There is Us,  

  Tiger's Yacht  

And There is Them         

Ship ahoy! Please identify yourself.

I am Tiger Woods. Request permission to dock.
Am here to practice for the U.S. Open, Shinnecock Hills. 

Yes, sir. We're expecting you. Do you need a harbor pilot to navigate you in?
         
   And that, my middle-class friends, is how a 155-foot, $20 million (in 2004) yacht is docked near the Hampton's on Long Island. Tiger made $100 million the year he had it built, so it's no big deal - just five bedrooms, gym, lounge and two wall safes. (Billionaire guests need somewhere to safeguard their pocket change.) 

   Boxer Floyd Mayweather was the champ at making money in 2017. According to Forbes, he made $285 million, including endorsements. Soccer star Lionel Messi was second at $111 million, about $1 million per goal scored. 

   Soccer players took three of the top five spots. Who knew? 

   Forty basketball players were in the top 100, including No. 7, LeBron James, $85.5 million, and No. 8, Stephen Curry, $76.9 million. 

   Two NFL quarterbacks rounded out the top ten: Matt Ryan ($6.7 million for each of Atlanta's 10 wins), and Matthew Stafford, ($6.5 million for each of Detroit's nine wins). We know: all these people work hard, and the market also works. 

   Woods is trying a comeback after a few years of back trouble. He still is PGA golf. His biographer said, "Tiger doesn't move the needle, he is the needle." 

   It does seem pretentious that he would arrive by sea. Did he wade ashore like MacArthur in the Philippines? Most competitors had to settle for flying in on private jets. (Note: Tiger is just one of many athletes who own yachts.) 

   Next week, win or not, Woods will enjoy a nice cruise back to Florida. Maybe the other Florida-based players could hitch a ride. 

       Jimmy (never broke 100) Donut