What do Gordie Howe, Doug Williams, Larry Csonka, George Blanda and Rick Barry each have in common? Go ahead… I’ll wait….
Long enough. Each of these men jumped leagues to start-up rival leagues and returned to their original leagues without being punished by their league of origin.
Howe: NHL Detroit Red Wings to WHA Houston Aeros back to NHL Harford Whalers. In the NHL Hall of Fame as one of the sport’s greatest players.
Williams: NFL Tampa Bay Bucs to the World Football League Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws and back to the NFL Washington Redskins (Commanders). Led team to 42-10 victory over Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII and was named the game’s MVP.
Doug Wiliams (Getty Images)
Csonka: NFL Miami Dolphins to WFL Memphis Southmen and back to NFL New York Giants. In 1978 Csonka committed the most famous fumble in Giants’ history. Retired as a Dolphin in 1979.
Blanda: The NFL’s ageless wonder jumped from the Chicago Bears to the AFL’s Houston Oilers. Made his way back into the League with the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders as a placekicker and quarterback. NFL Man of the Year in 1974. Played his final game in 1976 at the age of 48. Inducted into Pro Football of Fame in 1981.
Barry: Jumped from NBA San Francisco (Golden State) Warriors to ABA Oakland Oaks. Went to ABA Washington Caps (Wizards) and New Jersey Nets before returning to Warriors in 1972. Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA Finals MVP in 1975.
Beginning to see the picture? Where is the precedent for the PGA Tour to punish independent contractors who jumped to LIV Golf and now – at least some of them – want to return to the not-so loving arms in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL?
To that end, I was reminded by my longtime friend Dave Shedloski (one of the best golf writers in the biz) that the Tour doesn’t need any precedent; and that Brooks Koepka basically paying a $5 million re-entry fee serves as precedent. Each are valid points.
But my point still stands: The PGA Tour wants to swim in the deep end of the professional sports pool with the likes of the NFL, but it also wants to walk on that water and stay above the fray in the sometimes dirty world of pro sports. It can’t have it each way.
Let the LIV Golf players return if that’s their desire. Yes, I know the Tour has a limited number of spots, so figure it out from there. Making LIV Golf players beg, plead and pay their ways back onto the Tour is just petty. Brian Rolapp and the new regime needs to show they are better than their predecessors.
Feature Photo: Gordie Howe with the Houston Aeros (Getty Images)