Rock and Garcia in Washington

[GregParks]

Worth noting that the man in the middle of the latest photo is ESPN’s Director of Content, per Mike Mitchell. So they may still have a role yet to play in this merged league, despite speculation to the contrary.

[mnrlgrey]

The whole USFL-takeover narrative seems less and less likely as time goes on.

[laxtreme56]

Conspicuously absent, Daryl Johnston.

[Rmbay]

The picture taken had both USFL and XFL owners involved. So there must be a reason they were all there, I don't think the senators were courting Gerry Cardinale for help with recruiting

Military and sports was the focus on the meeting right? Its $$$ for the league perhaps big money, so they could be there soliciting government ad $$.

Perhaps I'm wrong but first I don't believe the Gov is holding up the merger anyway ( 2 small newbie leagues that have a history of folding??) other than typical gov foot dragging and incompetence. Second if there was someway the Senate could bypass the DOJ we're all in trouble.

Perhaps some senators where lobbying to get a team in their state and dangling military money? That I could see.

What this pic tells me is the Merger is ON

Otherwise this was the story line last week:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/dwa ... 59097.html

>> Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson met with several senators at the U.S. Capitol and with service members at the Pentagon this week to talk about boosting military recruitment.

The Capitol Hill meeting was organized by Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and held in Sen. Dick Durbin’s, D-Ill., office. Senators who attended the meeting included Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Todd Young, R-Ind. He also met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., according to WRC-TV.

"Some of the best times in my life were spent serving in the military. It's a great career that leads to a lot of opportunities even beyond the military," Kelly told the Washington Examiner. Kelly is a former astronaut and Navy combat pilot.

He added, "So, what we were discussing is how do you tell stories that get people more interested, and he's a guy that can do that." <<

I don't know if I would assume DG and DJ were there with just one objective in mind. The whole military recruitment thing could have been the topper on their visit, which was most likely centered around the merger.

[GDAWG]

Conspicuously absent, Daryl Johnston.

He has said on his Weekly Radio show that during the NFL season, he's 100% on Fox NFL Sunday.

[laxtreme56]

Conspicuously absent, Daryl Johnston.

He has said on his Weekly Radio show that during the NFL season, he's 100% on Fox NFL Sunday.

Sure, but this meeting took place during a week day. I'm sure Gerry Cardinale and The Rock are just as busy, if not more than Daryl Johnston. Also absent are any NBC reps

[4th&long]

Conspicuously absent, Daryl Johnston.

He has said on his Weekly Radio show that during the NFL season, he's 100% on Fox NFL Sunday.

Sure, but this meeting took place during a week day. I'm sure Gerry Cardinale and The Rock are just as busy, if not more than Daryl Johnston. Also absent are any NBC reps

NBC has no ownership in either league.

If the meeting was about Military recruitment and related Ad revenue DJ is not necessary. Is he out from USFL? Doubtful but as I've said before, he's not a business guy. Rock was there for his appeal to the Military for recruitment, Dany was there because her career is tied to the Rock and the XFL can spin it as woman owned. USFL there to get ad money too and likely as the leagues are merging.

As far as the merger... I can't see Senators looking like they are interfering in a DOJ/Regulatory approval. And again its two small money losing entities - I'm not buying the league # of teams is a gov hold up other than foot dragging laziness.
Could the union be holding it up? maybe.

Are there other issues holding up the announcement... likely. Is it USFL v XFL debate or logistical or getting a TV deal anchored? Possible.

This is dragging too long, neither league is being promoted during this holding period.

[laxtreme56]

He has said on his Weekly Radio show that during the NFL season, he's 100% on Fox NFL Sunday.

Sure, but this meeting took place during a week day. I'm sure Gerry Cardinale and The Rock are just as busy, if not more than Daryl Johnston. Also absent are any NBC reps

NBC has no ownership in either league.

If the meeting was about Military recruitment and related Ad revenue DJ is not necessary. Is he out from USFL? Doubtful but as I've said before, he's not a business guy. Rock was there for his appeal to the Military for recruitment, Dany was there because her career is tied to the Rock and the XFL can spin it as woman owned. USFL there to get ad money too and likely as the leagues are merging.

As far as the merger... I can't see Senators looking like they are interfering in a DOJ/Regulatory approval. And again its two small money losing entities - I'm not buying the league # of teams is a gov hold up other than foot dragging laziness.
Could the union be holding it up? maybe.

Are there other issues holding up the announcement... likely. Is it USFL v XFL debate or logistical or getting a TV deal anchored? Possible.

This is dragging too long, neither league is being promoted during this holding period.

ESPN has no ownership in either league either, but the head of programming was there. Daryl Johnston is the USFL president or something along those lines. You'd think he'd be there representing his employer

[Rmbay]

A couple of reasons Johnston may not have been there:

1) There's a lot of prep work that goes into a NFL telecast. It's quite possible the meeting(s) were held on a day Johnston needed to be with the broadcast crew. It's also possible that if he wasn't there physically he could have carved out a few hours via zoom.

2) The head of Fox Sports was there, and any meeting about the merger could have been more owner-centric. I know Ross Brandon was there also, but he's supposedly been the point man in the negotiations.

In the end, I suspect the DOJ had a few questions about the merger or some loose ends they wanted cleared up before final approval. May not have taken more than a few hours. It could have been scheduled for a day when the Rock was supposed to meet with Senators about military recruitment, or the other way around.

I think the fact that DG put the picture out there yesterday instead of late last week (when she posted the senatorial meeting) might be the tell that the approval has now gone through and an announcement may be imminent.

[4th&long]

Sure, but this meeting took place during a week day. I'm sure Gerry Cardinale and The Rock are just as busy, if not more than Daryl Johnston. Also absent are any NBC reps

NBC has no ownership in either league.

If the meeting was about Military recruitment and related Ad revenue DJ is not necessary. Is he out from USFL? Doubtful but as I've said before, he's not a business guy. Rock was there for his appeal to the Military for recruitment, Dany was there because her career is tied to the Rock and the XFL can spin it as woman owned. USFL there to get ad money too and likely as the leagues are merging.

As far as the merger... I can't see Senators looking like they are interfering in a DOJ/Regulatory approval. And again its two small money losing entities - I'm not buying the league # of teams is a gov hold up other than foot dragging laziness.
Could the union be holding it up? maybe.

Are there other issues holding up the announcement... likely. Is it USFL v XFL debate or logistical or getting a TV deal anchored? Possible.

This is dragging too long, neither league is being promoted during this holding period.

ESPN has no ownership in either league either, but the head of programming was there. Daryl Johnston is the USFL president or something along those lines. You'd think he'd be there representing his employer

ESPN is the biggest sports programming media company in world
of course they are their
besides being the only xfl partner for the pic

DJ is Pres of FB operations not biz side

what do you think they were their for? can senatora interfere in a regulatory approval ? no is what im saying

pimping for ad $$$ - sure