PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said that his sport has "done a lot of work preparing to engage in gaming and sports betting" later in '19. Monahan: "We've spent a lot of time over the last two and a half years clearly understanding all of our options and getting ourselves in a position where we can participate. Participate with the right partners, and participate in a way that we think resonates with fans." He added, "You can expect to hear developments from us in the second half of this year." SPORT TECHIE's Joe Lemire noted the PGA Tour has been "testing an optical tracking component designed by SMT as an upgrade to the system, called ShotLink Plus." This "could be of great interest to sportsbook operators" (SPORTTECHIE.com, 5/23).
DIGGING DEEPER: In DC, Hobson, Thompson & Red cited sources as saying that a Justice Department investigation into MLB's operations in Latin America and the trafficking of Cuban players has "expanded in recent months, with former league and team officials among those contacted by FBI agents and called to testify before a grand jury." The "wide-ranging inquiry is, in part, seeking to root out suspected involvement of MLB team officials with smugglers who force Cuban players to sign away exorbitant portions of their earnings in exchange for passage off the island" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/23).
FIRE SALE: In San Antonio, Patrick Danner notes the XFL "wants to score some football equipment and other assets owned" by the now-defunct AAF. Court papers were filed last week asking a judge to approve the "sale of some of the AAF's assets to XFL parent company Alpha Entertainment for $375,000." Among the items "slated to be sold" are 1,000 Riddell, Schutt and Vicis helmets (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/24).
