Octagon Speakers

Former AFL Commissioner David Baker is a huge man with a huge heart. The 6-foot-9, 375-pound Baker excelled in the one area that most accurately measures a commissioner’s success – growth. Under Baker's tutelage, the AFL negotiated deals giving NBC Sports exclusive broadcast rights and with attendance, merchandising, and corporate sponsorship soaring, the Arena Football League was the fastest growing sport in America. Baker attracted all consumers when he brought on ESPN broadcasters Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg from the hit show, “Mike and Mike in the Morning.” The duo appeared together on nearly half of the broadcasted 26 games, including Arena Bowl XXI for the 2007 season. During the charismatic David Baker's reign,  the average franchise value increased from $400,000 to $16 million.  Baker truly embraced what it meant to stand as the head of a professional sports league and has a desire to see it continue to rise.  

Commissioner Baker's message takes audiences beyond the playing field and the boardroom and demonstrates his passion for how sports affect life. In his words, "sports is surrounded by entertainment, but it is all about character, perseverance, nobility, courage, teamwork, sacrifice. And that is a great metaphor for life. It's about inspiration; it's about heart."