George Kliavkoff, Commissioner of the Pac-12 Convention is refelcted in a tv monitor as he speaks throughout opening of the Pac-12 soccer media day Friday, July 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes) AP
There have been no absolutes divvied out on the Pac-12 media day on Friday in Los Angeles.
None had been anticipated, however the day begged for it.
With what transpired on June 30, Defection Day with USC and UCLA leaving for the Large Ten, that's precisely what many devoted Pac-12 followers craved: Some guarantees of absolutes.
What we noticed was what Billy Witz of the New York Instances described as a media day that “carried the air of an ungainly household reunion.”
The media affair might have used some absolutes, some exhausting paper with signatures.
As an example, it will have actually helped if commissioner George Kliavkoff might have delivered the next information:
- An announcement that the remaining 10 Pac 12 groups had every agreed to a grant of media rights for the following 5, 7 and even 10 years.
He couldn't.
- An announcement of an official first provide cash quantity for every faculty as pitched by ESPN throughout negotiations that are as a consequence of conclude Aug. 4 throughout a 30-day analysis interval.
He couldn't.
- In speaking about convention solidarity, eye-to-eye conferences with the league’s board of administrators twice every week since June 30, the place 10 presidents/chancellors have aired a dedication to stay collectively, it will have been good to offer one thing in writing, one thing like an affidavit from every group, a doc from significantly Oregon, Washington, Cal and Stanford, as to that impact.
He couldn't.
#Pac12 commissioner George Kliavkoff tells @247Sports#Big12 presidents have been messaging Pac-12 presidents about becoming a member of the Large 12 "as not too long ago as yesterday."
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) July 29, 2022
"The tampering continues. ... I've a giant assortment of these messages."
- Since Large Ten commissioner Kevin Warren aired the speculation that his league won't be via increasing and CBS Sports activities’ Dennis Dodd revealed the league was evaluating Oregon, Washington, Cal and Stanford, it will have been good for Kliavkoff to offer a letter of clarification from his good friend Warren that the Large Ten was not going to poach anyone else.
He couldn't.
- With nearly a month to organize and to silence rumors, it will have been a stable for Kliavkoff to formally dispel the speak that the Large 12 has not reached out to members or that the so-called 4 Nook colleges, both instantly or via a third-party entity, had not reached out to the Large 12 for enlargement consideration.
He couldn't.
- It will have been elevating to Pac-12 followers to have Kliavkoff announce member colleges haven't been holding particular person closed-door administrative conferences with athletic administrators, common counsel (attorneys) and boards of regents to debate enlargement choices.
He couldn't, though Oregonian sportswriter James Crepea mentioned it's effectively documented these conferences have taken place.
- By producing a chunk of paper declaring if the remaining Pac-12 groups would have a fair cash distribution within the new media deal, it will have enlightened the pack as choices on enlargement are made.
Kliavkoff had no such guideline prepared.
What the Pac 12 wants is a few excellent news, however what’s missing, and extra worthwhile than all of the gold on the earth, is belief.
The Pac-12 wants a variety of belief, greater than faculty athletics, generally, has today.
Now, in fact it's too early for a lot of absolute revelations, however are you able to think about what Pac-12 media day would have been with a couple of?
Only a yr in the past when Oklahoma and Texas introduced departure from the Large 12 for the SEC, the Pac 12 had an opportunity to broaden.
A choose committee of Pac-12 presidents and athletic administrators met to debate enlargement. USC’s president Carol Folt, who was on the committee, “shut it down,” in response to the Los Angeles Instances.
A yr later, Folt, secretly behind backs of her friends, led USC’s inquiry to Large Ten membership. Subsequently, UCLA joined the transfer by way of Trojan coattails.
Belief.
The Pac-12 ought to have realized a lesson final summer time from the Large 12 when Oklahoma and Texas bolted for the SEC.
Enlargement, which included Houston, BYU, Cincinnati and UCF, was quick. With prima donnas OU and Texas leaving, the Large 12 was left with eight hungry remaining groups and 4 keen newcomers who seem to belief one another.
Over the previous month, the Pac-12 has realized firsthand what belief in USC and UCLA obtained them. Now Kliavkoff is left with nearly a complete league hoping for belief in conferences whereas texting contacts within the Large Ten and Large 12 beneath the desk.
Why are we stunned at any of this when our leaders of upper schooling are so anxious to chase cash, abandoning ethical braveness and belief?
I requested Pac-12's George Kliavkoff do you belief any of the commissioners:
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 29, 2022
"Sure," he mentioned.
"Which of them?" I requested
"I am not going to get into that," he mentioned
Wasn’t it simply final August that Kliavkoff, contemporary on the job he obtained from disgraced Larry Scott, joined Warren and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips in a video press convention asserting an alliance that might assist with scheduling and different initiatives corresponding to a year-long celebration of Title IX?
In that information convention, these commissioners had been requested if there was a binding contract to this settlement.
Kliavkoff mentioned it wasn’t vital as a result of this was a handshake deal between gents.
Now, after Warren’s Large Ten ravaged the Pac-12, robbing what some say is 28 % of its media worth in taking USC and UCLA, Kliavkoff should be questioning simply who on the earth he's coping with on this faculty sports activities deal.
Who're his friends? Who're his buddies? Who're his enemies?
You need to really feel sorry for Kliavkoff.
Appears like he’s spinning in an episode of Narcos and the Mexican cartels.