TMZ Stunner: Northern Trust Paid To Host Tour Event, Had Courtesy Cars Too!

Gossip site TMZ seems to think they scored a major exclusive by reporting that Northern Trust paid millions to host a PGA Tour event and get this, providing Mercedes courtesy cars.

Sadly, TMZ apparently was unable to do a basic Google search and needs to have it explained that these cars were provided at Mercedes' expense for the PGA Tour players, not the bank.

Ah but that would get in the way of a good non-story!

I do agree that some of the excesses detailed are embarrassing in light of Northern Trust laying off 4% of its work force in December and taking (forcibly!) TARP money. It's equally embarrassing for Congress, which didn't hold Henry Paulson accountable for holding banks accountable and it's really humiliating for activist/singer/songwriter/raconteur Sheryl Crow, who is way too talented to be performing for a bunch of stiff bank VIP's.

But this part of the report is borderline comical:

Lots of people from Northern Trust went to the golf tourney ... in special Mercedes that shuttled them to and from the hotels. But for those who weren't into golfing, they could spend a few hours at the Northern Trust seminar on the credit crunch.

If anyone at TMZ is reading, here's the press release on the Mercedes about those "special" Mercedes.

Now, if it turns out that the PGA Tour's finest were shuttling bank execs to the course and then teeing it up, then that would be a good story.