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SBJ Unpacks: T'Wolves CEO Ethan Casson On Minnesota Protests

On the most recent episode of "SBJ Unpacks: The Road Ahead," our Bill King is joined by T'Wolves and WNBA Lynx CEO Ethan Casson to talk about how his organizations are staying active in furthering equality and social justice.

On how the organization wanted to react when George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis:
Casson: It was about action and not words. It was about this can’t be a statement moment where we release something, talk about all of the things that we need to do a better job of and then go back to our day jobs and move on from it. As painful and as angry and as much work as we have in front of us, I will tell you I’m really pleased with how much we’ve done collectively since May 25th when George Floyd was killed. ... I don’t think we would be taking this approach if we didn’t believe 100% that this is a human issue and we’re going to keep it at the forefront of what we do and how we do it for a long, long extended period of time.

On the Timberwolves and Lynx convening a zoom call with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, attended by all players, coaches and basketball operations staff from both teams, as well as Owner Glen Taylor:
Casson: It was a critical conversation that we needed to have ... and so much attention has been placed on police and police reform and that’s certainly long overdue and change needs to happen in and around that. But we’re naïve to think that is an independent issue without really looking at the entire ecosystem. ... The dialogue today, without getting in specifics, was incredible and raw and real.

On the approach the franchise is taking in their search for a new jersey patch sponsor:
Casson: The value of what that patch is is so much bigger and can be so much more, and we just looked at it as this is an opportunity for us to lead with social change discussions, social change activation, social change conversations with a brand that would be aligned with that level of movement, and it almost feels like the patches are just part of what the overall partnership has the potential to become.

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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