The Bill Simmons Podcast

The Ja Experience in Memphis With Chris Vernon, MLB’s Future With Joe House, and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin on Changing Sports Fans

Mar 3, 2022

Chris Vernon, a sports media personality, shares insights on Ja Morant's impact on the Memphis Grizzlies and the thrill of their playoff prospects. Joe House discusses the MLB lockout, comparing it to past issues and advocating for necessary changes in the sport. Finally, Michael Rubin, CEO of Fanatics, dives into the evolution of sports fandom, the rise of merchandise sales, and innovations in the trading card industry, emphasizing a direct-to-consumer model that aims to enhance both collector experience and fan engagement.

02:15:49

Episode guests

Michael Rubin

Joe House

Chris Vernon

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

6min

Rising Stars and Game-Changing Moments

14min

The Rising Stardom of Ja Morant and the Thrill of the Game

3min

Rethinking NBA Coolness: A New Generation

9min

Playoff Prospects and Team Dynamics

16min

Player Dynamics and Team Identity

8min

Humor and Seriousness: From Phil Mickelson's Controversies to Baseball Lockout Insights

1min

The State of Baseball: Revenue vs. Tradition

16min

Shifting Perspectives in Baseball

5min

10.

Transforming Sports Fandom

5min

11.

Unlocking the Potential of the Trading Card Industry

3min

12.

Revitalizing the Trading Card Experience

2min

13.

The Transformation of Sports Trading Cards

8min

14.

The Surge of Merchandise Sales: A Super Bowl Case Study

2min

15.

Navigating the Evolving Sports Star Market

6min

16.

Innovating the Trading Card Industry: A Vision for Growth

3min

17.

Unlocking the Trading Card Market

13min

18.

The Hustle of Sports Ownership

14min

19.

Wrapping Up the Podcast: Insights and Sponsorship Highlights

3min

The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Vernon and Joe House to discuss Ja Morant, what his development has done for the Grizzlies and the Memphis area, looking ahead to the Grizzlies in the playoffs, and more (3:40). Then Bill and House talk about the MLB lockout, the current lockout compared to the 1994 MLB lockout, some long overdue baseball fixes, and more (54:01). Finally Bill talks with CEO of Fanatics, Michael Rubin, about the rise of Fanatics, handling logistics for the merchandise giant, the sports cards market, the future of sports fandom, and more (1:39:59).

Host: Bill Simmons

Guests: Chris Vernon, Joe House, and Michael Rubin

Producer: Kyle Crichton

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