Golf is not a sport I associate with violence, much less murder. Yes, people have beaten people to death with a golf club but that was just a handy blunt instrument for someone deranged.
Contrast that with a Saudi Crown Prince that orders the death of a U.S. journalist by enticing the victim to visit a Turkish Saudi consulate, then carving him up. That same Crown Prince heads up the country's Public Investment Fund which started LIV, a rival professional golf tour to the PGA.
The Shark aka Greg Norman manages LIV. Major professional golfers agreed to play in the new tour, able to set aside ethical concerns for money. I would add prestige but fail to see how associating with a venture headed by a murderer offers anything but shame and embarrassment.
The latest spokesperson for LIV is former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.
As president of his own firm, Ari Fleischer Communications, he works extensively in the corporate and sports worlds to advise on communications, image, and crisis management strategies and issues. Fleischer has provided counsel to clients such as Major League Baseball, the College Football Playoff, the Women’s Tennis Association, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and has conducted media training for teams in the NFL, MLB and NBA, as well as numerous race car drivers.
I'm not sure how many of Ari's clients want to be associated with an apologist for a murderous Saudi Prince.
Ari is a water carrier for the greed and leverage boys.
a panel on the outlook on healthcare private equity in 2019, moderated by Ari Fleischer, former White House Press Secretary, and Ezra Klein, CEO of Vox Media
Private equity underwriters (PEU) brought surprise medical billing to healthcare and add billions in costs to America's grossly overpriced healthcare non-system. Red Team members of Congress are blocking SEC efforts to require PEUs share annual audits and quarterly financial reports with public pension funds. Golf is the latest arena for PEU level disruption.
LIV Manager Greg Norman has been called "the despicable epitome of unabashed greed." That puts him in league with the PEU boys. Jared Kushner got $2 billion in Saudi money for his new PEU Affinity Partners. They've no problem setting aside ethical concerns for money.
Who advocates for the people hurt or killed by leaders who can't get enough power, money or personal adulation? I can't see them for the darkness.
Update: Trump golf courses will host two LIV events. The last LIV stop will be Team Championship, a team-match play format at the legendary Blue Monster of Trump National Doral in Miami. Prize money is $50 million with the winning team splitting $16 million, and the last-place team receiving $1 million. Did Jared help negotiate the use of Trump Bedminster and Trump Doral?
With a murderer and insurrectionist things could get very loud. Unfortunately the globe has seen national leaders of their ilk before.
Update 6-8-22: LIV Golf will not be televised in the U.S. It may take a Trump television network for that to happen. As guns are not allowed at Trump rallies or on Trump properties, free speech will be restricted at LIV Golf events. The Saudis take no lip. More PGA pros are joining the Despot League.
No word if Kushner's Affinity Partners is an investor in LIV Golf Investments. LGI has a laughable mission.
Update 6-9-22: The holistic golfing boys got banned by the PGA for playing on the LIV tour, now and in the future. LIV called the PGA vindictive. I think that title is reserved for the Crown Prince.
Update 6-19-22: Golf continues to be a force for greed.
Update 6-29-22: LIV Golf will be in Portland, Oregon this week. Portland is the site of the death of a teenager at the hands of a Saudi national who fled the country after his arrest. Federal investigators believe the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia got the killer out on a private plane using a new passport, likely under a different name. No justice even when the killings occur inside the U.S. As Phil Michelson said, "Scary motherfuc_ers."
Update 7-4-22: LIV Golf heads to Trump Bedminster where the ex-President is in summer residence. Should be a jolly reunion of truly scary motherfu_kers." Ari Fleischer will keep the big dogs verbally on track for public appearances. Golf but greedier.
Update 7-7-22: Golf legend Fred Couples said of the LIV Tour:
“I don’t like anything about it to be honest with you, I’ve heard some people say: ‘Well you know golf is an open sport and if they can get more…’ Well this is different. They’re kind of pummeling the Tour to give the best to the Saudi Arabians. We don’t know how long this tour is going to last. My easy answer is, as a golf professional who has played the tour for 42 years, I’m kind of embarrassed.”
The arrogant Saudi Crown Prince incarcerated family members for months to wring cash from them. These golfers have a deal with a devil who can turn on them at any moment.
Update 7-13-22: LIV golf is entirely driven by money.
Update 8-3-22: One story got the mean greed vibe but did not explore the possible role of Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners in LIV Golf. Is Jared coaching Affinity Partners' affiliate LIV Golf alongside former Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer? The Trump team's disregard for the law can be seen in its Mafia-like behavior according to a former FBI official.
Update 8-16-22: A Saudi woman studying at Leeds University was sentenced to 34 years in prison for using Twitter to follow and retweet activists and dissidents. The World Economic Forum ran a piece on using AI to reign in abuse on the internet:
By bringing human-curated, multi-language, off-platform intelligence into learning sets, AI will then be able to detect nuanced, novel online abuses at scale, before they reach mainstream platforms.
I imagine the Crown Prince would be most interested in such technology.
Update 9-14-22: Trump's Sterling, Virginia golf course will host LIV Golf in May 2023. It will be the third LIV event at a Trump owned course.
Update 9-22-22: LIV spokesperson Jonathan Grella said: “Greg Norman had a very productive day on Capitol Hill today in front of some 60 members of Congress. His message about the benefits of competition was very well received, even if a couple members of Congress say otherwise.” A Texas Congressman (Red Team) wrote:
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is funneling money through its Public Investment Fund (PIF) to stand up LIV Golf as an exercise in public relations. In other words, a foreign government’s dollars are being used to enhance that government’s brand and positioning here in the United States."
Update 10-28-22: LIV Greed lands at Trump Doral for a final tournament. The money behind LIV is headed by a 37 year old Saudi Crown Prince who wants to humiliate President Biden, like he did while extorting family members in the Riyadh Ritz Carlton.
Update 11-12-22: Former Blue Teamer Peter Orszag and Lazard are behind the Crown Prince's resurgence on the world stage as his financial advisor.
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is working with Lazard on funding options and a potential initial public offering of Masar, a $27 billion mega project in the holy city of Mecca.
Greed is as greed does.
Lazard Geopolitical Advisory will combine some of the world’s most experienced geopolitical minds with Lazard’s unmatched business expertise.
It's an unholy alliance.
Update 12-6-22: The U.S. court case against the Crown Prince was dismissed under the guise of sovereign immunity, something the Prince did not have at the time of the execution. The judge said his hands were tied by the Biden administration's recommendation to the court. Thugs win.
Update 2-9-23: Saudi sportswashing continues with a possible sponsorship at the Women's World Cup. U.S. forward Alex Morgan said:
“I think it’s bizarre that Fifa has looked to have a ‘Visit Saudi’ sponsorship for the Women’s World Cup when I would not even be supported and accepted in that country, so I just don’t understand it,” Morgan said. “Pretty much everyone has spoken out against that because morally, it just doesn’t make sense.
Update 3-20-23: LIV Golf switched television production companies such that workers have no healthcare coverage or other benefits. TV ratings for its most recent tournament were in the toilet.
