Jason Dufner Signs Godawful Endorsement Deal with Dude Wipes - Is This the Worst Endorsement Deal Ever?

When I'm making a decision on what male sanitary wipes to purchase, I want the expertise and peace of mind that comes with advice from a professional golfer.  That has to be what Jason Dufner was thinking when he signed an endorsement deal this week with Dude Wipes, right?  Well that, or Duf Daddy just doesn't give a damn and is getting his while the getting's good. 

 

After confirming Dufner's twitter announcement of this godawful deal was the real thing, I quickly came to the conclusion this is the most ridiculous endorsement deal in the history of golf.  It potentially has ESPN Films 30 for 30: The Rise and Fall of Jason Dufner and Dude Wipes written all over it.  And it might even be the worst endorsement deal in the history of all professional sports. 

David Duval's Perky Jerky is just off-beat in comparison (though I'm not sure that spilling an energy drink into a bag of beef jerky was altogether accidental).  Rory Sabbatini signing with Nerf to be his bag sponsor is just absurd considering his was playing TaylorMade equipment (arguably one of the most prestigious golf brands at the time). 

 

Whatever happens this season, we're going to get our share of unfortunate butt-wipe jokes every time Dufner tees it up.  Can you hear Steve Sands in a post-round interview asking Dufner, "Jason you really wiped away the competition today, how did you make it look so easy?"  Or Jim Nantz wrapping up Dufner's finish on a hole by saying, "Jason had some work to do after the mess he made on the tee box, but cleaned up nicely for par."  Seriously? 

 

I really only have two questions about this deal, and I'll get to those in a moment.  But Dufner's deal with a sanitary wipe company has to also rank up there with the worst endorsement deals of all time in any sport. 

Remember Jimmy Johnson endorsing Extenze? That was a huge for them both (see what I did there).  Or how about Manny Ramirez stumping for Sum Poosie Energy Drink (I'm seriously not making that up).  What about Carson Palmer endorsing a line of smoked sausages for John Morrell (you can't unsee this ad).  And hey if Joe Namath got away with wearing women's pantyhose, then why can't Duf Daddy be a trendsetter too?  Jason.  Freeking.  Dufner! 

 

Okay, so my questions are these: First, considering how much money Dude Wipes likely threw at Dufner, is there anyone here who wouldn't also have signed that deal?  Especially on the PGA Tour - cash is king, and this isn't a criticism of Dufner, but his best days on the course are behind him.  So why not sign the deal, take the money, and run.  Not to mention there's now the potential for #DuffWipes being even more popular than #Dufnering.  You can't put a price on that kind of fame. 

 

Which brings me to my second question (and maybe I'm just too button-down here): but do we really need a Player Endorsement Policy anymore?  I mean because if Dufner's butt-wipe deal meets the Tour's "tasteful and in accordance with standards of decorum expected of professional golfers" test, then aren't we really just saying that everything is a giant cash grab, and if you're going to do something stupid you might as well go all the way with it? 

But seriously, congrats Duf.  I can't wait to buy the Dude Wipes Tour cap and ask you to sign it at an upcoming event.  And oh yeah, do these new wipes come in both right-handed and left-handed versions?