Madkour: Fond memories as McManus steps away

Befitting his style, Sean McManus quietly stepped away from CBS Sports this month after more than 27 years of running the network. There was a celebration in his honor at The Grill in New York City, and I wish I could have been there to pay tribute to one of the classiest executives I’ve encountered in sports business. McManus always had time for you; he never big-timed you or looked over your shoulder to see who else in the room was more important. He was kind, intelligent, humble, would always listen, never needed to dominate the show, and always offered humor and a quip. He once told me, “I try to inject humor into our staff meeting. If staff meetings aren’t something people are looking forward to attending, then you’re doing something wrong at your staff meeting.”

I always admired how McManus took his job and role seriously, but never himself. He was a passionate defender of CBS Sports and his team, and we had a few pointed conversations over the years when he didn’t feel SBJ fully appreciated CBS Sports’ portfolio or impact. But the conversations were always rooted in respect and in the spirit of moving forward. There are plenty of memories I’ll have of McManus, from his steady leadership as chair of the March of Dimes Sports Luncheon, where he skillfully managed strong personalities to deliver one of the most important days on the sports calendar, to our annual breakfasts during Super Bowl Week, where we talked about every subject in sports business. I’ll remember him getting emotional during an on-stage interview when he and I talked about one of his mentors, Dick Ebersol , after the Ebersol family’s plane crash in 2004, and the sit-down in his office on 52nd Street, where he shared great lessons and perspective on leadership that I remember to this day. McManus was steady and consistent, and you knew what you were getting with him. I always appreciated that. 

On the final Sunday of the Masters, I emailed McManus to let him know I was thinking of him as he ended a magnificent run, and he acknowledged feeling nostalgic but appreciative of all the wonderful experiences during his career, which spanned from NBC Sports, to ABC Sports, to IMG and CBS Sports. On that same day, I asked former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue how he remembered McManus, and he quickly replied, “An outstanding leader. With the right values and priorities. He set the highest standards.” I kept coming back to that, because it so accurately portrayed the 69-year-old’s style and substance — a leader, the right values and priorities, with the highest standards. Let’s hope Sean McManus sticks close to the sports industry so we can continue to benefit from that legacy.

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Days after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said NHL franchises were vastly undervalued came the unique move of the league buying its least-successful franchise for an NHL-record $1 billion and then selling it to Smith Entertainment Group’s Ryan Smith for a reported $1.2 billion, resulting in a roughly $6.5 million payout to each existing franchise. As I see it, Bettman was able to set a new floor for league franchise values, get into the Utah market before a possible MLB expansion team and keep Arizona as an open market eligible for a future team at a seemingly higher price once it secures a new facility. That is swift maneuvering and the speed of this transaction and the work ahead in Utah was the talk of the CAA World Congress of Sports. As Smith said at the event, “You can’t blink when these things come along. … You just can’t run away from the moment. And if you’re truly convicted of the mission that you’ve got and your people are, then you’ll rise and do it. And I think that we bring a lot to the NHL.”

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When my father would drive me and my brothers from Vermont to a game at Fenway Park, there were always a few traditions: Adams Donuts in Brattleboro, Vt.; Fenway Franks (of course); and shopping at the Twins souvenir store across the street from the ballpark. That store had every piece of Red Sox merchandise one could ask for, the latest designs and products and felt like a museum to a young boy’s favorite team. I loved that store. That’s why I was so surprised I missed the news that Arthur D’Angelo , who founded the store with his twin brother, Henry , died Feb. 29 at the age of 97. The brothers arrived from Italy in 1938 at the age of 12. Their first job was selling newspapers at Fenway Park for 2 cents. They launched Twins Enterprises in 1947, and the business, now called ’47, has annual revenue of more than $400 million. A fixture of the Fens, the Twins store did so much to amplify and extend the Red Sox brand, and the team gave him a World Series ring in 2004. Take a moment to read the obituaries and life story of Arthur D’Angelo, as it’s well worth your time.

Abraham Madkour can be reached at amadkour@sportsbusinessjournal.com.