Cold Open Question: How was your first day of work at the new job?
BREAKING NEWS: This morning that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf Tour and the DP World (European) Tour announced they will be joining forces.
"What we're talking about today is coming together to unify the game of golf, and to do so under one umbrella,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
"... We've recognized that together, we can have a far greater impact on this game than we can working apart. ... The game of golf is better for what we've done here today."
Key parts of the two combatants’ legal issues were looming, including the PGA testifying about antitrust charges and the Saudis and its Public Investment Fund (PIF) possibly having to testify as part of discovery?
So what does this mean for the future of golf and other professional sports leagues going forward? Well, as Ted “The Million Dollar Man” DiBiasse used to say, apparently the PGA Tour and Monohan had a price. The Saudis, who already have interests in professional soccer teams in the Premier League, and its own professional soccer league, can now add the game of golf to its ledger.
Could we eventually see other professional sports leagues, like the USFL or XFL (owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) or even MLB take Saudi money? What’s to prevent them signing a star like Patrick Mahomes for $1B, much like it gave Phil Mickelson $200M?
You have to feel like the NFL owners and league office is losing sleep tonight. What does the NFL do?
Ethically, where does this leave us? The Saudi’s history of human rights violations doesn’t disappear, from harboring terrorists involved with the 9/11 attacks, the country’s stance on human rights of women, homosexuals, and minorities. They were also behind the murder Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Somehow, everyone involved with the PGA Tour has to live with themselves.
Another interesting side note is what our 45th President said about this less than a year ago. Here’s what Donald Trump said about this:
Most PGA Tour players were apparently finding out on Twitter, including Collin Morikawa, a 2-time major champion, who found out while reading Twitter.
We also discuss…
UFOs: Whistle blower says the US is in possession of non-human built spacecraft and bodies of the pilots?
Gary’s News of the Weird: 82-year-old German convicted of dealing drugs gets a last warning! A foot-long Mastodon tooth in California!
Wild Fires: We could smell smoke inside our office today. The sky was foggy with smoke. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders game was postponed and MiLB is monitoring air quality.
Tom Brady went to an amusement park with his kids? What amusement ride does Gary want to ride with the G.O.A.T.?
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