Great job pulling the story together. Oregon fan and season ticket holder here. I'm very disappointed that it resulted in the demise of the Pac 12, essentially driven by executive and academic incompetence. What's happening now to WSU and OSU is just not right.
Thanks Tom! As an OSU alum I don't want the Ducks in a different conference. Attending the Civil War games and the conference rivalry have created some of my greatest memories with friends and family over the past 50 years. As much as it feels good to point fingers this is a much bigger discussion and not one that U of O alum and fans impacted.
On Thursday morning when we got the 2024 Home Game schedule email, I immediately replied that I am massively disappointed that the schedule didn't include the Civil War. Yesterday I called the school athletic office and made sure they understood my feeling about that. I asked them to reconsider when Oregon State finalizes its 2024 plan. Oregon needs to do everything to reschedule any of those 3 OOC home games (Texas Tech, Idaho, & BSU) to get that game scheduled next year, I also believe it needs to be in Corvallis even if it means a Beaver win. I don't care if the schedule makes it too tough with tOSU & UW at home and Michigan, UCLA, & WIsconsin on the road they said they were committed to keep that instate game so they need to do it unless for some silly reason Oregon State doesn't want it,
One principal in negotiating is to know and understand what your product is worth—not what you want it to be worth. Another is to engage trustworthy and competent negotiators who communicate negotiation feedback. Kliavkoff and his ridiculous buddy Perlman broke every rule and the CEO group was not strong enough to call them on their secrecy. “Everything is hunky dory” is not an update.
I’m with you, John, that blame is plentiful and not really worth much. But the “commissioner” and his pal are guilty of severe malpractice. It is difficult not to despise their actions.
Thank you , again, for a remarkable piece of reporting and for sticking with this.
The more information that is revealed the more it seems that GK owns the biggest piece of this debacle. Doesn’t mean others don’t share it but he did and seems to continue to be making very bad and opaque decisions. Don’t understand why he hasn’t already been given his walking papers.
The past UO President knew absolutely NOTHING about sports. It wasn’t important to him, and I’m sure he didn’t put much energy that direction. Then, he left. It was perfect timing to avoid any responsibility.
GK was hired by the Presidents. Scott was enabled by the Presidents. Say what you will about commissioners, but the blame here lies solely on the Presidents. GK was a bad hire. The leadership was not strong.
Probably because the CEO group members are more worried about what else will come spilling out of the closet once GK is no longer holding the door closed, so to speak, and how much of their time it'll take to deal with it. He's very useful as a whipping boy atm, too.
Curious how accountability happens here. No presidents got fired. They didn't lose their income, or a portion of their income. Maybe if there was some real consequences to their decisions they would have acted differently?
Perfectly stated. Even politicians have a degree of accountability - they have to run for re-election. And, if we continue to vote for them, it's our fault, not theirs. No accountability whatsoever in academia. None.
Besides, in academia group think is rewarded with advancement. So if things start out wrong, they just get worse and worse. Ever talked to someone seeking tenure with opinions different than the tenure committee?
These Presidents, except for WSU & OSU can point to ‘success’ of their school now being in new conference, w/ new $ TV contracts. They are being patted on back in most cases.
Sounds like you got to the bottom of it...and it was worth digging. However, in academia, there is no accountability. A "misfire" of this magnitude - the complete destruction of a prominent 108-year-old conference that holds more NCAA championships than any other conference in the country - moves the Richter Scale dramatically. But when the dust settles, no one, except maybe Kliavkoff - who loses a job - will be held accountable. In academia, professors have tenure and the heat shields at the provost and chancellor/president level are completely impregnable unless one is caught in a hot tub with prostitutes. Even in that situation, the golden parachute is breathtaking.
So, now, two university presidents have given their statements and utter incompetence is laid bare. And guess what? Nothing happens to anyone in the room. However, thousands of others depending on the existence of the conference are impacted tremendously...for the worse.
The article is very good work by John Canzano. While in general not much new is included, the timeline and accounts of and by some players fills the gaps in the story.
The result was a pitiful end to a proud and storied conference. RIP Pac12.
Continuing my comments about what has not been mentioned about the PAC-12: the COVid shutdowns of 2020 and 2021 were devastating to the Pac-12. Unlike the SEC, BIg 12 and ACC which never shutdown in 2020, the Pac-12 football had a 6 game schedule with 0 attendance. In 2021 they had a full schedule but only allowed 50% attendance and only if vaccinated. They did not get 50%. Financially devastating- also hurt recruiting big time. Other conferences didn’t follow suit. We can thank the Governors of Washington, Oregon and California but that played the first strike of 3 strikes in the downfall of the conference.
I generally agree with your statements that there were plenty of self-inflicted wounds, but one point of clarification -- the league did not restrict attendance to 50% capacity in 2021. There were no capacity restrictions, beyond the vaccination requirement.
More than anything I appreciate the truth and you are one of the few who are trying to tell it. Accountability is important but the blame game only satisfies the bitter who aren't ready to move forward. I am still hopeful that the Pac2 work it out so they end up better off than the others. Its not over yet.
Playing the guessing game, would have never imagined it was the president at the University of Utah and his economic professor who were behind the $50 million valuation. WOW! As for GK, he is an amateur in a professional game and showed no leadership through the whole process. He had no clue, and it has destroyed the Pac-12/Pac-10.
Probably in the same vicinity as Ted Kaczinsky. Kliavkoff is about as popular as the Unibomber right now. Soon, but not soon enough, George will have time to reflect, grow a beard, and write his own manifesto.
I have to say, when GK said that the PAC was better off the longer they waited, I knew the end was near. The bird in the hand then flew away and the bush burned down.
One of the most important lessons I learned as an Officer in the Army, was “don’t expect what you don’t inspect”.
This sounds like it was a strong dose of delegation run wild.
I believe that today, the PAC 10/11 could be kept whole with a strong effort to go back to Amazon / Apple / CW. The product and numbers are sellers numbers, not the cellar numbers they’ve been in recent years.
My read is this was just downright sh*tty negotiation tactics. Utah President (and some others) countered ESPN very high ($50M) with hopes that they could then dicker something in-between $30M and $50M. This is classic negotiation to shoot high to set that bar and then come down to what is realistic. This works is some industries. It didn't work here with ESPN whose parent company, Disney, was bleeding cash at the time. West Coast fans, businesses (and current/future student-athletes) all LOSE as a result of this massive misfire.
Yeah totally agree. It’s like offering someone $300,000 for a $500,000 house. You might think you’re just making a super aggressive offer, but in reality you’re just going to insult the seller. And despite JC’s description of the Utah president’s strong business prowess, it was only as a professor and consultant, not from real world experience.
Interesting that John's source, former Fox guy, came up independently with the $30MM figure. When I was in biz school one of my professors called consultants, "drips under pressure."
That's a great example, Jim, and it actually has happened to me twice. Two different homes we were selling. On each an offer came in that was ridiculous. I told the realtor to tell the other party I wasn't even going to counter.
Negotiating is a skill and the objective is to find something good for both parties...not to bury the other guy and tell everyone on your block about it while chugging another beer.
What they should have done is sit down with ESPN and Fox and ask them directly, "what do we need to do to get to $40M per school"? If they said add B12 schools, then you do it. I own an IT company and many times customers will tell me what their spend is. Maybe they come back to P12 and say add X, Y, & Z, and we can get you to $38M per school and let's review it in yr 3 to see if we can go higher. BTW, here in DFW, I've seen ACC games on the CW....
The PAC 12's first mistake was hiring Kliavkoff instead of Oliver Luck. Had Luck been hired, I don't think the LA schools leave for the Big Ten and the conference stays together.
While reading your article, it became clear to me why this story ended the way it did. Where have you ever seen university presidents, chancellors, economists, professors, and a fledgling sports consulting firms negotiating a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars SUCCESSFULLY…any kind of deal! You haven’t because none of them have neither the skill set nor the business acumen.
Kind of makes one think about that old saying that "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." When it comes to real world, high stakes settings like this, university profs and administrators too often overvalue their knowledge and ability.
GK doesn't have to justify his salary. If the salary had been structured to be largely based on performance incentive criteria for successfully negotiating the media rights deal, I doubt he'd get the $3.6M. I have no idea whether it was based in any degree on that criteria. Maybe JC knows.
It reads like a Greek Tragedy - and beggars beleif so much could be risked and lost by so few well-educated, well-meaning people. It's nothing short of a catastrophe, a disaster of quantum scale. Boo.
Great job pulling the story together. Oregon fan and season ticket holder here. I'm very disappointed that it resulted in the demise of the Pac 12, essentially driven by executive and academic incompetence. What's happening now to WSU and OSU is just not right.
Thanks Tom! As an OSU alum I don't want the Ducks in a different conference. Attending the Civil War games and the conference rivalry have created some of my greatest memories with friends and family over the past 50 years. As much as it feels good to point fingers this is a much bigger discussion and not one that U of O alum and fans impacted.
On Thursday morning when we got the 2024 Home Game schedule email, I immediately replied that I am massively disappointed that the schedule didn't include the Civil War. Yesterday I called the school athletic office and made sure they understood my feeling about that. I asked them to reconsider when Oregon State finalizes its 2024 plan. Oregon needs to do everything to reschedule any of those 3 OOC home games (Texas Tech, Idaho, & BSU) to get that game scheduled next year, I also believe it needs to be in Corvallis even if it means a Beaver win. I don't care if the schedule makes it too tough with tOSU & UW at home and Michigan, UCLA, & WIsconsin on the road they said they were committed to keep that instate game so they need to do it unless for some silly reason Oregon State doesn't want it,
One principal in negotiating is to know and understand what your product is worth—not what you want it to be worth. Another is to engage trustworthy and competent negotiators who communicate negotiation feedback. Kliavkoff and his ridiculous buddy Perlman broke every rule and the CEO group was not strong enough to call them on their secrecy. “Everything is hunky dory” is not an update.
I’m with you, John, that blame is plentiful and not really worth much. But the “commissioner” and his pal are guilty of severe malpractice. It is difficult not to despise their actions.
Thank you , again, for a remarkable piece of reporting and for sticking with this.
The more information that is revealed the more it seems that GK owns the biggest piece of this debacle. Doesn’t mean others don’t share it but he did and seems to continue to be making very bad and opaque decisions. Don’t understand why he hasn’t already been given his walking papers.
GK does, but how do these Presidents sit back and let this go unchecked...
My GOD
The past UO President knew absolutely NOTHING about sports. It wasn’t important to him, and I’m sure he didn’t put much energy that direction. Then, he left. It was perfect timing to avoid any responsibility.
GK was hired by the Presidents. Scott was enabled by the Presidents. Say what you will about commissioners, but the blame here lies solely on the Presidents. GK was a bad hire. The leadership was not strong.
Probably because the CEO group members are more worried about what else will come spilling out of the closet once GK is no longer holding the door closed, so to speak, and how much of their time it'll take to deal with it. He's very useful as a whipping boy atm, too.
Tough to walk away from $3.6 million a year. He's definitely earned it, think the Pac-2 should give him a raise!
Hah!!!!
WTF? Please explain.
Lol that was sarcastic. I hate what his incompetence has done to my Beavs and the conference of champions
Curious how accountability happens here. No presidents got fired. They didn't lose their income, or a portion of their income. Maybe if there was some real consequences to their decisions they would have acted differently?
Perfectly stated. Even politicians have a degree of accountability - they have to run for re-election. And, if we continue to vote for them, it's our fault, not theirs. No accountability whatsoever in academia. None.
Besides, in academia group think is rewarded with advancement. So if things start out wrong, they just get worse and worse. Ever talked to someone seeking tenure with opinions different than the tenure committee?
Good question. Revealing.
These Presidents, except for WSU & OSU can point to ‘success’ of their school now being in new conference, w/ new $ TV contracts. They are being patted on back in most cases.
Question is, when will GK be fired for cause??
Sounds like you got to the bottom of it...and it was worth digging. However, in academia, there is no accountability. A "misfire" of this magnitude - the complete destruction of a prominent 108-year-old conference that holds more NCAA championships than any other conference in the country - moves the Richter Scale dramatically. But when the dust settles, no one, except maybe Kliavkoff - who loses a job - will be held accountable. In academia, professors have tenure and the heat shields at the provost and chancellor/president level are completely impregnable unless one is caught in a hot tub with prostitutes. Even in that situation, the golden parachute is breathtaking.
So, now, two university presidents have given their statements and utter incompetence is laid bare. And guess what? Nothing happens to anyone in the room. However, thousands of others depending on the existence of the conference are impacted tremendously...for the worse.
Hooray! The Bald Faced Truth is in the open.
The article is very good work by John Canzano. While in general not much new is included, the timeline and accounts of and by some players fills the gaps in the story.
The result was a pitiful end to a proud and storied conference. RIP Pac12.
Continuing my comments about what has not been mentioned about the PAC-12: the COVid shutdowns of 2020 and 2021 were devastating to the Pac-12. Unlike the SEC, BIg 12 and ACC which never shutdown in 2020, the Pac-12 football had a 6 game schedule with 0 attendance. In 2021 they had a full schedule but only allowed 50% attendance and only if vaccinated. They did not get 50%. Financially devastating- also hurt recruiting big time. Other conferences didn’t follow suit. We can thank the Governors of Washington, Oregon and California but that played the first strike of 3 strikes in the downfall of the conference.
I generally agree with your statements that there were plenty of self-inflicted wounds, but one point of clarification -- the league did not restrict attendance to 50% capacity in 2021. There were no capacity restrictions, beyond the vaccination requirement.
Great Points.
Greed is undefeated...💪
Actually right now the Pac2 is undefeated against the rest of the CFB world.
More than anything I appreciate the truth and you are one of the few who are trying to tell it. Accountability is important but the blame game only satisfies the bitter who aren't ready to move forward. I am still hopeful that the Pac2 work it out so they end up better off than the others. Its not over yet.
Thx again for staying on it.
Playing the guessing game, would have never imagined it was the president at the University of Utah and his economic professor who were behind the $50 million valuation. WOW! As for GK, he is an amateur in a professional game and showed no leadership through the whole process. He had no clue, and it has destroyed the Pac-12/Pac-10.
Yes, however he was able to buy a home in Montana.
Probably in the same vicinity as Ted Kaczinsky. Kliavkoff is about as popular as the Unibomber right now. Soon, but not soon enough, George will have time to reflect, grow a beard, and write his own manifesto.
I have to say, when GK said that the PAC was better off the longer they waited, I knew the end was near. The bird in the hand then flew away and the bush burned down.
One of the most important lessons I learned as an Officer in the Army, was “don’t expect what you don’t inspect”.
This sounds like it was a strong dose of delegation run wild.
I believe that today, the PAC 10/11 could be kept whole with a strong effort to go back to Amazon / Apple / CW. The product and numbers are sellers numbers, not the cellar numbers they’ve been in recent years.
My read is this was just downright sh*tty negotiation tactics. Utah President (and some others) countered ESPN very high ($50M) with hopes that they could then dicker something in-between $30M and $50M. This is classic negotiation to shoot high to set that bar and then come down to what is realistic. This works is some industries. It didn't work here with ESPN whose parent company, Disney, was bleeding cash at the time. West Coast fans, businesses (and current/future student-athletes) all LOSE as a result of this massive misfire.
Yeah totally agree. It’s like offering someone $300,000 for a $500,000 house. You might think you’re just making a super aggressive offer, but in reality you’re just going to insult the seller. And despite JC’s description of the Utah president’s strong business prowess, it was only as a professor and consultant, not from real world experience.
Utah Prez Taylor Randall statement has this tidbit that I hope JC pulls the strings HARD on:
“Several conference schools retained their own consultants to value the league, which resulted in a range of estimations”
1. Who were the schools w/ their own consultants?
2. Who were those Consultants?
3. What were the $ estimates each school/consultant group provided to George & Presidents?
Interesting that John's source, former Fox guy, came up independently with the $30MM figure. When I was in biz school one of my professors called consultants, "drips under pressure."
Yeah it sounds like there were a lot of cooks in the kitchen.
That's a great example, Jim, and it actually has happened to me twice. Two different homes we were selling. On each an offer came in that was ridiculous. I told the realtor to tell the other party I wasn't even going to counter.
Negotiating is a skill and the objective is to find something good for both parties...not to bury the other guy and tell everyone on your block about it while chugging another beer.
What they should have done is sit down with ESPN and Fox and ask them directly, "what do we need to do to get to $40M per school"? If they said add B12 schools, then you do it. I own an IT company and many times customers will tell me what their spend is. Maybe they come back to P12 and say add X, Y, & Z, and we can get you to $38M per school and let's review it in yr 3 to see if we can go higher. BTW, here in DFW, I've seen ACC games on the CW....
The PAC 12's first mistake was hiring Kliavkoff instead of Oliver Luck. Had Luck been hired, I don't think the LA schools leave for the Big Ten and the conference stays together.
But was Oliver Luck really a candidate for the job at the time?
Yes he was. https://larrybrownsports.com/college-football/oliver-luck-pac-12-commissioner-candidate/572305
Luck, the father of former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, was a candidate for the Pac-12 commissioner position in 2021, but league executives tabbed George Kliavkoff as the successor to Larry Scott instead. https://247sports.com/Article/pac-12-hires-oliver-luck-as-consultant-amid-conferences-struggles-per-report-214183675/
Jeez, what a miss that was for PAC-12……
I'm not sure, but I'd bet he would have been if he'd known what they ultimately offered GK.
Heck at this point MW commish or Ohio St AD who both were candidates would have been a better options than GK.
Makes sense. No one can screw up a complex negotiation like someone with a PhD in business.
3 beans fir a cow?
While reading your article, it became clear to me why this story ended the way it did. Where have you ever seen university presidents, chancellors, economists, professors, and a fledgling sports consulting firms negotiating a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars SUCCESSFULLY…any kind of deal! You haven’t because none of them have neither the skill set nor the business acumen.
An educated idiot is a dangerous thing to behold, ripe for the taking by opportunistic grifters in the world of commerce and reality.
Kind of makes one think about that old saying that "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." When it comes to real world, high stakes settings like this, university profs and administrators too often overvalue their knowledge and ability.
Visit any park or public space in America. You will not find a single monument that honors a committee.
Once again...great reporting. How can Kliavkoff justify making $3.6 million in salary given that it looks like he has failed the Pac 2 (12?)!
GK doesn't have to justify his salary. If the salary had been structured to be largely based on performance incentive criteria for successfully negotiating the media rights deal, I doubt he'd get the $3.6M. I have no idea whether it was based in any degree on that criteria. Maybe JC knows.
I know the story needs to be told. Repeatedly. But it will always disgust me. It will never be OK.
It reads like a Greek Tragedy - and beggars beleif so much could be risked and lost by so few well-educated, well-meaning people. It's nothing short of a catastrophe, a disaster of quantum scale. Boo.