🎯 No Shake, Deadline No Be Deadline For Conference Re-alignment Game
⬇️ Pidgin ⬇️ ⬇️ Black American Slang ⬇️ English
San Diego State bin dey reason whether to waka comot from di Mountain West Conference 🗻. E decide to stay put 🏠, but di call of Pac-12 still dey hala am 📞.
Na dis latest gbege for di conference re-alignment wey hot because of college football ⚽ carry my mind go back to di time wey I bin dey work as summer news desk clerk during telex machines time 🕰️, pneumatic tubes 🚇 and desk drawers full of booze 🍺 for Los Angeles Herald Examiner wey don close shop.
One sign wey bin dey editor im desk bin catch my eye dat time. E bin talk say: “Deadline na two-syllable word.” Na small message but e dey very sweet 😄. E bin dey show say one of the newsroom’s most important laws: No miss deadline 🚫.
But for dis our digital era wey we dey publish tins everytime 📰, dat idea of deadline — wey join two strong words from Merriam-Webster — don somehow dey change. Na so my mind come remember di recent move wey San Diego State University make.
If dem bin wan leave Mountain West Conference for Pac-12 in one year, dem bin get deadline by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday to tell Mountain West. If dem no do am, dem go need pay about $36 million for exit fee 💰. Di wahala be say: San Diego State no get offer from Pac-12 Conference 🤷.
Di reason be say: Pac-12 no get media rights deal 💽. (I go talk more on top dat one soon.)
As di sand for hourglass ⏳ bin dey finish on Friday, di chancellors and presidents of Pac-12 come meet to receive anoda update on top di media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State come tell Mountain West say dem go stay. For now ✋.
Na for June 30 dis one come happen.
Last year for dat same date, Southern California and U.C.L.A., wey be di standard for football and basketball for Pac-12, come shock everybody for college athletics world as dem choose leave for di Big Ten when di Pac-12 television contract go finish after di 2023-24 season 📺.
Na dis one open di door of chance for San Diego State, wey for long time don dey wish say dem fit move to Pac-12 — one move wey go give dem athletics respect, and go also put California State University school for di same level with Cal-Berkeley, one big school for di more big University of California system 👀.
This one go need three-step process. First, Pac-12 go need secure media rights deal. Next, di 10 members wey remain (Pac-12 hope) go need sign agreement, wey go bind dem to di conference till when di media rights agreement go finish. Last-last, di conference go come think about expansion 📈.
But one year after, Pac-12 still dey first gear 🚗.
Pac-12, wey current agreement with ESPN and Fox go finish after this season, find say dem don put dem for corner when di Big 12 surprisingly sign media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, two months after di Big Ten announce dem own deal with Fox, CBS and NBC 🎥.
Na only small chance dey now for broadcasting schedule to show Pac-12 🕰️.
“Di wahala for Pac-12 na say all di other cards don dey play finish,” na wetin Ed Desser, one sport media rights consultant talk. Im come note say di only better spot go be Saturday night for ESPN or Friday night for ESPN, Fox, Apple or Amazon 🌃.
Negotiations don get as e be for plenty reasons.
First, di Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, try convince University of California Board of Regents for last fall make dem no let U.C.L.A. comot, wey for give di conference better Los Angeles media market to show 🌇.
Last fall too, plenty media companies start to cut jobs nearly everywhere, especially for Disney, wey get ESPN and talk say dem go cut 7,000 jobs as e dey still feel di impact of cord cutting 📉.
E quick show say di media industry’s belt-tightening go show for second-tier rights deals. Shortly after di Big 12’s deal, wey people consider say e no reach market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 adjust down by 10 percent estimates of agreement wey dem fit reach if U.C.L.A. still dey.
Then come di delay 🐌.
People bin dey expect agreement by di start of di Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament but e come move to hopes of a deal by di Final Four. And then by mid-April. And then surely by di start of summer. Now, people dey think say dem go announce am
“Confam Yawa For Conference Re-alignment Game: Deadline No Be True-True Deadline 😱🏈”
San Diego State bin dey consider say e go pack comot from Mountain West Conference ⛰️. E choose remain, but e still dey feel like say move to Pac-12 go good 🤔.
Na dis latest mata for di conference re-alignment wey dey hot because of college football 🏈 carry me go back memory lane to dat time wey I bin dey work as summer news desk clerk 📚 when telex machines, pneumatic tubes and desk drawers full of booze 🍻 bin dey reign for Los Angeles Herald Examiner wey don die 💀.
One sign for editor im desk bin catch my eye dat time. E bin talk say: “Deadline na two-syllable word.” 😲 Na small message but e dey very sweet 🍬. E bin dey show say one of the newsroom’s most important laws: No miss deadline ⏳.
But for dis our digital era 💻 wey we dey publish tins everytime, dat idea of deadline — wey join two strong words from Merriam-Webster — don somehow dey change. Na dis one come carry my mind go di recent move wey San Diego State University make 🎓.
If dem bin wan leave Mountain West Conference for Pac-12 in one year, dem bin get deadline by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday to tell Mountain West 🕚. If dem no do am, dem go need pay about $36 million for exit fee 💸. Di wahala be say: San Diego State no get offer from Pac-12 Conference 🙅♂️.
Di reason be say: Pac-12 no get media rights deal 📺. (I go talk more on top dat one soon.)
As di sand for hourglass ⏳ bin dey finish on Friday, di chancellors and presidents of Pac-12 come meet to receive anoda update on top di media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State come tell Mountain West say dem go stay. For now 😌.
Na for June 30 dis one come happen 🗓️.
Last year for dat same date, Southern California and U.C.L.A., wey be di standard for football and basketball for Pac-12, come shock everybody for college athletics world as dem choose leave for di Big Ten when di Pac-12 television contract go finish after di 2023-24 season 😱.
Na dis one open di door of chance for San Diego State, wey for long time don dey wish say dem fit move to Pac-12 — one move wey go give dem athletics respect 🏅, and go also put California State University school for di same level with Cal-Berkeley, one big school for di more big University of California system 🏢.
This one go need three-step process. First, Pac-12 go need secure media rights deal. Next, di 10 members wey remain (Pac-12 hope) go need sign agreement, wey go bind dem to di conference till when di media rights agreement go finish. Last-last, di conference go come think about expansion 📈.
But one year after, Pac-12 still dey first gear ⏩.
Pac-12, wey current agreement with ESPN and Fox go finish after this season, find say dem don put dem for corner when di Big 12 surprisingly sign media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, two months after di Big Ten announce dem own deal with Fox, CBS and NBC 🤯. Di Southeastern Conference’s 10-year contract with ESPN go start next year, and di Atlantic Coast Conference’s deal with ESPN go run till 2036 📅.
Na only small chance dey now for broadcasting schedule to show Pac-12 📡.
“Di wahala for Pac-12 na say all di other cards don dey play finish,” na wetin Ed Desser, one sport media rights consultant talk. Im come note say di only better spot go be Saturday night for ESPN or Friday night for ESPN, Fox, Apple or Amazon 🌙.
Negotiations don get as e be for plenty reasons 😰.
First, di Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, try convince University of California Board of Regents for last fall make dem no let U.C.L.A. comot, wey for give di conference better Los Angeles media market to show 🏙️. (For December, di governing board vote say dem no go block di move.)
Last fall too, plenty media companies start to cut jobs nearly everywhere, especially for Disney, wey get ESPN and talk say dem go cut 7,000 jobs as e dey still feel di impact of cord cutting 😵. And while streaming platforms like Apple and Amazon fit dey fine, those companies no go dey see sports programming (wey no be N.F.L.) as very important 💻.
E quick show say di media industry’s belt-tightening go show for second-tier rights deals. Shortly after di Big 12’s deal, wey people consider say e no reach market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 adjust down by 10 percent estimates of agreement wey dem fit reach if U.C.L.A. still dey 📉.
Then come di delay ⌛.
People bin dey expect agreement by di start of di Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament but e come move to hopes of a deal by di Final Four. And then by mid-April. And then surely by di start of summer. Now, people dey think say dem go announce am before di Pac-12’s football media day on July 21, so that di big story for di event go actually be football 🏈.
Of course, wetin dey inside di agreement go get impact.
Di Big 12, wey add Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston on Saturday, and fit lose Texas and Oklahoma next year, dey look Pac-12 school wey no happy and fit jump if di money wey dem go get no reach wetin di Big 12 dey get 💵.
For that case, e no go need much — maybe Colorado and Arizona leaving, or Utah — for Pac-12 to scatter 💥.
Na dis kind wahala na im San Diego State bin dey consider. Di Aztecs, wey come near to win men’s basketball championship and who dey always show good football team, dey for one kind place wey dem know. Dem bin agree for 2011 to move to di Big East for football, while dem go play for di Big West for other sports. But two years later, dat agreement scatter and dem remain for Mountain West 😞.
Last month, di San Diego State president, Adela de la Torre, write letter to di Mountain West say di school plan to comot and dem dey ask for more time ⌚. Plenty letter come dey follow each other 📝.
For di end, San Diego State come decide say di fee to comot from conference fit negotiate, as many before don do. So, di school come conclude say if move to di Pac-12 go happen, e go happen when time reach — deadline no worry dem
“Deadline Don Dey Shelle: Na So Conference Re-alignment Game Take Be 😲🏈”
San Diego State been dey tink of relocating from di Mountain West Conference ⛰️. E make decision stay where e dey 🏠, but di allure of Pac-12 still dey draw am 📞.
Di latest waka wey dey happen for conference re-alignment because of college football ⚽ don take me back to time wey I dey hustle as news desk clerk during summer 📚, for time wey telex machines 📠, pneumatic tubes 🚇, and desk drawers full of booze 🍺 dey reign for Los Angeles Herald Examiner wey don close now.
One sign wey dey editor im desk been catch my eye dat time. E talk say: “Deadline na two-syllable word.” No be big message but e sweet me wella 😄. E come show one of the most important laws for newsroom: No miss deadline ⏰.
But for dis digital era wey we dey publish news every time 📱, dat idea of deadline — wey be strong words from Merriam-Webster — don dey change small small. Na so my mind come remember di recent move wey San Diego State University make.
If dem wan leave Mountain West Conference go Pac-12 in one year, dem for give notice by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday to Mountain West 🌙. If dem no do am, dem go pay about $36 million for exit fee 💰. Di wahala be say: San Diego State no get offer from Pac-12 Conference 🚫.
Di reason na say: Pac-12 never get media rights deal 📺. (I go talk more about dat one later.)
As sand for hourglass ⌛ dey finish on Friday, di chancellors and presidents of Pac-12 come gather to receive update about di media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State come tell Mountain West say dem go stay. At least for now 👍.
Na for June 30 dis one come happen 📅.
Last year for dat same date, Southern California and U.C.L.A., wey be standard for football and basketball for Pac-12, come shock everybody for college athletics world as dem choose leave go Big Ten when di Pac-12 television contract go finish after di 2023-24 season 😮.
Na dis one open door for San Diego State, wey for long time don dey wish say dem fit join Pac-12 — one move wey go give dem athletics respect, and go also put California State University school for di same level with Cal-Berkeley, one big school for di more big University of California system 🎓.
Dem go need do three things. First, Pac-12 go need secure media rights deal. Next, di 10 members wey remain (wey Pac-12 dey hope for) go need sign agreement, wey go make dem stay for di conference till when di media rights agreement go finish. Last-last, di conference go come think about expansion 📈.
But one year don pass, Pac-12 still dey first step 🐢.
Pac-12, wey current agreement with ESPN and Fox go finish after this season, find say dem don box dem for corner when di Big 12 surprisingly sign media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, two months after di Big Ten announce dem own deal with Fox, CBS and NBC 📺.
Na only small chance dey now for broadcasting schedule to show Pac-12 ⏱️.
“Di wahala for Pac-12 na say all di other cards don play finish,” na wetin Ed Desser, one sport media rights consultant talk. Im come talk say di only better spot go be Saturday night for ESPN or Friday night for ESPN, Fox, Apple or Amazon 🌜.
Negotiations don get k-leg for plenty reasons.
First, di Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, try convince University of California Board of Regents for last fall make dem no let U.C.L.A. comot, wey for give di conference better Los Angeles media market to sell 🏙️.
For last fall too, plenty media companies start to cut jobs nearly everywhere, especially for Disney, wey own ESPN and talk say dem go cut 7,000 jobs as e dey still feel di impact of cord cutting 📉.
E quick show say di media industry’s belt-tightening go affect second-tier rights deals. Shortly after di Big 12’s deal, wey people feel say e no reach market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 reduce by 10 percent estimates of agreement wey dem fit reach if U.C.L.A. still dey 🤔.
Then come delay 🐌.
People been expect agreement by di start of di Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament but e come move to hopes of a deal by di Final Four. And then by mid-April. And then surely by di start of summer. Now, people dey think say dem go announce am before di Pac-12’s football media day on July 21, so that di big story for di event go actually be football ⚽.
Of course, wetin dey inside di agreement go get effect.
Di Big 12, wey add Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston on Saturday, and fit lose Texas and Oklahoma next year, dey look Pac-12 school wey no happy and fit jump if di money wey dem go get no reach wetin di Big 12 dey get 💸.
For that case, e no go need much — maybe Colorado and Arizona leaving, or Utah — for Pac-12 to scatter 💥.
Na dis kind wahala na im San Diego State been dey consider. Di Aztecs, wey nearly win men’s basketball championship and who dey always show good football team, dey for one kind place wey dem know. Dem been agree for 2011 to move to di Big East for football, while dem go play for di Big West for other sports. But two years later, dat agreement scatter and dem remain for Mountain West 😞.
Last month, di San Diego State president, Adela de la Torre, write letter to di Mountain West say di school plan to comot and dem dey ask for more time ⏳. Plenty letter come dey follow each other 📨.
For di end, San Diego State decide say di fee to comot from conference fit negotiate, as many before don do. So, di school come conclude say if move to di Pac-12 go happen, e go happen when time reach — no be deadline go
“Conference Re-alignment: Deadline Waka Na Gobe 😱🏈”
San Diego State University been dey consider to waka comot from Mountain West Conference ⛰️. E choose to remain for where e dey, but di thought of joining Pac-12 still dey dey their mind.
Na dis mata na im dey trend as per conference re-alignment because of college football 🏈, e come remind me of when I bin dey work as summer news desk clerk 📚 for Los Angeles Herald Examiner wey don die.
One sign wey dey editor im desk dat time catch my eye. E talk say: “Deadline na two-syllable word.” Na small but power message. E dey show one of the key laws for newsroom: no miss deadline ⏳.
But for this digital age wey we dey publish things anytime, the meaning of deadline — wey join two strong words from Merriam-Webster — don dey change. Na so my mind come dey on top di recent move wey San Diego State University make 🎓.
If dem wan leave Mountain West Conference go Pac-12 in one year, dem get deadline by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday to tell Mountain West 🕚. If dem no do am, dem go need pay about $36 million as exit fee 💸. The kasala be say: San Diego State no get offer from Pac-12 Conference 🙅♂️.
The reason na say: Pac-12 never sign media rights deal 📺. (I go talk more on top dis one soon.)
As the sand for hourglass ⏳ dey finish on Friday, the chancellors and presidents of Pac-12 come gather to hear the latest tori about di media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State come tell Mountain West say dem go stay. At least for now 😌.
Na for June 30 dis one come happen 🗓️.
Last year for the same date, Southern California and U.C.L.A., wey be the best for football and basketball for Pac-12, come shock everybody for college athletics world as dem choose leave go Big Ten when the Pac-12 television contract go finish after the 2023-24 season 😱.
Na so door open for San Diego State, wey for long time don dey dream to move to Pac-12 — one move wey go give dem athletics respect 🏅, and go also put California State University school for the same level with Cal-Berkeley, one big school for the more big University of California system 🏢.
This one go need three-step process. First, Pac-12 go need secure media rights deal. Next, the 10 members wey remain (Pac-12 hope) go need sign agreement, wey go make dem stay for the conference till when the media rights agreement go finish. Last-last, the conference go come reason expansion 📈.
But one year later, Pac-12 still dey first step ⏩.
Pac-12, wey current agreement with ESPN and Fox go finish after this season, find say dem don dey for tight corner when the Big 12 surprisingly sign media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, two months after the Big Ten announce dem own deal with Fox, CBS and NBC 🤯. The Southeastern Conference’s 10-year contract with ESPN go start next year, and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s deal with ESPN go run till 2036 📅.
Now, na only small chance dey for broadcasting schedule to carry Pac-12 📡.
“The wahala for Pac-12 na say all the other cards don play finish,” na wetin Ed Desser, one sport media rights consultant talk. Im come talk say the only good spot go be Saturday night for ESPN or Friday night for ESPN, Fox, Apple or Amazon 🌙.
Negotiations dey wahala for plenty reasons 😰.
First, the Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, try convince University of California Board of Regents for last fall make dem no allow U.C.L.A. comot, wey for give the conference better Los Angeles media market to show 🏙️. (For December, the governing board vote say dem no go block the move.)
Last fall too, plenty media companies start to sack people everywhere, especially for Disney, wey own ESPN and say dem go sack 7,000 people as e dey still feel the impact of cord cutting 😵. And while streaming platforms like Apple and Amazon dey okay, those companies no see sports programming (wey no be N.F.L.) as very important 💻.
E quick show say the media industry’s belt-tightening go affect second-tier rights deals. Shortly after the Big 12’s deal, wey people feel say e no reach market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 reduce by 10 percent estimates of agreement wey dem fit reach if U.C.L.A. still dey 📉.
Then delay come enter ⌛.
People dey expect agreement by the start of the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament but e come move to hopes
“Conference Re-Alignment: Deadline No Be Death Sentence 😅🏈”
San Diego State University been dey reason whether to waka comot from Mountain West Conference ⛰️. Dem make decision to still dey there, but the thought of joining Pac-12 still dey their mind.
This latest news about conference re-alignment wey dey happen because of college football ⚽, come dey remind me of time when I bin dey work as news desk clerk during summer holiday 🏖️ for Los Angeles Herald Examiner wey don close now.
One sign wey dey for the editor im desk dat time na im catch my eye. E write say: “Deadline na two-syllable word.” Na small but solid message. E come show one of the key rules for newsroom: say no dey miss deadline ⏰.
But for this our time wey be digital era, wey news dey dey published anytime wey dem like 📱, this idea of deadline — wey be say you join two strong words from Merriam-Webster together — e don dey change small small. Na so my mind come remember the recent move wey San Diego State University make.
If dem wan waka comot from Mountain West Conference go Pac-12 in one year, dem suppose give notice by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday to Mountain West 🕚. If dem no do am, dem go need pay about $36 million as fee for comotting 💸. The wahala be say: San Diego State no get any offer from Pac-12 Conference 🚫.
The reason be say: Pac-12 never get any media rights deal 📺. (I go explain this one well well as we dey go.)
As the sand for hourglass ⌛ come dey finish on Friday, the oga patapatas of Pac-12 come gather to hear the latest tori about the media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State come tell Mountain West say dem go still dey. At least for now 👍.
Na for June 30 na im this one happen 📅.
Last year for that same date, Southern California and U.C.L.A., wey be champions for football and basketball for Pac-12, come shock everybody for college athletics world as dem choose to waka go Big Ten when the Pac-12 television contract go finish after the 2023-24 season 😮.
Na so door open for San Diego State, wey for long time don dey dream say dem fit join Pac-12 — one move wey go give dem athletics respect, and go also put California State University school for the same level with Cal-Berkeley, one big school for the more big University of California system 🎓.
Three things need happen. First, Pac-12 go need to secure media rights deal. Second, the 10 members wey remain (Pac-12 dey hope) go need sign agreement, wey go make dem stay for the conference till when the media rights agreement go finish. Last-last, the conference go come think about expansion 📈.
But after one year, Pac-12 still dey first step 🐢.
Pac-12, wey current agreement with ESPN and Fox go finish after this season, find say dem don dey for corner when the Big 12 surprisingly sign media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, two months after the Big Ten announce dem own deal with Fox, CBS and NBC 📺. The Southeastern Conference’s 10-year contract with ESPN go start next year, and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s deal with ESPN go run till 2036 📅.
Now, na only small chance dey for broadcasting schedule to carry Pac-12 ⏱️.
“The wahala for Pac-12 na say all the other cards don play finish,” na wetin Ed Desser, one sport media rights consultant talk. Im come talk say the only better spot go be Saturday night for ESPN or Friday night for ESPN, Fox, Apple or Amazon 🌜.
Negotiations don hard for plenty reasons.
First, the Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, try convince University of California Board of Regents for last fall make dem no allow U.C.L.A. comot, wey for give the conference better Los Angeles media market to sell 🏙️. (For December, the governing board vote say dem no go block the move.)
Last fall too, plenty media companies start to sack people nearly everywhere, especially for Disney, wey own ESPN and talk say dem go sack 7,000 people as e dey still feel the impact of cord cutting 📉.
E quick show say the media industry’s belt-tightening go affect second-tier rights deals. Shortly after the Big 12’s deal, wey people feel say e no reach market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 reduce by 10 percent estimates of agreement wey dem fit reach if U.C.L.A. still dey 🤔.
Then delay come enter ⏳.
People dey expect agreement by the start of the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament but e come move to hopes of a deal by the Final Four. And then by mid-April. And then surely by the start of summer. Now, people dey think say dem go announce am before the Pac-12’s football media day on July 21, so that the big story for the event go actually be football ⚽.
Of course, wetin dey inside the agreement go matter well well.
The Big 12, wey add Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Central Florida and Houston on Saturday, and fit lose Texas and Oklahoma next year, dey look Pac-12 school wey no happy and fit waka comot if the money wey dem go get no reach wetin the Big 12 dey get 💸.
For that case, e no go need much — maybe Colorado and Arizona leaving, or Utah — for Pac-12 to scatter 💥.
Na this kind wahala na im San Diego State been dey consider. The Aztecs, wey nearly win men’s basketball championship and who dey always show good football team, dey for one kind place wey dem know. Dem been agree for 2011 to move to the Big East for football, while dem go play for the Big West for other sports. But two years later, that agreement scatter and dem remain for Mountain West 😞.
Last month, the San Diego State president, Adela de la Torre, write letter to the Mountain West say the school plan to comot and dem dey ask for more time ⌛. Plenty letters come dey follow each other 📝.
For the end, San Diego State decide say the fee to comot from conference fit negotiate, as many others don do before. So, the school come conclude say if move to the Pac-12 go happen, e go happen when time reach — no be deadline go dictate am 🙌.
NOW IN BLACK AMERICAN SLANG
😅🏈 Conference Re-Alignment: Deadlines Ain’t No Death Sentence.
Aight, so here’s the scoop. San Diego State University was ponderin’ about bouncin’ from the Mountain West Conference ⛰️. They decided to hold tight for now, but Pac-12 be still on their mind, ya know?
This new wave of conference re-alignment comin’ up ’cause of college football 🏈 got me reminiscin’ ’bout my time as a summer news desk jockey 🏖️ for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, which ain’t even around no more.
Back in the day, there was this sign on the editor’s desk, said: “Deadline is a two-syllable word.” Short and sweet, but real impactful. Reminds you of the one major rule in the newsroom: don’t ever miss a deadline ⏰.
But, we livin’ in this digital age, right? News is gettin’ published any old time 📱. The whole concept of a deadline, two strong words from Merriam-Webster, it’s morphin’. And that’s got me thinkin’ ’bout the recent moves by San Diego State University.
Now, if they planned to switch from Mountain West Conference to Pac-12 in a year, they had to give notice by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday to Mountain West 🕚. If not, they’d be coughin’ up around $36 million as an exit fee 💸. Problem was, San Diego State didn’t have an offer from the Pac-12 Conference 🚫.
Why, you ask? ‘Cause the Pac-12 ain’t got no media rights deal 📺. (I’ll get into that in a minute.)
As the hourglass was runnin’ low on Friday ⌛, the big wigs of Pac-12 gathered ’round to hear the latest on the media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State lets Mountain West know they’re stayin’ put. At least for the time being 👍.
This went down on June 30 📅.
Same date, last year, Southern California and U.C.L.A., football and basketball kings in the Pac-12, sent shockwaves through the college athletics world by decidin’ to jump ship to Big Ten when the Pac-12 television contract was set to end after the 2023-24 season 😮.
This opened the door for San Diego State, who’ve been dreamin’ of a chance to join the Pac-12 for ages. This move would put them on a pedestal in athletics, and it would also level up California State University to be on par with Cal-Berkeley, a big shot school in the larger University of California system 🎓.
Three things need to go down for that to happen. First, Pac-12 needs to secure a media rights deal. Second, the 10 remaining members (that’s what Pac-12 is hopin’ for) need to sign an agreement that they’ll stay put until the media rights agreement is done. Lastly, the conference would consider expansion 📈.
But a year on, Pac-12 is still stuck on step one 🐢.
Pac-12, whose current agreement with ESPN and Fox is expiring after this season, found themselves in a pickle when the Big 12 surprisingly signed a media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, just two months after the Big Ten announced their deal with Fox, CBS and NBC 📺. The Southeastern Conference’s 10-year contract with ESPN is starting next year, and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s deal with ESPN is running until 2036 📅.
Now, there’s just a tiny window for Pac-12 in the broadcasting schedule ⏱️.
“The problem for Pac-12 is that all the other moves have already been made,” said Ed Desser, a sport media rights consultant. He suggested the only good slots would be Saturday night on ESPN or Friday night on ESPN, Fox, Apple, or Amazon 🌜.
The negotiations have been tough for plenty of reasons.
First off, the Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, tried to persuade the University of California Board of Regents last fall not to let U.C.L.A. bounce, which would have given the conference a stronger Los Angeles media market 🏙️. (In December, the governing board voted not to block the move.)
Last fall, a whole lot of media companies started laying off folks left and right, especially Disney, who owns ESPN and announced they were going to let go of 7,000 people as they’re still feeling the effects of cord cutting 📉.
It quickly became apparent that the media industry’s tightening belt would affect second-tier rights deals. Shortly after the Big 12’s deal, which was thought to be below market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 reduced by 10 percent estimates of the agreement they could reach if U.C.L.A. stayed 🤔.
Then came the delays ⏳.
The agreement was expected by the start of the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament but that moved to hopes of a deal by the Final Four. And then by mid-April. And then surely by the start of summer. Now, people are speculating that it will be announced before the Pac-12’s football media day on July 21, so that the big story at the event will actually be about football ⚽.
Naturally, what’s in the agreement is super important.
The Big 12, which just added Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Central Florida, and Houston on Saturday, and might lose Texas and Oklahoma next year, is eyeing any Pac-12 schools that are unhappy and might bounce if the money doesn’t measure up to what the Big 12 is offering 💸.
In that case, it wouldn’t take much — maybe Colorado and Arizona leaving, or Utah — for the Pac-12 to fall apart 💥.
This is the type of situation San Diego State was considering. The Aztecs, who nearly clinched the men’s basketball championship and always field a strong football team, are in a place they know well. They agreed in 2011 to move to the Big East for football, while playing in the Big West for other sports. But two years later, that agreement fell through and they stayed in the Mountain West 😞.
Last month, the San Diego State president, Adela de la Torre, wrote a letter to the Mountain West indicating the school’s plans to leave and requested more time ⌛. Then, a whole lot of back and forth with letters started happenin’ 📝.
In the end, San Diego State figured the exit fee could be negotiated, like it has been with others before. So, they decided that if a move to the Pac-12 was gonna happen, it would happen when the time is right. No need for a deadline to be the one calling the shots, ya feel me? 🙌.
NOW IN BLACK AMERICAN SLANG
😅🏈 Conference Re-Alignment: Ain’t No Rush, Deadlines Ain’t Everything
Here’s the dish: San Diego State University been sittin’ on a decision to dip outta the Mountain West Conference ⛰️. They’re still chillin’ in the MWC, but got their eyes on the Pac-12.
This shiftin’ around in conferences, mostly stirred up by college football 🏈, takes me back to the days workin’ the summer grind 🏖️ for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, a paper that ain’t with us no more.
Back then, the boss had this sign on his desk: “Deadline is a two-syllable word.” Short, straight to the point, and it hit you hard. It put out the golden rule of the news biz: don’t you dare miss a deadline ⏰.
But in these techy times, news be droppin’ every tick of the clock 📱. This whole deadline business, this two-word law from Merriam-Webster, it’s shapeshiftin’. That brings me to San Diego State University’s recent move.
Check it, if they were to bounce from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12 in a year, they had to hit up the Mountain West by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday 🕚. If they didn’t, they’d have to cough up $36 million for breaking up 💸. The hitch was, San Diego State didn’t get no offer from the Pac-12 Conference 🚫.
Why’s that? ‘Cause the Pac-12 didn’t have a media rights deal set up 📺. (Hold up, we’ll get there.)
As time was runnin’ out on Friday ⌛, the heads of the Pac-12 got together to talk over the media rights negotiations. Later on, San Diego State told the Mountain West they weren’t going nowhere. Not yet 👍.
This all went down on June 30 📅.
Same day last year, Southern California and U.C.L.A., the big guns of football and basketball in the Pac-12, threw college athletics for a loop by announcing they were heading to the Big Ten when the Pac-12 TV contract was gonna end after the 2023-24 season 😮.
This opened the door for San Diego State, who’ve been itching for a shot at the Pac-12. Moving up would boost their athletic game, and it would let California State University square up with Cal-Berkeley, a big name in the University of California system 🎓.
For this to happen, three things gotta line up. First, Pac-12 needs to lock down a media rights deal. Second, the 10 members that are left (that’s what Pac-12 is hoping for) gotta promise to stay put until the media rights agreement is all sealed. Lastly, the conference would think about expanding 📈.
But a year later, Pac-12 is still stuck at the starting line 🐢.
Pac-12, whose current contract with ESPN and Fox is gonna expire after this season, found themselves in a fix when the Big 12 unexpectedly signed a media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, just two months after the Big Ten announced their deal with Fox, CBS, and NBC 📺. The Southeastern Conference’s 10-year contract with ESPN starts next year, and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s deal with ESPN runs till 2036 📅.
Now, there’s just a small gap for Pac-12 in the broadcasting schedule ⏱️.
“The problem for Pac-12 is that all the other moves have already been made,” said Ed Desser, a sports media rights consultant. He suggested that the only good slots would be Saturday night on ESPN or Friday night on ESPN, Fox, Apple, or Amazon 🌜.
The negotiations have been a tough nut to crack for a bunch of reasons.
First off, the Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, tried to persuade the University of California Board of Regents last fall not to let U.C.L.A. bounce, which would have held down the conference’s hold on the Los Angeles media market 🏙️. (In December, the governing board voted not to block the move.)
Last fall, a lot of media companies started laying off workers left and right, notably Disney, the owner of ESPN, who announced that they would let go 7,000 employees due to the impact of cord cutting 📉.
It quickly became clear that the tightening budget in the media industry would affect secondary rights deals. Shortly after the Big 12’s deal, which was thought to be below market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 reduced by 10 percent estimates of the agreement they could reach if U.C.L.A. stayed 🤔.
Then there were the delays ⏳.
The agreement was expected by the start of the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament, but that shifted to hopes of a deal by the Final Four. Then by mid-April. Then definitely by the start of summer. Now, it’s speculated that it will be announced before the Pac-12’s football media day on July 21, so that the main story at the event will actually be about football ⚽.
Clearly, the content of the agreement is super important.
The Big 12, which just added Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Central Florida, and Houston on Saturday, and might lose Texas and Oklahoma next year, is looking at any Pac-12 schools that are unhappy and might dip if the money ain’t matching what the Big 12 is offering 💸.
In that situation, it wouldn’t take much — maybe Colorado and Arizona dipping out, or Utah — for the Pac-12 to fall apart 💥.
This is the situation that San Diego State was weighing. The Aztecs, who nearly bagged the men’s basketball championship and consistently bring a strong football team, find themselves back at the starting point. They agreed in 2011 to move to the Big East for football, while competing in the Big West for other sports. But two years later, that agreement fell through and they stayed in the Mountain West 😞.
Last month, the San Diego State president, Adela de la Torre, wrote a letter to the Mountain West indicating the school’s intent to leave and asked for more time ⌛. This sparked a whole wave of letters in response 📝.
In the end, San Diego State believed that the exit fee could be worked out, like others have done in the past. So, they decided that if they’re gonna move to the Pac-12, it’s gonna happen when the time is right. They ain’t gonna let no deadline push them around 🙌.
NOW IN ENGLISH
😅🏈 Conference Re-Alignment: Deadlines Aren’t the End of the World
Okay, here’s the breakdown. San Diego State University was mulling over leaving the Mountain West Conference ⛰️. They’ve decided to stick around for now, but the Pac-12 is still in their sights.
This new wave of conference re-alignment that’s been driven by college football 🏈 reminds me of my stint as a summer news desk intern 🏖️ for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, which no longer exists.
Back then, there was a sign on the editor’s desk that read: “Deadline is a two-syllable word.” Short and sweet, but very powerful. It enforces the golden rule of the newsroom: never miss a deadline ⏰.
However, in this digital age, news gets published round the clock 📱. The concept of a deadline, a two-word edict from Merriam-Webster, is changing. And that brings to mind the recent decision by San Diego State University.
You see, if they planned to move from Mountain West Conference to Pac-12 in a year, they had to notify Mountain West by 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday 🕚. If not, they would have to shell out around $36 million as an exit fee 💸. The snag was, San Diego State didn’t have an offer from the Pac-12 Conference 🚫.
Why? Because the Pac-12 didn’t have a media rights deal 📺. (We’ll get to that soon.)
As the sands of the hourglass dwindled on Friday ⌛, the leaders of Pac-12 convened to get an update on the media rights negotiations. Later, San Diego State informed Mountain West that they were staying put. For now 👍.
This happened on June 30 📅.
On the same date, last year, Southern California and U.C.L.A., the titans of football and basketball in the Pac-12, sent shockwaves through the world of college athletics by announcing their departure to the Big Ten when the Pac-12 television contract was set to end after the 2023-24 season 😮.
This provided an opening for San Diego State, who have long yearned for an opportunity to join the Pac-12. Such a move would elevate their athletic stature, and it would also allow California State University to stand shoulder to shoulder with Cal-Berkeley, a prestigious institution in the larger University of California system 🎓.
For this to happen, three things need to align. First, Pac-12 needs to secure a media rights deal. Second, the 10 remaining members (which is what Pac-12 is hoping for) need to commit to staying until the media rights agreement is finalized. Finally, the conference would consider expansion 📈.
But a year later, Pac-12 is still stuck at step one 🐢.
Pac-12, whose current contract with ESPN and Fox is set to expire after this season, found themselves in a bind when the Big 12 unexpectedly signed a media deal with Fox and ESPN last October, just two months after the Big Ten announced their deal with Fox, CBS, and NBC 📺. The Southeastern Conference’s 10-year contract with ESPN starts next year, and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s deal with ESPN runs until 2036 📅.
Now, there’s just a narrow window for Pac-12 in the broadcasting schedule ⏱️.
“The problem for Pac-12 is that all the other moves have already been made,” stated Ed Desser, a sports media rights consultant. He suggested that the only good slots would be Saturday night on ESPN or Friday night on ESPN, Fox, Apple, or Amazon 🌜.
The negotiations have been tricky for a host of reasons.
Firstly, the Pac-12 commissioner, George Kliavkoff, tried to convince the University of California Board of Regents last fall not to let U.C.L.A. leave, which would have strengthened the conference’s hold on the Los Angeles media market 🏙️. (In December, the governing board voted not to block the move.)
Last fall, several media companies started laying off workers en masse, notably Disney, the owner of ESPN, who announced that they would lay off 7,000 employees due to the impact of cord cutting 📉.
It swiftly became apparent that the media industry’s tightening budget would affect secondary rights deals. Shortly after the Big 12’s deal, which was thought to be below market value at $31.7 million per school, Pac-12 reduced by 10 percent estimates of the agreement they could reach if U.C.L.A. stayed 🤔.
Then there were the delays ⏳.
The agreement was expected by the start of the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament, but that shifted to hopes of a deal by the Final Four. Then by mid-April. Then certainly by the start of summer. Now, it’s speculated that it will be announced before the Pac-12’s football media day on July 21, so that the main story at the event will actually be about football ⚽.
Obviously, the content of the agreement is critically important.
The Big 12, which just added Brigham Young, Cincinnati, Central Florida, and Houston on Saturday, and may lose Texas and Oklahoma next year, is eyeing any Pac-12 schools that are dissatisfied and might leave if the financial rewards don’t stack up to what the Big 12 is offering 💸.
In that scenario, it wouldn’t take much — perhaps Colorado and Arizona leaving, or Utah — for the Pac-12 to collapse 💥.
This is the predicament that San Diego State was considering. The Aztecs, who nearly won the men’s basketball championship and consistently field a strong football team, find themselves in familiar territory. They agreed in 2011 to move to the Big East for football, while competing in the Big West for other sports. But two years later, that agreement fell through and they remained in the Mountain West 😞.
Last month, the San Diego State president, Adela de la Torre, wrote a letter to the Mountain West indicating the school’s intent to leave and requested more time ⌛. This sparked a flurry of letters in response 📝.
Ultimately, San Diego State believed that the exit fee could be negotiated, as has been the case with others in the past. So, they decided that if a move to the Pac-12 was to happen, it would happen when the timing is right. There was no need for a deadline to dictate their decision-making process 🙌.
