Stephen A.’s RULES TO BUSINESS after PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger 💰 | First Take

[@foleynation353]

only stephen a can turn a golf segment into his BEST TAKE EVER!!!

[@JPDigital24]

Lmao yeah 😂

[@j.daydream]

isn't he a... journalist? wonder if he knows what they do to journalists over there lol.

[@MarquisVegan]

@@j.daydream What do they do?

[@Wiseguy24640]

Stephen A. Smith in prime form for that take, reminded me why I tune in everyday. 🔥

[@Bpongs22]

Best Stephen A. Take I have ever seen.

[@willieadams3376]

You ain’t wrong when you’re right.

[@Victordamus98]

Agreed

[@kylerscott2876]

Ya I’ve watched a lot of his rants. This was probably the first one that was straight truth.

[@BootyWarrior555]

Yea this is his best take I seen too

[@philtookgrenadesforme7785]

He has been surprisingly right about this the entire time. He must have a different contract than all the woke idiots on ESPN, that have to toe the line on political propaganda.

[@kutiomowale]

Stephen A: 1. Business is business, Trust no one 2. Follow the money

[@j.daydream]

Stephen A is in the business of being a journalist right? Do you know what the Saudis do to journalists?

[@dgray8979]

Did Spirit Airlines really need to catch that stray shot from Mad Dog lol😂

[@Arnold3135]

SAS and Mad Dog are correct to remind us again that "business is business and schnapps is schnapps". It's fundamentally unfair to hold golfers accountable for upholding American values when our government and American business interest fail to do likewise.

[@unsolicitedditkapics9722]

Yes politicians break the law this laws shouldn't apply to us as well right? The justification of the hypocrisy is hilarious.

[@____________________00F]

@@unsolicitedditkapics9722 There is no law banning Saudi investment into U.S. companies. The PGA conveniently brought up this big stink about Saudi interference when they were feeling threatened. Of course, no one really cares when Saudis invest in US companies but GOLF?? Can’t have that! You’re right, there’s no reason why politicians and the businesses shouldn’t be held at the same standards as everyone else. So either all oil money is a problem, or there is no issue at all.

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

Like Nino Brown once said “This is big business. It’s the American Way.”

[@mr8966]

If it was American money

[@marcoortiz8046]

There you go, the old two wrongs make a right.

[@Pop_Culture_Podcast]

Stephen A, this was an ALL TIME rant. I loved it

[@angel-ij4xv]

get rid of golf period the sport is trash

[@bobzelley5100]

The bill burr of sport reporters

[@bobzelley5100]

Not a merger, it is a takeover.

[@cmattil]

Tiger lost 500 million for lack of loyalty. Now he is loyal at least to business and loses 800 million. Most ironic thing to ever happen in sports.

[@PeePeeMilk]

That’s pretty insane…

[@DeeBrownLTD]

Lol funny

[@Nighthawk-8050]

I would be pissed

[@rodrahama2344]

800 mil

[@IknowMoreThanYou]

Nah tiger turned it down because of Nike They'll make it up to him

[@DCash-lx4jr]

That's why you have to do what's best for you. Tiger declined $700mil from Liv to stay loyal to the PGA just for the PGA to merge with Liv within a year.

[@mitchrapp5214]

$800m

[@musiccreation1198]

I don't think Tiger would be happy with the conclusions you're drawing...and he'd do the same thing today. It's called INTEGRITY. It's called doing the right thing when it's NOT in your best interest.

[@travishimself1973]

@@musiccreation1198 I wouldn't mind the interest on $800m

[@SuSmallville]

Good. I don't think Tiger deserves any more money. Share it around. LOL

[@jarrydgordon5770]

@@SuSmallville why because he cheated on his wife and lost half his fortune

[@theneighborsupstairs]

That rant was... incredible. What a beautiful breakdown of reality. More of this kind of content please.

[@bunningssnag6303]

Rory Mcilroy is absolutely livid even if hes not showing it

[@sol74098]

He said it was a good thing

[@musiccreation1198]

Rory should be livid. It's unforgivable.

[@abdirahmanhassan1848]

@@musiccreation1198 lmao why?

[@musiccreation1198]

@@abdirahmanhassan1848 Seriously?

[@chuckthatout7230]

Seems overwhelmingly folks leaving comments here subscribed to one-liners in "business is business", "money talks" as "the America way". I too believe that these world views are better than many of that of the other ideologies and religions out there. But all principles could become harmful under certain situations. In those situations, fixating to those ideas or using those "principles" as rationalisation would hurt the things you care about eventually. This case looks like one of those situations.

[@JayRo-xp1nt]

Exactly

[@Nujerzey732]

SAS snapped wit that take 😂 let the church say Amen

[@imammo867]

Preach Stephen A ....These people who talk about "blood money" are damned fat hypocrites!!!. Athletes are not supposed to be more morally superior than corporations.

[@BaithNa]

Yes they are. Children look up to athletes, they don't look up to corporations Stay in school, kid

[@codymichels5360]

@@BaithNa schools just gonna land you a corporate job. Go play sports, so you can be a role model instead, right?

[@Mjc100]

@@BaithNa but corporations can have influence over the masses

[@vjmappy]

It's business as usual boys. Money always wins when money is the whole point.

[@RetroJ77]

The old Stephen A Smith from years ago came out today. Even Molly looked shocked.

[@ygmistique8155]

😂😂😂

[@tylerkaiser637]

greatest take I have ever heard from Stephen A 🤣🤣

[@zerti86]

SAS was on FIRE this segment. very good job by both him and russo

[@diegoperez7421]

wow in 10 years this will be one of those classic Stephen A monologues.

[@BrettDavidStelter]

Stephen A just named every soulless and empty and corrupt organization in the world 😂

[@blakeeckel5056]

Usually cannot stand his rants, but he's spot on with this subject

[@mikeyo3377]

Soulless is right, and apparently just about everyone in this country has a price for theirs.

[@patrick553]

​@@mikeyo3377So do you

[@BrettDavidStelter]

@@mikeyo3377 not everyone.

[@mikeyo3377]

@@BrettDavidStelter I did say "just about" if you're not one of them, then God bless my friend.

[@araydog]

Great takes and truth. Finally some great content by ESPN

[@Shiny101]

Something about Mad Dog calling him "Stevie" that makes me laugh.

[@KentBlazemore]

this is one of the most astute takes I’ve seen Mad Dog and Stephen A on First Take

[@chuckthatout7230]

What the LIV backers is pursuing is likely not the development of golf, also certainly not the wellbeing of any players out there. It is more likely another project of glamour, like "the Line", to show that they can do anything for their pleasure just because they can. Will the players and the game of golf and PGA benefit as a result? We may be able learn soon. What we know for sure now is that PGA, who put so much effort in maintaining the image of a quintessential America institution, is willing to look so pathetic so quickly. At the same time, most pundits seem to applaud them as rational businessmen while PGA is being tossed around like a rag doll to others.

[@sangamdhakal3727]

Let’s appreciate Greatness of mad dog and Stephen A! They are best in sports media. Best take ever made on first take!

[@xelaander8429]

No they're not. This was such a slam dunk take even a squirrel could have come to this conclusion

[@patrichildebrand2074]

​@@xelaander8429 he meant in terms of spirit brought to the take. The info in the take was obvious but the energy was on another level

[@Macattack11639]

If you like two morons yelling at each other yeah. Good stuff

[@coreysimpkin8627]

We’ll done 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 perfectly said finally someone has said facts about this .

[@derekwhyle1884]

We don’t get to see this show in the UK but these guys are absolutely spot on in their analysis. I would like the existing pga and DP tour commissioners fired and some better thinkers installed to configure the future. Oh , and fellas take it down a notch else you’re not going to make my age.

[@CSmoothh]

This was Stephen As greatest take of all time

[@HarrisRiaz1]

At the end of the day PGA was upset because they didn't have deep pockets. They used the term "Blood Money" which was stupid. All jobs have Blood Money.

[@Mightymc2020]

Ratings being down is largely because Tiger is out.

[@TaataGeo]

Talk that talk

[@sanbell]

News Flash: America doesn’t have a perfect human rights report card either.

[@PrinceLemuELYisraEL]

Nope show don't.

[@LiamtheGreat1000]

They allow dictators to flourish in Southeast Asia during the cold war like Marcos

[@John_Lee_]

So you'd be fine relocating to Saudi Arabia since it's all the same?

[@jiggayoshi]

@@John_Lee_ FACTS! Folks like it’s all the same or something. Women JUST got the right to drive.

[@ikegh6334]

@@John_Lee_that’s not his point.He is saying the US is not perfect so we should stop pointing fingers at SA

[@richardcoreno]

Could see whatever the new PGA Tour is named to pull a page outta NASCAR and have guaranteed spots for four days at all tour stops for top-tier players, while the rest play a tourney within a tourney -- needing to make the cut after two rounds to play on the weekend & competing for a set (small) number of slots.

[@broncosstampede494]

Miami Steve A Smith Is An Icon

[@markio2010]

That's right, America is a business. Patriotism is just a word for 4th of July.

[@A_Brion]

Yo Stephen A. went IN 🙌🏽🙌🏽🔥🔥💯💯

[@jamesharrisjr4145]

Ted DiBiase everyone has a price

[@jonathandutra4831]

NEVER STAY LOYAL TO A COMPANY who pays you less ! Its all business & they dont give AF about you.

[@ygmistique8155]

Yes sir.

[@zacwoods]

They can buy the entire NFL, NBA and MLB combined and have change left. People really dont seem to understand just how DEEP their pockets are. NFL Total Value - $212 Billion NBA Total Value - $167 Billion MLB Total Value - $164 Billion Saudi Family Estimated Net Worth - $847 Billion

[@jamsjr44]

Definitely his best take!

[@milesgrant3507]

SAS need to focus on footbalk and basketball. Anything else he sounds crazy

[@paulvivian9442]

Money vs Morally right, I'll take the money anyday, especially if the moral side is coming from money to begin with.

[@DustinMikkelsen]

I'll never watch golf again.

[@chobblegobbler2536]

How did they get to keep the 501(c)(6) tax exemption status? How do I get that? I also need some lawsuits to go away.

[@JamesSmith-xo3vj]

Exactly

[@richandgem]

Spot on

[@CoreyAMoore]

It was all a money thing from the jump ... LIV has incredible financial backing and was/is offering the PGA to expand the golf world even further than it already is ... I think the thing of it was that LIV wanted a few others in their deal with the PGA that the PGA was unwilling to move on until they heard the right price ... so LIV finally "caved" and both sides came to an agreement and now we have this merger

[@TheGolfCommunity1]

Humanity only matters if it makes dollars, goes to show u how backward America is

[@smittyssnippets1358]

They killed an American journalist. All I hear is it’s a good business decision. As an American soldier I’m embarrassed and ashamed

[@dickhardpicard]

Were you ashamed when the usa was using saudi arabia airbases during the Iraq war? How about all that oil you using for your vehicles? 😂

[@lilcourtny08]

Who cares

[@michael.schuler]

Why do all these guys constantly scream? Don't they give them mics?

[@themoneyman1752]

Ist of all im not turning down 100ms, 2nd of all Monahan has to go unless they put pro golfer under contract NFL/NBA type contracts

[@tommyfraz.]

Rory is definitely the company man. Still loyal and saying the right stuff. I know he’s been “whiny” through a lot of this, but he has every right to be pissed, now. Tiger and Rory should start their own league.

[@ygmistique8155]

Molly looks like a frightened kitten 😅😅😅

[@jesusmedrano32]

The hypocrisy in this country is so annoying & infuriating.

[@ikegh6334]

All time high !.They don’t hide it anymore

[@FuriousTheGeorge]

I see Stephen A watched Chris Broussard and Rob Parker yesterday.

[@dylanpatterson3975]

Bro Steven A Smith is CRUSHING it tho…and he said “Doggy” for us “It Is What It Is” fans 😂

[@toddmansthompson]

Stephen A... Preach on brother.

[@anthonyboulding2561]

Funny how mortality can go out the window when money is involved.

[@FreshlySnipes]

The PGA with all their rules and snooty mentality just showed their true colors. ALWAYS TAKE THE MONEY. Loyalty to Corporate America will make you BROKE

[@jordanslingluff287]

Almost no Saudi oil comes to America. Hate to break it to Mad Dog.

[@jiggayoshi]

We get less than 7-8% of our petroleum from Saudi Arabia but keep going with the ignorance doggy. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your arguments.

[@kgowins97]

Thank you !! People really don’t realize that we have tons of domestic oil and with Fraking we moving away from Middle Eastern oil especially with what’s brewing over there, in RU and the CCP

[@ikegh6334]

Whether you get 7%,8% or 2%, you are getting oil from SA and that’s his point and that oil is running your car

[@ralphthompson355]

And your rebuttal to SAS is....?

[@dabbydabby6484]

*Bottom line.... money talks 🐂 💩 walks ☮️*

[@mohammadmustapha6060]

money over ethics, this is what defines america. Follow the money babyy

[@kurtmanning2667]

Best take I’ve ever seen

[@dsmith8358]

Preach!!

[@xman9190]

Stephen A trying to justify why he'll do anything for money.

[@angelmatos9143]

Players should have a 'Fire Jay or we Strike' stance. 😂

[@michaelcox9428]

They’re right, PGA is a business, and they were being held to a higher standard than other businesses…….. but where do you draw the line? Should all these companies do business with North Korea? How about Russian oligarchs? How about terrorist organizations?

[@janga75]

These commenters who claim that morality and ethics are a myth, keep that same energy when your government screws you over for corporate interest. I might be naive but if we as humans don't start holding these entities and each other accountable we will end up in a dystopian abyss of no return.

[@96per58]

9:25 MIC DROP 💥

[@davidtothemax1]

SPIRIT AIRLINES!!!!!!! LOOOOOOOOOOOL 3:30

[@ygmistique8155]

😂😂😂

[@chuckrambo4401]

All the PGA guys saying it’s all about money will not leave the PGA because it’s all about money. How ironic.

[@johnklaus9111]

Also. Hey Phil! ❤ golf claps! Well played!

[@gh4121-b5n]

Merger 😂😂😂 Good one. The PIF “OWNS” the PGA TOUR plain and simple. Maddog nailed it.

[@jacobeast4769]

Doing business is one thing. Having Saudi investments in companies along with many other investors is another thing. The Saudi's now OWN the PGA. That is the difference. All of those companies he mentioned the Saudis do not OWN any of them. The PGA SOLD the sport and gave the Saudis the monopoly on world golf. Stephen A doesn't seem to get that. Funny how he mentioned Disney as oone of their investors. Clearly not a conflict of interest in how supportive all of ESPN is of this deal considering ESPN is owned by Disney

[@juanromero8998]

I got to give it a great 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 to Stephen A Smith! Politicians are Hippocrates.

[@Field_Marshall]

“Everybody’s got a price for the Million Dollar Man” 👨 old famous line from the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase lol

[@jimbob9892]

How far out of her league is Molly on this

[@Leo-DaGreek]

That the Fact Jack!!,but you don’t have too like it!🇺🇸⛳️

[@ijayrizzy3116]

Yeaaaa, read from that paper bc you watch Golf 😂. SAS is right though.

[@845835]

When the players took the money they were sellouts and traitors, but for the PGA it wasn't just business until they were the ones getting paid, and then it became just business.

[@ochillzone7861]

Stephen A and Doggie is 1000% right..Business is business

[@ethanclouser9554]

I know it’s hard to have to think but doing business with a county and businesses in that country is completely different than working for and being owned by an arm of a country’s government. You can’t stop them from investing in companies. And certainly the US government is required to involve themselves with Saudi Arabia. That is completely different than the golfers who took money directly from the Saudi government and went to work for them. How many American businesses or sports teams are majority owned by PIF?

[@ajanithomas616]

Stephen a for president !!

[@TeezyHadaBaby]

I agree you Always get the bag and follow the money in sports, your body will eventually fail you get THE MONEY WHEN ITS OFFERED

[@stevanpotts5459]

Any network any sponsor that covers them will know what Budweiser feels like. I better never see a hole in one on the top ten list.

[@Ruatsanga13]

Christopher "Yes sir yes sir" Russo

[@DavidTurner11]

Saudi Arabia having a minority stake in a fortune 500 company is much different than having a majority stake in PGA. Also, whataboutism isn't a valid argument. Pepsi lets not nice people invest in their company, therefore it's OK if PGA does it too?

[@imammo867]

Saudi Arabia owns the biggest oil refinery in Texas and own a whole town there. The stakes in US corporations are not MINOR if the Saudis divested from the US, thousands if not hundreds of thousands of Americans would lose their jobs.

[@charlesthomas4803]

SA is 100% correct. Best take ever.

[@brothercode2488]

I better not hear one word about a player playing with a gun

[@andybales7318]

LIV averaged 300,000 viewers 😂😅😂😅😂😅

[@j.daydream]

it's actually hilarious hearing this from Stephen A. Wonder if he knows what they do to journalists in Saudi Arabia

[@MrThobias711]

This is about the lawsuits. The Saudis did not want to be disposed

[@TheReelRevolution]

They didn't take the money to be loyal!? 🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂

[@MECHEFKEE]

I'm not surprised

[@LiamtheGreat1000]

I hope that this merger will continue to use the shotgun format

[@romeojrignacio1281]

Enough of the Hipocrisy! The PGA-LIV Merger will always be good for the sport of Golf! 🙏

[@BMETransport]

Ive never been more interested in golf than I am now after this take

[@anthonyholman6155]

This is a bad day for golf period

[@kaboo2009]

Selling Slaves was a business, Blood diamonds is a business

[@DustinMikkelsen]

Stephen A's logic: everyone else is morally corrupt, so why can't I be as well?

[@TorSavvy]

To be fair, all of this was built on moral corruption. No point in crying about it

[@DarkTempler1]

stopped watching golf years ago and dont regret it. Super boring to watch even if you understand every aspect of it. Yeah its hard I give them that but its not a fun spectator sport to watch live.

[@johnnybgood7442]

Ah yes Matzuzaka, my favorite golfer

[@tonyk501]

Matsuyama.

[@johnnybgood7442]

@@tonyk501 I know