Charles Barkley watches his tee shot at the American Century Celebrity Championship. AP Photo/Tom R. Smedes Charles Barkley met with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman on Wednesday.
An avid golfer, Barkley is now set to play at the pro-am tournament ahead of LIV Golf’s event next week in Bedminster. Before his meeting with Norman, Barkley said that it would take ‘something crazy numbers-wise’ to convince him to give up his job with TNT to broadcast for LIV. LIV Golf is courting NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst Charles Barkley as a potential broadcaster.
Barkley met with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman in Atlanta on Wednesday, and is now set to play in the pro-am ahead of LIV’s event in Bedminster next week, according to the New York Post. Before his meeting with LIV, Barkley said he was keeping an open mind heading into his talk with Norman while speaking with PGA Tour pro turned commentator Greg McCord on his SiriusXM show. “I don’t need the money, but I need the money they’re throwing around, though,” Barkley joked.
“When you look at some of the numbers these guys are getting, the numbers they’re throwing around, I would be foolish not to take the meeting. “Indeed, LIV Golf has used ridiculously large sums of money to entice players to make the jump from the PGA Tour, including reportedly nine-figure guarantees for some of the top stars in the new league. Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf has a potential war chest far greater than any money the PGA Tour could offer.
In addition to players, LIV Golf is also clearly making big investments in their broadcasts as well. Despite not having a television deal in the United States, LIV Golf’s streams featured an impressive quality of production right out of the gate, including former NBC Premier League commentator Arlo White leading the play-by-play coverage. Earlier this week, news broke that former pro-turned-golf media personality David Faherty would be leaving NBC as an analyst to join LIV Golf, the highest-profile get from the golf media world.
As one of the faces of TNT’s beloved “Inside the NBA,” Barkley would be an attractive addition to the LIV roster. The Naismith Hall of Famer currently has three years left on his deal with TNT, and said he was unsure that he would be able to keep his NBA job should he start working with LIV. Barkley also expressed concerns over losing sponsors and commercial deals, making clear that if LIV were going to make him an offer, it would have to be a good one.
“If I’m gonna have to lose TNT and lose my sponsors, it would have to be something crazy numbers-wise,” Barkley told McCord. “I’m taking this meeting, I got no idea what Greg’s gonna say to me, but if I’m going to lose TNT and my commercials, it would have to be a ridiculous number for me to move on. “But clearly for Barkley, there is a number.
Speaking with the Pat McAfee show back in June, Barkley said he didn’t fault players for taking the money to play for LIV. “I don’t judge other people,” Barkley said. “Listen, if somebody gave me $200 million, I’d kill a relative.
“”I’m serious!” Barkley joked. “They’re saying Phil Mickelson got $200 million and Dustin Johnson got $150 million. Hey, for $150 million, I’ll kill a relative.
Even one I like!”—Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 17, 2022During his 16-year NBA career, Barkley was known as an avid recreational golfer. His connection to the sport deepened as videos of his once-unorthodox and yips-filled swing went viral and famed swing coach Hank Haney set out to fix it in a TV series. He has participated in many celebrity golf events, including one iteration of The Match, playing alongside LIV mainstay Phil Mickelson.
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From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/charles-barkley-tnt-liv-golf-greg-norman-2022-7
