NCAA's Bottom Line Will Be Hit by Loss of Tournament Oh, the Joy Of
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SPORTS Wednesday, March 18, 2020—Section B Your contact: Eric Schmoldt, sports editor, 608-755-8249; To report game results: 608-755-8247; [email protected] NCAA’s bottom line will be hit by loss of tournament By Ralph D. Russo the virus. At first, the NCAA announced the “I’m sure they have a way to deal with AP College Sports Writer games would go on, but the general public a total and complete cancellation,” he said. would be kept out of the buildings. A day Emmert has said the NCAA has business The NCAA made more than $1 billion last later, the whole thing was scrapped. disruption insurance to cover some of its year, almost $867 million from the men’s The NCAA’s contract with CBS and Turner losses. Division I basketball tournament, and most pays about $800 million per year. Bevilacqua said the long-running part- of that from a massive television rights deal It is standard for media rights contracts nership between the NCAA and CBS, which with CBS and Turner that runs through the to have language that relieves rights holders has aired the tournament every year since from financial obligations if games are can- 1982, and Turner could help the two sides 2032 tournament. celed due to events outside the control of the find a resolution to any outstanding money The cornonavirus not only wiped out the property, said Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder matters. games, but it will create some unexpected of Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures. “Maybe that allows for CBS and Turner red ink on the NCAA’s balance sheet this year. “Typically, those right fees are paid in to extend the deal by a year at some favor- Exactly how much is to be determined. Associated Press installments. Let’s presume a couple of those able rate whenever it ends,” Bevilacqua said. “Well, I can’t give you any specific num- installments were probably already paid and Sponsorship deals that companies have The cancellation of the NCAA men’s bers because we don’t know yet,” NCAA Pres- the bigger installments haven’t been paid with CBS and Turner to run advertisements basketball tournament took the air ident Mark Emmert said. “We know that the because the tournament hasn’t happened,” during games are typically structured simi- out of the organization’s bottom line. financial implications are all negative, and said Bevilacqua, who has advised leagues larly to the rights fees. If the spots don’t run, Most of the $1 billion the NCAA made we’re going to have to deal with those.” and college conferences in TV contract nego- the sponsors don’t have to pay. last year came from the men’s Divi- The NCAA canceled the tournament last tiations but was not involved in the NCAA’s Typically, the money flows from sponsors sion 1 tournament. Thursday because of concerns over spreading deals. to the networks to the NCAA to the schools. Oh, the joy of being a bat boy in the ‘70s he pay wasn’t much, but for eight magical summers, I didn’t care. I had the best job in Tthe world. I was bat boy for my dad’s American Legion baseball team. Those teams won four state titles in those eight years and set the tone for what has been a lifelong passion for the game of baseball. My dad, the late Dale Barry, won his first AAA Legion state title in 1968. That team featured four players that were selected in the 1968 and 1969 MLB Ama- teur Draft: Kent Burdick (Cincin- nati Reds), Jerry Davis (New York Mets) and Gary Gloede (Cleve- land Indians) were 1969 Janes- ville Parker graduates, while Bob Strampe (Detroit Tigers) gradu- JOHN BARRY ated from Janesville Craig in 1968. Strampe eventually made it to the big leagues, pitching in relief for the Tigers in seven games during the 1972 season. In his final major league appearance, Strampe struck out Mike Kilkenny of the Cleveland Indians. As a 4-year-old who probably had trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time, I wasn’t quite ready for bat boy duties in 1968. My stint began with the 1970 Legion team. If I recall, Dad promised me 50 cents a game to pick up the bats, scoop up the warmup balls from the first baseman and outfielders in between innings, stay out of the way and not wander too far off. That last request was a problem. Riverside Park’s artesian well with the cold- est water on the planet. The concession stand located behind the tennis courts tried to lure me away. I don’t know how many times I asked Dad in the middle of the second inning for an advance on my pay so I could go get a sno-cone or an ice cream sandwich. I never really got an answer, just “the glare.” Road trips were my favorite. Whether it was a game in Delavan, Kenosha or a weekend trip to Appleton, there was nothing better than piling into our beloved “Swamp Buggy”—a Chrysler Bel- Gazette file photo videre—and galavanting around the state. The late Dale Barry hated to postpone or cancel Janesville American Legion baseball games when he coached the team in the 1970s, so when it rained overnight, Barry would sometimes douse the muddy spots in the infield with gasoline and put a match to it. Turn to MEMORIES on Page 2B Gutekunst plays it safe in free agency Undoubtedly, it was tempting for him to Kirksey and right tackle Rick Wagner, nei- Packers GM keeps an eye add a linebacker who could play the run and ther of whom is a sure thing to start or be an cover a tight end. Or a receiver who could upgrade at their respective position. on next season when Clark, smoke a cornerback at the line of scrim- It would have cost Gutekunst more than Bakhtiari need to be re-signed mage and catch a touchdown pass from double that to retain inside linebacker Aaron Rodgers. Blake Martinez, who signed a three-year, By Tom Silverstein Or a tight end who could line up with $30.7 million deal with the New Giants, or his hand down and block as well as he runs beat out the Las Vegas Raiders for the Los Milwaukee Journal Sentinel routes and catches the football. Angeles Rams’ Cory Littleton (three years, Though he investigated a lot of options GREEN BAY $36 million) or the Jacksonville Jaguars for during the “negotiating period” that pre- So far, Green Bay Packers general man- Cleveland’s Joe Schobert (five years, $53.75 cedes the start of unrestricted free agency million). ager Brian Gutekunst hasn’t done anything today, he passed on all the high-priced talent And it would have cost almost triple that dumb. that fell like dominoes Monday and Tuesday. to best Cleveland for Tennessee right tackle He hasn’t made Austin Hooper the high- He settled for two “street” free agents—play- Jack Conklin (three years, $42 million) and est-paid tight end in the NFL or given an ers who reached the market because their more than double that to retain free agent Associated Press inside linebacker more than $10 million per teams released them, not because their con- Bryan Bulaga, who signed with the Los After protecting quarterback Aaron Rod- year or put himself in a position of having to tracts were about to expire. Angeles Chargers (three years, $30 million). gers (12) since the 2010 season, Bryan fabricate salary cap room because he over- Gutekunst spent exactly $5 million each Bulaga (75) signed a three-year, $30 mil- extended himself in free agency. this year for inside linebacker Christian Turn to PACKERS on Page 2B lion contract with the L.A. Chargers. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 l 2B SPORTS The Gazette BRIEFS Memories/Barry had fun on the road Compiled from Gazette wire services Continued from 1B My favorite in-game memory was the herculean effort of Bob Bur- PGA Championship to be moved With the two greatest assistant SHARE WITH US kheimer at the 1975 state tourna- First the Masters, now the PGA Championship. coaches ever in Dan Madden and We want to hear from you. Most of us had someplace, something or ment in Rhinelander. The Parker The PGA Championship is being postponed, accord- Bob Suter also hauling players in ing to a person involved in the discussions. It was sched- their cars, you could always find a someone who helped us develop our graduate hit three home runs in the love of the game. state title game against Dad’s long- uled for May 14-17 at Harding Park in San Francisco. large caravan traveling to and from The person spoke to The Associated Press on condi- our next road game. We want to tell some of those sto- time nemesis Don “Hawk” Haw- ries on a daily basis during this time kins and his Appleton team. My tion of anonymity Tuesday because the decision has The Swamp Buggy usually made not been announced. of uncertainty in sports. dad called Burkheimer’s third home the road trips with Dad driving, It follows the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- Share yours with us by emailing run of the game from the first base another player in the passenger vention’s recommendation that events of 50 people or seat and three more in the backseat. [email protected] or calling coach’s box, and to this day, I really 608-755-8249.