Hour 2: Eagles GM Howie Roseman, plus Alan Shipnuck on LIV Golf’s Uncertain Future

21:05Rich Eisen:I like it. I love it. One of my favorite draft choices and draft moments, Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles here on the Rich Eisen Show. Uar Bernard from the International Pathway Program from Nigeria. 251st overall. Is it true he's never played a snap of organized football? Howie, is that true? Facts. Facts. Wow. So how, what, my gosh, how does one, listen, You obviously got Jordan Mailata from the same program years ago. What's the plan to take somebody who's got the height speed comp of Miles Garrett and teach him what organized football is, Howie? Well, first, I mean, we have to have enough awareness to understand what happened with Jordan is such a great credit to the person that Jordan is, the work that he did with our staff, including Coach Stoutland, And that's a unique experience.

22:03So for us to sit there and say, hey, we took this player and we're going to get the same results, that would be naive for sure. But what we saw was an unusual athlete, a high-character athlete. And we did a lot of work on him. We sent our position coach, Clint Hurt, down there to work with him. because if we're going to use a pick on him, just really wanted to get somebody down there who we trusted that would get their hands on him, just like we did with Jordan. And Clint came back and just said, man, this guy's got unusual power. He's got unusual athleticism. He's really willing to work and learn, and I really feel like I can develop him.

22:48And for us, a lot of times in my mind I'm going like, what happens if I don't? You know, as opposed to if I do, like, how am I going to feel if I don't? So sometimes that's like, hey, if I don't make this trade for the player, how do I feel if I see him go to another team? And so in this case, just like with Jordan, it was like, I want the result to be with the Eagles either way. I want to see what that result is going to be. And, you know, if it works, obviously I want that benefit for our football team. But even if it didn't work, I wouldn't have any regrets because I feel like it was something that we wanted to try and try to develop.

23:28We had a lot of support with it. We have a lot of people who are going to rally around it. And so whatever will happen will happen. Obviously, Jordan, a unique, unique case. One of the best stories really in my 26 years in the NFL, I'm biased because it's with us. But, I mean, you think about that. A guy's playing rugby and comes to the U.S. and world champion and all pro player and like the best person. Like I almost feel like probably the best singer.

23:56Rich Eisen:Yeah, I was about to say he's a great singer too. I don't know what UR's, you know, baritone sounds like, but I mean. No, I've spoke to him a couple of times, not feeling that from him. Not getting the sense that like that's an area he's going to thrive, you know, just personally. I could be wrong. I've been wrong on evaluations before. Thanks for the time, Howie. I always appreciate you chopping it up after a draft and you be well. let's chat again soon man really appreciate it i can't wait thanks for having me as always right back at you that's howie roseman the man on the spot there evp and gm of the philadelphia eagles right here on the rich eisen show a so-fi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible which is overcoming high interest credit card debt walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed rate monthly payment no fees required and as soon as the same day funding.

24:48Rich Eisen:That's right. Pull off your own debt-defying stunt with a SoFi personal loan. Visit SoFi.com slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A., member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. All right, coming up next, what's more likely on a Friday before we talk Live Tour with Alan Shipna? The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

25:19Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high-interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an audible with a SoFi personal loan. It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast. Call an audible on your debt today at SoFi.com slash debt play. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. nmls696891 fast funds terms apply at sofi.com slash debt play rich eisen here paypal is now the official peer-to-peer payments sponsor of the nfl which means all the money moments that fandom creates whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends are covered wherever the game is played or watched paypal moves with fans you can send money through text email or directly to your friends with eligible accounts on venmo just download the PayPal app and share all the moments that matter.

26:17Rich Eisen:Account with PayPal is required. Not available in all regions where PayPal operates. Rich Eisen here. Take a second and look at your city's calendar. Everywhere I go, there's always something coming up. Games, concerts, conventions, tournaments, the kind of events that bring people in from all over. And when that happens, you can feel it. More energy, more fans, and a whole lot more people looking for a place to stay. So here's something to think about. If your city has that kind of buzz, if big events are on the way, listing your space on Airbnb could be a great opportunity. If you're already planning to be out of town or you've got a trip coming up, why not make your place work for you while you're gone?

26:57Rich Eisen:You've got the space and you're not using it. It could be earning you some extra cash. I know when I travel for these big events, I'm not just looking for a place to crash. I want something comfortable and safe. a place that allows me to experience the city like a local. And that's exactly what you can do by offering to list your space. No big lifestyle change, no long-term commitment, just making smart use of the space you already have. So the next time your city draws a crowd, think about listing your space on Airbnb. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host.

27:37Rich Eisen:Back here on The Rich Eisenhower, I know we were saying we were going to do what's more likely, but my conversation with Howie was so good, if I may say. We went on too long. So we'll do it after Brian Windhorst at hour three. Lovely. I imagine you can, you're what's more likely. Everything is still Jermaine. It still works, hour two or three. That's right. Okay. So Fernando Mendoza is going to wear number 15 for the Raiders. that was Tom Flores's number. And a lot of folks are wondering, okay, is he going to be wearing it for the Raiders? The answer is yes. And Tom Flores has personally given it his blessing.

28:19Rich Eisen:The 89-year-old Tom Flores, pro football Hall of Famer, I'm pleased to say, told the Raiders, Paul Gutierrez, who writes for the Raiders website, quote, he deserves my blessing because if he's not the real deal, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. End quote. Wow. Called Mendoza perfect. He can make every throw. He can make the plays. What can't he do? He does it all. He's fun to watch. Plus, he's a good-looking kid like me. End quote. All right. I love it. As the article said, another deep belly laugh ensued. Belly, you getting the 15? Yeah, maybe. Gutierrez went to Mendoza. quote, he's more handsome than me, but it speaks to the testament of once a raider, always a raider.

29:10Rich Eisen:He is just, he is perfect. People are going to start to accuse him of being too perfect. That's coming. Mendoza? Is he already there? Well. He's too good to be true, that he says the right thing all the time. Yeah, he did let the F-bomb fly. I think he does have a little of the red in him. You know what comes across as too good to be true and perfect? Me? Tom Brady. You too. Yeah, you're right. you. My bad. I thought my mic just muted when I said that. My bad. You knew it wasn't. That's true. Again, I mean, you want to talk about, I'm so blessed to be part of this organization. I can't thank Flores enough.

29:49Rich Eisen:I'm so blessed. I had a good college career. I haven't done anything in the NFL. Again, he's saying the right thing. He's going to wear 15. It's an eternal blessing, he said, of the choice that Flores made to allow him to wear it. That's cool. every single day I'm going to have a commitment to excellence. There you go. To make sure that I can live up to that standard. Are you saying all the notes? Hit the notes. Hit me with a throw deep, baby, at some point. Yeah. The last time Flores wore 15. Plenty of players have apparently worn it because the Raiders don't retire numbers. Well, Minshew wore 15, right?

30:27Rich Eisen:I think he might. Flores last wore it in Oakland in 1966. Cardinal Mitchell wore 15. Throw a deep, baby. There it is. From Tom Hanks' appearance on this program years ago. I swear that always sounds like Randy Moss to me. What? Throw a deep, baby. Throw a deep, baby. Yep. I don't hear it. He loved it. But you don't know Randy Moss, clearly. Yes, I do. I can't wait to see Mendoza get out there and play professional. Well, week one, you'll see him. It'll look good. You really think so? In all honesty, let's do a what's more likely right now. I'm afraid to get excited. Why not? Why are you afraid?

31:03Rich Eisen:I just. Why? Every year we're like, all right, this is our year. It's going to be good. But why are you afraid? I don't know. Just don't get my hopes up. Same reason I'm afraid about these Sixers. Exactly. Game seven, man. We've been. Well, I mean, I know fan is the root for fanatic, which means you're not thinking straight. Can't be afraid to get hurt as a fan. Oh, I think I've suffered enough personally. I just think he. I don't know, man. I think he's got his head screwed on straight. He's exactly what you want if you're a Raider fan. Okay? Which is, he's going to go home. He's going to be, when was the last milk drinker the Raiders have had at the quarterback spot, you know?

31:47I'm into.

31:48Rich Eisen:Okay? You know what I mean? Like, and the coach comes from, obviously, the Kubiak system and everything else. Mendoza can move he can move the pocket that's why Cousins is coming there too I understand that but that's what Cousins has always done he can move a little bit although not maybe on his Achilles now he's going to have to show in training camp mentally that he's got it he can protect himself Matthew Hasselbeck always says you can't get on the field unless you learn third down protection So I imagine Mendoza is smart enough to pick up on that. I totally understand that. I get it. But, you know, end of the day, I don't think he beats out Kirk Cousins in a quarterback competition.

32:42Rich Eisen:And Cousins is your week one starter because you don't have to do it with this kid. But I do think he's going to succeed, Jay. I think you've got the right guy. I hope so. Let's get him a number one receiver. um okay you're right yeah i got you that'll be a process yeah maybe one can come to the floor on on the team for sure but whoever it is just catch a 50 50 ball and catch a back shoulder because he's pretty damn perfect at that he does he does make those throws all the time he's not late on it he doesn't lay it out there he he's he's really good 844-204-RICH, number to dial. Alan Shipnuck will join us next to talk about what appears to be the end of the Live Tour.

33:31Rich Eisen:That's next. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Okay, I love it. I love it. Yeah, man. Shark. Shark never dies, right, apparently? The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

33:49Rich Eisen:In a world in need of a hero, one man rises to the challenge in style. He is just driving the kids to soccer practice. Make every day feel epic in an all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid with up to an EPA-estimated 619 miles of range on select trims, advanced tech, and class-leading interior space. Because when you're hauling kids' gear, snacks, and backpacks, space matters. And so does comfort. Just make sure they keep their cleats off the seats. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for details. For some of us, personal finances aren't just personal. They include a lot more people than ourselves.

34:27Rich Eisen:Loved ones, neighbors, the communities we call home, and the causes we hold in our hearts. At Srivent, we help plan your financial picture with the bigger picture in mind. because even though our business is helping guide your finances, our ambition is to make it mean so much more. Thrivent, where money means more. Connect with us at Thrivent.com.

34:53Rich Eisen:PayPal is proud to be the official peer-to-peer payment sponsor of the NFL. When fans come together on game day, PayPal makes it easier to split ticket costs, cover tailgate supplies, parking, or even food. It's a very simple way to settle up so fans can stay focused on the moments that matter. The NFL brings people together, and PayPal helps making pay each other feel easy from kickoff to the final whistle. Download the PayPal app to get started. Account with PayPal is acquired, required. Look who's joining us back here on the Rich Eisen Show, a man who has been chronicling the Live Tour for a very long time, I mean, for us, and obviously for himself and the outfits for which he writes, and the man who's a best-selling author of the latest book of his book on Rory McIlroy's life.

35:39Rich Eisen:Alan Shipnuck is back here in the program. Alan, thanks for joining. How you doing, man? I'm delighted to be here. Thanks for having me. You got it. So where do things stand with the Live Tour in your estimation, Alan? Well, it's chaotic as always. I mean, that's been Live's vibe since its inception. Just chaos merchants. And it's great content as it always is. It's rarely about the golf. It's always the macro story. And so, you know, we know that the Saudis are pulling their funding at the end of the year, that the person who's nurtured live golf, it was his brainchild, you know, his excellency, Yashir Al-Ramayyam, his cut and run.

36:22He's left the board of directors and which to me is a super weak move. You're the captain of the ship. Like you should go down with the ship. You don't just you took the first lifeboat to get to get off off the decks. But so the real question is, can live somehow find a way to endure beyond this season by attracting outside investment and new sponsors and new corporate partners? Certainly, the age of decadence is over at Live Golf, but can it endure in some fashion? We're going to find out in the coming months. But, you know, live as we know it is dead. And will there be a zombie live that continues?

37:02We're going to find out. what does a zombie live look like? No Bryson DeChambeau, possibly no John Rom, but still a lot of good players who need somewhere to play and are now finding themselves on the outside, looking in of the entire structure of professional golf, potentially a more condensed schedule. Probably they might just pick up stakes in the U S where they've never been able to penetrate the market and, and focus on an international schedule where live has generated some enthusiasm by going to these sort of golf starved world capitals have to be smaller purses. The big guaranteed money would go away.

37:41That might have to be worked out by the lawyers, how exactly that looks. So there's a lot of questions, but, you know, Liv has made it clear that there's an appetite for golf all around the world. And when they've gone to Australia and South Africa and Korea and other places like that, the reception's been pretty warm and the fans have turned out and they've had some media coverage and they've had some decent ratings. So the scale of Live was probably too ambitious. If it can exist in a more downsized fashion, then I think there's probably a place for it. But Live was always a monument to excess.

38:22So what is live without the decadence it's kind of we already have a european tour we are having asian tour is there an appetite for for an austere live golf i don't know so uh what's the number that could

38:35Rich Eisen:keep live going because there's a number and i know they got some they're they're they're in the hunt for revenue i am sure um what what is the the number and i i guess if you don't mind what was the number the Saudis were putting in and what's the gulf yeah it's a big delta the Saudis were putting in a billion dollars a year um and of course that was you know 50 to 60 million dollars a year just for John Rahm's contract even before the winnings it was purses of 33 million dollars it was this huge build out around the tournaments um and so you know you you can you can run a PGA tour event for$20 million,$25 million.

39:22If, if Liv does that times eight or 10, and then there's, you know, the ancillary costs of staff. I mean, maybe you need 250 million to, to run golf.

39:33Rich Eisen:Good luck finding that good. Honestly, good luck finding that. I imagine no, or am I wrong? Interesting thing is that, that, you know, Liv is saying that revenue is going to be up a hundred million dollars over last year. Now the question was, is that real revenue or is that from Saudi Aramco and all their subsidiary companies of the PIF. But they have attracted Rolex, they've attracted HSBC. The individual teams have done a pretty good job of becoming somewhat self-sustaining with clothing and apparel and equipment deals. So the live model was always to sell the franchises. They've never been able to do it because they were asking half a billion dollars.

40:12But the sports sector is booming. We see massive amounts of money coming into every level of professional sports. So could you find a bored rich guy in Korea who would buy the Korean golf club for$100 million? Maybe. And if you can replicate that times 13 or 14 teams, you've gone a long way to generating the revenue you need. And there's no doubt that, you know, the fact that the money was coming from Saudi Arabia scared away corporations. It scared away consumers. Not across the board, but some people were always going to be squeamish about it. Now you take the Saudis out of the equation and maybe Liv can attract more blue chip sponsors.

40:53So it's an interesting thought exercise. We see how much money is in professional sports. And we know that a lot of rich dudes love to play golf and they'd love to be in the pro-ams and say they own a team. which is not a thing you can do in other levels of professional golf. So it's going to be a huge test of Scott O 'Neill, the CEO, and they just brought on two new board members who are turnaround experts in the financial world. And it's possible that Liv could endure it. There is a way forward, but it does seem like a long shot. But I think when you look across the sports world, how many things are getting off the ground and achieving liftoff because there's just seemingly an endless appetite.

41:36So maybe. I think the answer is maybe.

41:39Rich Eisen:Interesting. So I'll ask you, Alan Shipnuck, a question I've never asked you before. Why did the Saudis cut and run? What do you think? Yeah, there's a lot going on, including a war in Iran. And one of Aramco's oil refineries was hit by Iranian drones, had to shut down for 11 days. When your entire economy is based around oil production, And that was a glimpse of how vulnerable it could be if this war drags on. A couple of weeks ago, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia put out this new five-year strategic plan. And the core of it was we're going to invest domestically in all of our projects and we're cutting back our international spending.

42:24And in that context, sports looks very frivolous. And so they sold – the PIFS sold its soccer team. they they abandoned the snooker masters which was a big deal in some parts of the world they had a 10-year commitment they they just shut it down after two years they pulled out of tom brady's flag football league um so it's not this is not particular to live this is wholesale change in priorities for the entire kingdom and how they want to spend their money this precarious moment live is just the biggest noisiest example of things that are going by the wayside

42:59Rich Eisen:So the man who's hosting the next live tournament could be the one who potentially kills it.

43:09Rich Eisen:I guess not to bring geopolitics into this sports conversation, but you have to the war. If the war is what's causing the Saudis to pull out and that essentially could mean the end of the live tour. Then what I just said, I think is true. Well, it's a delicious irony because Trump has hosted Live events from the very beginning. Including the next one. Including the next one. He's profited from these events. And part of the reason Live was even founded was as this exercise in soft power to give the Saudis access to the Western world and to decision makers. And it succeeded in this cozy relationship with Trump.

43:52So, yeah, it is a delicious irony that he may be one of the reasons. I think after$5 billion in losses, people were looking at Liv Golf with John Destai. The one guy who was keeping it alive was the governor of the public investment fund, Yasser Al-Rumayyam, and he loves golf and Liv has always been his baby. But everyone has a boss. In his case, it's a ruthless one, the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. And at some point he had to say, listen, we gave this a go. We haven't really, we've made relationships that will endure now in all these world capitals. We don't really need the golf tournaments anymore.

44:30You didn't get a green jacket. We're not, we're not in at Augusta National. We never got a TV deal of note. Like we gave it a good shot. We're still losing money. It doesn't seem like there's a path forward to be profitable or even to break even. so the experiment's over and i'm sure this pains you seer because he no one you've never seen anyone happier than al rumayan at a live golf pro-am zipping around in his cart it was like fantasy camp for him playing a few holes with dustin johnson playing a few holes with bryson getting a short game lesson from phil mickelson like he loved live golf and so i'm sure there's some heartburn but ultimately the crown prince is not a golfer he doesn't care he's looking at the balance sheet saying why are we incinerating a billion dollars on this a year on this vanity project it's just time for it to end and that's where we are in the last two minutes then i guess

45:20Rich Eisen:the success of the live either moving on and surviving or not is are some of the name players that you mentioned and their desire to stick with it uh or the pga tour welcomes them back because they do have some sort of amnesty program they're willing to to meet where does that stand alan yeah Yeah, it's very delicate. Certainly Bryson DeChambeau brings box office. John Rahm is a great player. He's not as much of a star as Bryson. They're the two key pieces. There's a lot of good young players that live golf. I mean, that's the irony is the fields have actually gotten better and deeper, but it's always been built on star power.

45:57And, you know, Bryson supposedly was asking for half a billion dollars from the PIF to sign a new contract. So he probably helped kill it too. They said, this is ridiculous. We can't give Bryson DeChambeau a half a billy. We're out.

46:14Bryson has said we have an obligation to the players who came after us, all of the stars who found to live. We're okay. We're good. We've got money in the bank. This will be the ultimate test of his word. Does he mean that? Is he going to display the ultimate loyalty and try and help live survive? He has this new holding company that's making investments in the golf world. maybe Bryson just buys live golf and it becomes the greatest vanity project in all of sports there's a lot of delicious scenarios but ultimately I think you'll see John Rahm back on the PGA tour I think you'll see Bryson back on the PGA tour whether that's next year or they try and give it one more year on live to see if they can make it a go but they have a window of their playing careers and they don't want to they don't want to lose their primes you know fighting this battle and at some point you just got to do what's best for yourself and that's playing on the best tour against the best competition and optimizing yourself for the tournaments that really matter

47:09Rich Eisen:i guess um we'll find out you know what the appetite is and um and for the rest of the year correct um the live tour has at least 2026 to figure this thing out correct yeah we thought so but then the louisiana tournament just blew away um so it's good it's going to be week to week it's going to be tournament to tournament. And again, it's always, it's been chaotic around live golf since day one. And so it couldn't go out any other way. The Ridge Eisen Show podcast. Hey mama, thanks for making all my favorite recipes. Hi mom. Thanks for your unfiltered advice. Hi mom. Thanks for always being by the phone.

47:50Rich Eisen:Hey mom. Happy mother's day. When you ship UPS air at the UPS store, your items arrive on time or your money back guaranteed at no extra cost exclusively at the UPS store U.S. retail locations visit the ups store.com air shipping for full details terms and conditions apply send your mother's day gifts at the UPS store and we'll get your gratitude there on time