this summer because you got summer programs as well. But you know, how do you go about getting the school or how does the school come a part of this? Yeah, a couple of different ways. Number One, we kind of reach out to schools that we think fit

uh kind of in our area best. And then number two, we get a lot of schools that have grant funds from the state that you know, for whatever reason, it may be a low performing school and they think sports would be a good uh fit to help these kids, you know, maybe boost their confidence, boost their self steam provides something extra that they don't get normally. So we get some of those schools as well, So a couple

of different models. But you know, really for us, those those grant schools are really nice because the kids really enjoy the programs quite a bit, and it's fun kind of seeing them succeed. I when Jay said you're you're coming and saying, oh, man, I missed my opportunity because I told you less wanted to do this. You know what, little kid doesn't want to learn how to pull the ball or in my case, not pull the ball in the right direction. So anybody can anybody can kind of do this,

right? Oh yeah, for sure? Yeah. I mean, you know, we look for people that have a sports background, that that are good with kids, that want to coach, maybe have had some coaching experience before. But really we provide all the curriculum start, all of our coaches for all the sports that we offer. So really, if you if you can pay attention and you're good with kids, um, you know, yeah

we can we can put somebody to work. Now, now this requires a lot of you know help, right, you got you got you got people who who can coach, who can handle kids. Um, how do you go about getting those people to go out and be a part of this, because you know, not just anybody can you know, can coach a sport or whatever? Yeah, no question, Yeah, I mean it takes. Uh, it's a long process. I mean we post lots of jobs throughout the year and um, you know, we we vet the people. They

have to go through a background check. Um, you know, that's that's the main thing. But you know, really, you know, we bring them in and we don't kind of us. We don't usually throw them into the fire. We when we hire somebody, we usually try to bring them on as an assistant coach. So they're helping out at a school, they're helping a head coach out, they're not really running the show, so they

at least get a taste of how everything runs. And uh, I think it really helps them out in the long run because after they see it for a couple two three weeks and they realize what they're getting into, and they can then be promoted to a head coach and kind of run their own programs. Yeah, it sounds a lot of fun and ages ages these kids are,

what are the age? Yeah, and mostly we're mostly in elementary school, so usually K through five, but we have been in some middle schools as well, so um, you know we're in a handful of middle school so yeah, really it's just an elementary and middle school. So uh, if you if you if this is offered at your school, Okay, just walk us through signing up. You know how you know, you pick a sport that you want your kid to be a part of. I'm looking at

your I'm looking at you your website. It's they've been ton of visit you offer cheer, golf, tennis, floor hockey. What does you know? What do you get for however much money you put into something like this? Yeah? So typically, um, the schools that we're at or the parents would register their kids. Uh and and really the kids have to be enrolled at that school, so you can't sign your kid up and you know your your kid goes to a school that's that we're not affiliated with. You can't

do that unless you get prior proofer from the school. UM. Typically the schools will will only want they're enrolled students to sign up for that particular program. UM. But yeah, all of our programs are on our website. UM. You know, if say a person wants to sign their kid up for flag football and we offered flag football classes that they'll pay for typically six to eight weeks of classes, kind of depending on how the schedule works.

And usually at most schools will offer We'll be at a particular school two to three days a week, and we may offer something different for three days a week, so they can sign up for three different sports if they want to, or you know, sign up for one and sign up for something next session of classes. I know we've had you on before, but how did this thing start? Like, what was y'all moment that you figured, hey,

this might work. Well, it was a previous previous owner that had been here in Tucson for for quite a while and they were looking to retire and the business was for sale, and we kind of looked into it some and you know, it seemed like there was a good opportunity to grow it because I think they were in the phase of their career where they were kind of looking to settle down a little bit, so they weren't looking to grow a ton, and so when we took it over there there was definitely a

lot of opportunity. We've realized that since we took over that there are there are many schools and many things that we can do to grow it. So when you say we, I think we should everybody know the we and that is your your spouse, Alicia Hollowell, who people might remember her from being an incredible pitcher in Arizona. And I mean the two of you are running

this business together right correct. Yeah, And in fact, she's out right now at We started our Catalina Foothills schools this week and so it's basically the first day of classes for us, so we're a couple of schools today and so she's out there and checking things out. So when you say you gotta be you gotta be a student at the school you offer golf at man Zanita Elementary. I can't come over and say I go to man Zanita and get like some golf lessons from you guys. Correct, Yeah, but we can,

we can talk about out some camps or something like that. Okay, I'll be a go to a camp with a bunch of eight year olds. That would be Yes, this is a big eight year old. It's a very big and his hair is a little gray. This must be a lot of fun, a lot of rewards, internal rewards. Oh yeah, for

sure. I mean it's uh, it's awesome, especially when you see that kid that you're working with at particular class that you know, I think back at golf, because golf is just so hard as you guys, as you guys know, but for for a kid that you know just hits the ball up in the air and um, you know, they get so excited about it or or makes a putt. You know, it really is uh gratifying

seeing the looks on those kids' faces when they accomplish something like that. You know, and I know where at the end of the summer, but you had some summer programs and how did those work? I mean with those more during the daytime, earlier in the day. Um, summer programs work. So maybe somebody can look forward to that, you know, next school starting right now. Yeah, for sure, we uh we had lots of summer camps um throughout the summer, and really it was every week we offered something

different. We partnered with Ora Valley Parks and Rex and we uh also partnered with Mirando Parks and rec along with Catalina Foothills School District, and we had a bunch of camps going on in those areas. Um yeah, and it was basically, like I said, something different every week. And we're definitely looking to grow. I mean, my next goal is to partner with a golf course or two and and have some camps actual actually at golf courses,

um, which would be awesome. And uh we get a lot of families that ask about that, and then uh yeah, and going back to the time, Yeah, we um most of our camps during the summer, since they were mostly outside, really are in the morning, so like eight to eleven time frame is what most of our what most of our classes were well, and you know, just getting kids outside, I mean more than anything, I feel like that's what that's sort of the value of this thing is

to you know, get the kids away from the video games and that you know, off their phones and going out and doing stuff. Oh yeah, no question that's that's a big thing for I think a lot of people is that you know, they're they're just looking to get their kids out and um and we're a good avenue, like I said earlier, because we provide all the equipment, so the parents are not investing a ton, they're just investing

in the class. If they like a certain sport, maybe they can get them some equipment and you know, step it up a little bit and and do some leagues or join a team. But it's just a nice introductory for for kids, you know, when there's not as much of a commitment as there is when you have to buy a bunch of equipment. Well, Ryan, thanks a bunch of good luck and congrats already to this point. Tell

us how people can find you. Yeah, So, our website is a play team da dot com slash tuthon and you can find us there and have as all of our class information and we'll post any camps that we have as well. All right, Ryan, thanks a whole bunch of man. Say hey to your spouse for us, and uh appreciate your breaking this away, breaking up the monotony of this uh thing that we've been dealing with from Yeah, no, kidding, appreciate it and happy birthday. J oh Hey,

thanks a bunch, appreciate it, Thanks a much. Let's take the break now, you want to take the break? Now? Are we done with clips and stuff? We've got a few more and we play that. We got some Tommy Lloyds. Yes, yeh, there's basketball together. There was some basketball stuff today and we're doing a football practice. But I didnt even get a chance. Anybody wants to call, but we'll take your calls as

well, So let's stick around for that. We'll be right back. If you're an Arizona men's basketball fan, you know it's been successful for newly forty years. Now take a look back at the Ludolson era. In my new book, Lessons from Loot. It was a labor of love through the eyes of twenty five former players, coaches and friends to give insight to the coach and the man who led them, competed against that and inspired them twenty five

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two Earl four one six seventy four forty just good to feel free. Were open, Yeah, and don't forget to listen to the podcast closed every day. You can hear all the stuff that was talked about today with the Robbins and Hikey helding ording the first press conference since the everything happened over the weekend. We're trying to get both those guys on our show some time and there relatively in your future, just to have our way have our shot at him.

But um, really they kind of covered everything that we were sure pretty much everything I thought we wanted to hear. Sure, Yeah, I was gonna ask or just curious. Are curious because heke stayed there a little afterwards. Um, I'm sure that Bobby Robinson, who is who does a lot of stuff with sports, right, he's he's there. Uh, he didn't.

He didn't think this would happen four and a half years ago or how many years ago, and how much he would be involved because he was one of the key players, because he became part of them, the inner workings or whatever. Wild, Well he got he recently got put on the uh PAC twelve board. Yeah whatever, I think they call it the board. Um, but yeah he got. He got knee deep in the middle of it, not only on Arizona's behalf and on behalf of the PAC twelve.

So we have a collar higher on there and I on the ball. Oh yeah, this is James. Hey, James, Hey, you guys do and good? So what are you thinking? I think it It was inevitable. It looked like the PAC twelve was going away and Arizona had to do what they had to do to survive and make money and proceed forward. I had a question though, did you guys watched the Washington President and Athletic Director

in their media day. I watched her segment. It was just one segment where she was very adamant, very adamant about Yeah, the situation is that what you're referring to? Yeah, well, one thing about it. She kept referring to some like clause in two years where teams could opt out of the deal, and she kept referring back to a word there wasn't like any commitment for these schools to stay together for the long term, and she kept

bringing up this two year opt out. Have you heard or anything about that in the contract? That was if I did, And what it was was there were and I don't know exactly what the numbers were, but because because the contract was based on a base amount, it started at twenty three, it started at twenty three, they bumped it up to twenty five, and then the rest of it was going to based on be based on subscribers.

And what they had said was at one point seven million subscribers they would get to the thirty one point seven million dollar number that the that the Big twelve had, But there were some opt outs based on how many subscribers they got that if they didn't they didn't meet uh certain uh marks on subscribers. By I think the first time to opt out was that three years, not maybe maybe it was two, but um, but it was based on that.

So if they didn't get if the deal wasn't working the way they were hoping it would with with subscribers, that teams could opt that programs could opt out. Yeah, it seemed like that was like a big deal for that president at Washington. She brought it up a few different times, so James I can't you met with us in Vegas right when we went to Vegas? Yes, so I can't hear about your thirty something what are you early early forties

from you? So we're one of those dudes where, um, going streaming is kind of like a little foreign to us because we're older, uh and TV is what we're used to for all our Does that scare you the streaming part of it? For me? It does? You know, being able just to turn on the TV and flip it on and flip through channels and

find your game is always the best case scenario. Having to sign up there's all these different streaming services, having to sign up for the Apple TV for this and Netflix for that, and it just becomes a pain in the ass and it makes it hard for fans to follow sports. Yeah, and that's what he's talking about, that right right, and that and that in the end, you know, Arizona didn't want to be, you know, on

a streaming service right, not now, not yet. There may be a time, you know, John Wilner, if if you heard him, he said in five years, that might be the place that you want to be, right But I don't think it is right now. So do you know if the Pac twelve ever reached out to the WB that was never mentioned or anything, but that was kind of written. Yeah, a lot of people said that the CW was in the conversation at some point, and people are

making fun of it. And then even that would be better than having to having to stream only. I think, you know, some kind of you know, mainly stream, but putting some on you know, network TVs would be ideal for a Big Five conference, right. I'm a channel surf and when I'm watching football, if I'm not at an Arizona game, I'm at home, I'm like, I'm surfing sure different games. And I don't know that I'm going to be switching switching on my Apple so then and then going

back and forth. And that's that's the issue right now now when every when everybody's streaming, maybe everybody does it, right, Yeah, and I agree. I don't think people outside of the Pack Towel fan base are going to be signing up for Apple TV to watch Pack Towel basketball or basketball or anything like that. James, James, I can't remember you called maybe two three weeks ago. Were you poo pooing the move to the Big twelve because well

you're Pack twin pac twelve. Guy. No, he's poopooing Arizona football because of Jaden de Laura. Well, yeah, gorgely, I'm on the de Laura. He should be off the team bandwagon. But I love the Pack twelve and since I've been alive, they've been in the Pack twelve. So that's all I know. And you know, being in the West Coast and

be able to go to California for games is awesome. But at this time, you know, with the bad management with Larry Scott and the new director of the Pack twelve, it you got to survive and that's the only thing you they can do to, you know, go to the Big twelve and try to make it work. Yeah, so you're watching on TV. Yeah, all right, thanks James. Hey, James, appreciate it. Man, thanks for the call. All right, thank you guys. So, so, Jay, there was something that John said in there that I thought

very compelling because we talked about it on Friday. So I traveled with the team a lot over and we don't know this for the last quarter century, um, and I said that UA fans don't travel well. And you agree with me, because realistically they don't. I know fans think they do, but they don't. But they have a lot of fan bases. La. Just go Seattle and that's when you hear the cheers. You it's not because they got on the team plane and they went. No, it's because they're

there. Because they're there. Okay, So now he talked about Tom Tobert going in not being able to. Now there's gonna be a lot of fan bases. This is why they didn't want the move. It's a big deal. You know. You go, if you went to a football game at at the Rose Bowl or at Same there were a lot of Arizona fans every You're right, a lot of I mean there's there's some travel to those, but a lot of them are there. There were a lot of Arizona fans

at the San Diego State game. Yeah, not because I mean a lot of us went, but there were the southern California there and the Bay Area in particular, maybe not so much in Washington. I remember going to Washington game, you know a lot of years ago, the coach you know there were people, There are people there in those big cities because they have alumni. Bas well, this is gonna be tested now yeah, I'm sure you have a lot of people in Dallas. I'm not sure you have those in

Kansas City or in Oklahoma. Uh, this is gonna You're gonna gets different. I mean, it was hard to get a ticket in the UFA section for UCLA basketball game at CLA and was never hard at USC, was never hard at It was hard at Stanford for a while, but you know, it's never hard at Washington State. But you know, but that's it. That's that's a big deal. It's gonna be interesting to see how that plays

out and how much fans travel. But maybe maybe maybe when you see how how their fans travel, are gonna travel the year, people realize that's what you gotta do when you're in the big Well did you go to I can't remember. Did you go to Indiana game in Vegas? You did not go? And I think that you know Arizona's lads Vegas and because it's just right there and they love their cats, they love them during the Pac twelve because it's close and people you don't normally see a game are there out till two

in the morning. Dancy Um. They found out Indiana and other schools travel and they're thinking, oh God, I know this. We didn't take it over like we normally do. Absolutely, I think they learned a lesson that, hey, maybe we're not the guys that we think we are. All right, So Tommy Lloyd, he had a press conference today, just talked

to getting ready. They're going to the Middle East here in the in the next even tomorrow the days they lived part right, going to play some games in Israel and in Abu Dhabi. But if he initially he had some initial comments about going to the Big twelve, really trying to stay away from it to focus on his team in his season. Here's what he had to say about the move to the Big twelve. I'll just start off. I mean, obviously we're switching conferences, and um, you know, I think it's

exciting, you know. I mean, I'm speaking specifically about Arizona basketball, but I think it's an exciting opportunity for us. But to be honest with you guys, I mean, I think one of the things I'm really gonna I'm focused on myself and I know if my team is gonna be that's next year. And um, you know, the Pac ten Pac twelve conference has been great to the University of Arizona over the years and really helped, you know, establish it as one of the premier athletic departments in the country.

And um, you know, I think it's our job on the way out to honor that. And you know, I think we're one hundred percent focused on on having a great, you know season in the Pac twelve. I mean, that's one hundred percent where my focus lies and where our our team's focus is gonna lie. And then you know, after the season, we'll we'll start, you know, looking forward to the Big twelve, but we're not we're not going to be distracted by it. Tommy's so funny because he's

so understated. You know, Bruce, as much as he like Bruce, he'll be on the show tomorrow. He pushes him and then no, Bruce, I'm not gonna answer that. You're not gonna get what you want because he's not gonna say anything. He's not gonna buite. I'm not gonna buy Yeah. And it's funny, you know, him and Miller had this ten of ten back and forth. And it's different with Tommy because it's a funny

one. It's really good nature. He pokes at him, but Tommy pokes that Bruce quite a bit, and Bruce Bruce is Bruce right, just you know, he just tried to do his job. But Tommy, Yeah, well we're about today. We can't worry about tomorrow. We gotta get through this year, first season, and we'll talk about it, yeah all you want. But did we tell you it's gonna be Friends Center. It's gonna be fun, man, It's gonna be a lot of fun. Be all

right. You talked a little bit about the summer house. It's been going. They've had some practices. They think they've had nine nine out of ten practice because they had their tenth today. Um, to get ready for this summer tour. Here's what he's said. The summer has been going. Well, we've had a good summer. We've had a really good summer. You know, I mean, you're allowed to do stuff, which is really cool.

It's kind of you know, you know, the NC to Blaze really allowed us to kind of increase our practice time and in the time we can spend with our team basketball wise. So, um, I feel like, you know, we have a lot of new pieces and they've acquimented. Well, you know, today we're we're gonna be touching on practice nine of ten. You know what you're allowed for these uh, these foreign tours. And

you know, I mean, are we game ready? Probably not, but but we're probably closer than I think, you know, I mean, and I listen, our guys have played a lot of basketball games. When when the clocks you know, said it, you know it's gonna be ten whatever, you know, for four quarters. I think our guys will be ready to go. And um, you know, and and the cool thing is we're gonna be able to play everybody and and really give a lot of guys,

you know, good basketball on court experience. So I'm scity, Yeah, it's gonna be He's not gonna care about points and defeats and anything like that. It's it's a it's a feel good type of thing. Educational. He talked about that with the traveling professor. Uh, they're studying kind of now. I like a little back and forth that he and Bruce had for because Bruce Pass was going on the trip covering for their day to start. So he's going and he told Bruce, I don't want you reporting who's starting

who's not starting. You know, this guy's starting, that guy's out of starter. He says, if we do, we're gonna shut it down. It was pretty funny. But what he's trying to do is get guys to play. Sure, see what they've got, get guys to play together and all that kind of I don't know if you have this clip, but this was a funny clip too, but I tam me with one of you guys the drink the Martinis kid. Yeah, and I'm sure have the people in

the room didn't know what the David. So so yeah, I'm looking forward to that because given Tucson and the Hispanic community does yeah, he'll be loved. He seems to really think that. He seems to really like this kid, the kid from his fame anyway. So here's just like I don't even remember hearing this clip, but here's just I'm talking a little bit about the tour itself and some of the things that they expect to experience. For sure.

I mean, listen, I've never done before and tour, but I've traveled, you know, to a bunch of foreign places, so I know I love traveling, and it just it just this opportunity popped up, and uh, you know, I I want to give you know, you know Leigh Miller with Complete Sports a ton of credit. I mean, she's the one who reached out to us and really's offering us the opportunity of a lifetime UM. You know, and you know Daniel Posner with a group called Athletes

in Action, I mean sorry, sorry, Athletes for Israel. Sorry Athletes for Israel. UM. You know, they're doing some amazing things, you know, combating anti Semitism and you know, bringing you know, whether celebrities or celebrity athletes or now they're get delving into the college base and bringing college teams over. It is to kind of bring notoriety to what's happening, you know, in their world and expose you know, some of our players to

it, which is awesome. And I've been to Israel a few times. It's a mind blowing experience and I'm so excited for our players. I think they literally were trying to give them an idea, but I don't think they really have an idea. And I think it's going to be an experience that'll stick with them for the rest of their lives. And then you know, the the you know, we want to get a shout out to, you know, the ABU Dhabi Department of Tourism. You know that they're helping sponsor

our time there, and you know, it was just exciting. They're they're running you know kind of uh, you know, somewhat of a basketball festival or they're bringing you know, you know, some top teams in the world there to you know, complete compete in some exhibition matches, like Team USA is going to be there. You know, they're they're gonna be playing like

the likes of Greece and in Germany. And then you know us, we're going to be there, Kansas State's going to be there, and you know some other you know international you know, uh international national teams are going to be there. So it's gonna be awesome. So it's I'm fired up, and you know, I mean, I don't think there's any way but to bond on one of these deals. But you know, we're going to be really intentional and how we try to drive at home with our guys and really

make this in experience. That's that's you know, not only great for them individually, it's great for our team and and um, you know, great for the culture that we you know, we try to build year in and year out here yeah, no question. And it's always good that somebody else is paying the bill exactly. Nothing like going on a trip like that if

you're not paying for it. It was really that was really funny when he said, I mean, we're gonna we're gonna go see you know where where you know David where David David was said, and we're talking David and golithe that David. That's pretty much and they're gonna float in this and the uh, well, you know, I mean, look, I think we all recognize prettier with Tommy that he's a pretty thoughtful guy. Yeah, you know he's not. He's not. It's his life's focus is not basketball, right,

He thinks about other things. Collect he thinks about other things and I and you can tell that he really wants these guys to experience this now. Umar Balow and and Pelly Larson came into the press conference after that, and all they talked about was the basketball, you know, and I'm where we're gonna go to the basketball. We're gonna have some chance to play some teams

we haven't seen before. They didn't they didn't talk about it at all about what the cultural pieces su I was gonna ask this Jay and maybe I don't know if you can actually Um. So they're international players, right, they're international players and have a Nober of to go on in national I think it's going to be more of the American players that kind of enjoyed this because I haven't never done that. They have never gone outside of the United States.

They're kind of used to the Yeah, the outside, the travel world and outside influence from from Sweet Yeah, he's been all over. He played in Israel, he said, Israel. Yeah, Now, he said, you know, they went in, played a game and left, so he didn't go see all this stuff. They're excited about it. I think that, you know, the players obviously more excited about the basketball than everything's gonna come with it. But I do believe, uh, you know that Israel.

I've never been there, but you know, Israel was one of those places we're you gonna get the holy hell. I mean, I had that experience in Rome. You couldn't say that. I don't know if I had that experience when I went to When I went to Rome and went to I got very religious. When I went to Saint Peter's right back, I was a little happy. I didn't burst into flames when I walked in. Get it go back? All right, God, that was a quick show, a lot of stuff. I feel like we're ready to move on. Tomorrow.

We're gonna have a lot of Bruce song. Bruce gonna talk to us about the trip, and Brett Farrah the new Sports Center, theaters and Daily Star. We're gonna get to him about covering, you know, covering the Big Swamp coming up. So I'll be all airs one Daily Star tomorrow as our guest. But a lot of good stuff to talk about. And uh, and you know this thing, this thing's going to go on for a while. But we're going to the Big twelve, Steve we are. Yeah,

we're going to the Big twelve. I hope we do it from the studio. It's gonna be fun. It's gonna be fun. But first they have a lot of stuff to do. You got some work to do between now and then football season is getting ready to start. So all right, we'll be back tomorrow. Thanks for being here.