12 Comments
User's avatar
Richard Milhous III's avatar

As a former San Diegan, Thank you Ethan for validating something I’ve been saying for years! Why do rich people move to the dry, mountains outside San Diego when they could be on the beach!

Whatever you think of the man’s politics, Mitt Romney was smart enough to have his mansion on the fucking beach in La Jolla.

You see similar dynamics in LA. So many of the Dodgers, Rams, Lakers live in the hills of Bel Aire, etc yet the Kings players live in baller condos on the beach. The hockey players get it.

Expand full comment
TJNash1's avatar

Minimum of 5 acre lots and a surprising cool coastal breeze are the reasons why.

Expand full comment
Richard Milhous III's avatar

To each their own, but give me a 1/4 acre and watching dolphins with my morning coffee and catching the green flash as the sun sets into the water any day

Expand full comment
Kevin's avatar

I don’t think it’s strange that there’s a difference between American government geopolitical standing and what American sports consumers want to consume. No matter how you slice it with this merger (if it goes through), the PGA Tour is partnering with an illiberal theocracy. Letting them have purchase in geopolitical political situation is important because of

OPEC, and our apparent desire to hamstring our own energy production/independence comparitavely.

Allowing them to use their profits to invest in and have influence in American institutions born of classical liberalism and democratic independence let’s them cut the line of modernity, pluralism, and freedom.

I believe there will be an interest drop once (if) the Saudis take control. The PGA Tour does not control the majors in golf, and I suspect the PIF may be purchasing a depreciating asset.

Expand full comment
Jason's avatar

Great conversation. Great guest.

Expand full comment
Shawn's avatar

Feel bad not knowing about John earlier. Good listen.

Expand full comment
Joe's avatar

The LIV/PGA discussion in this episode and also in the later pod with Joe House made me think of a great line. People are asking about PGA autonomy within the merged entity. It reminds me of a question one of my business school professors asked at the start of class one day “What is the difference between a merger and an acquisition?” After a few minutes of students trying to answer, he gave us this fantastic response: “The difference is that there are no mergers. There are only acquisitions.” 20 years later I think it is still extremely accurate.

Expand full comment
Ethan Strauss's avatar

This quote is an all timer

Expand full comment
Joe's avatar

Credit to Richard Kopelman, Professor of Management. Not sure if it’s his original quote but was the first time I heard it.

Expand full comment
Nikki Swango's avatar

Middlekauff thriving

Expand full comment
Teutonia World's avatar

Something was said in this pod that I've never been able to put my finger on:

9/11 and the aftermath was such a culture shift yadayadayada that all of us sorta know in the back of our heads to blame the Saudis collectively? Generally? Sorta?

But since WMDs weren't a thing and there was already one "bad war for good reasons" everyone agrees to sorta give the Saudis a mulligan for possible involvement but also frowns at them cause oil=bad. I'll refrain from using a Malice in the Palace analogy here. Good guest.

Expand full comment
magentapen07mm's avatar

T

"That was fantastic, we'll have to have you back sometime": agree! One of the best episodes and enjoyed the golf talk even though I don't follow golf. Biggest mystery of the episode, why does Middlekauff sound like he's from the south? Is this how people from Davis sound?

Expand full comment