Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
heffray
So where do you draw the line? Do you know where every cent of funding comes from for the NCAA, or literally any other pro sports governing body? I’m skeptical any of them are clean…
I was against LIV because it awarded mediocrity instead of creating better competition and “growing the game.” The Saudi connection was conveniently also objectionable, but I’m not convinced there aren’t similar dirty money trails in other sports.
There is no direct ownership of any North American sports franchise by a foreign government. There are various degrees of market influence however that seems categorically different, though obviously not without its problems (see Rockets, Houston) than what we’re talking about here.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bisonaudit
There is no direct ownership of any North American sports franchise by a foreign government. There are various degrees of market influence however that seems categorically different, though obviously not without its problems (see Rockets, Houston) than what we’re talking about here.
Direct ownership is where you draw the line. Cool. Seems pretty arbitrary, but cool. No judgment here.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
heffray
Direct ownership is where you draw the line. Cool. Seems pretty arbitrary, but cool. No judgment here.
I’m not sure what’s arbitrary about it. Seems far less arbitrary than say “we’ll take x marketing dollars / tv revenue but x+1 is to much influence.” They own the ducking thing. They can’t o what they want with it. Seems like a worse position than even them owning a Premier League franchise, which for the record, is a nightmare. At least there they’re only one vote in 20.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bisonaudit
I’m not sure what’s arbitrary about it. Seems far less arbitrary than say “we’ll take x marketing dollars / tv revenue but x+1 is to much influence.” They own the ducking thing. They can’t o what they want with it. Seems like a worse position than even them owning a Premier League franchise, which for the record, is a nightmare. At least there they’re only one vote in 20.
Well it’s not like the Saudis are calling all the shots and we can expect a culture shift on tour or anything. We’re talking about money and that’s basically it, so if that’s what you’re concerned about, then yeah, pretty arbitrary and I’ve got a list of other things you should boycott while your at it.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
heffray
Well it’s not like the Saudis are calling all the shots and we can expect a culture shift on tour or anything. We’re talking about money and that’s basically it, so if that’s what you’re concerned about, then yeah, pretty arbitrary and I’ve got a list of other things you should boycott while your at it.
This isn’t so much about what they’re going to do to professional golf’s reputation. It’s about what professional golf’s place in the world can do for their reputation. That’s what sports washing is.
Golf has more than its quota of rich pricks with short fuses and fancy clothes but I don’t think any of them have ever ordered the murder of a journalist they didn’t like.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bisonaudit
This isn’t so much about what they’re going to do to professional golf’s reputation. It’s about what professional golf’s place in the world can do for their reputation. That’s what sports washing is.
Golf has more than its quota of rich pricks with short fuses and fancy clothes but I don’t think any of them have ever ordered the murder of a journalist they didn’t like.
Audit, I like you… but I think you’re kinda missing the point I’m trying to make, which is basically this: In the US there is plenty of dirty money funding a lot of things directly or indirectly by people who do or represent morally questionable things, up to and including ordering murders (see the mafia, sports betting, owners connections, etc). If money from morally questionable people is a problem for you, good luck finding a sport or franchise you can be certain you can trust. If it’s the fact that the money from these morally questionable people are from a different country, well… that is the literal definition of an arbitrary line (see pale blue dot, American exceptionalism, etc).
Again, no problem with you drawing that line for yourself. You’re not alone in your opinion and most sports fans only watch the majors anyway. Just adding some perspective. Cheers.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
I dunno. I heard that one part of the deal is that all loopers now have to carry prayer rugs in the bag and when that call comes out over the PA system there will be a stoppage of play for prostration to the east.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
heffray
Audit, I like you… but I think you’re kinda missing the point I’m trying to make, which is basically this: In the US there is plenty of dirty money funding a lot of things directly or indirectly by people who do or represent morally questionable things, up to and including ordering murders (see the mafia, sports betting, owners connections, etc). If money from morally questionable people is a problem for you, good luck finding a sport or franchise you can be certain you can trust. If it’s the fact that the money from these morally questionable people are from a different country, well… that is the literal definition of an arbitrary line (see pale blue dot, American exceptionalism, etc).
Again, no problem with you drawing that line for yourself. You’re not alone in your opinion and most sports fans only watch the majors anyway. Just adding some perspective. Cheers.
None of whatever it is you’re implying about some people maybe connected to something somewhere is even remotely equivalent to what we know for sure about a country murdering a journalist inside an embassy.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Quote:
Originally Posted by
heffray
Audit, I like you… but I think you’re kinda missing the point I’m trying to make, which is basically this: In the US there is plenty of dirty money funding a lot of things directly or indirectly by people who do or represent morally questionable things, up to and including ordering murders (see the mafia, sports betting, owners connections, etc). If money from morally questionable people is a problem for you, good luck finding a sport or franchise you can be certain you can trust. If it’s the fact that the money from these morally questionable people are from a different country, well… that is the literal definition of an arbitrary line (see pale blue dot, American exceptionalism, etc).
Everybody has to use their own judgment, of course. I'm judging the PGA to be money-grubbing liars and hypocrites who I don't want to associate or support in any way. That's not the same as judging the people who remain golf fans.
I mean, NFL owners are worse in some ways, but I don't think less of people who still follow the NFL.
Re: Masters Golf and Any Other Miscellaneous Golf Discussion
Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) has introduced legislation that would strip the PGA Tour of its tax exempt status after the golfing league announced its agreement to merge with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf
league.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4...0Golf%20league.