Jerry Jones, proprietor of the Dallas Cowboys, sits within the middle of the room. Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots sits within the center row, wanting up at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Al Davis, former proprietor of the Oakland Raiders, sits within the far again, metaphorically throwing paper airplanes at the homeowners.
It was a “high school cafeteria for billionaires,” The New York Times sports journalist Ken Belson stated, describing a quarterly NFL govt session he sat in on.
In his second e book, “Every Day Is Sunday,” launched Oct. 14, Belson narrates how Jones, Kraft and Goodell turned the NFL right into a “cultural and economic juggernaut.”
Belson introduced the NFL’s enterprise to UT final Tuesday, giving a chat at the Moody College of Communication, moderated by the director of the Center for Sports Communication and Media, Michael Butterworth. Belson additionally spoke with journalism and sports media courses throughout the week.
Belson began his career in enterprise writing, then labored in sports for 14 years earlier than returning to the Times’ enterprise part in 2023. He pitched his present place to the Times when requested throughout the hiring course of what he needed to do in 5 years. He stated sports enterprise. They didn’t have that job, however eight years later, they created it.
“We cover Hollywood. We cover the music industry. Those are big entertainment industries,” Belson stated. “Sports is bigger, so why shouldn’t we write about the business of sports?”
Michelle Thorpe, a journalism senior keen on music and sports journalism, attended the discuss and heard from Belson in two of Kevin Robbins’ sports media courses.
“You (could) learn something through the business (side). You (could) learn something through a journalist point of view,” Thorpe stated. “Being able to have that opportunity with him was something that you wouldn’t find if you weren’t at Moody.”
Belson stated the journalism program and its variety of sophistication subjects impressed him.
“I can see their minds are spinning,” Belson stated. “Not so much about sports, but about … how to be a journalist. That’s what I’m here for.”
Belson collected clips for the e book over time whereas reporting for the Times, along with interviews particular to the e book, which he began engaged on in 2022.
“I often get asked, ‘How long did it take to write the book?’” Belson stated throughout the discuss. “The strict answer is one year and nine months. The real answer is 14 years.”
Some homeowners turned him down for the e book due to his protection for the Times on points within the NFL.
“I don’t work for the NFL,” Belson stated. “It’s not my job to write positive or negative stories, just honest stories.”
Butterworth stated he needed to present Belson freedom within the discuss to share what he thought most fascinating. Specific instances included the rise of Kraft and Jones, political protests and sexual harassment within the NFL and the challenges the league faces.
“Sports are about more than sports,” Butterworth stated. “They influence our lives, and they mean things to people. … These are not mere games to most people, so I think the more we pay attention to that, the better.”