If I had one wish today, it would be that Basketball Hall of Fame player Gary Payton had been on a video conference call with Oregon State Deputy Athletic Director Brent Blaylock earlier this year.
Blaylock was on the video call with Steve Johnson and Dick Oldfield, among others. Johnson is a former Beavers’ basketball great. Oldfield ran track as a middle-distance runner at OSU. Those two guys were pitching the idea of forming a fresh NIL collective that would help athletes maximize their brands and connect with area businesses.
Cool concept, right?
Except the sides didn’t agree on whether the front of the jersey or the back of the jersey mattered more. The two former OSU athletes argued that the focus needed to be on branding the names on the back. The deputy AD disagreed.
Blaylock said, “It doesn’t matter, even if you’re Gary Payton, after 10-15 years, no one’s going to remember you.”
Man, do I wish ‘The Glove’ had been on that call.
Blaylock has a reputation for being awkward and not a great communicator. It gets in the way of perception sometimes. He’s smart, but stiff and aloof. But that comment was a tone-deaf all-timer.
I’ve talked a few times with Payton, who pledged financial support to his alma mater, and shows up at games at times. I’m thinking Payton would have reared back on the call and cold-cocked the athletic department’s chief operating officer through his computer screen.