"Industry sources estimated the category could be worth up to $50 million a year in new sponsorship dollars."

Jon Show reports that the PGA Tour is considering--brace yourselves at the horror of it all--taking sponsorship money from purveyors of the last legal drug.

Industry sources estimated the category could be worth up to $50 million a year in new sponsorship dollars.

The PGA Tour has considered such a move before but didn’t take action because of the stigma attached to the category, said a tour source. The PGA Tour’s board of directors would have to approve any change in the rules, and there is no firm timetable for a decision.

Only in America could alcohol--consumed by millions on a daily basis and freely available on nearly every street corner--somehow have a stigma attached while companies can freely advertise expensive, prescription-required boner pills.

Comments

[RM]

Boner pills...that is one of your all time greatest remarks.

[The Devil's Arsehole]

Boner pills is funny Geoff, but absolutely accurate at the same time. The amount of advertising for Viagra and Cialis during golf telecasts is beyond belief. What is most disturbing about it is that there is NO way all the advertising is for men who really suffer from erectile disfunction, the majority is trying to sell these drugs to men as a "lifestyle" drug. IE: the "viva Viagra" line of commercials. Some may say "so what?"...well, considering that these drugs have adverse side-effects that effect the vision of every man that uses them, and in some cases leads to blindness in some individuals, that is a pretty questionable endorsement. The idea that these are harmless drugs that give erections with no side-effects is a complete falacy.

If you are a man who can not get an erection, there is probably a reason, be it physical or psychological, but you should probably look at the cause of the problem and not just pop a pill and pretend the problem doesn't exist.

In light of all this, IMO allowing advertising by alchohol companies is mild in comparison.

[David Stamm]

Once again, I had an Asner all over the computer screen followed by falling on the floor from another one of your classic observations! One of your best!

[Geoff]

RM,
Thanks, but the Daily Show has been using that characterization for quite a while!

Devil,
I'm with you, the ads are not about helping people with a serious medical disorder, and the side effects are serious. Not to be a total prude, but the ads are just embarrassing and I can't imagine what a father watching with a young child does when they come on the air.

It seems to me a Grey Goose ad would be a huge step up. Shoot, most beer commercials are classier than Cialis ads!

[Smolmania]

Didn't Michelob Ultra have a series of commercials with Sergio Garcia and hot bikini babes? As I recall there was one where he balled up the label and bounced it into her belly button, and another where he fired a shot over a house into a pool. . . I liked those, tho frankly I don't really watch commercials during golf telecasts anymore. I find it impossible to watch golf on tv without my dvr, and frankly cannot remember the last time I did so when not in a bar watching without sound after a round of golf (somehow the alcohol and no sound makes golf commercials at least palatable).

I too find the boner pill adds discomforting. What do you do if you're visiting Mom in AZ, watching golf, when one of those ads comes on? Almost as bad as the Summer's Eve ads. . .

[Tighthead]

The disturbing part of the boner pill ads is that the guys in those ads are getting so much action with there oddly-enchanting silverback cougar wives. Every household chore or drive in the convertible leads to sexy time.

[vwgolfer]

I hate the boner pill ads, the fact that 10 years olds can watch TV and hear about Erectile Dysfunction is one of the odd things about the USA. That being said, I know I am getting old when I find some of the women in the ads are kinda hot. Bring on the Beer Ads PGA little Timmy.!!!

[Erik J. Barzeski]

Heck, when I read what Geoff wrote above I thought he was talking about cigarettes. I swear I've seen the Michelob ads during golf or something... but I don't remember the last cigarette ad I've seen during golf.

[Pickworth]

alcohol, sex, cigarette...alcohol, sex, cigarette...I remember that, fondly...now,(if the advertising strategists have got it right) it's going to be alcohol, cialis, sex, cigarette...alcohol, cialis, sex, cigarette...hmmm.

Is it just me getting older?

[Steven T.]

Boner pills? Not bad. I prefer Vitamin V.

[86general]

Yes. Agree, 100%. Author, author!!

[hod]

Try watching the evening news. From the advertising, you'd think that everyone who caught the news was a urological disaster.

[Steven T.]

I think liquor and beer ads/sponsors would be good for...creating more revenue. Better than the stuff that's on now.Car and bank sponsors are cutting back so why not? Johnnie Walker and Ballantine's sponsor Euro Tour events as do Sports Accountants.

[Gunnar (Golf beginner)]

I have just nearly learned to play golf and my visit here to this page is just to try to learn more from other more well known persons. I have primary watch golf in the television but have now decided to learn it by my self.