Mayweather and the Kentucky Derby with The Business of Sports

This was one of the most anticipated sports weekends in memory. The Mayweather vs. Pacquaio fight was an event that was five years overdue. While the fight was not as epic as some of it predecessors from the previous eras, this was the highest grossing fight ever. Customers paying $100 for a pay per view event is unheard of. Delaying the start so more people would be able to order the event is something unusual. The collaboration of HBO and Showtime was unique in that they evenly plugged the event with the announcing of the fighters and promoting future broadcasts. Mayweather gave a shout out to one of his sponsors, Fan Duel, after the fight.

The celebrities at the fight included Tom Brady, Beyoncé and Jay Z, Bradley Cooper, Charles Barkley, Mary J. Blige, Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.

Brady at the Fight

Beyoncé and Jay Z arriving at the Fight of the Century!

The day started for most sports fans with the Kentucky Derby. This year had a field of 18 horses with the odds ranging from 3-1 to 99-1.

The winner was the favorite American Pharoah. This horse is train by Bob Baffett and is his fourth derby winner.

American Pharoah wins!

Number 4 for Bob Baffett

 

Churchill Downs Saturday's Kentucky Derby was  a first—because the bettors were able to bet money on the race from an iPhone app. Add that to the estimated revenue of  over 400 million for ticket sales and the amount wagered on the race exceeding 120 million.

This is the big business of sports. Events that people will fly to, dress up for, get hotels room and party afterwards. They also talk about these events on social media. Now they bet on them thru their phones. Technology takes the event to unprecedented levels. No matter the outcome, you can connect to and be a part of it. I love it. Tell me if you do.

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March Madness is Crazy!!

 

I love this time of year. College basketball on television all day long into the late evening. Great match ups between teams that would never play against each other ordinarily. A one seed vs. a 16 is like David against Goliath. David can only win with divine intervention. The domination of a 2 vs. a 15 is not as prevalent. The 15 has pulled off an upset in the past. Ask Duke.

 

What I don't care for is the speculation of the last 4 in, last 4 out. The selection committee has to explain why certain teams were not selected. So to spend energy wondering who will get in and who will be left out a month before is a waste to me. No disrespect to ESPN and Joe Lunardi.

LAS VEGAS in the NIGHT

The best place to watch the tournament is in Las Vegas. If you can get a seat at the sports book. you are in a gambler paradise all day. The games start at 9:00am their time. You have to be up early but it's worth it. Some books let you reserve an area for your group for a fee.

 

 

MGM GRAND

I 'm not thrilled that some novice may be in line in front of me and not know how to bet. This is why they have parlay cards dude. Make your wagers the night before. You can do me a favor and be in line after me.

 

I am enamoured with the parity that the tournament has. Any game that is a match up from 4-12 thru 7-8 has a chance to win. This is straight up. If you are in Vegas, you may want to look at a money line bet if you like the underdog. Look at teams that have upper classmen and go seven or eight deep. The experience will prevail if the game is close.

What really makes me mad is I 'm not going to Las Vegas this year. 1st time in last 6 years, I 'm missing round one. If they had sports betting in New Jersey, this would be a mute point. I could ride down to Atlantic City or use a sports betting mobile app to pick my winners. But since I can't, I must resort to picking against other people. I'll be in a bracket pool that I won't win because someone will pick a 13 seed that will go to the elite eight. I will have that same team exiting in the 1st round. Then the block pool for the championship game will be won by someone who doesn't even follow college basketball. Another 20 bucks donated to someone I hardly know.

    Have you notice the range of emotions I have displayed writing this?  I'll close with a video.

                                         That why March Madness is CRAZY!!!


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