Rubin said good owners can have a big impact on the overall success of leagues in the long rungetty images
Fanatics Founder & Exec Chair Michael Rubin said there have "never been more qualified buyers of sports teams than there are today." Appearing on "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Rubin said there are a "lot of older owners across the board," and the "smartest commissioners focus very much on making sure they pick the right owners going forward." That is because owners have a "big impact on not only their team, but on the success of the sport long-term." Rubin noted getting the right owners into each league is something that is "super strategic," and it is a commissioner's "core responsibility" to select the best owners. Rubin, who is an investor in the 76ers, also discussed his attempt to buy the NFL Panthers. Rubin said new Panthers Owner David Tepper is "going to be a great owner." He said Tepper "replaced someone who badly needed to go" in former Owner Jerry Richardson, who was "bad for the NFL." Rubin: "There are people I just cringe when they speak, and Jerry Richardson was in that category. They got rid of a really bad owner (and) they put a good owner in place." Meanwhile, Rubin said in sports, the time that ownership "should get involved" in team decisions is on things that "really move the needle." Rubin: "Often, owners get involved in things that they shouldn't." He added, "You have to figure out how to make a really positive impact on what matters and then get out of the way" ("The Bill Simmons Podcast," THERINGER.com, 7/30).
