Meh, let's wait and see if this merger solicits an antitrust challenge and even happens. If an antitrust challenge spoils the deal, then the PGA will have committed a massive self own by taking the massive PR hit they're rightly getting now for absolutely no reason at all.
Sport is one of 13 “strategic” sectors identified by the PIF, partly to deliver more entertainment options for a youthful domestic population, but also to champion Saudi Arabia’s brand overseas. In recent years, Riyadh has spent tens of millions of dollars to bring myriad sporting events to the country, from heavyweight boxing bouts to Formula 1 racing. Two years ago, it acquired English football club Newcastle United. Now it is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to lure some of the planet’s top footballers to its shores, with French players N’Golo Kanté and Karim Benzema set to join Cristiano Ronaldo in its domestic league." easy to give up watching sports you don't like in the first place. I comtaminated myself by watching the World Cup and the Olympics. Whatever sport you consider indiapensable to your happiness, the Saudis are coming for it. From the Financial Times, courtesy of the Chartbook substack: "
Tim: Kipling said it best (however sketchy the context); both those who took the money and those who stood on principle inevitably face the same test we all do:
Great article. More could have been said that "it's just entertainment". The folks that decide to attend these golf outings should really spend the time exercising themselves and maybe trying to improve their game - if either is important to them.
I gave up golf a long time ago -chasing a ball that rarely goes to the right place ? Seems very silly.
So disappointing. I'll never be able to watch the tour again without thinking that these golfers sold their souls for money. Thank you to the holdouts for showing some principles.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association - the governing body of golf - should sentence the PGA for dishonoring and injuring the sport .
I’ve long since given up any hope that karma exists, or that Trump, his loathsome family, and his enablers will suffer any meaningful consequences for their offenses against humanity or decency. Ditto for the greedy LIV assholes or their Saudi puppet masters. “Life sucks and then you die” pretty much sums it up.
In my lifetime the pendulum has swung from "the appearance of a conflict of interest" that would deep six someone's appointment or the granting of a contract, to "no laws were broken". Even that small shift results in a higher level of sleaze running rampant in society.
I am Tim's biggest fan and finally joined Bulwark. Became hooked when I read your novel. I thought you were on vacation this week. Thanks for the great article.
This corporate transaction should not surprise anyone. It’s just about the money. As long as we continue to be hypnotized into thinking that somehow corporations are humans (Citizens United, anyone?), they will always decide in favor of money. There is no moral compass among the money changers who are still obviously in the temple. Just like CNN, the repugnicans, science deniers, and almost 50% of Americans, the PGA should be thrown onto the trash heap of history as another example of how humans will forever choose the wrong thing to do, for the short term gain. Marshmallow experiment be damned.
I have a fantasy: The orange blob, JaredIvanka, MBS, and the PGA "winners" are all on a Saudi golf course together..... A HUUUUGGGGGEEEE, very deep sinkhole opens up and swallows them all, never to be seen again.....
My mom is from Sombor, I went to school in San Antonio and fell for Tim Duncan’s dazzling lack of dazzle, and I’ll read anything anyone wants to post about Nikola Jokic. Fingers crossed for a well-deserved Denver title this year!
A “whistle blower” House Republicans have been touting was fired because he leaked documents to James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas. Guess we can close the book on that one.
All of these people are turning out to be either paid off by Patel, or disgruntled employees or both. These are not whistleblowers, these are the none too bright with an ax to grind.
PGA: I supposed the question really boils down to how do you wish to live in the world. Do you have an idea that you are here on this Earth, in this particular life, for a purpose? If so, to what end? If you believe that our experiences in life, no matter how wonderful or oppressive, are opportunities to learn wisdom, compassion and greater love of ourselves and others, we then understand that what we do for (to) others, we do for (to) ourselves. Doing what we know to be honorable and being morally engaged elevates us and our purposes, as it elevates everyone around us, whether or not others ever come to know the direct or indirect effects of our choices. And simply observing morally elevated choices in others soothes our own hearts and makes it easier for us to choose rightly. Recall the experiments in which small children more often choose a kindness when they see a kindness.
Of course, the opposite is also true. And since the media reports the bad behavior to us more often than the good, we are more exposed to morally inept and corrupt choices. We have to decide whether we will be persons for whom kindness is important or those for whom it is not, who will sway with the prevailing winds of greed or avarice or pride as they are illuminated and promoted by story after story of how their excess is rewarded.
One day, eventually, however, those who choose basely will know that they have become morally bankrupt, perhaps only through that "little voice" that we all have. A whisper in their quiet moments, amid their amassed riches or power; a catch in their feeling of the righteousness of their position or conduct, a fleeting feeling of remorse, or a more sustained one.
Do you think Kevin McCarthy doesn't actually KNOW that what he pitches is offal and that its effect on our country is highly destructive? Do you think he is happy to carry the particular Republican torch that he believes he is being forced to carry? I don't. Think about how he has initially reacted to awful conduct, even if he sooner or later did a 180 degree flip out of fear. His choices illuminate his character to us, but also to him. And he is the one that must live with that knowing. Let's be thankful for those who show strength and commitment to do the right thing and work to make their visions reality, while we feel pity for those who cannot, and work to make sure their failings do not fall heavy upon the rest of us.
I am not a golf fan or watcher, and knew little about this other than the broad outlines, but: great essay.
Meh, let's wait and see if this merger solicits an antitrust challenge and even happens. If an antitrust challenge spoils the deal, then the PGA will have committed a massive self own by taking the massive PR hit they're rightly getting now for absolutely no reason at all.
Sport is one of 13 “strategic” sectors identified by the PIF, partly to deliver more entertainment options for a youthful domestic population, but also to champion Saudi Arabia’s brand overseas. In recent years, Riyadh has spent tens of millions of dollars to bring myriad sporting events to the country, from heavyweight boxing bouts to Formula 1 racing. Two years ago, it acquired English football club Newcastle United. Now it is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to lure some of the planet’s top footballers to its shores, with French players N’Golo Kanté and Karim Benzema set to join Cristiano Ronaldo in its domestic league." easy to give up watching sports you don't like in the first place. I comtaminated myself by watching the World Cup and the Olympics. Whatever sport you consider indiapensable to your happiness, the Saudis are coming for it. From the Financial Times, courtesy of the Chartbook substack: "
Tim: Kipling said it best (however sketchy the context); both those who took the money and those who stood on principle inevitably face the same test we all do:
...Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold-edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
Great article. More could have been said that "it's just entertainment". The folks that decide to attend these golf outings should really spend the time exercising themselves and maybe trying to improve their game - if either is important to them.
I gave up golf a long time ago -chasing a ball that rarely goes to the right place ? Seems very silly.
Next MBS will buy soccer and then Hollywood.
The richest do have too much money
So disappointing. I'll never be able to watch the tour again without thinking that these golfers sold their souls for money. Thank you to the holdouts for showing some principles.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the United States Golf Association - the governing body of golf - should sentence the PGA for dishonoring and injuring the sport .
I’ve long since given up any hope that karma exists, or that Trump, his loathsome family, and his enablers will suffer any meaningful consequences for their offenses against humanity or decency. Ditto for the greedy LIV assholes or their Saudi puppet masters. “Life sucks and then you die” pretty much sums it up.
In my lifetime the pendulum has swung from "the appearance of a conflict of interest" that would deep six someone's appointment or the granting of a contract, to "no laws were broken". Even that small shift results in a higher level of sleaze running rampant in society.
I am Tim's biggest fan and finally joined Bulwark. Became hooked when I read your novel. I thought you were on vacation this week. Thanks for the great article.
This corporate transaction should not surprise anyone. It’s just about the money. As long as we continue to be hypnotized into thinking that somehow corporations are humans (Citizens United, anyone?), they will always decide in favor of money. There is no moral compass among the money changers who are still obviously in the temple. Just like CNN, the repugnicans, science deniers, and almost 50% of Americans, the PGA should be thrown onto the trash heap of history as another example of how humans will forever choose the wrong thing to do, for the short term gain. Marshmallow experiment be damned.
Tim is fun when he writes about sports.
I have a fantasy: The orange blob, JaredIvanka, MBS, and the PGA "winners" are all on a Saudi golf course together..... A HUUUUGGGGGEEEE, very deep sinkhole opens up and swallows them all, never to be seen again.....
Am I very bad?
My mom is from Sombor, I went to school in San Antonio and fell for Tim Duncan’s dazzling lack of dazzle, and I’ll read anything anyone wants to post about Nikola Jokic. Fingers crossed for a well-deserved Denver title this year!
This one is too good to pass up.
A “whistle blower” House Republicans have been touting was fired because he leaked documents to James O’Keefe’s Project Veritas. Guess we can close the book on that one.
All of these people are turning out to be either paid off by Patel, or disgruntled employees or both. These are not whistleblowers, these are the none too bright with an ax to grind.
PGA: I supposed the question really boils down to how do you wish to live in the world. Do you have an idea that you are here on this Earth, in this particular life, for a purpose? If so, to what end? If you believe that our experiences in life, no matter how wonderful or oppressive, are opportunities to learn wisdom, compassion and greater love of ourselves and others, we then understand that what we do for (to) others, we do for (to) ourselves. Doing what we know to be honorable and being morally engaged elevates us and our purposes, as it elevates everyone around us, whether or not others ever come to know the direct or indirect effects of our choices. And simply observing morally elevated choices in others soothes our own hearts and makes it easier for us to choose rightly. Recall the experiments in which small children more often choose a kindness when they see a kindness.
Of course, the opposite is also true. And since the media reports the bad behavior to us more often than the good, we are more exposed to morally inept and corrupt choices. We have to decide whether we will be persons for whom kindness is important or those for whom it is not, who will sway with the prevailing winds of greed or avarice or pride as they are illuminated and promoted by story after story of how their excess is rewarded.
One day, eventually, however, those who choose basely will know that they have become morally bankrupt, perhaps only through that "little voice" that we all have. A whisper in their quiet moments, amid their amassed riches or power; a catch in their feeling of the righteousness of their position or conduct, a fleeting feeling of remorse, or a more sustained one.
Do you think Kevin McCarthy doesn't actually KNOW that what he pitches is offal and that its effect on our country is highly destructive? Do you think he is happy to carry the particular Republican torch that he believes he is being forced to carry? I don't. Think about how he has initially reacted to awful conduct, even if he sooner or later did a 180 degree flip out of fear. His choices illuminate his character to us, but also to him. And he is the one that must live with that knowing. Let's be thankful for those who show strength and commitment to do the right thing and work to make their visions reality, while we feel pity for those who cannot, and work to make sure their failings do not fall heavy upon the rest of us.