What Greg Norman and LIV Golf can learn from the Super League war

OPINION

You'd hope in one of those rare quiet moments when he's not checking himself out in front of a full-length mirror, Greg Norman has picked up the remote in his five-star Adelaide hotel room and started channel surfing Fox Sports. And, if the universe has any sense of righteousness, you'd like to think the Shark landed on – Fox League.

In one click of that remote, the controversial LIV Golf CEO could sit back and take in a half hour interview with former Australian Rugby League boss Ken Arthurson. The piece has a heavy focus on the Super League war of the mid-1990s where Arko and John Quayle spearheaded the establishment's fight against John Ribot and Rupert Murdoch's millions for control of the game.

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The one thing that stands out about 93-year-old Arko, apart from him being in remarkable nick both mentally and physically, is his integrity, selflessness and loyalty. He put the game first, second and third even when it meant missing out on a big pay-day to switch camps.

"I was offered quite a lot of money, yeah," Arthurson said, confirming Super League had offered him $500,000 to make the jump. Half a million bucks back in 1995 would have secured you a house with water views in Sydney.

"Of course it was (life-changing money) but it'd kill me to do it. I wouldn't do it," Arko continued. "It was pretty tempting but you'd have to be a pretty low person to take it.

"Football was my whole life and when they (the ARL) were under threat, as they were on this occasion, it was up to me to try and do something about it. Rugby league was more important to me than anything else."

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Contrast Arthurson's attitude with that of Norman, who has taken the Saudi Arabian millions to spruik LIV without apology for the massive chasm it has created in the game that made him a household name.

He sounded so virtuous and noble ahead of this weekend's LIV event in Adelaide, telling reporters: "It’s my desire to do what is right for the game of golf and what is right for the players and what is right for the fans."

Really Greg? So, it's got nothing to do with the wads of cash the Saudis have thrown your way?

You're telling us you'd play the role of chief disrupter for a few lousy hundred thousand - instead of millions - because it's "right for the game of golf"?

Pick up the remote, Greg. I dare you to.

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