Rebel LIV Golf has hired NBA legend Scottie Pippen to welcome fans to the LIV Golf Invitational in Chicago from Sep. 16-18.
The two-minute video shows the former Chicago Bull flashing his six championship rings — while extolling LIV’s team format.
“The idea of team play in golf? Now that’s a game-changer,” says Pippen. “Take it from me. Being on a team can be pretty rewarding. It’s not just you. It’s everyone — pulling together — toward the same goal.”
The video shows LIV stars like Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, and Pat Perez celebrating as teammates
As a member of Michael Jordan’s Bulls “dynasty,” Pippen asks if another team dynasty could arise in golf.
The 56-year-old Pippen played in LIV’s pro-am Thursday at Rich Harvest Farms near Chicago. His appearance is the last move in chief media officer Will Staeger’s celebrity marketing strategy.
It’s a classic celebrity endorsement approach by LIV, which is in talks with Fox Sports and other potential bidders for its first U.S. media rights deal.
At each event, the breakaway Saudi-backed league wants to hire a famous local athlete or celebrity as an endorser. Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, for example, appeared in a similar video “welcoming” fans to LIV Golf Invitational in Boston from Sept. 2-4.
Superstar TNT analyst Charles Barkley played in the LIV pro-am in Bedminster, N.J. — while flirting with the idea of joining LIV as a commentator.
One of LIV’s biggest stars, Bryon DeChambeau, threw out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game this week.
Many retired pro athletes love playing golf. So LIV has a practically bottomless list of former pro stars it can hire for similar promotions.
With LIV heading to Trump National Golf Club Doral from Oct. 27-30, let the speculation begin on which athlete will welcome fans to Miami.
NFL legend Dan Marino? NBA legend Dwyane Wade? We’ll find out.
