GOLF

LIV Golf on verge of landing NBA legend Charles Barkley

The former NBA superstar met with the CEO of the new circuit, Greg Norman, but he is still weighing up the offer, as it could have a negative impact.

Isaiah Vazquez/Clarkson CreativeAFP

LIV Golf, the controversial, money-laden new Saudi circuit, continues to try to incorporate more stars for its new project, one seen by many as just another sportwashing initiative. After signing golfers of the stature of Dustin Johnson and Sergio García, to name just two of many, LIV Golf now wants to make a splash in sports broadcasting and to do so is considering the possibility of one of the most famous sports commentators: former NBA player Charles Barkley.

LIV throw big money at Barkley

According to The New York Post, the NBA Hall of Famer met with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman before the start of the tournament at Trump Bedminster, where the he participated in the pro-am. Among the topics discussed by Barkley and Norman, it highlighted the possibility of the basketball legend commenting on these golf tournaments.

However, Barkley said that nothing had been decided yet, since this proposal could cause him to lose his position on the TNT program ‘Inside The NBA’, with him reportedly under contract with Turner Sports for three years for $30 million.

“In a perfect scenario, I would love to do both,” he said.

“We have all taken ‘blood money’ and we all have ‘sportswashed’ something so I don’t like those words, to be honest with you. If you are in pro sports, you are taking some type of money from not a great cause.”

“Between [my Turner contract] and all my commercials, for me to risk all of that, it would have to be some serious money thrown my way.

We will have to wait to see the offer from LIV Golf and if it manages to attract another great figure of sport. Certainly from those final comments, it’s not about principals or morality for Barkley.

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