Leveraging Long-Term Relationships to Secure High-Profile Sports Talent

Key Quotes

"Well, it's, uh, you know, I'm not, I'm not to give too much away. I've, I've been fortunate enough to know, uh, Michael Jordan for 35 years. I met him back in 1990. Um, interestingly enough, we had just lost Major League Baseball, and we created a golf tournament, uh, for celebrities to come in and play out in Lake Tahoe."

John Miller explains that his long-standing relationship with Michael Jordan, spanning 35 years, began with a celebrity golf tournament. This event served as an initial point of connection outside of their later NBA interactions. Miller highlights this foundational relationship as key to their ongoing rapport.

"And Michael came out and played in it along with players like Dan Marino and John Elway and, you know, a whole host of, of big-name players who loved to play golf and wanted to come and test their game for money with PGA professionals."

Miller illustrates the caliber of individuals involved in the golf tournament he helped create. He points out that Michael Jordan participated alongside other prominent athletes like Dan Marino and John Elway. This detail emphasizes the exclusive and high-profile nature of the event where their acquaintance first developed.

"So we've obviously gotten to know each other over the years. And I, when we got the NBA, I reached out and and said, I want to talk to you about an idea that we have. Um, it was not going to involve him going to Stanford or going on the road."

John Miller describes how his continued relationship with Michael Jordan, built over years of shared experiences, led him to approach Jordan with a specific idea for NBC's NBA coverage. Miller clarifies that this proposal was designed to be non-intrusive, not requiring Jordan to travel or commit to extensive on-site involvement.

"But I feel, and, you know, a lot of us feel that he is the single most important voice in the game. And not just the game of basketball, but just in sports in general. There are very few out there. I mean, you can talk about the Muhammad Ali's and and people like that. But Michael really transcends just basketball."

John Miller articulates his belief in Michael Jordan's unique influence and significance within the sports world. Miller argues that Jordan's impact extends beyond basketball, positioning him as a singular voice comparable to other iconic figures like Muhammad Ali. He emphasizes Jordan's ability to transcend his sport.

"Um, so I think there was a little bit of that. But I think he, the more he talked to Jack Felling and the more he talked to myself and to Rick and to Mike Tarico, you know, I think you'd have to, he would be the one to tell you, but I think the more he got into it, and the more he saw how much we were going to put against it and how we were going to really focus on the things that were important and also be sensitive to what he was trying to do."

Miller explains that Michael Jordan initially had reservations about participating, valuing his privacy and personal time. However, Miller notes that as Jordan engaged in further discussions with the NBC team, including himself, Jack Felling, Rick, and Mike Tarico, he became more comfortable. This increased comfort stemmed from understanding the commitment NBC would make and their sensitivity to his needs.