This week: Marijuana, Olympics, Pricing

How do you get into the NBA ‘marijuana program’ and nothing else related to the Democratic National Convention this week.

Throwback

In 2004, Carmelo Anthony was issued a summons for the possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana. Eight years later, in the same city where Anthony began his professional basketball career, the Colorado Constitution was revised to include Amendment 64. Legalizing the use and sale of marijuana in Colorado has almost nothing to do with Anthony’s early years in the league; however, like the state — and Washington at the time — I wonder if the NBA will soon change its policy toward the use of marijuana.

Since 2011, when the NBA and NBPA agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), 7 players have received a 5 game suspension for what is reported as “violating the league’s anti-drug policy.” I’m not going into each detail in the CBA, but essentially an NBA player has to test positive for marijuana on three different occasions to receive a 5 game suspension. After the first positive test, a player is entered into the league’s Marijuana Program. A second positive test results in a fine of $25,000. Although I could not find information on this program, I have to believe, if there is a way to get into the program, there likely is a way out of the program.

2004 was a very different time than 2011. Anthony had a fall guy for the possession charge in 2004 (interestingly, I wanted to say that times are changing even more, but some people will remember when, in 2014, NFL All-Pro Cris Carter lectured NFL rookies about the importance of having a fall guy in their circle) and never received a suspension. Come June 30, 2017, both sides have an opportunity to opt-out from the current CBA — a possible scenario so revenue, from a now massive pool, can be renegotiated — beginning the process to change many league rules, including the list of banned substances, penalties, and subsequent suspensions.

So to backtrack, only 7 players have failed three successive drug tests. Insert any laughable, yet true ‘they are either x or y’ to fail three drug tests. Maybe there will be more in the coming season — regardless, come next summer, I will revisit this blog post to see if the NBA makes changes to, or rather eliminates the penalties for marijuana use.

2017 will be very different from 2011.

Ceremonies. Again?

In just over a week, another gathering of world nations is scheduled to appear on NBC. Continuing in sports for a moment, I want to point out that the Olympics may have reached its peak in popularity four years ago. NBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics averaged an audience of 31.1 million viewers. The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics on NBC averaged an audience of 21.4 million viewers.

You may remember the failed Boston 2024 bid. Boston was not the first and it certainly will not be the last city to say no thanks to the Olympics. In recent years, Rome, Oslo, Krakow, and Stockholm have all said “No,” “Nej,” “Nie,” “Nei,” to the IOC.

But, the games must go on. Good luck athletes.

If you made it this far

Here I finally switch to a different topic. I waited until the very end of this post in an effort to also encourage you to scroll to the bottom Everlane’s page as well. Here’s why:

As of writing this, it is 10:20 PM in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian. The weather there is currently 84 degrees fahrenheit. A factory will open in a few hours that specializes in mens cashmere sweaters and other textiles. Does that picture of a Chinese factory come to mind? You know, that image of factory workers in a clean, spacious environment with an on-campus cafeteria, concert series, and employee soccer tournaments. Exactly.

Everlane is comfortable using the words, “Radical Transparency.” This is the same transparency, and of course the beautiful style, I appreciate in the Everlane sweater blazer and pullover hoodie I own. In fact, a few minutes, one February morning in Jerry Smith’s pricing class were devoted to this topic of transparency — not about the factories and style, but about variable costs. Of course you can’t tell a customer what it costs to make a product! If the customer is aware that the cost of materials is $6.12, transport is $0.80, labor is $6.00, and yada yada, the customer will tell you how much they are willing to pay for the product!

Well, go ahead. Tell Everlane how much you are willing to pay for their products. On some products, typically clearance, like this mens cashmere sweater, customers can choose either 30, 20, or 10 percent off the original price.

Coming back to that factory in China. The true cost for Everlane to source one dark grey v-neck cashmere sweater from this factory is $57. A traditional retail price for this sweater is $285. The original price at Everlane is $110. Buy a light grey sweater for $77?

Talk of cashmere is making me sweat. Or could be that day 50 of this Boston heat wave is messing with my mind. It is tough to tell. Stay cool.

Next week: Utah, typos, teddy bears and absolutely nothing to do with the summer olympics.