The motivation behind the PGA Tour's Merger with LIV: Is it all about the money?

In this episode of #TheRightTime with Bomani Jones, Bomani and Slate's Joel Anderson discuss the ramifications of the agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV, whether or not Phil Mickelson's reputation will always be damaged, and more.
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[@sherelldavis2180]

This is not hypocrisy. This is America. It is always about the money

[@jeremyfromthebay84]

It's worse than hypocrisy. The PGA imposed disciplinary action on those who dared to seek a better salary with LIV, they also publicly attacked the integrity of those players. But now it's perfectly fine because the PGA weaseled their way into a slice of the pie, all of a sudden morality is no longer priority. They look like clowns and everyone knows it and Monahan won't have a job in a year, he's loss all respect and credibility especially from players.

[@shom4458]

Augusta National was heavily built on US oil and gas money.... look at one of their biggest sponsors at each event: EXXON MOBIL... They couldn't be outraged by Saudi Arabian money or partnerships....

[@krhimself]

Great epi as always 👍 on the point about the merger, hypocrisy was the first thing everyone turned to in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, and I think justifiably so. On the other hand, the moral high ground is only as stable as the money will allow it to be -- especially in a country like the United States -- thereby, hypocrisy in societies like ours is not an unpardonable sin, bur rather the unfortunate expectation.

[@Don35]

Great episode.....epic discussion...informative, thoughtful, and thought provoking. . ..

[@darrenhawkins7970]

IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY. FACTS

[@sirjer73]

This a Gold Starr Episode here!!!! The Clarence Thomas subject matter was very enlightening!!!

[@bryancurry5472]

Very

[@charlesthomas4803]

Yes, it’s all about the money.

[@philtookgrenadesforme7785]

They say "growing the game" because that is the main program that got the PGAT 501c6 nonprofit status. This whole thing stinks to high heaven. PGAT members are getting screwed. The PGAT assets (in the billions) will flow to the for profit, which I guarantee PGAT board members have ownership stakes. Just you watch. You can't buy a non-profit.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

The LIV guys all said that at first too. And it’s all BS because they know they can’t be honest that it’s for the money.

[@ExbotHero]

Tiger Woods recovered from the worst type of behavior you can imagine (Hookers all the time, cheating left and right, popping pills like a drug lord - Some of his ex-girlfriends have even accused him of domestic abuse..) Has he recovered? Yes, he has. Therefore Phil will too. First of all, because he was right! Second of all because The PGA TOUR did a deal that is even worst. They actually let them in the room and gave them the keys to the house. Phil only took the money, with no real recognition of them as more than the company that paid his salary. To me, Phil is the KING! (Not a fan before but after this, sure.) HE WAS RIGHT!

[@AlastairBarker]

KING FOR WHAT? HES A SCUM BAG WHO CARES ONLY ABOUT HIMSELF, GET REAL HERE!

[@maxmx767]

Actually Phil doesn’t have to recover from anything. He was always right. The US Government has been doing business with the Saudis all these years. Plenty of US companies are doing business with the Saudis. Phil just did what everyone was doing That man is the freaking MVP!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DISP-CEPTED]

But Phil did it without hookers and blow. Just saying

[@BeyondVertical101]

All that just sounds like a rich man having a good time

[@Blacklist324]

How about listing your sins.

[@Unbreakzable]

Clarence Thomas talk was exceptional

[@stevenhornostaj5676]

Hockey is pretty big in the USA.

[@BigJack512]

Hoping for an expansion team in Houston.

[@robertkauffman8137]

Mickelson is the same. A compulsive gambler desperate to pay 10's of millions in losses. He'd sell his mother.

[@larifari_das]

very US centric viewpoint on the situation, please look at whats happening beyond your borders

[@thatmessylife6427]

This merger is a joke. Hope the moneys worth it and you didn’t completely lose your fan base and lose some of the best athletes in the pga league!

[@michaelgallick4617]

"It's not a secret that Mickelson is buying up a lot of land in San Diego if everyone can read it on the news...duh! He's just doing that so LIV Golf can make their own golf course in the U.S.A. ! Give us a brake !

[@allenjeannette4350]

Greed always wins in sports.

[@allenjeannette4350]

I bet the actor from Happy Gilmore who plays Shooter McGavin HAD to have gotten influence from Phil Mickelson's personality traits.

[@steveeb9567]

Bone saw key fobs for everyone !

[@patriciacasazza6045]

As a 9/11 widow, I am deeply disturbed by the PGA’s capitulation in joining LIV, the Saudi-run golf tour. I suppose “We Will Never Forget” was just a platitude to placate the masses. Only the 9/11 families can not forget. I was on the phone with my 38-year-old husband, trying to breathe, sobbing, and reconcile his imminent death while I tried to ease his suffering. Telling him how much I loved him, what a good man he was, and that if anyone was ready, he was - he had such faith. All this happened while I saw people jumping to their deaths rather than staying trapped in burning buildings. And then the towers collapsed. Then to tell our eleven-year-old son that his dad was gone to him forever. It has been a long and difficult twenty-one years for us. And we are still trying to hold those like Saudi Arabia accountable for having a part in murdering my husband and over 3,000 others. There is an abundance of information indicating Saudi involvement in the attacks. I and the other 9/11 families want justice from Saudi Arabia. They carried out their terrorist activities here on U.S. soil; thus, it is painful to see our President, government, and historic business entities like the PGA turn a blind eye to the Saudis' infiltration of the U.S. It is shameful, dangerous, and egregious.

[@decafmocha211]

So incredibly sorry for your loss Patricia.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

It was super scummy how the Tour used victims like they did and then dumped them

[@billnye4923]

YOU EVER STOP WHAT YOU DOIN FOR A SECOND AND REALIZE THAT ONE DAY YOULL STOP WHAT YOU DOING FOREVER? ME TOO

[@decafmocha211]

Do you honestly think the 911 families will apologize to Mickelson ?

[@richardcoreno]

The PGA Tour ended up like the ABA and WHA -- crawling to the NBA and NHL, respectively, and willing to sign any "peace terms" without any fuss.

[@MJ-uf9tl]

How many American citizens' lives did the ABA and WHA take? False equivalency.

[@michaelgallick4617]

Mickelson has been my "wonder guy" since I started watching golf !(early 90's)I I would wait till he come out behind a tree, and "Walla.." I ròoted for him to take the lead and be my, "handicap winner!" No more...he's just another one of those that "takes the money and run"...(to the casino)! Wish you the best in life Phil, "you'll never be a fan of mine, ever!" I wish you the best.

[@johnnycashh7148]

In business, there's no loyalty. They should have RAN for the cash grab and left the PGA!! Big Dummies!

[@matthewmcleod3681]

4:51

[@AdeptusChaoticus]

Yes, yes it is all about money. What else is there?

[@JewandGreek]

How does race figure into this?

[@johnklaus9111]

You should never have talked trash about Phil in the first place. 😊

[@LegolasFan69]

They are making the game more global. The pga tour has worse thugs than the Saudi tbh

[@johnklaus9111]

Also, you are wrong about what's happening. It's a "joint venture" where the various US entities provide "assets" and maintain certain objects and the saudi's contribute funds. Joint ventures are not a merger, so you will need to learn the difference. For any of you correcting me.. hahahahaha 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@bryanh2898]

Why would anyone listen to this dude about golf?

[@enorth15]

"mad white people"......hahaha.....these guys are so funny. Love it!!!!

[@Shizi7]

Mickelson won a major at 50.

[@DISP-CEPTED]

Sooooo if golf is a game that excludes and black golfers decreased AFTER Tiger joined the tour then that means Tiger is.........?

[@Ron841000]

It means that Tiger isn't as Admired in the Black community as the White Power structure wants the public to think.

[@Al-po2oh]

There are no mergers…just acquisitions. Somebody has to come out on top. LIV golfers beware.

[@tomsanders2533]

Pearl harbor, but we are in business now with Japan and in nato with Germany people change this too will pass

[@GlennRoper]

Love the back forth sooo much

[@latenite3931]

Can't wait till Bomani leaves ESPN and goes to the Dan Lebatard Network 😂😂

[@maxmx767]

Man! He would be so great there 😂

[@TCH534]

He used to be on there

[@bryancurry5472]

I can’t get Clarence Thomas getting down to Boot Scootin Boogie out of my mind 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 😂😂😂

[@LOKISlog7]

Rory still crying about it.

[@danbarrett6113]

I'd call yall racists, but you're funny