Somebody else’s game
My first job out of college was working for a sports agent. He represented a couple of the highest-paid surfers and skateboarders in the world and I was the (flimsy) last line of defense for anyone trying to get ahold of him. I transitioned from that job to a side project of his that became called by surf media The Rebel Tour, a challenger to surfing’s governing body aimed at unifying media rights to deliver a more consistent product. My surfing life had become much more complex than riding waves.
I’ve written about one of my favorite podcasts, The Bomb Hole, for its in-depth interviews with characters from the world of snowboarding. The hosts always ask guests, “Is snowboarding an art or a sport?” I love the question as a prompt for what drives you most. Is the game finite or infinite?
Earlier today news dropped that the UFC and WWE are merging to create a combat sports superpower. Fans may not care much about the ownership structure, beyond storylines that include Vince McMahon and Dana White. But judging from quotes from executives, which include synergy, addressable, ecosystem, and significant, the new owners clearly see it as a particular kind of game.
Kids who grew up playing baseball like I did model themselves after their favorite athletes, borrowing style, technique, and mannerisms. At an early age the game is playing hard, trash-talking your friends, obsessing about getting better, sunburned noses and scraped knees. Fandom adds intrigue but loses innocence as we realize that players might love the game and make decisions based on money.
The leagues are playing their own game. This season MLB rolled out a suite of rule changes aimed at increasing offense and shortening games. Early indications are that games have shortened by about 30 minutes to just over 2:30. Players are adjusting and some will adapt better than others.
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. — Marie Curie
The working world is a nesting doll of playing other people’s games — from industry to ownership to clients to leaders to hard-headed teammates. It can be aggravating and exhausting or liberating to know we’re part of a complex system of interests. Understanding the game lets us decide how we want to play.
Yesterday I went to my first Dodgers game of the season and the experience was as holy as ever. I’m hoping to surf later today if the wind cooperates, and I doubt I’ll be thinking about media rights. Art or sport? I like the debate but prefer to think of it all as a dance.
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I write these posts, 3-MINUTE MONDAYS, every other week. My goal with them is to share a snippet of insight into how to do strategy, build teams, and grow. Comment here or message me on LinkedIn if you want to chat. — Ben
