My bet is that Tilman Fertitta made some very, very large contributions to both Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick in order to grease the skids. Something in the mid to high 6 figure range for each of those 2 fine fellows would be my guess.
I worked for a prominent Houston real estate developer and major UH booster who needed to have the federal tax law changed in order to finalize a divorce circa 1984. It seems that both he and Harold Farb had the same problem: when giving your spouse liquid assets worth say ~$20 million while keeping the more volatile valued real estate projects worth arguably a lot more (but maybe less), we were told that the tax law required that we give his spouse another $5-10 million in order for her to be able to pay the gift tax since he was keeping more than 1/2 the value of the estate in a community property state.
Long story short, it took a couple of large five figure cash campaign contributions from both he and Farb to then Texas Senator Lloyd Benson to change the tax law and resolve the problem. Soon after those contributions were made, a bill was passed up in DC which among other things made the gift tax inapplicable under those circumstances. (Imagine that - lobbying works in the good old USA.)
the talking heads on ESPN radio yesterday were finally starting to talk about how bad the situation is for the PAC with their lack of media deal.
there going to go into their media day without an actual media deal.
this has been strung along way, way too long. people are finally starting to call them out on it - they donāt have crap as far as a deal is concerned.
This is the nightmare scenario I would have avoided if I were GK. Itās going to take away the attention of the programs, players, and upcoming season.
From GKās perspective, I do see what heās trying to do. Heās playing Tetris with linear and steaming providers to get to $28-$30mm per school. Heās just not getting there.
That last thing I would want is a media day without a deal in place.
My conspiracy theorist inside me thinks ESPN is pulling strings with other conferences and networks to dissolve the PAC.
Big,
I am just glad we finally have political power to do this. I do not know for sure who wanted to keep us out of the B12ā¦but I believe someone(s) did . Mr Fertitta is truly our University of Houston Hero . Thank you Sir!
Go Big12 Coogs !
Iāll lmao if Pac adds Boise State. Can you imagine all those arrogant Pac presidents and admins interacting with their counterparts from; where? Boise State?!!!
Washington, Oregon, Arizona & Colorado join the Big 12ā¦or even just the 4 corner schools
The PAC counters by adding UNLV, Boise State, SMU & SDSU (honestly, iād go further East but it is their funeral)
The PAC can not lose 6 members and backfill with those schools and still be considered a Power Conference nor get a deal anywhere close to the Big 12 deal
it hasnāt for years. long before the conference realignment started happening the Pac12 or 10 or whatever has been struggling to attract an audience.
I donāt think there ESPN is conspiring with anyone. ESPN sets conference values with their rights offers and when they offered PAC $21m that set the value.
Conspiring? No. Answering hypothetical questions from conferences about which P12 schools would add (or at least maintain) per school $ payouts in the current conference TV contracts? Maybe.
I remember when we were joining the Big East & it turned down ESPNās TV offer ā so ESPN gave numbers to the ACC for what each Big East team was worth to the ACC TV contract. Then the ACC plundered the Big East and it dissolved as a football conference before we had ever played a game. IIRC, the ACC took Syracuse, Pitt, Lāville, & WVU.
Current rumors are that ESPN & Fox encouraged the P12 & B12 to merge. Might we have the same situation? Are ESPN & Fox are giving P12 school values to the B10 & B12? Maybe.
Why do I keep thinking of Caddyshack? Judge Smails (Ted Knight) as PAC presidents vs. Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield) when they talk about UNLV, BSU and the like joining Bushwood (PAC)
The PACās impending demise was exacerbated by their futile attempt to get equal money as the B12. They should have gone straight out and secured their best option immediately.
Iām sorry, but I donāt see a world where Washington or Oregon ever join the Big 12. Saw a comment on 365 sports radio where they said the following in regards to those two specifically:
Washington and Oregonās Priorities in order of Importance =
I would agree on points 1 and 2. However, I figure #2 is conditional. If the $$$ discrepancy between PAC and Big XII is large enough theyāll leave.
Independent? Sorry, youāre not Notre Dame or, to a lesser extent, BYU. Other than really ugly uniforms (Oregon) neither school has a national following that any service (cable, broadcast, or streaming) will be willing to televise on any medium. Enjoy the desert and a schedule full of UMass, Army and the like after 10/1 each year if thatās what you want. And donāt forget about bowl games.
Iād put Big XII as the third option. If the Big XII says no, then, itās panic and independence.
