David Stern working holiday at NBL

What's David Stern doing these days? Presumably enjoying not running one of the world's biggest sports leagues.

A proposal for the NBL: why not pitch him a working holiday as a special advisor to the NBL?

- We'll put you up in Sydney for six months

- You get the lay of the land, talk to all the key players, take in at least one game at each NBL city (with resulting mega-publicity), etc

- Help us negotiate some deals (particularly TV, but also an NBA affiliation like the new Brazil one Zach Lowe Grantlanded: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/44-minute-game-brazil/)

- At the end of the six months you give us your blueprint for the next 5-10 years of the NBL: where you think the NBL can realistically get to, and how it would get there

From David Stern's point of view: he (and Mrs Stern?) get an all-expenses-paid six-month holiday to Australia for a minimal amount of work.

Hell, I'm sure there's enough Aussie hoops fans out there who'd get behind a Kickstarter for that.

What am I missing? (Besides whether there is even a Mrs Stern)

Topic #35827 | Report this topic

HO
Years ago

What are you missing?

the fact that the guy in his last job was paid over 20m per year and maybe an all expenses holiday (in which he is required to work) for six months in Australia is probably about 1m short of what he could reasonably expect for this type of consultancy...

Reply #501522 | Report this post

MACDUB
Years ago

A negotiator is only as strong as the bargain/offer he has to work with.

Stern negotiated good deals because virtually every time, the TV broadcaster needed the deal just as much if not more than the NBA needed it.

Over here, its the other way round. The NBL needs TV more than it needs us. You can't negotiate or bargain anything with that kind of inferior footing.

Reply #501524 | Report this post

Mick
Years ago

Not true: Stern built the league up to that point. When he took over the NBA finals were shown on a delayed telecast.

Reply #501526 | Report this post

Isaac
Years ago

Not enough in it for him. You'd have more luck pitching Ron Artest or someone like that to buy out the league for the hell of it.

Reply #501527 | Report this post

Bo Hamburger
Years ago

Would he need to do anything for money any more? He's always talked about expanding the game globally, here's a way he can still do it while waking up with views of the Harbour Bridge/Opera House every day.

Reply #501530 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

^ agree with this. The game in Australia is going nowhere if we don't find a way to get smart people involved without paying them what they're worth. Yeah, this is a massive long shot, but I think it's on the right track. Find someone who doesn't need the money or cares enough about basketball or Australian basketball that we can get some hype and progress without spending what we don't have.

The media side of things is the same. The NBL isn't getting anywhere on the basis of what it is now. It needs to find a network that will help build the TV appeal by showing it live in good time slots, giving it the right promotion, finding quality commentators, etc. That probably requires someone with some decision-making power at a tv network to have a passion for and belief in basketball.

Reply #501531 | Report this post

alexkrad
Years ago

Obama will be out of a job in a couple years, maybe get him instead?

Reply #501533 | Report this post

Tiger Watcher
Years ago

He'd expect a $1mil plus just to attend a few meeting and being a part time advisor.

Not sure why he'd want to work when you've got $100mil ++ in the bank! Makes no sense plus pretty sure you'll find he advises on a part time basis to a few companies in the USA for a few mill a year.

People who are used to getting paid big coin suddenly don't work for free on a non charity based organisation.

Reply #501535 | Report this post

Bear
Years ago

I get where you are coming from Bo H, but it seems to be a stretch these days to convince people to do something out of good grace, even if it is laid out like you have suggested.

Not saying it wouldn't be worth a go however, so I like the idea, I wonder if anyone in the NBL or BA would like to pursue it??

Courage anyone.....>?

Reply #501537 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

Always wondered why bogut just buy the league for the hell of it. He would get props from every bball fan in this country. Employ the right people to run it woyld be fine. He has rhat much money what the hell do u do with it when it gets a little boring buying cars and boats after a while.

Reply #501538 | Report this post

MACDUB
Years ago

Mick,

Stern still would have considerable bargaining power during that negotiation.

The league was booming.

One year after he became Commissioner in 1984, Michael Jordan, Hakeem, Stockton, Barkley all entered the league.

Magic and Kareem were in full flight.

Not downplaying his achievements.

But he had the luxury to turn to the TV broadcasters and say "Look at these players I've got..look at the interest they are generating..look at how many people are tuning in".

The NBL simply cannot do that.

Reply #501539 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

The NBL has no "value".. it's a debt not an asset.

Why would anyone buy an operation, regardless of how wealthy they are, that costs them money to own and has zero prestige?

The NBL now has no pulling power with anyone oustide of Basketball diehards.

Reply #501542 | Report this post

GWB
Years ago

I don't see the harm in asking the question - put it to this Fraser Neil character and see what he says.

NBL actually needs to jump on long shots. James Ennis was a long shot. Josh Childress was a long shot. If you take enough long shots, you're going to hit one at some point.

Reply #501553 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

There has been a lot written about David Stern and his tenure. I have read from some that they believe Stern was just in the right place at the right time and that with the tools he had at his disposal (e.g. Michael Jordan, a worldwide sport growing exponentially etc.) that the NBA should have done better over his time. The writer was saying that the NBA should have been the number 1 sport in the NBA instead of 3rd or 4th.

Reply #501570 | Report this post

Anonymous
Years ago

Stern was definitely at the right place at the right time.

LOL at him coming down here, it would tarnish his reputation. Plus the OP obviously doesn't realise Stern just rode the wave of popularity, he isn't a God.

Reply #501646 | Report this post

Wookie
Years ago

Get the former owners of dodo to buy out the NBL. Oh wait isn't that what they want to do?

Reply #501658 | Report this post

Hoops

David Stern working holiday at NBL

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