A Foul Deal? You Make The Call

Author:
SI Staff

The PGA Tour's rules officials have been working without a
contract since Dec. 31, 2002. Last month the Professional
Association of Golf Officials filed a grievance over the stalled
negotiations in U.S. district court in Pennsylvania. According to
union chief Wade Cagle Jr., the officials want overtime pay (or a
corresponding salary increase), and they're also aggrieved at
having lost the privilege of flying first class. Here's how the
life of a Tour official compares to that of zebras in other pro
sports.

NFL

PAY
$31,000 to $105,000
PER DIEM
$160, and the league pays for hotels
AIR TRAVEL
First class
REGULAR-SEASON WORKLOAD
Minimum 15 games over a 17-week season
WHY IT'S THE TOUGHEST JOB
Frozen tundra; getting run over by lineman
WHY IT'S THE BEST
A one-day week; instant replay saves your bacon

NBA

PAY
$85,000 to $375,000
PER DIEM
$300
AIR TRAVEL
First class for flights longer than two hours
REGULAR-SEASON WORKLOAD
70-75 games over six months
WHY IT'S THE TOUGHEST JOB
Running a half marathon; Spike Lee
WHY IT'S THE BEST
You no longer have to call traveling

MLB

PAY
$85,000 to $320,000
PER DIEM
$320
AIR TRAVEL
First class
REGULAR-SEASON WORKLOAD
130 games over six months
WHY IT'S THE TOUGHEST JOB
Foul tips; the whole crouching thing
WHY IT'S THE BEST
You get to make up your own strike zone

NHL
PAY
$107,151 to $246,978
PER DIEM
$90
AIR TRAVEL
First class for flights of longer than two hours
REGULAR-SEASON WORKLOAD
70 games over six months
WHY IT'S THE TOUGHEST JOB
Miles of speed skating; separating goons
WHY IT'S THE BEST
You get to banish grown men to a penalty box

PGA TOUR
PAY
$65,000 to $180,000
PER DIEM
$225
AIR TRAVEL
The lowest-fare coach class ticket available
REGULAR-SEASON WORKLOAD
28 tournaments over 10 months
WHY IT'S THE TOUGHEST JOB
70-hour weeks; TV fans with phones; John Daly
WHY IT'S THE BEST
You get to sit down; Pebble beats Green Bay

GOLF PLUS will next appear in the Nov. 3 issue of SI

COLOR PHOTO: JUSTIN KASE CONDER/ICON SMI (NFL)

COLOR PHOTO: BILL KOSTROUN/AP (NBA)

COLOR PHOTO: JEFF ZELEVANSKY/ICON SMI (MLB)

COLOR PHOTO: AP (NHL)

COLOR PHOTO: DARREN CARROLL (PGA TOUR) Cagle

October 13, 2003