Canzano: Pac-12 Waiting Game Enters March Madness

[NJDuck]

 

Decide for yourself if you think the Pac-12 has been wise to be quiet and guarded over the last six months. There’s some logic in it. Former Fox Sports Networks president Bob Thompson said earlier this week, “Give the Pac-12 credit; there haven’t been any leaks. They’ve kept things very tight.” 

 

That’s probably appreciated by the Pac-12’s negotiating partners. Beyond that, though, I think it’s been a misfire by the conference to allow so many other parties tell the conference’s story and muddy up the public conversation. 

 

“Imminent demise”? 

 

“Pac-12 teetering”?

 

The conference presidents and chancellors don’t think so. Multiple athletic directors wave off the negativity as noise, too. And Kliavkoff hasn’t projected any of that, especially not on Thursday, or even Wednesday, when he sat in the same chair at the arena inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. 

 

Still, that’s the narrative being peddled by the spin doctors and their puppets. It’s hurt the brand. It’s damaged public confidence. The Pac-12 needs something positive to talk about next week when the men’s basketball tournament starts. Not a brief statement of unity or administrators/executives speaking anonymously, but some bonafide news. 

 

There has been a tsunami-like build up on the media rights front over the last six months. Apple or Amazon? ESPN, too? Expansion? There’s been constant public discussion and daily anticipation. We’re all waiting for Christmas morning, but we keep waking up in March. 

 

I get it. The Pac-12’s strategy has remained consistent. It has refused to engage in the public misinformation battle, choosing instead to focus its energy on getting the best possible media rights deal done — we hope. 

 

It’s an intentional, philosophical decision. One that may be driven by the Pac-12’s CEO Group more than Kliavkoff’s team at headquarters. 

 

Fans in the Pac-12 need some news soon. Recruits want to know what’s going on. Coaches are restless and wondering, too. Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith told me this week that he knows the media rights negotiations are out of his control, but he’s tracking developments like the rest of us. Meanwhile boosters at SMU, San Diego State and some other places have watched and waited. 

 

We’re all sort of just… waiting.

 

Canzano: Pac-12 waiting game enters March Madness

WWW.JOHNCANZANO.COM

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George Kliavkoff sat courtside in Las Vegas.

 

[lownslowav8r]

I see Canzano’s point, but until something is signed what can they say that won’t cause problems in the negotiations?

[Just Ducky]

Now that social media has taken over our lives it’s funny how everything needs to happen yesterday. The pack? Is likely to stay alive with 14 to 16 members. For the Ducks sake jumping ship might be a huge mistake. I’ve waited a long time for a natty in football to come our way and waiting a little longer for George to get this correct doesn’t mean the end of the world. IMHO.