Winning the Sports Biz Podcast Game: EJ Cutliff, Founder and Co-Host of the "Black in Sports" Podcast

00:00

EJ Cutliff

Do it.

00:01

Dave Almy

All right. Hey, EJ, first and foremost, right, Congratulations.

00:04

EJ Cutliff

Right?

00:05

Dave Almy

lack and Sport recently named: 2025

00:29

EJ Cutliff

Oh, it's definitely validating, right? Your, your head down, just turning, creating, you know, attempting to find like what the audience is going to want to hear, right? And then to be awarded and part of the award is the audience has to be voting for you, right? So it goes through a nomination crew, right? So you submit, you know, you get submitted and like, okay, you're nominated, right? Like people's like, oh, it's such an honor to be nominated. I want to win, I want to win.

01:00

Dave Almy

It's a sports podcast for crazy sakes. It's gonna be competitive.

01:04

EJ Cutliff

But no, and then just to have the people, you know, take that extra step, you know, they listen to you and then now they're actually taking the time to click that button and vote for you. No, it was great. And I think the other thing for us, right, is like, it's a national award, right? Like, this is coming from the podcasting, you know, bureau out of the uk, right? So having a.

01:25

Dave Almy

That's international.

01:27

EJ Cutliff

It's international, right? Like, you know, just kind of looking from that standpoint. So, you know, we won the Black Podcast Awards early in our career and this is our second award in a short five time, five year span. So, you know, it's definitely excited and it's just that little energy when, you know, you're like, you're in 250 episodes, you're like, okay, like, is this making a difference? And you know, where do we go from here?

01:48

Dave Almy

Yeah, it's such a great point, right? You know, 250 episodes. And this is like, you know, because you're kind of like me from the standpoint of you're hosting, you're editing, you're promoting, it can be kind of a solitary thing. I know you have a co host and we'll get into that in a little bit, but it is sort of a moment where you can go, okay, people are listening. And this is having at least starting towards the impact that I want it to have.

02:14

EJ Cutliff

Right, Absolutely. And that's part of it. Right. Because, you know, some people. And we'll get into it later. You know, it's from a vanity standpoint. Right. So to be. To actually have an idea of saying, okay, this is what I want to do, and seeing that it's having some momentum and is definitely, you know, part of that kind of extra motivation and kind of continue to push you forward.

02:34

Dave Almy

So you do host the show with mh. So can you talk about the origin story of your guys's relation? How did you guys come together and then how did that evolve into the podcast?

02:46

EJ Cutliff

Yeah, man. So it was like a dark and stormy deton. So, you know, in sports. Right. So we both had the opportunity to be working on the Raiders project as the. The team. The whole, you know, the beginning for the team even got here. Right. Like, it's funny how Vegas acts like football's been here for years.

03:05

Dave Almy

Yeah. But we still got that new team smell on it out there.

03:08

EJ Cutliff

Absolutely. Right. But no, we. We met in the halls of just kind of working on the Raiders project. You know, were both in different facets of helping that project, you know, come to fruition, and, you know, just became friendly. And I just told him, like, hey, man, look, I have this idea. You know, I'm down the Runway with it, you know, talking to another friend of mine that were developing it, and I was like, you know, would you be interested, man? Because we've, like, developed this friendship, and, you know, just kind of those quick conversations and chats in passing, and it just took off from there.

03:39

Dave Almy

Did you guys feel like you had immediate rapport? Like, when you guys were passing in the hallways and just kind of like, just started talking, you felt like, oh, God, this. You know, we've got good interplay here. Or is that something that you took some time to develop with mh?

03:52

EJ Cutliff

No, I think it was instant, right?

03:54

Dave Almy

It was. Yeah.

03:55

EJ Cutliff

And it was. And it's crazy. It's almost like opposites attract, but we're the same. Right?

04:00

Dave Almy

Okay.

04:01

EJ Cutliff

I just think it was just those interactions because we're at work now, right. So it's just like, oh, hey, you know, you're going to launch. Right. And, you know, seeing each other at, like, Chipotle when we're going to get lunch and just rapping at lunch. So it just. It was definitely instant. And I think the best part of it was when I told him the idea, he was like, yes, absolutely. I'm in.

04:19

Dave Almy

Oh, he was in.

04:20

EJ Cutliff

Oh, he was in. It wasn't. No, Vincent, because You know how, like, when you bring an idea to someone, right? Like, hey, you know what? I want to start a podcast.

04:29

Dave Almy

I have no experience with that whatsoever.

04:33

EJ Cutliff

He was in immediately, man. And then just, you know, from watching the show, you know, it's great to have someone different. See, they. I'm not as confident as you to be able to host a podcast all by myself.

04:44

Dave Almy

If I'm showing confidence right now, I'm doing a great job. Using the expression fake it till you make it.

04:50

EJ Cutliff

Hey, there you go. That's a words to live by. But no, just wanted someone to have a different voice and perspective, especially when you talk about some of the things that we get into. Yeah, it's great. And I think those synergies is just what's really been part that makes the show dynamic and been such a success.

05:07

Dave Almy

You've also talked about it from the standpoint of you do come at it from different perspectives, at least particularly. Particularly as it revolves around sports. Right. You come at from very much the business side, Right. Because you've had an opportunity to work with, like you said, the Raiders, T. Mobile Arena, Fresno State. And MH comes at it from more of the. Of the product side. Like, helps develop community football programs in and around Las Vegas. Do those differing perspectives add to the show? Like, do they mesh well? Did you. Is that just part of the natural dialogue that you guys are able to bring to everything? Because you come at it from different perspectives.

05:40

EJ Cutliff

Definitely. Right. Perspective is people's reality.

05:44

Dave Almy

Yeah.

05:44

EJ Cutliff

And then being able to show different perspectives sometimes open things up. Right. So I'm always following the money.

05:51

Dave Almy

Yeah.

05:52

EJ Cutliff

I'm, you know, when some certain things kind of seem out of whack, I'm like, well, you know, let's look at from a business case, like, dollars and cents, right? And then he's like, well, no, let's look at from, you know, an overall, like, what all is kind of composing this, the actual product that you get. Right. So I think those natural perspectives just kind of help and it provides for a lot of comedic banter at some time.

06:11

Dave Almy

So you taught you. You said you brought the idea to MH and the show itself. Let's talk a little bit about the show itself. Black in sports. And you said, one of the things I picked up from listening to it and reading about it, like, the goal is to talk about men and women in sports within the voice of black men and women in sports who are underrepresented and or at times misrepresented. And so can you dive a bit deeper into that and how you introduced it to MH and what you felt like was the important goal and what the voice you wanted the show to have as you brought it out into the market.

06:47

EJ Cutliff

Man, how much time do we have, man?

06:48

Dave Almy

So, hey, man, this is a podcast. We can go on for days and.

06:54

EJ Cutliff

We'Ll clip it up. Right? All right. So no, just to kind of step back for people to understand. Right. So black in sports was. Right. A journey in itself being named.

07:04

Dave Almy

Yeah.

07:05

EJ Cutliff

And we can dive into like the naming thing, but even calling it that is. Is one of those like antennas go up type things. But I think we did a conscious thing understanding that black and sports had duality to it. Because you have to remember were coming from a business side of things. You have ABC that created ABC Sports, NBC Sports, and they all created a sports side. But no matter what vertical, they all are talking about trades, the scores, the, you know, the GMs, who's moving. But no one talks about the person that's doing, you know, social media, the person that's doing sponsorships, or the community activists, or the community person that's doing the things in sports. So there is no platform like that until we came along. But.

07:49

EJ Cutliff

And I'm talking about me and you because you talk about the business side of things and there's other people that are starting to talk more about the business. Like, why did people make these certain decisions? So I saw a lot of players, starting with the Players Tribune and Kevin, like all these people started to make their own voice.

08:09

Dave Almy

Yeah.

08:09

EJ Cutliff

So I was like, there's no voice for the business person. So that's where the genesis of it started. We wanted to kind of have that platform so people know what MH is doing, what EJ is doing inside the.

08:19

Dave Almy

So that's the origin story there. Really sort of dig into the business side of it and how has it evolved from where you think back to where you started? Sick. I mean, six years, that's 250 episodes. Right. There is obviously going to be a natural progression to it and you find out the things that you're interested in and what the audience responds to. How do you feel like it's evolved to where it is today?

08:43

EJ Cutliff

I think a couple of things. Right. So everybody looks at Covid as a bad word. And Covid did affect people.

08:49

Dave Almy

It's amazing how much it still comes up.

08:51

EJ Cutliff

Although it showed because were in studio at first. Right. And were only dealing with the local Vegas, you know, people that touch the community. So once we Saw ESPN and all these big broadcasts were like doing what we're doing right now, and it was accepted as still a quality and aversion that opened up to who we could start talking with. Right. And that we didn't have to have everyone in studio. So I think that was one of the biggest evolutions is opening our networks up to bring other people and not be kind of like limited to the Vegas. And that's where were like that first year. And then like we launched during COVID so were able to grow and expand that way.

09:32

Dave Almy

It kind of does start that way. Like, you go with people in your network and then you get a little bit of momentum and then you start to expand the circles around that a little bit. Have you been actively reaching, like, as you think about the kind of people who you start with and where you're going now, how does that, the guests you have on today further build what you're trying to build now? Like the guests you start with versus the ones today, how do they help tell the story that you want to help tell?

10:02

EJ Cutliff

Yeah, I think that's the. The. Still the key, right? The. The underlying goal or what your mission statement is or what you started off with is still the goal. And we want to get unique people on the show, people that tell a story. So like I always talk about when we talk. What's one of your favorite shows? Larry. We call him Uncle Larry, right?

10:21

Dave Almy

Yeah, yeah.

10:21

EJ Cutliff

He was the one that helped. He's a historian. He's the one who helped get the Negro League stats and stuff into Major League Baseball. That. And it was serendipitous because that show dropped the day that the MLB announced it. But people don't know how much work was done behind the scenes to get that. That's kind of like where the genesis comes from, right? Like picking those unique people that tell story.

10:47

EJ Cutliff

You know, we're definitely going to have, you know, our pro players, you know, when we have a top draft pick from the Raiders or, you know, coach from the Aces and things like that, we're definitely going to talk about what makes us here in Las Vegas, but we're going to evolve that and make sure there's like a unique tweak to having like Arusha Brown, who was here, but she was one of the founding members of the wnba, right. Like, she played in that inaugural season.

11:09

Dave Almy

It's interesting too, from the standpoint of you started it to talk business primarily, but the line between being an athlete and being a business person has blurred dramatically. Particularly like you think just the six years you started this, it's kind of opened up an entire new dialogue that you can have and the people that you can have on your show. Because it's not just about stats and culture anymore. Professional athletes now are singular business people and understand the strength of their voice and the capabilities of their investments. And you really see that and it really is being brought out now in ways that it hadn't been in the.

11:54

EJ Cutliff

Past and even at a younger age. Right.

11:58

Dave Almy

I mean, amazing. Right.

11:59

EJ Cutliff

So I'm gonna say, you know those three letter cuss words in IL and like that has changed the scope. Right? Because these talented athletes don't have to just focus on their craft anymore being good to get to the next level. They're dealing with agents and money and taxes and all that stuff. So the dynamic of what it means to be a business owner and you have like what started that trajection with, you know, the Steph Curry's and all them that's finding founding their media companies. Sports and business is becoming synonymous. And these players are really taking from now they have to focus on kind of like what that business trajectory is, you know, going into playing the game.

12:38

Dave Almy

Has that one been one of the biggest changes since you started, like having the opportunity to speak to athletes from a more like business oriented perspective? They have a greater awareness of it or what are some of the things that you feel like you've been watching since you started that make you god, that's, that's interesting. And we really want to tease that out or spend some time on that one. Like what are the trends that you've seen that have driven your interest in the show and the conversations that you're having?

13:03

EJ Cutliff

Yeah, I think a couple of them. Right. So we want to focus on HBCUs because, you know, I went to a PWI which is predominantly, you know, my institution. And there's an experience that happens that people don't get to understand and like being able to have, you know, people that either attended or coaches that coach at HBCU talk about that experience, maybe spark someone to say, hey, like, yeah, I'm a top recruiter, I'm a top athlete, or I'm a parent that's looking to guide my student athlete in the best direction. Let me at least look at one, you know, that's in this list of five.

13:36

EJ Cutliff

So I would say that also there was like the great migration for a while where we had top athletes saying that they were going to go to historically black colleges and then we started having the trend of coaches, Dion being one of them, the most earth shattering one. But there's still, you know, players that are going former players that are going to those HBCUs. And then the last would be the growth of the women's game. So I think those will be like the top three things I would say that's really evolved and we get excited to talk about.

14:03

Dave Almy

Well, let's talk about the podcast today. Right. Because the evolution of the thing is always fascinating, particularly when you have a book of business like you guys have and all the content you've been able to generate over the last six years. So let's talk about the role of the podcast today. And I hate to do this, like I don't want to get too political, but I think it's fair to say that we're in kind of a unique period of time where particularly the current presidential administration, they're not so interested in exploring some of the things that we had been talking about at length previously. Right. In elevating what we talked about previously, like underserved or misrepresented voices.

14:37

Dave Almy

So do you feel like for content creators like you, is there like an increased importance to do that when you have such sort of dismissiveness coming from otherwhere in society and to fill that vacuum right now? And how does the podcast kind of reflect that? Man, I know, like I said, we've got all the time in the world to be able to flesh this stuff out.

15:01

EJ Cutliff

No, but honestly it is important. I think we need to have a space for it. There's so many things that I, I concern myself with, you know, like in this situation. Right. So we're seeing mass things go away as far as DEI and whether how you feel about it, you know, it served a purpose, it served a role it was created for. If you want to tell me you want to review it and see if there's ways of improvement or things you. But just kind of wiping away, wiping.

15:29

Dave Almy

Away, just cleaning the slate, as it were. Yeah, it's like, right.

15:33

EJ Cutliff

The books, right. Like removing. It's. It's almost taking me back to that. What was it, that movie with Michael B. Jordan in Fahrenheit? What was that?

15:43

Dave Almy

Fahrenheit 451.

15:45

EJ Cutliff

It's like art imitating life or the opposite way to where like they were burning books in the movie to get rid of knowledge. And like we're kind of going through that where they're removing, you know, these things and like I'm learning stuff today because of the Research of who we're looking to bring on the show or things that they share with us. Like I'm coming up on history that I didn't even know, like simple history. So I think we have a, a role and I think we're going to continue to do that. My next worry is when you have the people that are in these hours, like you know, the presidential right hand man owns a platform that I use. All right, so just, I think that's the next evolution of understanding, you know, these platforms and how we can move.

16:25

EJ Cutliff

Because if a Twitter, if, or excuse me, x, if a IG or if a YouTube shuts down, you know, where am I going to take this message again?

16:35

Dave Almy

And if it starts policing voices. Right. If you, I mean, look at the podcast is very emphatically named. It's black in sport. And that, you know, from my perspective, you know, that was, that's announcing itself. That is putting a, that is putting your here's the line in the sand and I'm stepping over and here's what we're going to be talking about. Does that then create a sense of not concern but at least awareness that eyes are on, particularly where we are in this culture right now. And do you lean into that as. Because of that?

17:14

EJ Cutliff

Yes. And I think one of the things that we've been working on because like when we built this, remember I am talking about the business side of sports.

17:23

Dave Almy

Right? Yeah.

17:24

EJ Cutliff

And I am a black man that is in sports. So it's always been a double entendre. Right.

17:28

Dave Almy

So yeah.

17:29

EJ Cutliff

What are you. If you're successful in business, you're in the black. Right. You're not in the red. So the business trajectory is black in sports because you want to be in the black. That part is really overlooked and it's easy to overlook because I am a black man talking about this and it's a business podcast. So you know, that's what we want to talk about, the success of being in business in sports. Right.

17:52

Dave Almy

Yeah.

17:52

EJ Cutliff

The next part is, yes, you know, me and the major, both black males giving you our perspective. But that's not the foot in the sand to where we're not open to understanding things. We. There are plenty of places where you can get one perspective. We're just another place to get our perspective from a cultural and how we see it. We don't speak for everyone in the culture. We're just giving you a cultural perspective.

18:14

Dave Almy

Right. And so when you have, when people do find the podcast Black in sport, what do you hope they take away from when they listen to a few episodes? At the end of the day, the people who are listening, when you think about the content you want to deliver to them, what do you hope their takeaway is from you?

18:32

EJ Cutliff

It's always been edutainment, right? And we talked about this, you know, we've talked offline a few times and it's just, I want you to learn something, right? Like or just hear something that you may have not known. Because we're talking to sports fans, we're talking to industry folks that are in sports. We're talking to the mother and father that are saying, how do I get through? Like, what's this nil? How do I go through recruiting? How do I, you know, should I put my kid in training? So we've had coaches that do new training and things like that. So it's definitely edutainment, right? So a lot of our clips, you see us smiling and laughing as, you know, our kind of show clip because we do have a good time and that's what we tell of our guests.

19:15

EJ Cutliff

And then we also introduced another platform. So we do a live show once a month and that allows our listeners to kind of come.

19:22

Dave Almy

That's like the scariest thing I can think of, doing a live show. Like, at least I get to edit this. Like people are not going to hear that. Oh my God, he just said what?

19:31

EJ Cutliff

Yes. So our live shows are not for the faint, so. But they're fun, right? It's that barbershop talk and it's adding other perspectives and we get to review, you know, just our shows and what people may have opinions from our shows and the topics that are going on that we may have not covered in depth. So it's definitely to make sure people learn something. Maybe walk away with just hearing a different perspective. You don't have to agree and then having a good time.

19:58

Dave Almy

I think it's fair to say that this is an experimental medium, right. You're always kind of pulling at it and tweaking it and trying new things. You said like the live episodes. I mean, it's always fascinating to sort of see what is working and how to monkey wrench it there because there's really no rules associated with. So where does it go from here, right? As you know, obviously you've got great momentum. We're winning awards, you know, 250 plus episodes. I mean, my God, where does the next five years. What are you anxious to continue to build here as this thing progresses and as you get excited about it.

20:38

EJ Cutliff

Wow. So there's two parts, I think, to that question, right? For me, the first part is the podcast medium. I don't think the medium. We're in like 20, what, 21 years. 20 plus years of podcasting, right? Like when they say the first quote, first podcast started and I don't know if it's. People have always had a. A way to talk, right? Like whether it was radio to news outlets to. I just think the medium and the technology that supports it is what's the changing, right? Because we've gone from whether it was just an audio to now we have video thanks to YouTube and other. Other platforms. Do you go private? You know, do you post clips and where do you post clips? Do you put them on?

21:20

EJ Cutliff

So I think more from a podcast perspective, that is the same medium as far as being able to take a platform and create a platform. And I think a lot of people are, you know, taking that stance of to be able to do any where they should or should not do that.

21:36

Dave Almy

Yeah, yeah, I know. Like I said, I don't do a lot of video because I got a face for podcasting.

21:42

EJ Cutliff

Hey, I. I've understood that statement before. And what's crazy about it is I truly don't like my voice, right? So here we are.

21:50

Dave Almy

Oh, my God. Like, how many times have you had a gu. So how do you. Why does your voice sound so good? You're like, it's not. I just do it all the time. So I hear myself all the time. You don't do it. It's like there's. There's no recommendation.

22:02

EJ Cutliff

Absolutely. And then the second part of that question, man, is definitely a sports mindset. I'm gonna hit you with the Billicheck on the Cincinnati.

22:09

Dave Almy

Yeah, yeah.

22:10

EJ Cutliff

ht? Everybody was hashtagging: 2020

22:28

Dave Almy

Yeah.

22:28

EJ Cutliff

You know what we can do in season? You know, we have a forecast for. All right, what. What can we add this season? Right? Because like you, we spoke about the lock. The. We do the locker room. So there's three parts. We do interviews, we do the locker room, which is a one one conversation with me and MH on a certain topic, and then do we do the live shows? So each year we've added something to see how. How that's worked, and I think we're going to kind of continue to do that. But the goal is still to find unique interviews. Like, I still haven't gotten someone from cricket, and that's my next goal, is to have a cricket player on. On the show.

23:01

Dave Almy

I have a cricket player for you.

23:03

EJ Cutliff

See, that's how this works.

23:04

Dave Almy

I love a young woman who started her own cricket club. So this is where it's happening right now. Like, for the listener. This is where the magic happens.

23:15

EJ Cutliff

Absolutely. The sound.

23:18

Dave Almy

Right.

23:18

EJ Cutliff

We need a bell or something.

23:20

Dave Almy

Let me leave you with this one. Right. So you, like, we've talked about, you've. You've got a lot of experience in this. I think a lot of people think about the idea of starting a podcast. I mean, they're listening to a podcast right now. What advice do you have for people who think, you know, I think I've got a niche. I think I want to talk about it a little bit. I don't think it's talked about enough. What recommendation do you have for people who are thinking about rolling out their own show?

23:48

EJ Cutliff

I want to say do it right. Like, that's. That's the cliche, and that's the thing to say. But I think the other two things would be. One is understand that it takes time and work. If you want to do something of quality and put something out there, right. Don't rob your idea by not putting the time and the effort and the work into it. And then the last thing I would probably say is just remember that whatever you do, it's for the audience. It's not about you. You can think your idea is great, but if you don't listen to when your audience says that's dumb, or they're not watching, or you don't tweak it or you don't grow, that's where a lot of people miss it. They just think that, like, oh, this is a great idea.

24:27

EJ Cutliff

And they don't tweak and make those changes for their audience.

24:29

Dave Almy

I had a conversation with someone not that long ago who said their reason for starting a podcast was to make money. And I did the exact same thing that you did. I literally hung my head for a minute. It's like, if you start off from that perspective, you are not going to be focused on making the best content.

24:49

EJ Cutliff

You can, and you'll be utterly frustrated.

24:52

Dave Almy

And you will be, oh, boy. That doesn't Even begin. Why Do I have 10 listeners? I'm with E.J. Cutliffe. He is the founder and host of Black and Sports, the two time award winning black and sport podcast dj. Thanks for the time. Appreciate the conversation. It's good to get a little meta podcast about talking about podcasts. But before I let you go, I have got to put you in the lightning round.

25:13

EJ Cutliff

Let's do it.

25:14

Dave Almy

Oh, that was confident. We'll see what you're saying after the couple of these questions. All right, Here we go. E.J. Cutliffe in the lightning round. Easy one first, right? Who's your dream guest or guests for the show? Like, who's the big get that you want?

25:29

EJ Cutliff

Yeah, so we'll do two, right? So my dream, our dream guest was O.J. Simpson.

25:36

Dave Almy

Tough cat.

25:38

EJ Cutliff

Not. So we had.

25:40

Dave Almy

He's in Vegas.

25:41

EJ Cutliff

That's it. Yes, yes.

25:43

Dave Almy

So this is gonna happen, right?

25:45

EJ Cutliff

So were like on it. I had two people. So I don't know, maybe some of the listeners know there's a rapper that lives here from Oakland. His name is AP9. So AP9 is friends with him. I don't know how you know, I don't. We won't go into the origins.

26:00

Dave Almy

Okay. Yeah, okay. Some things are better enough. Love not known. Yes.

26:05

EJ Cutliff

Google AP9, you'll learn all about him. Great dude, though. And so I was talking friends with AP and I reached out to him, I was like, hey man, you're on. Like, I see you posting with O.J. You know, and hey, see if he'll do the podcast. And he's like, oh, I talked to Unc. He calls him Unc. He's like. And he was like, yeah, he probably would do it. He's just like, you know, he's in a revenue kind of system right now, so how much are you willing to pay? Yeah, and were, hey, if he came with a number, were thinking about it. And then the other way I had roads to him was a good friend of mine is a VP of sales for the Aviators, the local baseball team.

26:39

Dave Almy

Yeah, yeah.

26:39

EJ Cutliff

And he lived out in Summerlin and he would always go to the baseball games and be up in the suite. So were getting so close. So that was like, probably that is.

26:48

Dave Almy

That is gonna happen. There's too many, there's too many things pointing to happen. All right, so. All right.

26:53

EJ Cutliff

So yeah, but you know, unfortunately, you know, we didn't get a chance to, to, to get to him. And you know, but that was just really the big one. And Then. Then the other one was Kaepernick.

27:04

Dave Almy

Yeah.

27:06

EJ Cutliff

Definitely would like to have Kaepernick just kind of what he's going through, what he's kind of continued. He's had wins and ups, and he's still getting ready for the league. Kaepernick was the other one. And, you know, we do have inroads to him as well. You know, it's just he's very, very selective. And Kaepernick does live here in Las Vegas, so.

27:23

Dave Almy

Yeah. Okay.

27:24

EJ Cutliff

Fingers crossed.

27:25

Dave Almy

All right, so two big ones right there. All right. Also, next question. You and I, we both know Will Carter. He is Learfield's GM at Cal State Northridge. He's a mutual friend of ours. I think we need to talk about his social media presence for. Because that man has game. I mean, can you, like, how do you even begin to explain it when he has his own videographer shout out.

27:50

EJ Cutliff

To Willy Will, man.

27:51

Dave Almy

Shout out to Will. I mean, first of all, I mean, it's amazing. Amazing social media presence.

27:56

EJ Cutliff

Oh, and that's after he was hacked and had to start over. So what? Let's just start there. So wherever his presence or his social media following is right now, his engagement is only maybe a year and a half in because he got hacked. And through the battle and all of that, he had to start from scratch, and here he is still killing the game. The.

28:16

Dave Almy

Can you imagine being high profile enough or having such magnetism that somebody would want to hack my. My social media feeds? I want to get to Dave Elmy's 10 listeners or 10 viewers. Okay. Will Carter, you are loved. Much, much respect for the social media game.

28:37

EJ Cutliff

Absolutely. And. And just what he does, man. I mean, when you talk about, like, I've been on the Lierfield side and been a part of just kind of seeing and what he's doing for that university. Not only the university, but the community and those students there.

28:50

Dave Almy

So he's next level.

28:51

EJ Cutliff

He is definitely next level, man. Shout out to.

28:54

Dave Almy

Shout out to Will. The Oakland days are moving to Las Vegas.

28:58

EJ Cutliff

Allegedly.

29:00

Dave Almy

I'm sorry, I was gonna ask you to comment. Like, care to comment, but you just did. You took it right out, man. Allegedly. So you're not gonna believe it until they're actually boots on the ground.

29:10

EJ Cutliff

Yeah, I mean, you know, a lot of things happen with these deals. I mean, we're definitely pushing forward the momentum. Love to see another sport. It's so funny. We were a sports desert getting nothing there.

29:19

Dave Almy

Right. It was the. The 51ers or the, like the Minor League baseball team.

29:24

EJ Cutliff

Absolutely. Right. And then were learned, you known for our running rebel talk days, you know, rest in peace, you know, Tarkanian. But, you know, it just exploded, right, with the. With the Golden Knights, Aces, Raiders, and, you know, we have so many other leagues have kind of developed here, from indoor football leagues to lacrosse. Right. So they're on their way. We'll see. It's. It's a. It's three years.

29:48

Dave Almy

You're. You are a. Going to wait until you see it to believe it kind of fella.

29:54

EJ Cutliff

That's it for this, you know.

29:56

Dave Almy

All right. I'm planning a trip to Vegas in the not too distant future. What casino must I visit when I get there? And what game will take the least of my money?

30:10

EJ Cutliff

Well, I'll start with what game. Always play craps. Craps is the best odds in the house.

30:14

Dave Almy

All right, if like, I. So first of all, I gotta figure out how the hell craps works, then. Okay, but that's got my best odds. Okay, all right.

30:21

EJ Cutliff

Best odds. And they have. They teach you, of course they teach you how to.

30:24

Dave Almy

I'll bet you they teach you earlier.

30:28

EJ Cutliff

In the days they do have kind of where they'll teach you kind of a little bit of. Of how to play the game. So, you know, they definitely want to enroll new students of the game.

30:36

Dave Almy

Yeah. Okay. There's a shocker. All right, so. Okay, so I'm gonna go play craps. Going to go play craps.

30:41

EJ Cutliff

So it depends. All right, so it depends on what you're going to do if you're looking for atmosphere or if you're looking for the lowest table minimums. And that will determine where you would go.

30:51

Dave Almy

All right, so let's play both. I mean, I'm obviously going to lean more towards the lowest, but. All right, but if I'm looking for style and atmosphere, I'm going where.

31:04

EJ Cutliff

Yeah, you know, I'm a former MGM employee, you know, so I got to.

31:07

Dave Almy

Show that share the love.

31:08

EJ Cutliff

I was still share the love. You know, you can never go wrong with Aria. All right? Like, it's in the center of the strip, and then it's centrally located where you can get everywhere. But no, Aria has, you know, a good feel when you would go in. But there's nothing like the wind. Right. Like, I'm. I admiration for the win. So there's nothing like being on that property as well. So depending, like I said, if you're going for low table minutes, you'll probably head downtown.

31:32

Dave Almy

Yeah, gonna go downtown. We're to the fun of the Value casinos. The Orleans Hotel and Casino is a major stop. We used to do the West Coast Conference basketball tournament out there. Always, always a good scene with all the Gonzaga Fans.

31:43

EJ Cutliff

That's right.

31:44

Dave Almy

E.J. Cutliffe. He is the founder and host of the Blackett Sport podcast. Like I said, two time award winning EJ thanks for the time today.

31:51

EJ Cutliff

Hey, thank you. It's much appreciated.