June 23, 2025 • 40 mins
Rams COO Kevin Demoff joins us to talk about the franchises efforts to grow its brand on a global scale. Fred says we need to settle down on the Ohtani excitement until he is able to pitch deeper into games. The NBA Finals ratings were surprisingly higher than most people thought they would be.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
All right, we continue on Fred Rogan, Rodney Pete on
a five seventy LA Sports. Let's not delay because we
have the man from the RAMS joining us on the show.
Let's welcome Kevin demopon Aloha Kevin, and welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Sadly, no more aloha, sadly beautiful day, sadly beautiful day
here in Los Angeles. But you know, the Aloha vibes
are gone.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I bet they were very good vibes, Kevin. Okay, I'm
putting it out there right now. I want to be
your global ambassador. I'm ready to come over to the
RAMS and I'll take it global.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Man.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We'll do a Hawaii, We'll do Asia, we'll do Europe,
We'll do everything. Man, come on, let's make that happen.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Well, we could use you right now. We have a
contingent of players and staff in Australia ahead of our
Melbourne game for the twenty twenty sixth season, doing fan
combines and a bunch of events in Melbourne, Australia. Though
it's old and winner down there right now, so maybe
not the old Oha vibes of Hawaii.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, that's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I mean the NFL I said this right before you
came on, that has really tried to reach out globally
for a number of years.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I know the other sports taken a lot of the headlines,
but I remember playing back in well, I think we
went over to London in nineteen ninety one, and in
the NFL has been doing that for a number of years.
How aggressively are you guys now? You mentioned playing in
Australia but other parts of the world of growing the
(01:37):
NFL brand around the globe, how aggressively are you guys
doing it now?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Look, I think if you look, there are now seven
international games a year, and back then Ronnie used to
just be a preseason game, and it's such an Our
Hawaii trip reminded me more of those kind of experiences
or the Pro Bowl, maybe more of those than others.
But all thirty two teams now have rights to market
in at least one country abroad. So it's obviously a
(02:04):
huge push for the NFL. You've heard the commissioner talk
about his goal to play eight, maybe ten, up to
sixteen games internationally long term, so I think it's something
we're all excited about. You know, there is a ton
of opportunity for us to grow this game globally, to
expand the base, and for us as the Rams, it's
always been very targeted on what makes us a stronger
(02:24):
team here at home as well. So if you look
at our experience, whether it's our rights in Mexico, China, Korea, Japan,
Australia and New Zealand, it's always been very much focused
on the Pacific rim in so many countries that really
call Los Angeles the second home because I think if
you're going to be in Los Angeles, you have to
be a great team. You have to be a global team.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And Kevin, those are your markets. Nobody else can market.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
There, No you share those markets. Now we are the
only people in China, Japan, Korea, and then there are
a couple of teams in New Zealand and Australia, and
Mexico has about eight or nine teams, so it's very
crowded from from that perspective, but you know, we are
in a number of markets where we are by ourselves.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Kevin, how how I mean it's so cool to be
in LA. You mentioned this, the LA You're in Las
a unique situations because you have to be global and
the Rams are the the NFL team, no disrespect to
anybody else, but the Rams are the NFL team in
LA and you guys came back and came back with
a vengeance and won a Super Bowl and really captured
(03:30):
the market. But there are other you know, obviously professional
sports teams in this market. Do you have conversations with
the Dodgers, for instance, that you know what they've done
in Japan and how they've done Asia. Do you guys
communicate back and forth about are just sharing notes about
(03:50):
how to approach Asia and some of these other foreign markets.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, if you could find me the best player in
the world in the NFL to be from Asia and
I can put them on the Rams, let's do that.
It would be the best notes we could take. So,
you know, look, I think the great the benefit teams have,
you know, whether I look at the Lakers and like
a Rui Hachimura for that example. Obviously the Dodgers have
(04:15):
a number of stellar Japanese players, Like, if you could
find a player from one of those markets, is the
best way to grow. But I do think you know
a number of our players, think quinnin Lake Jared Verse
were in Japan around the time of the Dodgers Japanese
series this year, you're always trying to I mean, look,
I think if you're in Los Angeles and you're not
trying to learn from all these teams, because we have
(04:35):
so many teams in this market to do it at
a high level and do it well, you're not growing,
whether it's international or not. But certainly, I think when
you look at some of the brands, the Dodgers, the
Lakers and where they've been internationally. You know, whether it's
the Lakers Jersey Patch with BBGO or the Dodgers and
their efforts. What the Angels did you know with Shohy
when they had show Hey, you know, I certainly think
(04:57):
what LAFC has done with some of their players, like
how you learn from every club and try to apply
your own spin on that and the NFL spin to it,
is valuable.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
And when you look at business and people don't seem
to remember, you know, you guys operate a business here
they're called the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
That's a business.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
You operate from a revenue standpoint, things like that, by marketing,
by expanding, does that increase revenue exponentially?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You know, I think so much of the international play
is a long term place. Certainly there's a revenue component now,
but look, the best way to grow revenue is to
grow your fan base. Everything we do with the Rams
has to be about growing the fan base and making
more ramstands. And you know, if you do that, well,
hopefully you can find ways to grow revenues which you
can go back and reinvest in players and facilities and
(05:45):
coaches and everything else that makes the world go. But
you know, I think even from a business perspective, our
number one priority is always going to be to grow
the fan base, whether that's here in Los Angeles or abroad,
and then hope that long term play translates.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And since you, when you really look at it and
analyze it, are you happy with where you're at in
the market here in LA? Have you done what you
hope to accomplish?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
You know that is a loaded question, Fred. I mean,
I can sit back to when we went to lunch
ten years ago in Westlake Village and if you had
told me twenty sixteen to twenty twenty five, look this
way like, there's so much that we've accomplished on the
field off the field that makes me proud and that
I truly do believe we're on the right steps. Do
(06:30):
you ever sit here and say like we're comfortable. No,
Like we need to continue to grow to become Southern
California's team, America's team, the world's team, you know. And
for me, that's always about growing a fan base and
having a paranoia about continually getting better and continually growing.
Make sure you put a great product on the field,
make sure you market it the best way, make sure
(06:50):
the fan experience at Sofi Stadium is unparalleled. Those are
the things you have to do to keep winning other
over Southern California. Every day. Our work here is never done.
Proud of what we've accomplished with the last ten years.
If you had told me ten years ago this is
what it would look like when I take it. Sure,
but are we satisfied now? I don't think we'll ever
be satisfied until you know every fan at Sofi Stadium
(07:12):
is wearing blue and yellow, and you know that everybody
in Southern California bleeds, you know, rams blue and yellow.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
You know I've said this before, Kevin, just from a
business perspective, and obviously you you know you're in charge
of a lot of the business now when it comes
to this type of stuff for stands businesses. But I've said,
you know, when you go to an arena or a stadium,
now you need to go to an experience. Sure, the
game is going on, but when you guys think about
stuff and put it together, is it more the experience
(07:43):
at the stadium or the arena and there happens to
be a game, or you're going to a game with
an experience.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Look, I think it just depends, right. I always view
it and always have viewed it as per fandom. It's
what I call your closet to closet experience. From the
moment you walk into your closet and put on a
pookin and houa jersey to come to Sofi Stadium to
the moment you get home. That is all part of
your rams experience, from tailgating to what you do inside
the stadium, whether it's food and beverage wise, whether it's
(08:11):
at the merchandise store, whether it's what we play on
the Infinity screen, the way we play on the field.
It's all part of the experience. I don't think you
can can highlight it now. You know, is that experience
better when you win games? And it is the game
a focal part of it. Sure, but you know that
and football has the benefit of we only play ten
home games a year. Hopefully you get a few playoff games.
(08:32):
Every game is an event. But if you're not doing
your best to both provide entertainment on the field and
off the field throughout the entirety of people's journeys to
and from Sofi Stadium, you're just you're missing what is
part of that quintessential fan and community experience together. And
I think the most important part of if we're asking
people to give up both their time, you know, part
(08:56):
of their weekend disposable income, we have to make sure
it's worth their while each time to do it.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
How relieved were you when you resigned Matthew Stafford?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
You know, Matthew was under contract, so you know, relieved
isn't the right word, but I would say, you know,
I think what was exciting was, you know, sitting down
with Matthew with Kelly, you know, get an understanding of
exactly what they were looking for us, being able to
meet them where they were at, and having an honest
conversation about how we go chase Super Bowls together. I
think that part was the most exciting part like the
(09:29):
re signing to me pales in comparison to making sure
that we all are on the same page about what
we can achieve together.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Kevin, do you have those conversations with everybody when it
comes down to it and you're trying to figure out
if they'll stay, if they'll go, what you'll pay them.
Do you have those kind of open conversations with most
of the players?
Speaker 2 (09:47):
I mean, look, that's really where Sean Less, Tony Pastors,
you know, and our crew, the coaches handled that. You know,
I think you know at some point obviously, if you're
talking about a quarterback, a star player, you know throughout
all organizations, you may have spend more time with them.
But obviously the most important thing is do they believe
in the direction of the franchise. Do they believe in
the people they're working with? Do we make it a
(10:09):
great work environment. It's no different than any other person
than any other job, right Like, can we make this
the best place where they feel they can achieve their
goals and help us win a championship? Those are the
conversations you need to be having each and every time,
because if that answer is not yes, then we have
to look in the mirror and make sure we're going
to do it right now. It's harder, you know, unlike
some other businesses. You know, there's a salary cap pie
(10:31):
and it gets a divvied up, you know, in certain ways,
and maybe that makes them more challenging. But at the
end of the day, you want to make sure everybody
who puts on a RAMS uniform, every coach who puts
on you know, RAMS gear, every staff member who walks
with this building, that they feel like they're contributing to
help us win a championship.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Let me ask you this, if there was no salary cap,
do you think Stan would spend whatever it took every
year to win? Yes, I do too, I do too.
I don't think he would just spend it.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah, look there, you know, we have always been fortunate
enough to have an ownership group in every league that
has spent beyond the salary cap, that pays the luxury
tax you know in the NBA that you know spends
the cap in in the NHL. When you look at Arsenal,
certainly you know, always investing in the product. You know,
(11:25):
Stan is one of the most competitive, thoughtful human beings
I've been around, and if there's a way we can
find an advantage, I promise you we're going to take
advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
All right, Kevin, thanks for coming on. Really appreciate it today.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
My pleasure you to cause even though Hawaii questions just
mahallow and goodbye. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So all right there he goes, uh the chief operating
officer of the Rams, Kevin Demoff. You know, he said
something that I found pretty interesting and I kind of
talk about it when it just comes to business and
the Rams are a business. Did you did you hear
what he said about how they talked to people, how
they try to create the environment, what it is they
(12:05):
want people to feel when they work for them, and
if you're a player, you're working for the team just
like you are in the front office. And what he
said that, I thought, yeah, I get it now. If
there's a problem, if there's a disconnect, he said, they're
doing it wrong. They need to improve. They need to
fix that part of it to make sure the experience
(12:26):
for everybody is a good one. So then you start
thinking about the Dodgers and the way they do it.
And if you had Andrew Friedman on, he would basically
say the same thing. It's philosophically the same. We're all
in this together, we're all partners. Sure, you're players. We
get that you're the most important thing on our team
(12:47):
because you play the game. We've got to take care
of you. Rams, We've got to take care of you.
That's why those franchises are successful. And I think you
can make the argument that's why Stan and Kevin with
the Rams, and Mark and Andrew Dave Roberts stand cast
and with the Dodgers are successful. They understand what it takes.
(13:09):
They get that you have to work together and create
that kind of environment. It's a team and everybody uses
the word team. When I was a channel four years ago,
you know, we're a team, and I thought, no, we're not.
We're not close to being a team. And they would
send out memos that would say team. Just because they
said team doesn't mean you are one. You have to
(13:31):
create that environment where everybody is pulling together. And sure
there are days where people are disgruntled or upset.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
That just happens, but.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
For the majority of time, everyone is pulling together. Everyone
is treated with respect, everyone understands what their responsibility is.
That's what Kevin said, That's why he is successful, Stan
Karankey successful and look at the Dodgers. By the way,
I think you can make that argument for the Clippers
as well. You don't ever hear anybody disgruntled with the Clippers,
(14:03):
now do you now? Back in the day with Donald Sterling,
it would be a complete nightmare. But right now, do
you ever hear anyone disgruntled? Look at James Harden. James
Harden everywhere he went became disgruntled everywhere. Any team that
traded for James Harden, you knew what you were getting
at the end of it, and it wasn't going to
be good. He'd wear out as welcome. He'd become frustrated,
(14:26):
didn't matter where he just did. Have you heard that
with the Clippers, No, not one bit. Clippers are another
organization that really takes care of their people, and I
think that is the key to success when it comes
to business. All right, let's get back into two pitchers
for the Dodgers. Two one that kinda is there and
(14:50):
one that kinda shouldn't be there, and we'll talk about
it next.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Hello Rogan and Rodney, listener, did you know Am five
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Speaker 2 (15:08):
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Speaker 5 (15:19):
Oh yeah, we love the Weezy the way always love
some little Wayne who uh not a bad softball player either.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Roddy p Fred Rogan on a Monday.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Many thanks to Kevin Dimoff, the man who runs a
show for the Rams. I would imagine Fred, you know,
just being in this town and having so many iconic
brands and franchises in Hollywood and all those things in
this town, and how La is such an eclectic city
with so many great inspirations from all different types of
(15:57):
walks of life and ethnic group and all of those
things that you always want to share information. And the
fact that they have the Dodgers here and they have
the Lakers here, that they all have conversations about just
the way they go about things and share those conversations. Say,
I got to tell you, Kevin just gets it. You know,
(16:20):
his dad, the agent, Kevin's from here. He gets it.
He understands. Yeah, when they were in Saint Louis. He
was operating things there in very much the same way.
And I know a lot of the people in Saint
Louis were upset, upset with Kevin, upset with Stan, said
they weren't honest, weren't forthcoming, and basically had done nothing
(16:41):
to improve the team. Well, the truth of the matter
is they had an agreement with Saint Louis and Saint
Louis was not living up to that agreement when it
came to the stadium. Now, it was Roger Goodell that
suggested Stan come back here, but with Kevin is the
point guy for that, knowing the market, being from here,
(17:01):
understanding these types of things. I mean, he was so
locked down and buttoned down from the very beginning with
the plan and what they needed to do, and he
also understood what it takes to succeed here. That's why
I asked him the question about the experience. In today's
sports world, it's more than just the team. You've got
(17:25):
to have the money Dodgers Dream Foundation.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Just look at that.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Look at the money the Dodgers spent in the community,
and for that matter, look at what Steve Balmber does
with the Clippers.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Too.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
That doesn't mean everybody else doesn't do it. I'm not
suggesting that, but you're gonna have a lot of money
to really do this right. The Rams have spent a
lot of money in the community too, So it's just
more than let's run the Rams out on the field.
Here we go, guys, let's get them. That's no, no, no,
that's not how it works. And he gets that, Rodney,
(17:55):
he understands. Yeah, and it's not just And you mentioned
Steve Omer a lot of money, San Cronckey, a lot
of money. But you gotta you know, people, there's a
lot of money in this town, and that doesn't always
get it done, you know, just because there's a lot
of money and you want to throw money at it.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
People see right through that.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
And a lot of people outside looking in when they
look at la Is, Oh, there's so glitz and glamour
and all those things and everything's fake. No, when it
comes down to the nitty gritty, it is about real.
You have to have those real connections or people will
turn on you. And people get that and a heartbeat.
You got to be involved in the community. The Dodgers
(18:37):
get it. They understand that. A huge, huge part of
their community is the Hispanic community, you know, And and
they've embraced the Hispanic community and in a way that
I don't think any other team in League Baseball does.
And uh, you know, from the mariachi bands to to
when you look at the stadium and the representation in
(19:00):
Dodger Stadium, you see a tremendous support from this Hispanic community.
And so yeah, you have to be truly, truly involved.
We talked about this. When the Rams first came here,
they got it. They were playing at the coliseum, all
the things they did, the fires and the tragedy that
happened in Thousand Oaks. The Rams were the first first
(19:22):
organization not even just you know, from a sports franchise,
but just you know, the first names that you heard
were the Rams going to do this, the Rams are
going to do that, and Thousand Oaks when that tragedy happened.
So he gets it. Being from here, you get it.
And he's he's done a fantastic job of bringing the
(19:42):
Rams back into this market. All right, let's talk Dodgers
off today at Colorado tomorrow to pitching situations, we must discuss.
The first situation is Shohano Tani goes an inning last night,
not going to relive what we said during the noon hour,
or I was roundly shouted down for saying, yes, Fred
wants him to go seven right now. Well, I don't
(20:02):
want to go seven, but I'm not going to get
excited if he goes one.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
I want him to go more than one.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
He did it twice, so that's enough right for now.
I've seen enough two times. You've seen enough of the
one inning BBS. Yes, I've seen enough. Let's let's get going.
But that's at the topic here. Here's the topic. And
you brought it up earlier. When he pitches, should he
bat lead off? Yeah, that's the question. And you made
a really good point earlier, Rodney. Well, we've seen him
(20:31):
pitch at home, so that means he's got to pitch,
run into the dugout in two and a half minutes,
and be standing in the batter's box. It would be
very different if he was pitching on the road. So
the question becomes and by the way, they're not going
to make this decision tomorrow. I mean, it's just fun
to kick this around. Would you have him hit second
(20:53):
in the games he pitches? Yeah, yeah, I almost believe
and look, no matter how it goes, there's gonna be
a good percentage of people to say, see, you shouldn't
have done that if it doesn't work out, or I
(21:14):
knew this was the right thing to do. If it
does work out, You're not gonna be able to win
the argument on either side. You either have to do
it or you don't do it. Because if he goes
zero for four the first time he hit second in
a game that he pitches, everybody's gonna say, why did
you change?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
What did you do?
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Why would you do that when it was working? And
then on con you know, conversely to that, if he
goes four for four by hitting second, you're gonna say,
why didn't they do this all season long? See, you
know he's hitting all these home runs, he's get these
extra base hits, and nobody's on base for him. That's
(21:55):
why you hit him second till there at least be
somebody on base and he can drive in more runs.
And that's the reason why he should hit second. So
there's a it's from a fan standpoint and from an
observation analytical standpoint, you're not gonna be win. You're not
gonna be able to win if you're the Dodgers, You're
just gonna have to experiment with it.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
But I do believe that.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
He should hit second in games that that he pitches,
as much like they do with Freddie Freeman a little
bit right. We've seen we've seen Taoscar Hernandez hit third
and Freddie hit fourth against left handed pitching. Or we've
(22:39):
seen Will Smith move up and hit third and Freddie
hit fourth against left handed pitching. We've seen that happen
this season already, so it's not out of the realm.
And we're still early, we're still in the end of
June early July to have some experiment on what could
work best when Otani does pitch. Okay, here's my take.
(23:00):
I think they do nothing. I think if you move
him just one game the games he's pitching, that can
of worms. As you pointed out, that why why are
we even going to deal with this? Why do we
even need to deal with it? This is only an
issue if it is an issue when he is pitching
at home. It will not be an issue when he
(23:21):
is pitching on the road because you'll have more time
and we are not going to open this can of
worms where Muki leads off and Otani hits second. You
pointed it out. Mooki gets on, Otani knocks him in immediately.
Well you ought to switch right now. Every game should
be like this. Why don't you doing it like this?
That's exactly what.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Would happen, right.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Mooki leads off, gets a hit, Otani strikes out, seeing
you should have never put him second. Yeah, you gotta
there's needs. There needs to be consistency. And I can't
imagine Koki Yea or Muki hits the double in the gap.
See Otani would have hit that out and they'd been
up one nothing. You can't win, won't You won't win
(24:09):
the other thing we kicked around earlier, and some are rammed.
Some Dodger fans weren't pleased with it. They think Key
k Hernandez has made enough appearances on the MOMD this year.
They think he's reached his innings limit. He's kind of
Tyler Glass now, except not hurt. You've reached your limit.
You can't go out and pitch anymore. And people are
(24:30):
upset those that say this because they think, if I
go to a major league game, I want to see
major league pitchers. And they believe that when Key K
comes in, or it could be Mickey Rojas, but it's
been KEYK recently. When they come in, that signals the
end of the game one way or the other. You know,
(24:51):
you're down by eleven runs, here comes key K. If
you're sitting there as a fan, you're thinking to yourself, well,
they just wave the flag, it's over. If you're up
at eleven runs and here comes key K, you're going
all the game's over. Anyway, it's only seven innings, that's over.
I don't have a problem with the position players pitching.
(25:14):
I actually like it. To me, it's fun, of course.
I like anything that's different. Well, you know, think about it.
You know you're sitting at Dodger Stadium and you know
it starts to turn into a blowout. I mean, blowouts
are cool for the home team. You know, when you're
sitting there for what maybe an inny or two if
(25:34):
at most, you're like, oh, yeah, we blew them out,
we blew But after that, it gets boring, doesn't it.
It gets boring and it's like you're sitting there, we're
up thirteen to two, and oh huh blah blah blah,
what do I do? I keep drinking. Oh no, I
can't keep drinking because it's seven inning and there's no
more beer to be sold. So I'm sitting here in
(25:56):
this thirteen to two game that doesn't even though I
like my team winning, there's nothing for me to be
excited about. So whatever, either I leave, Either I leave,
or can you give me something to excite me?
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Fred?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
And that's another level of exciting the friends of Hey,
key K's coming into pitch. Let's see what happens. Let's
see if he can strike anybody out. Let's see how
bad you know, hitters get when they're trying to hit
a home run off Kik to pad their stats. So
there's a level of I guess, rejuvenation when it comes
(26:35):
to the fans if a position player comes in to
pitch at that moment.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
So I'm okay with it, But what.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
If he comes in and gives up a grand slam
like k K is done, and all of a sudden,
that thirteen to three lead turns into thirteen eight, and
all of a sudden, it's like, well, damn, now we
gotta get some actual relievers up because.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
We might blow this whole thing out.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
I don't think fans will enjoy.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
That's okay, yes, very well. Can happen as it has
happened before, has gotten closed. I mean, you know, as
recent as this weekend where they got a couple of
hits and the guy hit a home run and then
all of a sudden they had to bring in a
real reliever. And that certainly certainly can happen. But not
(27:18):
very often, though, Kevin, Not very often when you're up
that much, where it goes grand slam and three run
homer and all of a sudden you're scrambling. Are you
suggesting that once you turn it off, you can't turn
it back on. I think that's what he's suggesting. Yeah,
that once you stop, you know, you you wave the
(27:40):
white flag, you know, and and it gets bad. They score,
like they hit a grand Slam and then another, you know,
two hitters later, they hit a two run homer, and
all of a sudden, it's they scored six runs in
a matter of three batters. Can you now switch it
and turn it back on? Maybe that that is the fear,
because God forbid you lose a game like that. Oh
(28:02):
you can't, because if you if you lose a game
like that, then then all bets are all. I don't
think it wouldn't even be just that particular team, or
it wouldn't just be the Dodgers. I think league wide
would take a look at it and go, we ain't
doing that. We are not going to be that team,
you know what I mean. We are not going to
(28:23):
be that team that's up thirteen to two and loses
it in the eighth and ninth any because we brought
in a position player and they came back and beat us.
Yeah you mind, Yeah, that wouldn't be good. Happened, by
the way, I just got this, Kevin sennat So my mistake.
Game seven of the NBA Finals most watched NBA Finals
(28:44):
game in the six year in six years, average sixteen
point four million viewers on ABC. Overall, the playoffs averaged
six point one to two million viewers per game. That's
up ten percent from last year when I would like
to know what what Wait, it was the most watched
in seven years, averaging Yeah, the most watched NBA Finals
(29:09):
in six years, in six years. But I didn't see that.
I didn't either. I did not see that at all.
And he would not have thought about that thinking about
the coverage and the amount of people talking about the
(29:31):
NBA Finals that it would be the most watched in
six years. See, but everything is relative, you know. The
NBA was quick to add that the seven game series
accounted for the seven most watched primetime television programs over
the past two months. That is misleading. Now you say
that and you go, oh my god. Well, first, nobody's
(29:51):
watching primetime TV. Nobody really watches anymore. So of course
it's better than a rerun of Matlock on CBS. I
like Matt Locke, stop it. I'm not saying it's bad,
but you know, you can see it so many times,
so that is very misleading. Well, look how well we did.
But what I'd like to know, and maybe we can
(30:13):
look it up in the break, They averaged six point
one two million viewers per game NBA playoffs. Okay, all right,
I'd like to see how that compares to Major League
Baseball and maybe the NHL. Maybe we can find that
it'll probably beat the NHL. And the other thing, it
averaged sixteen point four million viewers on ABC, the most
(30:36):
watched NBA Finals game in six years. Oh, it doesn't
say what the number was for the series. That's the
other thing. It's just the game against the game, not
the series. So that's something I think we as well.
It was a game seven, which is different than game five, correct, correct,
(31:00):
So I think that's something that we need to look into.
We'll do that during the break. Yeah, you know what,
We'll look that up during the break.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Now, let's see if we can find this information. If
we have time, we're gonna do the smell story, and
if not, we'll do it tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
We've made it even easier to take LA Sports with
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Speaker 1 (31:43):
Oh yes, hey, beautiful Monday, beautiful Monday, coming off a
beautiful weekend. Come on now, right to Pete fred Rogan,
let's go. Okay, so let's drop up the ratings real
quick here. So we told you that the NBA Playoff
average six point one two million viewers per game. Okay,
(32:05):
So now let's compare and contrast and the final average
sixteen point four million viewers. MLB ratings Dodgers Yankees Game
five fifteen point eight one million, twenty one million at
the peak of the game, playoffs average to five point seven.
(32:28):
Super Bowl one hundred and twenty seven million people watched
one hundred and twenty seven million. Stanley Cupp the finals
two point five million average. So to give you some perspective,
the Bachelor on ABC does a two point four million.
So the Stanley Cup Finals was just a tick above
the Bachelor. Okay, okay, why are you smiling like that?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
I don't know, I don't know. I just thought, oh
my god.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Then I looked up Yeah, I looked up, Hey, when
you're a you're above the Bachelor. Are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Fan? Are you kidding me? He said? The NHL the
NBA finals were above the Bachelor by yeah. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Bachelor was two point four what you say, and NBA
was to six point one. Yeah, and hockey was two
point five. Hockey was two point five. So it just
barely beat the Bachelor.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
So then I looked up Love Island USA. Okay, all right,
so that's not on a network that's streaming. Yeah, one
point two billion streams. I don't know what that means.
One point two billion streams of Love Island USA.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Now, I'm not sure that's one point two billion people,
but one point two billion streams Love Island USA, Stanley
Cup two and a half million people. We know what
people want? Now, Oh do we have? Do we ever?
Speaker 3 (34:05):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Love Island is on par or beat? Did it beat it?
He said? Beat it beat? Well, I don't know it
be what a stream equates to?
Speaker 6 (34:18):
Like, what's the metric on that? Because Love Island? Who
knows when it was released? And people can watch whenever
they want. It's not like appointment viewing like a lot
of sporting events.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
So no, it was released recently.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
How recently were talking though?
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (34:32):
Because it could be released a month ago and it's
you know, it's a different story as opposed to Yeah, Rodney,
I think it was a month ago, to be honest
with you. Let me see one point two one point
two billion minutes viewed across nine episodes and it launched
June third, one two million.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Less than a month. Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Huh. That's a people will want. Yeah, you understand how
Love Island works. Have you ever seen Love Island? I have,
I've seen what island?
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Kevin? Have you seen it? Yeah? I have kids are
all into it. Hey, Kevin, just wait Oliver.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
When he gets to a certain age, it's going to uh,
he's going to be unfortunately glued to uh. Some of
these reality dating shows. It's like anything, you know, you
get kicked off the island. But what was great was
Love Island all like Love Island games. I saw that
one too, Jesus Christ, where all the people came back
(35:33):
and then they had like athletic competations.
Speaker 6 (35:36):
That's not a real thing, Seriously, it.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Was Love Island Games, the games, a Love Island Olympics
or they got that. They got all that. Don't Yeah,
don't be surprised Love Island has. Yeah, there's so many tentacles.
I'm sure there'll be, you know, you know, Love Island
Bowling Match, the Love Island Golf Tournament, the Love Island
whatever it may be that will franchise off. Love is Blind.
(36:00):
This love is blind. That love is not blind. It's real.
If it works, it works.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Oh, if it works, it works.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
And you know what else, it doesn't cost them anything
to produce them nothing. You know, they're not paying stars
to go be a part of this. You know, there's
no writers for these people. It is show up. We'll
put you on camera. You do with it, which you will.
And these people have, you know, gained million followers on
(36:31):
social media, which you know, if you play it right,
it makes them money as well, right, if you play
it right. What's interesting is I know a couple of
kids that went on there are just their followers increased.
But it's much harder now to become an influencer.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Than it was years ago.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Oh yeah, because that market is pretty much saturated, so
they don't. Yeah, during and right after COVID it was
extremely hot market. It still is if you do it right.
But like you said, it's not like it was a
few years back, where you know, you got to a
certain number of followers and that was you were you
were starting to rake in the money.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
No more.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
So they go on and they hope and they pray,
but it's really hard for them to capitalize. I met
a couple of the people, like two three years ago.
One of the kids that was on there was actually
from Palm Desert and I was like the Grand Marshal
and the Palm Springs Holiday Festival light Parade before I started.
(37:31):
Oh I know, I got to drive in a car
Palm Canyon Boulevard.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
It was nice. Everybody came out, so everybody came out. Kevin,
you hear that.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Because it's you're the Grand Marshal riding in the convertible.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Uh what corvette?
Speaker 1 (37:49):
You're riding a convertible corps you know, corvette with uh
Angeline driving you and her in the back. It was
not Angeline, but thank you for asking anyway. And to
the people that were on there, and they can't.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Call in if you know who Angeline is, well.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Just look for a pink corvette or billboard. But they
were on it, and they were very popular, and nothing
happened for them. Nothing, you know, they thought they'd cash in.
And I talked to them and said, well, we don't
really have an agent and we don't really know.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
What to do.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
So I think you go on and you think great
things will happen for you, right, But a lot of
them don't even know what to do. No, Sure, you
better have a plan. I mean, you better have a
plan before you go on, like you mentioned, because your
impression influence whatever it may be on a hit show
like these are when you don't always equate that to
(38:43):
hit shows. You don't know because there's so many of them.
But if you happen it happens to be a hit,
then you should be prepared for all of the attention
you may get and try to figure out a way
how to make that a business and monetize it. But yeah,
if you don't, if you don't get the you know,
the monetization of it, then that's on you because they're
(39:06):
providing you with the opportunity to to make a lot
of money by putting your presence out there.
Speaker 6 (39:13):
So you don't, maybe I'll have to tune into Love
Island Beyond the Villa, which is going to take you
in July.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
So there you go. Oh, there you go.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
I'll jump in on that, get in on that.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean, beyond the Villa.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Okay, we'll do a deep teas. We're only on to
our restaurant. We did not get to the story today,
but I'm just gonna read the headline. Oh please deep
teas for tomorrow. Why old people smell happens, that's for tomorrow.
I've been holding it all day and we didn't get
to it. Why that was a Yeah, you've been holding
(39:49):
it all day, Fred Gay to present it way, to
present it the right way. I've been holding this all
day why do O people smell? And what you can
do about it? Ronnie, thank you, Kevin appreciate it. Rodney
will uh, we'll sniff that one out tomorrow talk.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
Oh, yes, we will.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
H
All right, we continue on Fred Rogan, Rodney Pete on
a five seventy LA Sports. Let's not delay because we
have the man from the RAMS joining us on the show.
Let's welcome Kevin demopon Aloha Kevin, and welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Sadly, no more aloha, sadly beautiful day, sadly beautiful day
here in Los Angeles. But you know, the Aloha vibes
are gone.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I bet they were very good vibes, Kevin. Okay, I'm
putting it out there right now. I want to be
your global ambassador. I'm ready to come over to the
RAMS and I'll take it global.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Man.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We'll do a Hawaii, We'll do Asia, we'll do Europe,
We'll do everything. Man, come on, let's make that happen.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Well, we could use you right now. We have a
contingent of players and staff in Australia ahead of our
Melbourne game for the twenty twenty sixth season, doing fan
combines and a bunch of events in Melbourne, Australia. Though
it's old and winner down there right now, so maybe
not the old Oha vibes of Hawaii.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, that's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I mean the NFL I said this right before you
came on, that has really tried to reach out globally
for a number of years.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Now.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I know the other sports taken a lot of the headlines,
but I remember playing back in well, I think we
went over to London in nineteen ninety one, and in
the NFL has been doing that for a number of years.
How aggressively are you guys now? You mentioned playing in
Australia but other parts of the world of growing the
(01:37):
NFL brand around the globe, how aggressively are you guys
doing it now?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Look, I think if you look, there are now seven
international games a year, and back then Ronnie used to
just be a preseason game, and it's such an Our
Hawaii trip reminded me more of those kind of experiences
or the Pro Bowl, maybe more of those than others.
But all thirty two teams now have rights to market
in at least one country abroad. So it's obviously a
(02:04):
huge push for the NFL. You've heard the commissioner talk
about his goal to play eight, maybe ten, up to
sixteen games internationally long term, so I think it's something
we're all excited about. You know, there is a ton
of opportunity for us to grow this game globally, to
expand the base, and for us as the Rams, it's
always been very targeted on what makes us a stronger
(02:24):
team here at home as well. So if you look
at our experience, whether it's our rights in Mexico, China, Korea, Japan,
Australia and New Zealand, it's always been very much focused
on the Pacific rim in so many countries that really
call Los Angeles the second home because I think if
you're going to be in Los Angeles, you have to
be a great team. You have to be a global team.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
And Kevin, those are your markets. Nobody else can market.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
There, No you share those markets. Now we are the
only people in China, Japan, Korea, and then there are
a couple of teams in New Zealand and Australia, and
Mexico has about eight or nine teams, so it's very
crowded from from that perspective, but you know, we are
in a number of markets where we are by ourselves.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Kevin, how how I mean it's so cool to be
in LA. You mentioned this, the LA You're in Las
a unique situations because you have to be global and
the Rams are the the NFL team, no disrespect to
anybody else, but the Rams are the NFL team in
LA and you guys came back and came back with
a vengeance and won a Super Bowl and really captured
(03:30):
the market. But there are other you know, obviously professional
sports teams in this market. Do you have conversations with
the Dodgers, for instance, that you know what they've done
in Japan and how they've done Asia. Do you guys
communicate back and forth about are just sharing notes about
(03:50):
how to approach Asia and some of these other foreign markets.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, if you could find me the best player in
the world in the NFL to be from Asia and
I can put them on the Rams, let's do that.
It would be the best notes we could take. So,
you know, look, I think the great the benefit teams have,
you know, whether I look at the Lakers and like
a Rui Hachimura for that example. Obviously the Dodgers have
(04:15):
a number of stellar Japanese players, Like, if you could
find a player from one of those markets, is the
best way to grow. But I do think you know
a number of our players, think quinnin Lake Jared Verse
were in Japan around the time of the Dodgers Japanese
series this year, you're always trying to I mean, look,
I think if you're in Los Angeles and you're not
trying to learn from all these teams, because we have
(04:35):
so many teams in this market to do it at
a high level and do it well, you're not growing,
whether it's international or not. But certainly, I think when
you look at some of the brands, the Dodgers, the
Lakers and where they've been internationally. You know, whether it's
the Lakers Jersey Patch with BBGO or the Dodgers and
their efforts. What the Angels did you know with Shohy
when they had show Hey, you know, I certainly think
(04:57):
what LAFC has done with some of their players, like
how you learn from every club and try to apply
your own spin on that and the NFL spin to it,
is valuable.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
And when you look at business and people don't seem
to remember, you know, you guys operate a business here
they're called the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
That's a business.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
You operate from a revenue standpoint, things like that, by marketing,
by expanding, does that increase revenue exponentially?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
You know, I think so much of the international play
is a long term place. Certainly there's a revenue component now,
but look, the best way to grow revenue is to
grow your fan base. Everything we do with the Rams
has to be about growing the fan base and making
more ramstands. And you know, if you do that, well,
hopefully you can find ways to grow revenues which you
can go back and reinvest in players and facilities and
(05:45):
coaches and everything else that makes the world go. But
you know, I think even from a business perspective, our
number one priority is always going to be to grow
the fan base, whether that's here in Los Angeles or abroad,
and then hope that long term play translates.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
And since you, when you really look at it and
analyze it, are you happy with where you're at in
the market here in LA? Have you done what you
hope to accomplish?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
You know that is a loaded question, Fred. I mean,
I can sit back to when we went to lunch
ten years ago in Westlake Village and if you had
told me twenty sixteen to twenty twenty five, look this
way like, there's so much that we've accomplished on the
field off the field that makes me proud and that
I truly do believe we're on the right steps. Do
(06:30):
you ever sit here and say like we're comfortable. No,
Like we need to continue to grow to become Southern
California's team, America's team, the world's team, you know. And
for me, that's always about growing a fan base and
having a paranoia about continually getting better and continually growing.
Make sure you put a great product on the field,
make sure you market it the best way, make sure
(06:50):
the fan experience at Sofi Stadium is unparalleled. Those are
the things you have to do to keep winning other
over Southern California. Every day. Our work here is never done.
Proud of what we've accomplished with the last ten years.
If you had told me ten years ago this is
what it would look like when I take it. Sure,
but are we satisfied now? I don't think we'll ever
be satisfied until you know every fan at Sofi Stadium
(07:12):
is wearing blue and yellow, and you know that everybody
in Southern California bleeds, you know, rams blue and yellow.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
You know I've said this before, Kevin, just from a
business perspective, and obviously you you know you're in charge
of a lot of the business now when it comes
to this type of stuff for stands businesses. But I've said,
you know, when you go to an arena or a stadium,
now you need to go to an experience. Sure, the
game is going on, but when you guys think about
stuff and put it together, is it more the experience
(07:43):
at the stadium or the arena and there happens to
be a game, or you're going to a game with
an experience.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Look, I think it just depends, right. I always view
it and always have viewed it as per fandom. It's
what I call your closet to closet experience. From the
moment you walk into your closet and put on a
pookin and houa jersey to come to Sofi Stadium to
the moment you get home. That is all part of
your rams experience, from tailgating to what you do inside
the stadium, whether it's food and beverage wise, whether it's
(08:11):
at the merchandise store, whether it's what we play on
the Infinity screen, the way we play on the field.
It's all part of the experience. I don't think you
can can highlight it now. You know, is that experience
better when you win games? And it is the game
a focal part of it. Sure, but you know that
and football has the benefit of we only play ten
home games a year. Hopefully you get a few playoff games.
(08:32):
Every game is an event. But if you're not doing
your best to both provide entertainment on the field and
off the field throughout the entirety of people's journeys to
and from Sofi Stadium, you're just you're missing what is
part of that quintessential fan and community experience together. And
I think the most important part of if we're asking
people to give up both their time, you know, part
(08:56):
of their weekend disposable income, we have to make sure
it's worth their while each time to do it.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
How relieved were you when you resigned Matthew Stafford?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
You know, Matthew was under contract, so you know, relieved
isn't the right word, but I would say, you know,
I think what was exciting was, you know, sitting down
with Matthew with Kelly, you know, get an understanding of
exactly what they were looking for us, being able to
meet them where they were at, and having an honest
conversation about how we go chase Super Bowls together. I
think that part was the most exciting part like the
(09:29):
re signing to me pales in comparison to making sure
that we all are on the same page about what
we can achieve together.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Kevin, do you have those conversations with everybody when it
comes down to it and you're trying to figure out
if they'll stay, if they'll go, what you'll pay them.
Do you have those kind of open conversations with most
of the players?
Speaker 2 (09:47):
I mean, look, that's really where Sean Less, Tony Pastors,
you know, and our crew, the coaches handled that. You know,
I think you know at some point obviously, if you're
talking about a quarterback, a star player, you know throughout
all organizations, you may have spend more time with them.
But obviously the most important thing is do they believe
in the direction of the franchise. Do they believe in
the people they're working with? Do we make it a
(10:09):
great work environment. It's no different than any other person
than any other job, right Like, can we make this
the best place where they feel they can achieve their
goals and help us win a championship? Those are the
conversations you need to be having each and every time,
because if that answer is not yes, then we have
to look in the mirror and make sure we're going
to do it right now. It's harder, you know, unlike
some other businesses. You know, there's a salary cap pie
(10:31):
and it gets a divvied up, you know, in certain ways,
and maybe that makes them more challenging. But at the
end of the day, you want to make sure everybody
who puts on a RAMS uniform, every coach who puts
on you know, RAMS gear, every staff member who walks
with this building, that they feel like they're contributing to
help us win a championship.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Let me ask you this, if there was no salary cap,
do you think Stan would spend whatever it took every
year to win? Yes, I do too, I do too.
I don't think he would just spend it.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah, look there, you know, we have always been fortunate
enough to have an ownership group in every league that
has spent beyond the salary cap, that pays the luxury
tax you know in the NBA that you know spends
the cap in in the NHL. When you look at Arsenal,
certainly you know, always investing in the product. You know,
(11:25):
Stan is one of the most competitive, thoughtful human beings
I've been around, and if there's a way we can
find an advantage, I promise you we're going to take
advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
All right, Kevin, thanks for coming on. Really appreciate it today.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
My pleasure you to cause even though Hawaii questions just
mahallow and goodbye. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
So all right there he goes, uh the chief operating
officer of the Rams, Kevin Demoff. You know, he said
something that I found pretty interesting and I kind of
talk about it when it just comes to business and
the Rams are a business. Did you did you hear
what he said about how they talked to people, how
they try to create the environment, what it is they
(12:05):
want people to feel when they work for them, and
if you're a player, you're working for the team just
like you are in the front office. And what he
said that, I thought, yeah, I get it now. If
there's a problem, if there's a disconnect, he said, they're
doing it wrong. They need to improve. They need to
fix that part of it to make sure the experience
(12:26):
for everybody is a good one. So then you start
thinking about the Dodgers and the way they do it.
And if you had Andrew Friedman on, he would basically
say the same thing. It's philosophically the same. We're all
in this together, we're all partners. Sure, you're players. We
get that you're the most important thing on our team
(12:47):
because you play the game. We've got to take care
of you. Rams, We've got to take care of you.
That's why those franchises are successful. And I think you
can make the argument that's why Stan and Kevin with
the Rams, and Mark and Andrew Dave Roberts stand cast
and with the Dodgers are successful. They understand what it takes.
(13:09):
They get that you have to work together and create
that kind of environment. It's a team and everybody uses
the word team. When I was a channel four years ago,
you know, we're a team, and I thought, no, we're not.
We're not close to being a team. And they would
send out memos that would say team. Just because they
said team doesn't mean you are one. You have to
(13:31):
create that environment where everybody is pulling together. And sure
there are days where people are disgruntled or upset.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
That just happens, but.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
For the majority of time, everyone is pulling together. Everyone
is treated with respect, everyone understands what their responsibility is.
That's what Kevin said, That's why he is successful, Stan
Karankey successful and look at the Dodgers. By the way,
I think you can make that argument for the Clippers
as well. You don't ever hear anybody disgruntled with the Clippers,
(14:03):
now do you now? Back in the day with Donald Sterling,
it would be a complete nightmare. But right now, do
you ever hear anyone disgruntled? Look at James Harden. James
Harden everywhere he went became disgruntled everywhere. Any team that
traded for James Harden, you knew what you were getting
at the end of it, and it wasn't going to
be good. He'd wear out as welcome. He'd become frustrated,
(14:26):
didn't matter where he just did. Have you heard that
with the Clippers, No, not one bit. Clippers are another
organization that really takes care of their people, and I
think that is the key to success when it comes
to business. All right, let's get back into two pitchers
for the Dodgers. Two one that kinda is there and
(14:50):
one that kinda shouldn't be there, and we'll talk about
it next.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Hello Rogan and Rodney, listener, did you know Am five
seventy LA Sports has a wide range of LA Sports
podcasts shows like Petros in Money. We are streaming Man
Dodger Talk with David Vassey.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
The Dodger Podcast of record.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
Clipper Talk Without a Moss, Follow us all and many more.
Just go to AM five to seventy LA Sports on
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
Oh yeah, we love the Weezy the way always love
some little Wayne who uh not a bad softball player either.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Roddy p Fred Rogan on a Monday.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Many thanks to Kevin Dimoff, the man who runs a
show for the Rams. I would imagine Fred, you know,
just being in this town and having so many iconic
brands and franchises in Hollywood and all those things in
this town, and how La is such an eclectic city
with so many great inspirations from all different types of
(15:57):
walks of life and ethnic group and all of those
things that you always want to share information. And the
fact that they have the Dodgers here and they have
the Lakers here, that they all have conversations about just
the way they go about things and share those conversations. Say,
I got to tell you, Kevin just gets it. You know,
(16:20):
his dad, the agent, Kevin's from here. He gets it.
He understands. Yeah, when they were in Saint Louis. He
was operating things there in very much the same way.
And I know a lot of the people in Saint
Louis were upset, upset with Kevin, upset with Stan, said
they weren't honest, weren't forthcoming, and basically had done nothing
(16:41):
to improve the team. Well, the truth of the matter
is they had an agreement with Saint Louis and Saint
Louis was not living up to that agreement when it
came to the stadium. Now, it was Roger Goodell that
suggested Stan come back here, but with Kevin is the
point guy for that, knowing the market, being from here,
(17:01):
understanding these types of things. I mean, he was so
locked down and buttoned down from the very beginning with
the plan and what they needed to do, and he
also understood what it takes to succeed here. That's why
I asked him the question about the experience. In today's
sports world, it's more than just the team. You've got
(17:25):
to have the money Dodgers Dream Foundation.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Just look at that.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Look at the money the Dodgers spent in the community,
and for that matter, look at what Steve Balmber does
with the Clippers.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Too.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
That doesn't mean everybody else doesn't do it. I'm not
suggesting that, but you're gonna have a lot of money
to really do this right. The Rams have spent a
lot of money in the community too, So it's just
more than let's run the Rams out on the field.
Here we go, guys, let's get them. That's no, no, no,
that's not how it works. And he gets that, Rodney,
(17:55):
he understands. Yeah, and it's not just And you mentioned
Steve Omer a lot of money, San Cronckey, a lot
of money. But you gotta you know, people, there's a
lot of money in this town, and that doesn't always
get it done, you know, just because there's a lot
of money and you want to throw money at it.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
People see right through that.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
And a lot of people outside looking in when they
look at la Is, Oh, there's so glitz and glamour
and all those things and everything's fake. No, when it
comes down to the nitty gritty, it is about real.
You have to have those real connections or people will
turn on you. And people get that and a heartbeat.
You got to be involved in the community. The Dodgers
(18:37):
get it. They understand that. A huge, huge part of
their community is the Hispanic community, you know, And and
they've embraced the Hispanic community and in a way that
I don't think any other team in League Baseball does.
And uh, you know, from the mariachi bands to to
when you look at the stadium and the representation in
(19:00):
Dodger Stadium, you see a tremendous support from this Hispanic community.
And so yeah, you have to be truly, truly involved.
We talked about this. When the Rams first came here,
they got it. They were playing at the coliseum, all
the things they did, the fires and the tragedy that
happened in Thousand Oaks. The Rams were the first first
(19:22):
organization not even just you know, from a sports franchise,
but just you know, the first names that you heard
were the Rams going to do this, the Rams are
going to do that, and Thousand Oaks when that tragedy happened.
So he gets it. Being from here, you get it.
And he's he's done a fantastic job of bringing the
(19:42):
Rams back into this market. All right, let's talk Dodgers
off today at Colorado tomorrow to pitching situations, we must discuss.
The first situation is Shohano Tani goes an inning last night,
not going to relive what we said during the noon hour,
or I was roundly shouted down for saying, yes, Fred
wants him to go seven right now. Well, I don't
(20:02):
want to go seven, but I'm not going to get
excited if he goes one.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
I want him to go more than one.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
He did it twice, so that's enough right for now.
I've seen enough two times. You've seen enough of the
one inning BBS. Yes, I've seen enough. Let's let's get going.
But that's at the topic here. Here's the topic. And
you brought it up earlier. When he pitches, should he
bat lead off? Yeah, that's the question. And you made
a really good point earlier, Rodney. Well, we've seen him
(20:31):
pitch at home, so that means he's got to pitch,
run into the dugout in two and a half minutes,
and be standing in the batter's box. It would be
very different if he was pitching on the road. So
the question becomes and by the way, they're not going
to make this decision tomorrow. I mean, it's just fun
to kick this around. Would you have him hit second
(20:53):
in the games he pitches? Yeah, yeah, I almost believe
and look, no matter how it goes, there's gonna be
a good percentage of people to say, see, you shouldn't
have done that if it doesn't work out, or I
(21:14):
knew this was the right thing to do. If it
does work out, You're not gonna be able to win
the argument on either side. You either have to do
it or you don't do it. Because if he goes
zero for four the first time he hit second in
a game that he pitches, everybody's gonna say, why did
you change?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
What did you do?
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Why would you do that when it was working? And
then on con you know, conversely to that, if he
goes four for four by hitting second, you're gonna say,
why didn't they do this all season long? See, you
know he's hitting all these home runs, he's get these
extra base hits, and nobody's on base for him. That's
(21:55):
why you hit him second till there at least be
somebody on base and he can drive in more runs.
And that's the reason why he should hit second. So
there's a it's from a fan standpoint and from an
observation analytical standpoint, you're not gonna be win. You're not
gonna be able to win if you're the Dodgers, You're
just gonna have to experiment with it.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
But I do believe that.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
He should hit second in games that that he pitches,
as much like they do with Freddie Freeman a little
bit right. We've seen we've seen Taoscar Hernandez hit third
and Freddie hit fourth against left handed pitching. Or we've
(22:39):
seen Will Smith move up and hit third and Freddie
hit fourth against left handed pitching. We've seen that happen
this season already, so it's not out of the realm.
And we're still early, we're still in the end of
June early July to have some experiment on what could
work best when Otani does pitch. Okay, here's my take.
(23:00):
I think they do nothing. I think if you move
him just one game the games he's pitching, that can
of worms. As you pointed out, that why why are
we even going to deal with this? Why do we
even need to deal with it? This is only an
issue if it is an issue when he is pitching
at home. It will not be an issue when he
(23:21):
is pitching on the road because you'll have more time
and we are not going to open this can of
worms where Muki leads off and Otani hits second. You
pointed it out. Mooki gets on, Otani knocks him in immediately.
Well you ought to switch right now. Every game should
be like this. Why don't you doing it like this?
That's exactly what.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Would happen, right.
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Mooki leads off, gets a hit, Otani strikes out, seeing
you should have never put him second. Yeah, you gotta
there's needs. There needs to be consistency. And I can't
imagine Koki Yea or Muki hits the double in the gap.
See Otani would have hit that out and they'd been
up one nothing. You can't win, won't You won't win
(24:09):
the other thing we kicked around earlier, and some are rammed.
Some Dodger fans weren't pleased with it. They think Key
k Hernandez has made enough appearances on the MOMD this year.
They think he's reached his innings limit. He's kind of
Tyler Glass now, except not hurt. You've reached your limit.
You can't go out and pitch anymore. And people are
(24:30):
upset those that say this because they think, if I
go to a major league game, I want to see
major league pitchers. And they believe that when Key K
comes in, or it could be Mickey Rojas, but it's
been KEYK recently. When they come in, that signals the
end of the game one way or the other. You know,
(24:51):
you're down by eleven runs, here comes key K. If
you're sitting there as a fan, you're thinking to yourself, well,
they just wave the flag, it's over. If you're up
at eleven runs and here comes key K, you're going
all the game's over. Anyway, it's only seven innings, that's over.
I don't have a problem with the position players pitching.
(25:14):
I actually like it. To me, it's fun, of course.
I like anything that's different. Well, you know, think about it.
You know you're sitting at Dodger Stadium and you know
it starts to turn into a blowout. I mean, blowouts
are cool for the home team. You know, when you're
sitting there for what maybe an inny or two if
(25:34):
at most, you're like, oh, yeah, we blew them out,
we blew But after that, it gets boring, doesn't it.
It gets boring and it's like you're sitting there, we're
up thirteen to two, and oh huh blah blah blah,
what do I do? I keep drinking. Oh no, I
can't keep drinking because it's seven inning and there's no
more beer to be sold. So I'm sitting here in
(25:56):
this thirteen to two game that doesn't even though I
like my team winning, there's nothing for me to be
excited about. So whatever, either I leave, Either I leave,
or can you give me something to excite me?
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Fred?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
And that's another level of exciting the friends of Hey,
key K's coming into pitch. Let's see what happens. Let's
see if he can strike anybody out. Let's see how
bad you know, hitters get when they're trying to hit
a home run off Kik to pad their stats. So
there's a level of I guess, rejuvenation when it comes
(26:35):
to the fans if a position player comes in to
pitch at that moment.
Speaker 3 (26:39):
So I'm okay with it, But what.
Speaker 6 (26:41):
If he comes in and gives up a grand slam
like k K is done, and all of a sudden,
that thirteen to three lead turns into thirteen eight, and
all of a sudden, it's like, well, damn, now we
gotta get some actual relievers up because.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
We might blow this whole thing out.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
I don't think fans will enjoy.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
That's okay, yes, very well. Can happen as it has
happened before, has gotten closed. I mean, you know, as
recent as this weekend where they got a couple of
hits and the guy hit a home run and then
all of a sudden they had to bring in a
real reliever. And that certainly certainly can happen. But not
(27:18):
very often, though, Kevin, Not very often when you're up
that much, where it goes grand slam and three run
homer and all of a sudden you're scrambling. Are you
suggesting that once you turn it off, you can't turn
it back on. I think that's what he's suggesting. Yeah,
that once you stop, you know, you you wave the
(27:40):
white flag, you know, and and it gets bad. They score,
like they hit a grand Slam and then another, you know,
two hitters later, they hit a two run homer, and
all of a sudden, it's they scored six runs in
a matter of three batters. Can you now switch it
and turn it back on? Maybe that that is the fear,
because God forbid you lose a game like that. Oh
(28:02):
you can't, because if you if you lose a game
like that, then then all bets are all. I don't
think it wouldn't even be just that particular team, or
it wouldn't just be the Dodgers. I think league wide
would take a look at it and go, we ain't
doing that. We are not going to be that team,
you know what I mean. We are not going to
(28:23):
be that team that's up thirteen to two and loses
it in the eighth and ninth any because we brought
in a position player and they came back and beat us.
Yeah you mind, Yeah, that wouldn't be good. Happened, by
the way, I just got this, Kevin sennat So my mistake.
Game seven of the NBA Finals most watched NBA Finals
(28:44):
game in the six year in six years, average sixteen
point four million viewers on ABC. Overall, the playoffs averaged
six point one to two million viewers per game. That's
up ten percent from last year when I would like
to know what what Wait, it was the most watched
in seven years, averaging Yeah, the most watched NBA Finals
(29:09):
in six years, in six years. But I didn't see that.
I didn't either. I did not see that at all.
And he would not have thought about that thinking about
the coverage and the amount of people talking about the
(29:31):
NBA Finals that it would be the most watched in
six years. See, but everything is relative, you know. The
NBA was quick to add that the seven game series
accounted for the seven most watched primetime television programs over
the past two months. That is misleading. Now you say
that and you go, oh my god. Well, first, nobody's
(29:51):
watching primetime TV. Nobody really watches anymore. So of course
it's better than a rerun of Matlock on CBS. I
like Matt Locke, stop it. I'm not saying it's bad,
but you know, you can see it so many times,
so that is very misleading. Well, look how well we did.
But what I'd like to know, and maybe we can
(30:13):
look it up in the break, They averaged six point
one two million viewers per game NBA playoffs. Okay, all right,
I'd like to see how that compares to Major League
Baseball and maybe the NHL. Maybe we can find that
it'll probably beat the NHL. And the other thing, it
averaged sixteen point four million viewers on ABC, the most
(30:36):
watched NBA Finals game in six years. Oh, it doesn't
say what the number was for the series. That's the
other thing. It's just the game against the game, not
the series. So that's something I think we as well.
It was a game seven, which is different than game five, correct, correct,
(31:00):
So I think that's something that we need to look into.
We'll do that during the break. Yeah, you know what,
We'll look that up during the break.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Now, let's see if we can find this information. If
we have time, we're gonna do the smell story, and
if not, we'll do it tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
We've made it even easier to take LA Sports with
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Speaker 1 (31:43):
Oh yes, hey, beautiful Monday, beautiful Monday, coming off a
beautiful weekend. Come on now, right to Pete fred Rogan,
let's go. Okay, so let's drop up the ratings real
quick here. So we told you that the NBA Playoff
average six point one two million viewers per game. Okay,
(32:05):
So now let's compare and contrast and the final average
sixteen point four million viewers. MLB ratings Dodgers Yankees Game
five fifteen point eight one million, twenty one million at
the peak of the game, playoffs average to five point seven.
(32:28):
Super Bowl one hundred and twenty seven million people watched
one hundred and twenty seven million. Stanley Cupp the finals
two point five million average. So to give you some perspective,
the Bachelor on ABC does a two point four million.
So the Stanley Cup Finals was just a tick above
the Bachelor. Okay, okay, why are you smiling like that?
Speaker 3 (32:52):
I don't know, I don't know. I just thought, oh
my god.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
Then I looked up Yeah, I looked up, Hey, when
you're a you're above the Bachelor. Are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Fan? Are you kidding me? He said? The NHL the
NBA finals were above the Bachelor by yeah. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Bachelor was two point four what you say, and NBA
was to six point one. Yeah, and hockey was two
point five. Hockey was two point five. So it just
barely beat the Bachelor.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
So then I looked up Love Island USA. Okay, all right,
so that's not on a network that's streaming. Yeah, one
point two billion streams. I don't know what that means.
One point two billion streams of Love Island USA.
Speaker 3 (33:42):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Now, I'm not sure that's one point two billion people,
but one point two billion streams Love Island USA, Stanley
Cup two and a half million people. We know what
people want? Now, Oh do we have? Do we ever?
Speaker 3 (34:05):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Love Island is on par or beat? Did it beat it?
He said? Beat it beat? Well, I don't know it
be what a stream equates to?
Speaker 6 (34:18):
Like, what's the metric on that? Because Love Island? Who
knows when it was released? And people can watch whenever
they want. It's not like appointment viewing like a lot
of sporting events.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
So no, it was released recently.
Speaker 6 (34:30):
How recently were talking though?
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (34:32):
Because it could be released a month ago and it's
you know, it's a different story as opposed to Yeah, Rodney,
I think it was a month ago, to be honest
with you. Let me see one point two one point
two billion minutes viewed across nine episodes and it launched
June third, one two million.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Less than a month. Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Huh. That's a people will want. Yeah, you understand how
Love Island works. Have you ever seen Love Island? I have,
I've seen what island?
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Kevin? Have you seen it? Yeah? I have kids are
all into it. Hey, Kevin, just wait Oliver.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
When he gets to a certain age, it's going to uh,
he's going to be unfortunately glued to uh. Some of
these reality dating shows. It's like anything, you know, you
get kicked off the island. But what was great was
Love Island all like Love Island games. I saw that
one too, Jesus Christ, where all the people came back
(35:33):
and then they had like athletic competations.
Speaker 6 (35:36):
That's not a real thing, Seriously, it.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Was Love Island Games, the games, a Love Island Olympics
or they got that. They got all that. Don't Yeah,
don't be surprised Love Island has. Yeah, there's so many tentacles.
I'm sure there'll be, you know, you know, Love Island
Bowling Match, the Love Island Golf Tournament, the Love Island
whatever it may be that will franchise off. Love is Blind.
(36:00):
This love is blind. That love is not blind. It's real.
If it works, it works.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
Oh, if it works, it works.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
And you know what else, it doesn't cost them anything
to produce them nothing. You know, they're not paying stars
to go be a part of this. You know, there's
no writers for these people. It is show up. We'll
put you on camera. You do with it, which you will.
And these people have, you know, gained million followers on
(36:31):
social media, which you know, if you play it right,
it makes them money as well, right, if you play
it right. What's interesting is I know a couple of
kids that went on there are just their followers increased.
But it's much harder now to become an influencer.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
Than it was years ago.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Oh yeah, because that market is pretty much saturated, so
they don't. Yeah, during and right after COVID it was
extremely hot market. It still is if you do it right.
But like you said, it's not like it was a
few years back, where you know, you got to a
certain number of followers and that was you were you
were starting to rake in the money.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
No more.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
So they go on and they hope and they pray,
but it's really hard for them to capitalize. I met
a couple of the people, like two three years ago.
One of the kids that was on there was actually
from Palm Desert and I was like the Grand Marshal
and the Palm Springs Holiday Festival light Parade before I started.
(37:31):
Oh I know, I got to drive in a car
Palm Canyon Boulevard.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
It was nice. Everybody came out, so everybody came out. Kevin,
you hear that.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Because it's you're the Grand Marshal riding in the convertible.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Uh what corvette?
Speaker 1 (37:49):
You're riding a convertible corps you know, corvette with uh
Angeline driving you and her in the back. It was
not Angeline, but thank you for asking anyway. And to
the people that were on there, and they can't.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Call in if you know who Angeline is, well.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Just look for a pink corvette or billboard. But they
were on it, and they were very popular, and nothing
happened for them. Nothing, you know, they thought they'd cash in.
And I talked to them and said, well, we don't
really have an agent and we don't really know.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
What to do.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
So I think you go on and you think great
things will happen for you, right, But a lot of
them don't even know what to do. No, Sure, you
better have a plan. I mean, you better have a
plan before you go on, like you mentioned, because your
impression influence whatever it may be on a hit show
like these are when you don't always equate that to
(38:43):
hit shows. You don't know because there's so many of them.
But if you happen it happens to be a hit,
then you should be prepared for all of the attention
you may get and try to figure out a way
how to make that a business and monetize it. But yeah,
if you don't, if you don't get the you know,
the monetization of it, then that's on you because they're
(39:06):
providing you with the opportunity to to make a lot
of money by putting your presence out there.
Speaker 6 (39:13):
So you don't, maybe I'll have to tune into Love
Island Beyond the Villa, which is going to take you
in July.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
So there you go. Oh, there you go.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
I'll jump in on that, get in on that.
Speaker 3 (39:23):
Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean, beyond the Villa.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
Okay, we'll do a deep teas. We're only on to
our restaurant. We did not get to the story today,
but I'm just gonna read the headline. Oh please deep
teas for tomorrow. Why old people smell happens, that's for tomorrow.
I've been holding it all day and we didn't get
to it. Why that was a Yeah, you've been holding
(39:49):
it all day, Fred Gay to present it way, to
present it the right way. I've been holding this all
day why do O people smell? And what you can
do about it? Ronnie, thank you, Kevin appreciate it. Rodney
will uh, we'll sniff that one out tomorrow talk.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
Oh, yes, we will.
Speaker 2 (40:11):
H
Roggin And Rodney News
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