Morality seems to be taking a beating in the world of sports. The LIV and PGA Tour are combining forces in a $10B deal after critics have long opposed a link to the Saudis because of the humanitarian issues surrounding the source of their wealth. Jay Monahan, the current commissioner of the PGA Tour, and Rory McElroy were the biggest proponents against the merger up to this point. Was the promise of so much money from the Saudis enough for them to do an about-face on the deal, regardless of the morality of how that money has been acquired, or was it inevitable that those who have the most money usually get what they want in the end?

Another ethical dilemma involves athletes and betting. Several players have been suspended in the NFL for gambling, and in baseball, Pete Rose was famously banned from ever being allowed into the Hall of Fame for wagering against his own team. This could become a problem for the NIL, with regulatory oversight still in the infancy stages and NCAA authorities working to ensure that team members not receiving large endorsement deals aren’t tempted to affect the outcome of games and gambling for big paydays. Has the advent of the wider availability of online sports betting and allowing major sporting organizations to partner with regulated sportsbooks created more potential opportunities for violations?

Because of the horrible air quality in the northeast caused by the Canadian fires, the running of the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is still in doubt. Sporting events for human athletes are canceled when unhealthy conditions exist, so shouldn’t the same consideration be extended to animal athletes, especially in the wake of the alarming number of recent horse fatalities after races at major tracks around the country? The 50th anniversary of racing legend Secretariat’s Triple Crown wins is approaching, and only two of his offspring, the last of his line, are still alive at 34 years of age. Will any of this year’s three-year-old contenders have the chance to reach a ripe old age like Secretariat’s scions under the current conditions existing in the sport?

Email Fred, Art, and Mark with questions and comments at sportsfred@aol.com