Sports and the Economy, Post #1

If I wanted to, I could write a story every day about how the downturn in the economy is affecting the sports world. But that would become reduntant and, frankly, quite depressing. So I'm going to use this space instead to provide mini-updates on the issue.

Here are the latest "the economy is hurting the sports world" headlines.

* The LPGA said it will cut purses and eliminate three tournaments in 2009. About $5 million will be removed from the total prize money for the season, and tour stops in Hawaii, South Carolina and Oklahoma are off the schedule. Meanwhile, there are still questions about sponsorships at several other events.

* Major League Baseballwill not increase its spending for the fourth consecutive year, citing a difficult sponsorship and advertising market.

* Buick said it would continue is sponsorship of two events on the PGA Tour, but would be cutting back on the use of player courtesy cars. Buick had provided cars for 22 tournaments, often supplying as many as 200 cars for the week.

- Tim Lemke