I'll Pay You $5K To Walk Through The Lobby

Summary

Armstrong & Getty On Demand: "I'll Pay You $5K To Walk Through The Lobby"
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Host: Jack Armstrong & Greg Gutfeld
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

---

1. Introduction and Context

The episode kicks off with Jack Armstrong extending an intriguing proposition to listeners: "Just walk through the lobby. I'll give you five grand." ([01:04]). This bold statement sets the tone for a candid discussion between Armstrong and Gutfeld, delving into current events and controversial topics.

2. Reflecting on Hulk Hogan's Death

Shortly after the introduction, the hosts address the passing of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. Greg Gutfeld remarks, "We're recording this on the day that Hulk Hogan died." ([01:10]), highlighting the emotional impact of Hogan's legacy. Armstrong acknowledges the difficult day, stating, "It's been a difficult day for all of us." ([01:18]). They discuss Hogan's affluent lifestyle, with Gutfeld questioning, "That's a house. You sure that's a house? I think you accidentally got a luxury hotel nearby." ([01:21]). This segues into a conversation about Hogan's "checkered life," balancing his financial success with personal controversies.

3. Off-Air Radio Show Joke

The conversation takes a lighter turn as Gutfeld introduces a joke from their off-air radio show. Armstrong references a controversial interview with Hunter Biden, highlighting Biden's statements about illegal immigrants and Kamala Harris. Gutfeld responds with humor, appreciating the "dig" and the sharpness of the remark: "That's a pretty good one. That's pretty good dig right there." ([02:31]). Armstrong humorously reacts, "That was. Oh, that left a mark. Ouch. Can I get some ice?" ([02:31]).

4. The State of Immigration and College Sports

Transitioning to more serious topics, Armstrong shares his thoughts on two persistent issues: the immigration system and college sports. He laments, "Our immigration system... we're never solving this." ([03:36]). Moving to college sports, Armstrong critiques its current state, stating, "College sports... is on, you know, redeemably screwed up." ([03:36]). Gutfeld agrees, pointing out the financial entanglements and loss of traditional values within college athletics.

5. NCAA’s NIL Policies and Booster Collectives

A substantial portion of the discussion centers on the NCAA's Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies and the role of booster collectives. Armstrong provides an in-depth analysis:

"When the NCAA started letting athletes capitalize on their name, image or likeness, these boosters formed collectives that would raise funds from fans in amounts from $25 to a million dollars, depending... what's to stop me?" ([06:00])

He explains the complexity and financial implications:

"These booster collectives made up more than 80% of the estimated $1.7 billion in the college NIL market in 2024-25, this in the upcoming seasons. So there's going on $2 billion at stake, and 80% of it is these booster clubs." ([07:36])

Greg challenges the restrictions, questioning:

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that." ([08:20])

Armstrong counters by highlighting the NCAA's stance on legitimate business exchanges versus arbitrary payments:

"The NCAA rules say it's got to be a legitimate exchange for use of their name, image and likeness. You can't pay somebody five grand to walk through your lobby." ([07:36])

6. Real-World Examples and Implications

The hosts delve into specific examples to illustrate the impact of current NCAA policies. Armstrong cites a case where:

"Before every Tennessee home football game last fall, this booster collective paid basketball, softball, or baseball players between $500 and $5,000 each to attend tailgates that they organized." ([10:11])

Gutfeld supports the notion, advocating for the allowance of such payments:

"I think those should be allowed. They want to do that, let them do it." ([10:54])

Armstrong further discusses the ethical dilemma posed by booster involvement:

"It's pretty much anti American... is it okay for an athlete to get paid a million dollars by his school, but it's not okay for a group of community leaders to supplement that income?" ([11:04])

7. Impact on Athletes and the Future of College Sports

Armstrong and Gutfeld assess the broader consequences of the ongoing disputes over NIL and booster influence. Armstrong expresses concern over the potential loss of funds:

"If the court case goes the wrong way... $1.4 billion could vanish for the athletes." ([07:36])

They ponder the future landscape of college sports, with Armstrong noting:

"The threads that connect... traditional college sports are fraying and disappearing in a hurry." ([14:21])

Gutfeld reflects on his diminishing interest in college sports due to its evolving and increasingly complex structure.

8. Closing Remarks

As the episode wraps up, Armstrong encourages non-sports fans to stay engaged, stating, "I hope if you're a non sports fan, you're still listening." ([15:01]). Both hosts acknowledge the significant changes and challenges facing college sports, leaving listeners with much to contemplate regarding the intersection of athletics, education, and commerce.

---

Note: Advertisements and promotional segments were excluded to focus on the core content of the discussion.

Transcript

[Jack Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Joe Getty]

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. At washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699. The stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Jack Armstrong]

Just walk through the lobby. I'll give you five grand. It's one more thing.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack Armstrong]

One more thing.

[Greg Gutfeld]

We're recording this on the day that Hulk Hogan died.

[Jack Armstrong]

It's been a difficult day for all of us.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Anyway, they were just, they just did a thing on Fox where they are showing fans beginning to show up at Hulk Hogan's home in Florida to place flowers or wreaths or who knows what they're doing. Holy cow. That's a house. You sure that's a house? I think you accidentally got a luxury hotel nearby.

[Jack Armstrong]

Wow.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So apparently things worked out for him pretty well financially. Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Bit of a checkered life.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But anyway, here's a joke we did not play on the air on the radio show from Greg Gutfeld last night.

[Jack Armstrong]

In that now infamous interview making the rounds, Hunter Biden said that illegal immigrants do all the jobs that nobody wants to. For example, harvesting, processing and selling him cocaine. Hunter also said he thinks of Kamala Harris as family, promising that if she ever passed away, he would immediately bang Doug. But he also says that he loves Kamala like his own daughter, which of course is a stretch because he's met Kamala.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

Oh.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Which is pretty good. That's a pretty good one. That's pretty good dig right there.

[Jack Armstrong]

Well, that's a super good dig right there. That was. Oh, that left a mark. Ouch. Can I get some ice? So to my introduction, just walk through the lobby. I'll give you five grand. I had the the experience earlier in the week. Of in doing my hours long preparation for the show, deciding two things are so screwed up they will never heal. And that would be, number one, our immigration system. I was reading about proposed legislation from a Republican and it's, it's got terrible problems and is already getting cannon fire from both sides. And I thought, you know what? We're never solving this. Second thing that will never be straightened out as long as we all shall live. Hulk Hogan excluded is college sports. It is on, you know, redeemably screwed up.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Here's why I would agree, which is interesting given how much money is involved. You'd have thought they'd have tried so hard to hang on to what it was. Some of you didn't have any choice because laws changed and lawsuits were filed.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. And, and some of those lawsuits ended in a way that you have to say, yeah, that's more just than the way it was.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Right. There's all kinds of obvious examples like the, the, the idea that, well, first of all, everybody having to stay in college for four years for they would go into the pros, it was just kind of the way it was. Why I can go, I can, I can, I've got the talents as a 20 year old to go make $50 million a year. I think I'll go to that.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. It was literally one of those. I thought this was America.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jack Armstrong]

You know, you make a good point, son. Anyway, so I've got a couple of friends who are crazy into college sports and they really had a good grip on the nil. The name, image and likeness thing and how big that was and weird and screwed up and I never quite followed it, but now I mostly get it.

[Greg Gutfeld]

That was the biggest travesty of it all. And they had some of the biggest stars on planet earth who couldn't make a scent from being a big star the whole time they're in college.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, they were toast. They were the toast of America's sports fans. Right. And they couldn't so much as smile on camera for the local Ford dealer anyway. But here, here's why I say it's, it's super screwed up and there's a big, there are court cases and all. There's going to be serious wrestling over this. It's all about the boosters, the deep pocketed alums who for years would like help pay for facility upgrades or hefty coach salaries. A lot of it is paid by boosters. Well, when the NCAA started letting athletes capitalize on their name, image or likeness, these boosters formed collectives that would raise funds from fans in amounts from $25 to a million dollars, depending. I'm, I'm a crazy ass rich guy. I, I went to Illinois, but all right, so maybe I'm just a freak for Illinois sports and I got crazy money. I donate a million dollars to the booster club. All right, number one, I'm going to be treated like a God around there. And for some guys, that's, that's important. Um, anyway. And then the boosters steer the money to athletes in exchange for promotional or charity work, quote, unquote. That's where the fight is raging whether booster collectives can still do that. And there's a massive amount of money at stake. These collectives, these booster collectives made up more than 80% of the estimated $1.7 billion in the college nil market in 20, 24, 25, this in the upcoming seasons. So there's going on $2 billion at stake, and 80% of it is these booster clubs. So if the court case goes the wrong way, if the new NCAA rules hold up, that's barring boosters from doing this, $1.4 billion could vanish for the athletes. And then it gets into if the boosters play ball and stuff like that. But what it comes down to is the NCAA rules say it's got to be a legitimate exchange for use of their name, image and likeness. You can't pay somebody five grand to walk through your lobby. That's not a legitimate business exchange. Telling a wealth. Oh, here's one guy who's in favor of it who says telling a wealthy person who owns a business that they can't pay a student athlete 25 grand for advertising because some third party tells him he's overpaying. And the student athlete's only worth 10,000 DOL, not $25,000. You know, that just doesn't feel appropriate to me personally. That's from a guy who's in the thick of it.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

So at odds in the fight are the college's new policing arm on one side and lawyers representing athletes in a recently settled antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA on the other side. There, the ncaa. The college sports commission, which is a new thing, is trying to curb the power and influence of the booster collectives. And the commission set up a clearinghouse through which any player deal worth more than $600 must be approved. And many booster collective deals don't satisfy a, quote, valid business purpose because they don't license the players nil for commercial product or service. They're just handing them money.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Is There anything wrong with that?

[Jack Armstrong]

That's a good question.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I don't think there's anything wrong with that. So. So there are a variety.

[Jack Armstrong]

I'm. I'm thinking about it, and nothing leaps to mind, honestly. I mean, I. I get that the NCAA has rules that are in the interest of protecting college sports from not going just to bizarro too late, but morally, financially. I am so intent on you coming to Illinois and becoming the quarterback to lift my beloved program out of mediocrity as it's been mired in since Jeff George left the field, the Memorial Stadium field. Anyway, if. If I'm so into that, I'm gonna kick you a million bucks a year to come and play quarterback for us. What's to stop me?

[Greg Gutfeld]

So you've got some of the stuff that, you know, it was unfair for so long that these TV networks, universities, all kinds of things would make money off these big star players and they couldn't get a dime. That was ridiculous. So I'm glad that got changed. But some of the other stuff with rearranging the league, seems like nobody made them do that, did they? That seems like a Killed the golden goose. Got too greedy, something or other. Just bad decision making to me. Ending all the rivalries that made the sport so amazing for so many years.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, that ruined a lot of it. Yeah. It's awful. It's unmitigated awful.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Like, I've kind of checked out. I used to be huge into college sports, but I just. I don't even know who's in what league anymore and who's. Who's the rival. And then this whole thing that I don't understand at all, they go through the whole season, and then in that little interim between the season and the playoffs for different sports, the players can move around and go to different teams. What the hell is that?

[Jack Armstrong]

So I don't.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I don't even. You know. You lost me completely.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. Every year the team is completely new through the transfer portal, but it's new the same season.

[Greg Gutfeld]

They. They change. They change between the regular season and the playoffs.

[Jack Armstrong]

So what.

[Greg Gutfeld]

What are we doing? I don't know. Enjoy.

[Jack Armstrong]

Enjoy your league.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I hope it works out for you.

[Jack Armstrong]

So, for instance, before every Tennessee home football game last fall, this booster collective paid basketball, softball, or baseball players between $500 and 5,000 each to attend tailgates that they organized.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

They're there to literally hang out with fans and their kids. These are the type of deals that hypothetically would be rejected if the negotiation doesn't come out.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I think those should be allowed. They want to do that, let them do it. Unless somebody's got an argument. I don't. I haven't thought of why that's untoward.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, yeah. Says one labor economist who's consulted in these cases. It's pretty much anti American. The question comes down to is it reasonable to say it's okay for an athlete to get paid a million dollars by his school, but it's not okay for a group of community leaders to supplement that income?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Right. Yeah. The other, the other thing that we've mentioned a lot is nobody saw this coming or if they did, they didn't say it out loud.

[Joe Getty]

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. @washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699, the stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Greg Gutfeld]

The being able to make money that a lot of it would have to do with being hot. Everybody understood that it would be the best running back in the country is going to make a lot of money. Nobody thought that a gymnast you've never heard of at some program that isn't even that well known, but she's hotter than everybody else. Might make the most money of anybody.

[Jack Armstrong]

Like posting cheesecake shots. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Speaking of women in sports, my final note anyway is they're talking about Texas Tex Matador Club that was one of the leaders in this. It was founded co founded by a billionaire tech guy and among other of their headline making deals they landed a $1 million softball pitcher.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Wow.

[Jack Armstrong]

Women's sports.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I know I had a. I won't say who, I don't but someone I know who was young who went to a couple of big universities and she got a very prestigious degree From a very prestigious university. But one of the universities she was at had a very big time sports program, one of the biggest ones in the country. And it bothered her so much that the coach there made so much money. They paid the coach like $3 million a year. And one of these big, you know, and I tried to explain that it's just, it's just a. It's just a numbers thing that coach brings in the, the more than the amount of money they're paying him to the school. She was just appalled that it existed, which I completely understand. I don't know why we. Where we haven't given up on this whole student athlete. It's part of the college. I mean why are we even pretending at this point? Why, why make it a complete. Don't make them go to school at all. Have it as a completely separate thing or I don't even know what would make sense. But pretending it's just, it's just a part of the extracurricular activities just to play on the basketball team and I mean what are we doing?

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, the threads that connect, you know, if I watch college football game or basketball game, the threads that connect that to the university and traditional college sports are fraying and disappearing in a hurry. I see what you're saying. I don't know what it becomes then.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I don't know.

[Jack Armstrong]

Right now it's merely an exercise in sub major league tribalism. Correct. Why would I root for. Well, you could say this of major league sports too. Why would I root for an ever changing array of dudes wearing the orange and blue of Illinois? Why.

[Greg Gutfeld]

People do.

[Jack Armstrong]

Because of the way people are made. Including me.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Apparently I can use my, my family as kind of a test case on college sports. On how dead it is or isn't. Because they're still as into Kansas basketball as they ever were and all this stuff is occurring.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah. It's so interesting and has very little to do with sports. So I hope if you're a non sports fan, you're still listening. Thank you very much.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Well, I guess that's it.

[Jack Armstrong]

This is an iHeart podcast.