HEARD AT MILKEN: In a panel yesterday on “Stewards of the Game: The Business Leaders Behind Major Sports,” Michael Milken interviewed Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wesley Edens, NASCAR Chairman Brian France, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern.

“Football has always been my passion,” Kraft related in explaining why he bought the Patriots. Milken interjected, “Wait a minute. It was always your passion? I remember reading Bob that your father wanted you to become a Rabbi, is that true? (laughter)” Kraft answered, “Well my father was a very wise man, and a very spiritual person, but I don’t think people who love football and have ADD would be good Rabbis. So even though I was a middle child, it was one of the first times I went against my parents, times many.”

David Stern recalled a trip to Zambia and South Africa in 1993: “We went into a refugee camp and all the people there swept their dirt floors and put on their finest. And their finest was Chicago Bulls jerseys.” Robert Kraft: “It wasn’t because they lost the championship and sold them there for a discount? (laughter)” Stern: “No, actually that’s the difference between the NFL and the NBA. We would have donated them, the NFL would have sold them (laughter).” Kraft: “Such a magnanimous guy. Thank you (laughter)” Stern: “He [Kraft] is a good friend of longstanding. I wouldn’t say an old friend but that too (laughter)” Kraft: “Look in the mirror sweetheart. (laughter)”