0:00

The name Sandra Douglas Morgan has

0:02

long been a familiar one in the state of Nevada.

0:05

In the past, she has served as chairwoman

0:07

of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. As

0:10

the chief regulator for Nevada's dominant billion

0:12

dollar gaming industry, Sandra led

0:14

the passage and implementation of

0:16

cashlest wagering regulations, ensured

0:19

that gaming licenses adopted policies

0:21

prohibiting discrimination and harassment,

0:24

and led a team of four hundred employees

0:26

in five cities across the state of Nevada.

0:29

Sandra also served as commissioner on

0:32

the Nevada State Athletic Commission and

0:34

was the first black city attorney in the state

0:36

of Nevada when she was the chief legal

0:38

officer for the City of North Las Vegas.

0:42

As if this wasn't enough, Sandra was

0:44

named president of the Las Vegas

0:46

Raiders by owner Mark Davis in July

0:48

of twenty twenty two, making her the first

0:51

black female president in

0:53

NFL history. And she is

0:56

our guest today. This

0:59

is the Black Information Network Daily Podcast

1:01

and I'm your host, ramseys Jah

1:04

and.

1:04

I get to be the special guest host

1:06

today and my name is q War.

1:08

Indeed, thank you so much

1:11

Q, by the way for setting this up. This is

1:14

obviously very timely and very meaningful

1:17

for Women's History Month, and

1:20

obviously, Sandra Douglas

1:22

Morgan, thank you so much for being on our show

1:24

today. It is a

1:26

joy to even hold this time and space

1:28

with you.

1:29

Thank you for having me rams this and Q, thanks

1:31

for the invitation. Yeah, it's great to

1:33

be here.

1:34

Absolutely, I appreciate you saying that. So what

1:36

we do around here is we start all of our stories

1:39

at the beginning. So do

1:41

us a bit of a favor. I know we touched on

1:43

it a bit, but give us a bit about your background,

1:45

the real background. You know, where

1:47

you grew up, what influenced you. Just you

1:50

know, whatever you're feel comfortable and goes as long and short as

1:52

you want, but we want to know the

1:54

story of what led you to this conversation

1:57

today.

1:58

Yeah, you know, I don't.

1:59

It wasn't a something

2:01

that I could say was planned or

2:04

strategic or I had a goal of

2:06

being an NFL president. That definitely wasn't the case.

2:08

I'm definitely a child of Las Vegas. I grew up

2:11

here, ended up my family ended

2:13

up here because my father retired at Nellis Air Force

2:15

Base, My mother worked in different kind of casinos,

2:18

some on the strip, some off the strip when I was growing

2:20

up, and a lot of people in the area that I grew up in,

2:22

which is the East side of Las Vegas, so shout out to the

2:24

east Side, you know, had a parent in

2:26

the military and had you know, another parent in

2:28

the gaming industry. It was not uncommon

2:31

for that, especially when I was growing up in the in

2:33

the early eighties, so you know, grew up there

2:35

hard working parents definitely

2:37

strussed the importance of education. My mom

2:39

was my mom is Koreat American first

2:42

generation and definitely said if you're not

2:44

you know, don't focus on your education, you know,

2:46

won't have the opportunities and

2:48

experiences that you want to have. But they never made

2:50

us feel like we were without and we weren't. You know, we were

2:52

definitely working.

2:53

Class, but definitely felt like the love and had

2:55

everything we needed.

2:57

So fast forward, I went to school and middle

2:59

school, high school on the east Side. Knew

3:01

I wanted didn't want to stay in town.

3:04

I knew I wanted to go somewhere and

3:06

ended up getting a scholarship the University of Nevada

3:08

right now and just loans weren't

3:10

even something that was part of.

3:11

Our our vocabulary.

3:13

I mean, I knew I was applying to different schools,

3:15

but I just I definitely was impressed

3:18

upon us to get a scholarship.

3:19

My sistant went to Colorado State.

3:20

I went to you and R and thought

3:22

I was going to end up in California honestly for law school,

3:24

because there wasn't an accredited law school here in

3:26

Nevada when I was an undergrad. So I

3:29

finished undergrad in nineteen ninety nine, and

3:31

at that time there was actually

3:33

a bill passed to get state

3:35

funding for a law school. But I thought, I don't

3:38

want to go to a new law school because if I go to a new

3:40

law school and I graduate from there, I'll

3:42

end up having to practice in the state of Nevada.

3:45

Until the law school is accredited, you're limited

3:47

to practicing law in that state. And

3:49

lo and behold, unlv did

3:52

actually worked wonders and became accredited within

3:54

three years. So I was in the third graduating

3:56

class of the law school. By the time I applied,

3:59

they were provisionally accredited, and so I knew it was

4:01

a little bit of a safety net that, Okay, even if I finished

4:03

law school here, I could still go practice anywhere I

4:05

wanted to go. And you

4:07

know, I say in Nevada is home because I was educated

4:10

on both sides of the state and I never

4:12

left, you know. When I came back here, I went to law school

4:14

at UNLV, ended up getting

4:16

a job at a firm, went in house

4:18

at MGM, which was an incredibly proud moment,

4:21

I think, not just for myself just being kind of

4:23

the first lawyer in my family, but for my mother.

4:25

My mother worked you know, hourly

4:27

different jobs at different casinos, and for

4:30

now her daughter to actually be able to give

4:32

legal advice to one of the largest gaming corporations

4:34

was definitely a proud moment.

4:36

And went to the public sector.

4:38

After that, went to the City of North Las Vegas, went

4:41

to AT and T, then was appointed

4:43

to the Athletic Commission, which governs mixed

4:45

martial arts and boxing. Was later appointed

4:47

to the Gaming Commission and

4:50

then became chair of the Gaming Control Board during

4:54

you know, really critical time I think for the gaming

4:56

industry.

4:56

One we were.

5:00

The only state for so long, or

5:03

with a major state, that actually had sports betting. So when

5:05

I was a commissioner, that's when the Supreme

5:07

Court passed a repealed pass,

5:10

but it's a law that basically limited

5:13

professional sports and amateur

5:15

sports kind of gambling to different only

5:17

to Nevada and really Montana, small slice

5:19

of it.

5:19

And so once that.

5:20

Law was repealed, states were allowed to pass

5:23

their own sports betting statutes.

5:25

And obviously you've seen the surge of that over the last

5:27

goodness what four to five years. And so I was a commissioner

5:30

during that time and then was the chair of the Game to Control

5:32

Board. Unfortunately, during

5:34

the pandemic, which was definitely a

5:36

trying time, I know for many of us. With

5:39

Nevada having an unemployment rate over thirty five

5:41

percent, it was definitely difficult for Nevadams as well.

5:45

So I was lucky enough to come to

5:47

Las Vegas last summer participated

5:50

in a program called raiders Den where we

5:52

worked with some high school kids at Allegiance

5:54

Stadium, and the name that I heard

5:56

the most was yours before we even had a chance

5:58

to meet, because everyone wanted

6:00

to press upon me how important that type

6:02

of work was to you. So on,

6:05

on the back of Black History Month and now

6:07

Women's History Month, talk to us about

6:09

the significance of being the first

6:12

black female president of

6:14

an NFL team.

6:16

You know, I know it's important.

6:18

I mean, I will tell you I have said this

6:20

publicly and privately to my friends.

6:22

You know, I knew that.

6:23

I don't think I knew the gravity of it. I mean,

6:26

and I say this in the most ways. I don't think the

6:28

first is a success story.

6:31

What success is not being a last? Right,

6:34

So I knew I was the first. I figured it would

6:36

get some attention, and I thought I'd go back to

6:38

work and was admittedly

6:41

very surprised

6:43

and just a little bit shocked about the amount of attention.

6:46

But it also made me realize that there are so many women,

6:48

so many people right of different backgrounds

6:50

that just want some visibility when it

6:52

comes to sports because it is a small network, especially

6:55

when you're talking about professional sports and then even the NFL,

6:58

and you know, being from Las Vegas, this is my home.

7:00

So I want, you know, to make sure that

7:02

the Raiders are represented well, that we're doing the

7:04

right things in the community. But being a black woman

7:07

in this role, there's just been so

7:09

many women, I mean, I'm at collegiate level, at amateur

7:11

level and in professional levels and different leagues

7:14

that have said, you know, we've been waiting for this moment,

7:16

and I do think me being somewhat of an outsider

7:18

obviously to the space because you know, Nevada

7:20

has never really had professional sports before twenty seventeen,

7:24

you know, really didn't understand the impact that

7:26

this position and my appointment to this position would have.

7:29

So I, you know, take this, you know, obviously,

7:31

very seriously. I take leading a team

7:33

regardless, you know, if it's the Raiders or anything else that I've

7:35

done, very very seriously. But for this team

7:38

and what it stands for, it's tremendous,

7:40

rich history. And making sure that we're

7:42

representing our team well, making sure that I'm representing

7:45

the team well, and I'm representing you know, our community

7:47

and.

7:47

Our culture well is incredibly

7:49

important.

7:50

But it's you know, it hopefully

7:52

shows, you know, people of all different

7:55

backgrounds that anyone regardless

7:57

that they look like, is able to lead if given the opportunity.

8:00

You and I finally had the chance to connect

8:03

super Bowl week, and I believe the

8:05

first thing that I said to you was that I'm proud

8:07

of you. I want to say that to

8:09

you again now. Ramses and myself are

8:11

very very proud of you. The work that

8:13

you're doing the position that you're in because we understand

8:16

that for you, that was not an easy path

8:18

to tread and for you to get to where you are, you

8:21

really had to excel and be

8:23

better than your colleagues at almost every

8:25

step. So you know, kudos from

8:27

us. You know, you got a support system

8:29

here if you ever need it. During

8:32

the season this year, in an interim

8:34

position, all of your leadership

8:36

was black. I think your GM, your head coach,

8:39

and yourself and Antonio

8:41

Pierce has since become the full time head

8:44

coach for the Raiders. Talk to us a little bit

8:46

about that moment and how that felt.

8:48

It was incredible, and you know, when you're

8:50

going through that, especially having that change mid

8:52

season, so many

8:54

plates are spending, you know, at the same time. And

8:58

it was great when we were walking out

9:00

to the game and we beat the Giants and it was

9:02

pre game and you know, there's so much stuff going on. We

9:04

have, you know, people on the field, we have different corporate

9:06

activations we have to make obviously, coaches getting

9:08

ready and focused on the team.

9:11

Champ Antonio Champ Kelly being

9:13

there as well, and it was for I mean, you

9:15

see the photos, but that was about not

9:17

even thirty seconds I want to say, fifteen seconds

9:20

of photo. And we obviously

9:22

we knew when you know, everything kind of

9:24

happened around October thirty. October

9:26

thirty first, I mean we've known each

9:28

other before then, you know, but for that moment,

9:31

in that seconds, right on

9:33

that field, it was like, oh, that's when it kind of I

9:35

think hit you a little bit, but you

9:37

know, an incredibly proud time. Both of those men

9:39

are truly truly

9:41

talented, experienced, smart capable

9:44

leaders, and I'm incredibly proud of

9:46

both of them, and to be even to be with them

9:49

during that moment is something I definitely treasure

9:51

and we'll never forget, and you

9:53

know, definitely want to support ap on this journey. I think

9:55

Entirerater Nation wants too as well. You've seen the

9:57

energy and the passion that he brings. There's definitely

9:59

an excitement you know in the building about

10:02

you know, actually going back to our I

10:04

shouldn't say going back to the roots, but just educating

10:07

people on what it means to be a Raider and for me

10:09

personally being again from Las Vegas, not and

10:11

having the Raiders move here.

10:13

Unfortunately during the pandemic, you know,

10:15

we're still newer to.

10:16

This market, so I'm

10:18

really excited for him and not only what he's going to do on

10:20

the field, but helping us off the field

10:22

on you know, understanding and growing

10:24

people's love and growing our fan base for

10:26

the Raiders.

10:30

We are here today with the President of

10:32

the Las Vegas Raiders, Sandra

10:34

Douglas Morgan. Okay,

10:39

so I want to share

10:42

a little bit with you about

10:45

my experience. Q

10:49

invited me out to Allegiance

10:52

Stadium in Vegas, and

10:54

you know, I used to go to Vegas all the time. You know, I'm a DJ.

10:56

I'm an old DJ, So I used to go out there and DJ up

10:58

and down the Strip plan Hollywood and Rio

11:01

and all those places, right, And

11:06

then I went out to participate in

11:08

the Raiders Den event

11:10

that Q was putting on with Numia

11:12

Duncan Reed, who's also been on this show

11:15

as well, and I

11:18

got a chance to like take Vegas in

11:21

and asking, as someone

11:24

who grew up there, talk

11:26

to us, well, just talk to us a bit about the city

11:28

of Las Vegas becoming a prime

11:31

destination for sports

11:34

as well as entertainment, because I've seen now

11:36

there's these stadiums everywhere and this

11:38

new energy that is in the city

11:41

and being someone that grew up there and

11:43

obviously being able to transition into

11:45

perhaps the most significant role out there. You

11:49

know, talk to us a bit about what it's like seeing

11:51

the city evolve in that way.

11:54

Well, first of all, let me thank you both for participating in

11:56

the raiders Den.

11:57

I mean, that is what we are trying to do

11:59

in this commune, right, You're bringing the

12:01

community to the stadium, you

12:03

know, giving people access to the stadium who

12:05

may not have that access on a Saturday,

12:07

on a Sunday during a game, and giving

12:10

them the opportunity to pitch ideas and kind of bringing

12:12

out that entrepreneurial spirit which

12:14

you know, our community traditionally just hasn't had access

12:16

to, right, being able to kind of create your

12:18

own, your own niche, your own wealth,

12:21

and not happening to be reliant on others. So kudos to

12:23

both of you, and I really thank you guys for participating

12:25

in that.

12:26

I'm just proud of the community.

12:27

Again, and I grew up here, so obviously I'm biased,

12:30

but what you've seen is, you know, when I was

12:32

growing up here about four hundred thousand people and now we're

12:34

about two point three two point four million.

12:37

It's an incredible city.

12:38

I think of opportunity, right, you can come

12:40

here, you can come here, make a good living

12:43

and be able to ride for your family. We have

12:45

still relatively good cost of living obviously

12:47

that's increasing everywhere, a low tax

12:49

space.

12:50

I sound like I'm pitching the statement.

12:51

I'm not.

12:53

Jo as to why people are coming

12:55

here, right, yea, you know they have access

12:57

they can have access to, you know, a good

13:00

stable education, a good job, and be able

13:02

to revive for their family. Ten percent

13:04

of residents of Nevada,

13:07

definitely Southern Nevada just moved

13:09

here.

13:09

Within the last couple of years. That's incredible,

13:12

right.

13:12

And when you look at yes, gaming is

13:14

a dominant, dominant factor in an industry

13:17

in the state, but there's so many leaders

13:19

that have been here for decades that understand the

13:21

importance of diversifying that economy because

13:23

gaming is not just slot machines and table

13:25

games, although we have plenty of those here, and that's

13:28

want people to have a good time. The non

13:30

gaming revenue has exceeded gaming

13:32

revenue even within the casinos

13:35

for well over a decade. So things

13:37

like hospitality, dining, shows, entertainment,

13:40

different experiences, so Vegas

13:42

has grown, you know for that, and I think depth

13:44

there was a huge focus on that late nineties kind

13:47

of two thousands, and then in this last

13:49

you know, almost decade, maybe seven or so years,

13:51

so you've seen the you know, really

13:54

true explosion of sports with the Golden Nights

13:56

coming here and you know, them getting the Stanley

13:58

Cup within the.

13:58

First four years.

14:00

You have the WNBA back

14:02

to back champions of the Las Vegas Aces, who

14:04

are kind of our neighbors down the street, and

14:06

you've just seen a growth in that. The thrill

14:09

though I haven't had a chance to go there yet, but it's the Volleyball

14:11

League obviously, Las Vegas Lights, Mine ear League

14:13

Soccer, Minor League baseball,

14:15

and the Aviators that have been here for a while. And

14:17

I think it shows that, you know, Las Vegas is

14:19

wanting to become a well rounded not just community,

14:22

but economy as well. And I think that's the excitement

14:24

of it all. You know, we have forty million

14:26

visitors. That's different from any other place.

14:29

But we have to be able to know that

14:31

this community of two million that is growing,

14:34

you know, can sustain you know, the growth that we're

14:36

having, and so far it's it's been

14:38

great.

14:39

You know, you have impact in spaces

14:41

where you don't even realize. Sandra, there's

14:44

a young lady who used to volunteer here in the city

14:47

with us for hashtag

14:49

lunch Bag. She helped us feed hundreds of thousands

14:51

of people over a ten

14:53

year span.

14:55

She is now the top.

14:58

High school female basketball player in

15:00

the country, and you are one of her heroes.

15:03

So I wanted to pass that on to you and

15:06

follow that up with the question, if

15:10

you had to pick a single piece of advice

15:12

or just it doesn't have to be a single piece, but just

15:14

some advice for young women like

15:16

her who look up to you. What

15:18

would that advice be.

15:22

That self you have to be confident.

15:24

And I know that people say this a lot, but self

15:26

doubt can be your own worst enemy.

15:29

Are just

15:32

a state of the world.

15:33

Unfortunately, we have certain things stacked

15:35

against us, and we have certain challenges that we're going

15:37

to face that we could try to articulate

15:39

in words, and people will just never understand. You're

15:42

going to have enough of those challenges around you that you don't

15:44

have any control over. So what we can do is control

15:46

ourselves, our mind and have

15:48

confidence in ourselfs and we really

15:51

really need to focus on that. I think it's definitely more

15:53

of a struggle for women and

15:55

young girls, just because of the things that are constantly

15:57

being pushed at social and different things like that.

15:59

But I would say to be confident and just know that

16:01

self doubt can be a greater enemy

16:03

than any extra force or person

16:06

that we face.

16:08

You know what, I've

16:11

been listening to you talk, and this is even

16:15

more exciting than I thought it was going to be. You

16:17

know, we talked to exciting people quite

16:19

a bit. Very fortunate to be able to do that,

16:22

but rarely do we get

16:26

people who are as inspiring and

16:29

and as accomplished and in

16:32

such a meaningful way. I

16:35

say that to say that for

16:37

the entirety of this conversation, I think my

16:40

ears perked up when you said that you graduated

16:42

college in nineteen ninety nine, and I'm like, I don't

16:44

know how you pulled that off as

16:47

a twelve year old or whatever it

16:49

was. You know, I got.

16:52

Prodigy. I graduated college five years old.

16:54

It was incredible.

16:55

Well that's that, clearly, that's what happened. But

17:00

I don't imagine that you are

17:03

anywhere close to being done.

17:05

So for the people

17:07

that already know about you, and

17:10

for our listeners who are maybe just getting

17:12

familiar with everything that you've done and

17:14

everything that you're doing, the people that you are just now

17:16

inspiring. What

17:19

is it that we all can look forward to

17:22

that is next for you? Are you working on a

17:24

book? Are you wanting to grow

17:26

in this way, that way, elevate? You

17:29

know, tell us what's next for you.

17:30

You know, I'm focused on being a

17:32

Raid honestly right now, I'm going I'm entering into

17:34

my third season.

17:35

You know, I think we.

17:36

Always need to develop and grow

17:38

professionally and personally, and so

17:40

I'm focused on you know, I have a thirteen

17:43

year old and a seventeen year old teenagers,

17:47

love them exact, Hey that's going

17:49

on. I want to make sure that I'm supporting

17:51

them and that their cup is full, and that I'm

17:53

you know, trying to reinforce positivity and things

17:55

and making sure that you know that you

17:58

know, my husband and I are raising you know, good

18:01

kind you know individual So that's always

18:03

going to be my my goal personally and

18:05

professionally. You know, every year, even though I'm

18:07

going to say, hey, I'm the president, I want the team to be the best

18:09

we have to constantly look and adapt and see

18:12

how factors are things are changing. And

18:14

you know, I focus a lot internally on the first season,

18:16

making sure I got to know the people in this organization,

18:19

what it stood for, what we've meant, the history

18:21

in Oakland, the history in Los Angeles, and

18:23

so now it's about having and you know, motivating

18:26

obviously this our team here to go

18:28

out and hit every single space,

18:30

not just a Nevada but obviously internationally, and

18:33

making sure we're representing the Raiders in this in this very

18:35

strong international brand in the best way because

18:37

that will then you know, translate and help our football

18:39

team kind of get you know, obviously the best players

18:42

and being able to support them as well.

18:43

So that's what I'm focused on.

18:45

I really want to focus on the here and now,

18:47

and I do think when you do that and you give your best

18:49

effort, that things later will

18:52

will present themselves. And that's how I've

18:54

operated, you know, I mean, you definitely want to look ahead,

18:56

and there's definitely a lot of goals and things that I that I want

18:58

to strive to. But I think if you're do well and treat

19:00

people well in the position you're in now, that's what's

19:02

going to open doors for you in the future.

19:03

I think that is a

19:06

fantastic response. So

19:09

let's let's lean into that just a bit more before we

19:11

let you go. For folks that want

19:13

to, you know, tap in, maybe

19:16

watch your story unfold, are

19:18

their website, social media, anything like

19:20

that that we can provide for our

19:22

listeners so that they can bear witness

19:24

to this amazing journey that you're on.

19:26

You know, Ram, this is a thing that's a challenge

19:28

for me. I'm a pretty private person.

19:31

I have my Instagram is

19:33

private. I have a SDM raiders one that's

19:35

my that's my ex and my Instagram

19:38

handle. Okay, and

19:40

uh, you know, I guess

19:43

raiders dot com as well. But I'm

19:45

still transitioning into being If you

19:47

look at all the positions I've had before this, it was pretty

19:49

you know, more behind the scenes. But I

19:51

do try to keep what's private private, and

19:53

I know that, you know, some of that's going to be

19:56

out of my control, but you

19:58

know, talking to you and talking to you

20:00

know, different organizations and things like that, I'm

20:02

always going to want to give back. I do think it's important obviously

20:04

to be present and inspire people, not just in Las

20:06

Vegas, but anywhere that I can.

20:08

But I don't have like a I don't

20:11

post a lot.

20:12

That's okay, that's all right.

20:13

Look, so you're not going to get a woe

20:15

by whoa my day, but I try to give snipitary

20:18

doubt there.

20:18

Okay, that's that.

20:19

I'm sure that that's plenty. I know that there are a

20:21

lot of young women and girls

20:24

that have been really

20:27

invested in the conversations that we've been

20:29

having this month, and you

20:32

know, for the people that really are inspired

20:34

and really feel like their future looks

20:37

could now look like your

20:39

present. You know, people

20:41

like you tend to lead pretty big footprints and they're

20:44

not always left on Instagram dot com.

20:46

And so you don't have to worry about whether or not

20:48

you post a lot. I think the headlines speak

20:50

volumes, and if you keep doing

20:53

what you're doing, I think you are lifting us

20:55

all up and we couldn't be more proud of you.

20:57

I'd like to thank you for taking the time to

20:59

come on today's show and talk with me. Obviously,

21:02

you and Q know each other, but

21:04

this is a very special moment for me and

21:06

all of us here at the Black Information Network,

21:08

So again, thank you very much. For

21:10

that once again. Today's guest is

21:13

the president of the Las Vegas Raiders

21:15

NFL football team, Sandra Douglas

21:18

Morgan.

21:19

Thanks for having me.

21:22

This has been a production of the Black Information

21:24

Network. Today's show was produced by

21:26

Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts you'd

21:29

like to share, use the red microphone talkback

21:31

feature on the iHeartRadio app. While

21:33

you're there, be sure to hit subscribe and download all

21:35

of our episodes. I'm your host,

21:37

Ramse's Jaw on all social media

21:39

and join us tomorrow as we share our news

21:42

with our voice from our perspective right

21:44

here on the Black Information Network Daily

21:46

Podcast