The PGA Tournament has begun at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the ten previous major tournaments played on that course, the leader after 36 holes has gone on to win the tournament. Will that streak continue with the more difficult par 70? Tiger Woods shot a 74 at four over par and was noticeably limping on the hilly course. What are his chances on the challenging terrain? The press has made much of Phil Mickelson not playing in this tournament because of his gambling issues and deals with other leagues. Is his behavior any different now than in previous years, where he’s been lauded in some instances and vilified in others? Does the media build people up just to bring them down?

Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher are at odds over the amount of money that certain schools have available for recruiting players through NIL deals, citing unfair advantages. Did the NCAA make a mistake in adopting the transfer portal and NIL policy, allowing so many athletes to have one-and-done collegiate careers and make transfers to the highest-bidding schools? Could the organization have found a way to compensate players who make big money for the multi-million dollar athletic programs but not themselves? How is this changing the face of college sports? Has the genie been let out of the bottle?

The 147th running of the Preakness Stakes will take place at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday. After the amazing upset by Rich Strike in the Kentucky Derby, critics say it’s a shame there won’t be a chance for a Triple Crown winner this year since the owner kept the horse out of the Preakness because he felt he wasn’t ready. Are too many in the horse racing world only concentrating on the purses and disregarding the health of the animals? Shouldn’t their safety be paramount?

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