USFL vs NFL - The Empire Strikes Back | 5
Business Wars
Audible
4.6 • 13.5K Ratings
🗓️ 18 February 2019
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
For nearly two full years, the mighty NFL sat idly by as the upstart USFL tried to chip away at its status, talent, and reputation as the most powerful sports league on the planet. Now, the NFL is ready to settle the score, once and for all.
The league commissions a Harvard professor to prepare meticulous, 46-page step-by-step plan intended to squash the USFL in its tracks. Commissioner Pete Rozelle prepares himself for battle—but the battle comes sooner than expected. The USFL files an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL, claiming that it has monopolized fall television. At stake? One point three two billion dollars, enough money to kill the NFL.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to business wars, add free on Amazon music. |
| 0:04.8 | Download the app today. |
| 0:12.4 | January 1984, the NFL's Manhattan offices. |
| 0:17.5 | The most powerful man in American sports sits alone at his desk, a lit cigarette, |
| 0:23.0 | bellowing smoke rests on an ash tray, and steam rises from a hot cup of coffee. |
| 0:28.7 | The commissioner Pete Roselle ignores both. |
| 0:32.2 | In his meaty hands is a 46-page document. |
| 0:35.7 | The cover reads, spending the USFL dollar. |
| 0:40.4 | This better be good, Roselle thinks. |
| 0:42.8 | Hell, we paid a Harvard professor big bucks for it. |
| 0:46.0 | The professor's assignment? |
| 0:48.0 | Tell the NFL how to end this annoying USFL problem. |
| 0:54.1 | Roselle looks toward the door, which is open just a sliver. |
| 0:58.6 | He barks to his secretary stationed outside. |
| 1:01.6 | No calls, no interruptions. |
| 1:03.9 | I need an hour of alone time. |
| 1:06.1 | Okay, Mr. Roselle. |
| 1:08.6 | He turns to the first page, which features a single quotation plucked from Sunsu's military |
| 1:14.4 | strategic epic, The Art of War. |
| 1:18.0 | He reads the line aloud. |
| 1:20.0 | To conquer the enemy without resorting to war is the most desirable. |
| 1:26.4 | Huh. |
... |
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