NEW YORK -
Nov. 20, 2013 -
PRLog -- The "new" Big East, a 10-team NCAA conference now re-focused without football, begins its first basketball season this month under the leadership of
Commissioner Val Ackerman. Ackerman and
President James Danko of Big East member Butler University join Rick Horrow on “Sportfolio”
this week to examine the business of the Big East and the larger business context of college athletics.
Val Ackerman, whose resume includes a 10-year tenure as President of the WNBA, discusses the Big East's $600 million media partnership with Fox Sports and the advantages of the league's positioning as a premier basketball conference. Ackerman also shares her opinions on increased stipends for student-athletes and enhancing the commercial appeal of women's sports, both of which she has advocated as a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics and as a consultant to the NCAA.
James Danko was named President of Butler University in 2011, following the Bulldogs' second consecutive trip to the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship Game. He discusses the benefits of Butler's basketball success to the University as a whole, and the added benefits that will accrue from joining the Big East in 2013. Danko also shares his thoughts on the issue of compensation for student-athletes and the balance of academics and athletics.
"Sportfolio,"
the only weekly show dedicated to sports business, airs
Thursday night at 9:30 PM and 12:30 AM ET Friday on Bloomberg TV (DirecTV353, check your local cable systems for the channel near you). The show reaches more than 270 million households through first-run and syndicated airings.
Now in its third year, "Sportfolio"
has now produced over 75 original episodes, all of which can be viewed at bloomberg.com/
video/sportfolio. The guest list has already included: NBA Commissioner David Stern, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, MLB Executive Vice President for Business Tim Brosnan, American Athletic Commissioner Mike Aresco, Pac 12 Commissioner Larry Scott, Ivy League President Robin Harris, Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette McGlade, Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross, Dodgers and Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris and CEO Scott O’Neil, Wasserman Media Group CEO Casey Wasserman, Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren, Atlanta Falcons GM Rich McKay, Cubs general manager Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, 49ers president Jed York, Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry DiPoto, San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer, Brooklyn Nets CEO Brett Yormark, NASCAR’s Brian France, Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon, the N.Y. Knicks Carmelo Anthony, the L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, NBA Hall of Famer Earl Monroe, Masters Champion Bubba Watson, New York Yankees star C.C. Sabathia, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, golf hall of famers Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, and many, many others.
Contact: Joe Favorito/917-
566-8345 Fatherknickerbocker1@
yahoo.com