I’ve been around professional athletes long enough to know this truth: a lot of them are notoriously cheap. Spoiled might be a better word. These guys live in a world where almost everything is handed to them—designer clothes, shoes, concert tickets, even cars. When you rarely have to spend your own money, you start thinking paying $50 for a round of golf is an insult.
I’ll never forget the time the head pro at my golf club called me at work.
“Some members of a major league baseball team are here,” he said.
“They want to play under your membership.”
“Fine,” I said.
“Oh, and they said you’d cover their fees.”
Absolutely not. These guys combined were making over $20 million a year, and the greens fee was a mere $50. You know what they did? Packed up their clubs and left. That’s pro sports for you.
Fast-Forward to Today: The NFL Ticket Hustle
This time, it’s not about golf. It’s the NFL, and the stakes are much higher than a $50 green fee. The league just caught about 100 players and two dozen club employees scalping Super Bowl LIX tickets above face value.
The big game was on Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, and apparently, the temptation to cash in was too strong for some players and staff.
What’s the Damage?
The NFL frowns on ticket scalping—especially when its own players and coaches are involved. They’ve got the ability to track every ticket, and now those caught in the act face some serious consequences:
✔ Fines equal to 150% of the ticket’s face value
✔ Loss of future Super Bowl ticket privileges (unless they’re actually playing)
Names? Don’t hold your breath. The league is investigating, but the odds of the full list ever seeing daylight? Slim to none.
The Big Picture
When will these guys learn? These aren’t broke college kids hustling for beer money. These are multimillion-dollar athletes risking reputation for a few thousand bucks on the side. It’s not just against policy—it’s a bad look for a league that already has PR nightmares stacked higher than Lombardi trophies.
Bunker Notice
If you made it this far, you’re bunker material. Join the Bunker Briefing—my unfiltered monthly dispatch from Bunker #69.