8. The Worst #45 in Sports

On the season 2 finale of the Bill Bradley Collective, the hosts examine Donald Trump’s history of involvement in the sporting landscape. The starting point is his association with the USFL, where Trump was the majority owner of the New Jersey Generals franchise and due in large part to some of his signature rapacity and ineptitude was largely responsible for the league’s suspension after merely 3 seasons. Next, we size up Don’s sordid presence in the world of golf, where all of the man’s worst traits are reflected both in the manner of how he plays the game and the amoral exploitation of his golf properties for personal and political gain. The panel concludes with a consideration of Trump’s stance against anthem protests, and how his failure with the USFL and later rejected ownership bid for the Buffalo Bills underscore the profound insecurities in our wishful alpha-male of a president. First come the rants, where Ed reflects on an electricity-less week with some smoke for the privatization of public utilities, Zak applauds (yes, really) the NHL’s return to play and the success of their dual Canadian bubble, and Andrew assesses the quirks of a Chinese golf enigma, perhaps on the doorstep of a major championship victory.