‘Mad Money’ host becomes Hoosier at Assembly Hall

All of those in Assembly Hall on Wednesday for the taping of CNBC’s business information show, “Mad Money” with Jim Cramer, were treated to a very candid side of the exuberant host.\nBetween every segment, Cramer was personable with the audience of over a thousand. He constantly updated them on what segments were coming up, while dishing out financial advice and making jokes.\nDuring one of those breaks a student in the audience yelled out, “You are a Hoosier today, Jimmy!”\nTo which Cramer said, “You bet I am!”\nCramer had a segment in his show where he opened up questions to the audience in what he calls the “lightning round.” The round gave students time to get on national television and ask Cramer about different stocks and whether they should buy, hold or sell those stocks. \nWhen the cameras stopped rolling, Cramer did not. Even while his producer gave him instructions for the next segment, audience members were yelling out stock names. Cramer would then interrupt his producer to throw out advice about those stocks.\nCramer would also stop between segments to talk up his guest for the show, Mark Cuban. Cuban is an IU alumnus and owner of the Dallas Mavericks.\n“He is a great guy,” Cramer said. “The moment I knew I was going to IU, I e-mailed him and asked him to be a guest on my show. Two minutes later he got back to me asking where and when.”\nWhile on set, Cuban seemingly stole the show. After running out onto the court, he grabbed a basketball and drained a 10-foot jumper, causing the crowd to roar. \nCuban and Cramer combined to answer questions from students and give advice, even though that advice was sometimes conflicting.\n“I got to get people in, because if they don’t start now they will be catching up,” Cramer said on air about students starting to invest in the stock market. “You got to get in early so you have a lifetime to invest.”\nCuban’s advice was contrasting. Cramer wanted students to think about investing in the stock market, while Cuban thought students should be more worried about investing in something else.\n“Invest in yourself,” Cuban said on air. “What is more valuable to you than sweat equity?”\nCuban assured the students that now is the time for students to experiment with what they want to do for their careers.\n“Right now you have nothing to lose,” Cuban said on air. “You don’t have to have all of the answers when you graduate. What are they going to do, move you from the Forest Quad to the McNutt Quad? Find what you want to do and work your butt off at it.”\nThough constantly loud and applauding, students did calm down enough to listen to what these very successful men were saying.\n“I thought (Cuban) gave good advice about using the education you get here,” senior finance and real estate major Suzy Guediguian said. \nCramer knew that IU would enjoy having Cuban on set.\n“I think he is a hero – particularly on a show like mine,” Cramer said in an interview Tuesday, “because he is an example that you too can make it big.”