Nice to see our priorities are in place
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Feb 01, 2008 
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The nation is at war in Irag and Afganistan and families across the land are mourning their fallen sons and daughters. The economy is closing in on a recession. Our literacy rate is falling. Kids are abused, people are homeless and global warming could make Houston Street beachfront property in a few decades. Guns are readily available to criminals. The terrorists who planned the destruction of the World Trade Center remain at large. Gas is headed for $3.50 a gallon.
Yet Sen. Arlen Specter is concerned that the NFL destroyed videotapes of football games. And the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today had a old baseball player named Chuck Knoblauch come to Washington to ask him if he used steroids six years ago.
What’s next, asking Vince McMahon if Mr. X is really from Parts Unknown? Maybe the Twins should be called in and asked why they didn’t get more for Johan Santana. Can we get a better definition of pass interference?
Steroids are bad, yes. Those who sell them to high school kids should get thrown in jail. But do our elected officials really need to concern themselves with the rules of the NFL and Major League Baseball? How did this become worthy of their attention?
“I am very concerned about the underlying facts on the taping, the reasons for the judgment on the limited penalties and, most of all, on the inexplicable destruction of the tapes,” Specter said.
Very concerned? Really? I’m very concerned a clown like this has a vote in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Knoblauch, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens will be paraded before Congress in a few weeks to explain what drug (that may or may not work) they may or may not have taken six years ago.
I’m sure getting to the bottom of that will make the homeless veteran who can’t afford gas to search for jobs that aren’t available feel so much better.
I don’t give a damn what they inject as long as i am getting my money’s worth. I am saying let everyone inject themselves with drug have a same level playing field. in fact they should declare what they are injecting so the other teams can inject their players witht he same things.
steroids in NFL who cares, nobody in the world other than USA plays this game.
Pete – I agree with everything you’ve said, but aren’t you being a bit pollyanna-ish about the government’s capacity for goodness. While their constituents may not be all that interested in wonky policy matters, they do care about sports. Easy to understand, as opposed to say, the Sunni-Shiite-Kurd divisions in Iraq (although, I guess who makes the football playoffs can get confusing in the final two weeks of the season). This is just political pandering, plain and simple. Although, as a Giant fan, I’m not that upset about it. For the record, Specter is not a clown, he’s one of the few moderate Republicans in Washington. His actions with respect to tape-gate are, however, clownish.
Good post, Pete. But I think talking about real issues in an election year is illegal.
ok and how are you using your job to help the homeless veteran?
I would love to know what was on the tapes, granted congress shouldn’t have to be involved. But it is pretty strange that they destroyed them…
We need to start a movement to not re-elect any Senator or Rep that involves themselves in this crap.
YankeeFan,
Pete helps them by paying taxes to fund programs that these Senators and Reps should be starting. Instead, our domestic programs are getting frozen.
Good post, Pete. But I think talking about real issues in an election year is illegal.
And if you do you can’t win (ie John Edwards)
Todd: I think your right.
Clay Buchholz: I didn’t realize you guys cared about my political leanings
however, if you want to know–
I’m still hoping Bloomberg runs. If not, I’d go with Obama. I would be much more comfortable with a McCain/Obama election than a McCain/Clinton —but the truth is, we desperately need to end the Clinton and Bush ‘Wars of the White Houses’
(Is it that obvious I’ve been working on my thesis?)
…
I mean, Todd, I think you’re right.
I can’t believe I just did that. Shoot me, please.
I didnt see this posted already so:
Johan Santana reportedly will make $150.75 million over the next seven years under the terms of his deal with the Mets.
Rebecca,
It might be Obama running with Clinton or vice versa… that would be interesting.
If it’s 7/150 for Santana.. and guessing he would have gotten 6/150 on the open market – it looks like Santana lost $13M by signing now but gets the security of a guaranteed deal right away.
and NYPD the jerk needs a life…..that is all…
AWESOME post Pete….stuff like this makes me sick
…and what about that spy satellite that is crashing towards North America ???
does it at all concern any one that the yankees seem to be the target of an investigation started by someone that is on the redsox payroll? Talk about a conflict of interest. These government officials should be indicted for completely failing to do what the voters in their respective states elected the to do? Im sure their campaign platform wasnt at all concerned with steroids in baseball or destroyed football tapes when they were trying to get the voters to elect them to senate. And Im sure those same voters are so proud that their esteemed government officials are wasting their precious time and money on events that happened six yrs ago when steroids werent even specifically deemed illegal in baseball circles (or the rules were unclear) and when it is projected that half of the MLB was doing the same exact roids that clemens, pettitte and knoblauch may or may not have done. Great post pete. Im so sick of american politics. Its almost digusting and pitiful and this point.
Boston Dave – According to the NY Post the Mets caved in on the sixth year of the extension. They did not want to guarantee it, but were forced to in order to get the deal done.
2-0 Rangers!!
Fran- In my opinion it is a very bad move. How many long term contracts for pitchers have worked out. I can only think of one. Mike Mussina.
Mike Hampton, always injured
Pedro, healthy for one year
Zito just played stunk!
YankeeFan: I’m not an elected official in case you missed t.
Jennifer – I absolutely agree with you. I doubt that the Mets will get the full value of the contract. But they were desperate and desperate times call for desperate measures.
Ok the real issues you’ve identified are clearly more important than how the patriots cheated. Its also worth mentioning that the general kinds of tactics employed by the pats are used throughout football to varying degrees. But, just leaving out Spector’s publicity seeking for the moment – as we all know our system operates on checks and balances. This doesn’t merely apply to the legislative, executive and judicial branches. In a less significant way we rely on congress to expose corruption in a variety of ways (big oil for example) but the idea of using congressional influence to “check” the power (I guess in this case integrity is being checked) of professional sports (which has the power to keep our youth off the streets, in shape, in school and out of gangs) is not rediculous. What is rediculous is distracting our elected officials from more important issues is rediculous – no one can dispute that. The ability to force MLB players to swear under oath about steroid use is a casein point of the virtue that exists in these kinds of situations. I am not suggesting spygate is nearly as egregious as the use of steroids in baseball but at the very least we should all agree (as people that are fans of honest athletic competition that this congressional influence should be seen as a way to keep the sports we love honest. The patriots destroyed evidence they were ordered to hand over. The “above the law” mentality of professional teams needs to end, congress can help.
Arlan Specter and these other political phonies are an embarrassment to this Country and its citizens! “Spygate” – a derisive term to describe a scandal, cheating, illegal activity. Where do you think the use of whole “—-gate” originated? How about “Watergate” – used to describe the illegal activities of none other than the Nixon Administration – the politicians!
Hey Arlen, why don’t you call for an investigation to find the missing 18 1/2 minutes of the “Nixon Watergate Tapes” and leave Football alone.
Mussina was 32 or 33 when he came to the Yanks. The one advantage Santana has is his age. He is just entering what is considered a pitchers prime.
Zito wasn’t even one of the top 15 pitchers in the game (some would argue top 25-30) when he was signed. Santana is almost unanimously #1.
Not much you can say except that the Mets just got a whole lot better for a while. Doesn’t guarantee anything… but Santana IS worth that kind of money in the current market.
I agree with you Pete. They are running a circus and their priorities are screwed up big time. I still think we should be testing members of congress for substance abuse.
Mike Hampton isnt a bad example but he only had a few good seasons (and a solid postseason I believe). Injuries are a risk…. but if you have to take risks then Santana and the type of reward he might bring is probably one worth taking.
That said, hope Santana stinks it up
The govt involvement in the MLB steroid issue was questionable but at least seemed like a more worthy cause. The manner in which MLB carried out their investigation was deplorable… but a least there was some validity for limited gvt. involvement.
This latest crap from Arlen Spector is an absolute joke and should be a fireable offense. There is ZERO justification for this other than to get his name in the news.
Pete
I whole heartedly agree that Congress has better things to do with their time and my money. Public officials getting involved in private corporations disciplanary procedures is a bad precedent to be supportive of.
It does amuse me that you have a more empassioned response now that the Pats indirectly have become entangled in the Congressional web though.
Based on his press conferences, can you imagine Coach Bill appearing before congress on CSPAN.
Yeah it’s ridiculous. They parade these athletes up on Capitol Hill, put them under oath, and the gradndstanding begins. But, when they have the oil company executives up there, and we need to know why gas prices are ridiculous, and are they colluding, etc, the Republican senator from Alaska (Stevens) won’t allow them to be put under oath. Oh, and by the way, he’s under investigation for corruption by his association with….guess who? Yep, the oil industry. Check him out on Wikipedia. A fine individual.
Peter,
Excellent post and I agree with every single word in it.
YankeeFan
To elaborate on Peter’s response to you, in case you missed the implications, Peter is not a member of the Senate, Specter is. It’s Specter’s job to do something about broad national issues and problems, while Peter’s job is to report Yankees news.
Specter just wants some of the publicity Waxman received by picking on MLB.
The Yankees got very lucky with Mussina.
Also Johan also has only had a few good seasons.
pat,
I noticed that too, but that’s the point of being a fan – getting passionate about your team.
Plus, I wanted to wholeheartedly embrace the opportunity to agree with Peter (since I do it so rarely).
First of all Pete, Arlen Specter is one of the most respected men in Washington, and has done a lot of good, so I think calling him a clown, personally attacking him without actually knowing anything about him, is rather foolish and smacks of immaturity. Its fine to question the need for such a hearing, but it makes you look just as bad to resort to name calling.
Second, the way Congress works is that it has oversight over a vast range of the various elements of this country. Thus, your various committees and subcommittees. One of those deals with monopolies and fair business practices. As you know, baseball and football enjoy a rather unique status as having an exemption from the antitrust law, which allows them to hold a monopoly across state borders. This exemption, of course, holds the requirement that the league must uphold fair business practices and means that both leagues fall under the jurisdiction of congress, so in fact, they have always been their concern. When you are talking about a multi-billion dollar international business, it actually IS rather important: if there is evidence that the league has been acting unethically and colluding, in this case to cover up cheating or something else, well then that isn’t fair and would be a violation of the antitrust exemption. It is in the best interests of capitalism, this country, and all fans that the NFL isn’t able to do such things.
And finally, a hearing like this wouldn’t actually take away from anything “important.” A subcommittee holding a hearing on something specific, which happens all the time, is separate from full sessions of congress where bills get passed. In case you didn’t know this, laws take a very long time to write up, refine, debate, and push through, and its not so easy as “If we do this we won’t have time to debate about the Iraq War.” Congress spends MOST of its time regulating and managing the little things that actually make this country run. Sure they could use to spend more time on big issues, but do you really think they are capable of getting a bipartisan bill that really achieves something passed very often, let alone in thee polarized times with a lame duck president? Please. I know that you quick to cover for the Pats, but this isn’t about them, so you don’t have to go there. It’s about the league and the commish…
And to add to this, Specter has already, long before this, called out the NFL for violating the antitrust exemption, so its not a new thing nor is it a surprise…
Knock off the political crap, Pete. I thought I was reading a John Edwards speech.
His campaign failed miserably too.
Zack: Tell you what, once Pennsylvania has cleaned up crime, housed the homeless, gotten everybody in school and taken care of their other issues, the senior senator can concern himself with the NFL.
I would wager that some kid from Pennsylvania was killed in Iraq recently. So visit that person’s family, that would be a better use of his time. Work on an economic plan for the Erie area.
This has nothing to do with the Patriots. I wrote this several months back about the steroids issue. Congress has better things to spend time and money on than whether football game videotapes were destroyed.
Tapes were destroyed? Heavens, democracy on the brink.
Arlen Spector is the clown who came up with the infamous Single-Bullet Theory to “explain” the Kennedy assassination, so take it from there…
And please keep up “the political crap” if for no other reason than it pisses off the wingnuts.
Did anyone know that China has been attacking our Defense Department computers??? Supposedly they are pretty good with computers and they are using it to get our secrets…scary stuff…
Lame argument.
It’s akin to saying law enforcement shouldn’t bother handing out traffic tickets because murders still take place. Or we shouldn’t waste our efforts on educating poor children in other countries because they are malnurished.
Just because X is happening doesn’t mean Y shouldn’t be addressed, ESPECIALLY since addressing Y does not preclude you from trying to also take care of X.
Investigating the way an entity that has been granted immunity from anti trust laws conducts business has nothing, zip, zero, zilch to do with the wars or the economy. One does not take away from the other
That is a nice post talking about where are priorties are. I mean this country, it seems to me anyway, is in a recession. I had a part-time job for some place that sells retail and now I’ve not worked since New Years Eve 2007. If your wondering if I’ve been fired- No but this place in particular has been cutting hours back like crazy. Now it’s time to look for something else.
For the gas price, I mean I don’t have to worry about that much considering that I drive a 4-cylinder car but for those that have a 6-cylinder car or higher are real trouble if gas climbs to $3.50 or $4.00, that’ll be a big problem for those people.
I mean there are so many issues that are being discussed like the middle-class being hurt with paying most of the taxes. I mean at this rate, the middle-class will be homeless because of the taxes we have to pay. The other main problem is lobbyists (spelling) having their way and they need to get out.
Anyway, I’m concerned what Congress is doing. They have ZERO buisness trying to investigate Spygate because the verdict was already ruled in that investigation. I’m also concerned what they are doing because they care about drug policies in pro wrestling (which is really bad), olympics, and other sports. I mean come on now. Our country is going into a recession because of many factors and it will continue if they don’t get resolved.
“What’s next, asking Vince McMahon is Mr. X is really from Parts Unknown? Maybe the Twins should be called in and asked why they didn’t get more for Johan Santana. Can we get a better definition of pass interference?”
HAHAHAHAHAHA
CLASSIC STUFF!
Uh, Pete…
There is no imminent recession. That was media talk.
The terrorist who planned the destruction of the World Trade Center was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He has been in U.S. custody since 2003.
Those corrections being made, Arlen Specter is a self-important slug who think he and his friends can and should solve everything. Even football, fercryinoutloud! I wish he’d concentrate on winning this war and bringing our troops home and on defending us from future attacks.
It was so funny to see a female reporter ask the commish about Specter, stating that the senator has an interest in Comcast. Goodell laughed and declined to comment.
Specter is nothing more than a Democrat with an (R) after his name. He was a Dem. many years ago. He changed to Republican so he could run in the district he is in…a republican district. Being a conservative, Moderate is a swear word. You are so right none of these guys can stay away from a camera. They should just do the job they were elected to do, stay the hell out of our way…so we can do it ourselves, without all their interference in our life. I will now get off the tomato can. How bout those Yanks? 27/08
Think about it: legislating is hard, complex work.
Wouldn’t you rather think about baseball and football once in a while?
I do think there is a potential public health issue on steroids, worthy of some attention (though not nearly as much as ANY of the issues you cite, Peter).
I think it will prove helpful to our nation’s student athletes if pro sports implement rigorous testing and become serious about stopping PED use.
Congress going after past PED users? Does nothing for our kids.
Going after video tapes? See my post above.
Not that I don’t appreciate the baseball, but I think that was your best post yet.
Rockin’ Rich is right, Specter was the brains behind the Magic Bullet theory. i wonder if Specter has also been advising the dictator of Pakistan on inventive assassination theories.
here’s one that’s a tad more worthy of Congressional oversight – from the London Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/t.....137695.ece
Representative Waxman knows about this, but for some reason isn’t investigating. you’d think that apparently credible allegations of moles in the US government aiding the spread of nuclear proliferation might be more important than grilling Chuck Knoblauch on HGH shots from 7 years ago:
http://letsibeledmondsspeak.blogspot.com/
Sorry ahead of time….
Mark Alan,
There is a recession looming, pay attention.
I think Pete might have been referring to Osama Bin Laden.
Also, everyone leave John Edwards alone, good dude, I volunteered for the campaign up here in New Hamsphire.
It was a good time, well worth it.
Back to baseball…..
Zack…
Sorry to interject another little bit of information; The government should stay out of our lives, they tell us what car we can drive, what food to eat, where we can smoke, etc. They want to run us from birth till after death…See Death Tax.
Hold strong…
Here is a novel idea; Educate our own kids first!
Paul Fiore…
Gas prices are about the same as they were in the 80s…check out inflation.
The wealthiest 1% of the people pay almost 1/3rd of the taxes, The top 1/3 (including aforementioned) pay over 1/2 the taxes of the USA. Where do you get off saying the middle class pay most of the taxes? Word…Kool-aid.
Don’t get me going on politicians, I was one. for a short while. I (being in the Army almost, my whole life) couldn’t get along very well with the backbiting etc. Two in a row. 27/08
Yo Abraham,
Do you think Specter is dumb enough to open his mouth if he doesn’t already have the goods?
And re: your list of priorities, Congressional action is about 10X more likely to compound those issues vs. solving them.
And you know where the price of gas is going? Quit LoHud and trade gasoline futures!!!
Politicians should butt out. But journalists have really fallen down here. If Goodell had nothing to hide why did he destroy the tapes. Are we suppose to accept his word that he was satisfied that all is OK because the tapes just supported the Pats story. Now is this the deal — Pats did illegal taping in 2006 only (the year they did not go to the Super Bowl) not any in earlier years — they never benefited from illegal taping in any prior Super Bowl years. Excuse me I just think the NFL explanation is a little too neat, a little too much of move along nothing to see here policing. I just think Goodell’s actions just feeds into this narrative and the sporting press just went along.
Because of the war and recession, laws should be broken.
Mark Alan,
Khalid Shiekh Mohammed is one operative. Nabbing him is of course great, but it hardly is “Mission Accomplished” in terms of nabbing the 9/11 culprits. There’s, like, bin Laden apparently running around in western Pakistan.
Come on admit it, having Bush follow up on 9/11 has been pretty much like bringing in Armando Benitez in a big spot.
There’s nothing more hilarious than a pats* fan trig to defend his team by changing the topic completely.
PETE, your team, as an organization, was caught cheating. I guess you forgot that little fact.
thank u pete. screw sports….goverments do not exist to govern entertainment. its riduclous how much attention the goverment is giving steroids and now this.
What people don’t understand is that Spygate and Brady’s fake cast affects the Vegas Line which involves the transfer of nearly a billion dollars.
There are countless people out there who bet on football who can’t even name one player on either team. That’s why Washington’s involved, if you don’t think so, you’re naive.
Pete,
Yeah, and sports players should give all of their money to feed the hungry and George Bush’s daughters should go fight in Iraq…in a perfect world. Hell, shouldn’t you spend your Sunday and all that Super Bowl food down at the food bank? Not gonna do it though are you? I know I know, its his job, he’s a senator. But, a major part of his job is also making sure that our system of government and economics works properly and as I already noted, antitrust laws have been at the foundation of both of those for the past century. I’m sure Spector could be visiting with military families too. As Holdstrong notes, yours is a fallacy, the one doesn’t exclude the other and never has. If it appears that the NFL violated the antitrust exemption, it is 100% in congress’ right and duty to investigate it. Just because it is in the entertainment business doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful or economically significant. It’s a huge business. If the cable companies had been caught destroying some evidence that possibly showed them practicing unfair business, everyone would be up in arms. Well, what’s the difference?
Old Ranger: This has always been the government’s jurisdiction. The sports teams wanted the exemption, they got it. But that comes with having congress as the boss of bosses. Without antitrust laws, you have monopolies and the customer gets screwed, so be careful what you wish for…
“Hold strong…
Here is a novel idea; Educate our own kids first!”
I’d like to think you were cleverly making my point for me, but I think instead you just lost the point. These things are not either / or
Politicians always do this for get on the page of newspaper in order to get more votes.
my fault… for getting…
There is no satisfactory explanation why the NFL immediately destroyed those tapes. A lot of people care what’s going on in the NFL (which btw is a multi-billion dollar business) and a lot of people are asking themselves what the NFL (and the Patriots) had to hide. Because the act of immediately destroying those tapes clearly indicates that there was something to hide. So in the end it’s a matter of public interest. And don’t you think the Senator of Pennsylvania, home of the team that lost a Superbowl to the Patriots, should be interested in shedding light into that mystery (if you can give me a satisfactory answer why they destroyed those taped, please go on)? Especially as a lot of people from Pennsylvania will wonder if the NFL wants to cover up cheating in Superbowl XXXIX.
Therefore your arguments are pretty lame, Peter, as usually when it comes to downplaying the Patriots spying scandal.
Pete –
It’s the anti-trust exemption enjoyed by both MLB and the NFL that should scare you — because of it, Congress has the power to oversee the goings-on in those sports. And the Congress has the power to suspend their business/seasons along with inquiring about any questionable business practices.
I’ve also found it very interesting that you and some of the fans seem to have had no concerns about the clubhouses being turned into drug houses while players injested illegal substances.
Yes, Pete, you are a journalist, not an elected official. So what? Why not give up the Yankee beat and report on all of these social ills you obviously feel so passionate about? You have a cool job, and you do it well, but no one is forcing you to do it. You’re a good writer. Why not shine a light on some of these “clowns” in congress?
Look, I don’t like Sen. Specter. And I’m not really rah-rah for these investigations. But congress has power over interstate commerce, of which the NFL and MLB are a part. If the MLB issued credit cards, or made cars, or underwrote insurance, no one would care – just congress doing their jobs. Why should it make a difference that MLB’s business is a form of entertainment? Somehow sports business should be exempt from congressional oversight?
Yeah, whatever…In other news, I see you’ve started running ads for Don Mattingly’s baseball equipment racket. Nice to see you finally admitting you’re basically on The Hit Man’s payroll, after shilling for his preposterous managerial candidacy all last summer. Maybe you should start a legal defense fund for his upcoming divorce proceeding.
Respectfully, I disagree with the post. Baseball (or football for that matter) is not exempt from the rest of the world. There are many things all of us could be doing with our time that could be described as “better” since that is very subjective word. “Spygate” probably would not be as important as the Steroid/PED issue. I do not believe that baseball has done enough to address this issue which invites external scrunity. However, as a Yankee fan, I do agree that the selection of Red Sox part-owner George Mitchell was not the best choice and I do believe that the report was seriously flawed.
Randy Johnson, Jaret Wright, Carl Pavano, Javi Vazguez, Jose Contereas, Kevin Brown, Jeff Weaver, Roger Clemems in 2007, John Liber,and Kyle Farnsworth are pitches the Yankees have invested so much money into. How have those contracts worked out?
The Yankees fel those pitchers deserved their respected big money contracts but now they do not feel Johan Santana, the BEST PITCHER IN BASEBALL, isn’t worth the money? Is this a mirror Universe or something?
Has no one here figured it out yet? The tapes were(supposedly) destroyed before the order came down from congress.
zack:
Please refrain from giving us a lesson on congressional oversight of the antitrust laws. This is a blatant attempt at grandstanding by another idiot politician. The media announced the destruction of these “spygate tapes” back in September. So why is Specter bringing this issue up 2 days before SuperBowl XLII?
If Specter is so concerned about this Country’s ecomonics, start by investigating the oil companies…or is that treading on sacred ground?
Zack/Hold Strong…
Both of you have valid points. There has to be Gov. for somethings. But for every right you give up “To The Gov”, the more they run your life. I’ve seen it, up close an personal.
What did your parents tell you when you were young…do not argue Politics or religion? I think we all have made that big mistake here. Both of you are good guys, no name calling or child like rants, this is good. No one ever wins, let’s get back to baseball. 27/08.
The steroid stuff has clearly gotten out of hand at this point. MLB has done what Congress has ‘demanded’ insofar as implementing steroid testing, so what else do they want from them? This isn’t like apartheid South Africa where a truth commission is needed to heal past wounds. No one outside this little union-busting cabal cares.
But, c’mon, Pete, at least admit that the reason for your rant is because you are a Patriots fan. Someone above pointed out pretty reasonably why Arlen Specter is investigating the NFL for an act of apparent impropriety. Congress has the power and the need to act as oversight for these huge billion dollar businesses, and it’s disingenuous to pretend that — just because Specter said he’d like to devote some of his committee time to the NFL — he’s not spending any time on any of this.
Sometimes you sports people let yourselves get way too insulated against the outside world.
And worst of all, the War Criminal remains un-impeached.
If he’s so worried about tapes being destroyed why isn’t he talking to the CIA about their little bit of fun with their video camera. Why isn’t he searching out all the WMD still not found in Iraq. Why isn’t he talking to the telecom companies who handed over private records without a court order. Why isn’t he … oh that’s right if he concentrates on the the NFL maybe we won’t think or talk about those about those things either. That’s great Arlen you just keep doing what it is you do best: carrying other peoples water.
Thomas Paine said: “That government is best which governs least.”
But then again, as Daniel Webster puts it:
“There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.”
Other issues are too nuanced and complex and involve too many moneyed opponents. Thus, our “leaders” in Congress turn to an issue where they can more easily vent their righteous indignation and appear to act with unanimity and purpose. Enter George Mitchell and Baseball. As is the case in most things Congress does, it is the easiest things which get full attention and all the rest is but wretched compromise.
Because the NFL has an anti-trust exemption, Congress has every right to investigate whether the league office is hiding something in regards to the whether games have been fundamentally corrupted by cheating. And if the Pats have been videotaping signals for years and it affected a Super Bowl, then how can you blame Congress for wanting to know why the NFL doesnt release this information to the public. It is very obvious that Goodell destroyed the tapes because he didnt want the information discovered. If the Pats didnt do anything wrong then full disclosure would have nipped the issue in the bud as soon as the Pats turned over the tapes. But clearly there is more here than meets the eye and Goodell should have to answer tough questions about why he didnt talk to Matt Walsh, a guy who worked in the videotaping department for the Pats, that claims to have information about the Pats videotaping practices.
LathamJoe:
if you read the articles, it tells you that, in fact, he has sent multiple letters and tried to contact the commish and hasn’t received a response. Next question?
What it comes down to is that people seem to think that the entertainment industry is somehow not a business, or a business that is exempt from operating as any other, even though it pulls in billions of our hard earned dollars. That type of attitude is exactly the reason Congress has oversight, since they have virtual monopolies and are basically granted carte-blanche by the customers.
Do you think Ron Paul would allow this foolishness if he were President? Sure wouldn’t.
for those of you who think these sports investigations are something Congress should pursue, have you given any thought to the fact that these things cost you money?
taxes have to pay for every moment of investigation. Every single cent put towards an investigation either means higher taxes or taking from some other program.
So, since resources are finite, when you support these particular investigations, you are saying that it’s better to spend the applicable money on them than on other unresolved priorities.
Take your pick of unresolved issues – feeding the hungry, paying down the trillions of debt that this country owes, restoring housing to those in New Orleans who are still displaced by the failure of the Federal government’s levees, getting better armor to the troops in Iraq, giving the troops better pay, giving the wounded troops better care, reducing costs that would let you reduce taxes without causing a deficit.
So, you are de facto saying that it’s better to put the applicable resources – and time and attention – towards investigating NFL teams spying on each other, or some players taking PEDs or HGH 7-8 years ago, than on these, or any other issue.
Seriously, can you US-guys stop whining about gas prices? Guess what, the rest of the world has always been paying 3.50 per gallon. In central Europe, one gallon of unleaded fuel is about $6.50 now.
So get used to it.
Amen, Pete!!
Glad someone is saying it…it’s like the elephant in the room. I want to know why more media types like yourself aren’t saying the same thing.
I’m holding my breadth for the 13th. The whole event is sure to be a circus and will be yet another opportunity for these politicians/egomaniacs to get their faces/voices on tv. Hello, Joe Biden??
Yuck.
wait a minute so its nothing if someone is going to go testify due to steroids use, but god for bid if its cheating that is not a physical advantage its not necessary. cmon
You’re on point Peter, but I hate to say, if it wasn’t your beloved Pats being implicated here, there would be no post of this nature.
Otherwise, keep up the good work.
I’m a strong Democrat and agree with few of Arlen Specter’s votes but a clown he is not.
Senator Specter is far from a clown, and runs a very efficient committee.
Apparently few posters on this blog have any understanding of what Senators and Congressmen do. They represent their constituents who have elected them to serve. They follow the Constitution of the United States.
Some of the comments made here are inane.
Pete,
I agree that the government should not get involved in things that have nothing to do with them, i.e. professional sports. Public officials sticking their noses into private businesses is absolutely terrifying. I mean this involvement seems mild but I bet Castro’s involvement in things that weren’t his business once seemed mild too. This is how it starts….
That said, as a Pennsylvania resident, not only is Arlen Specter HARDLY a clown, but aren’t you from MA? You feel okay about calling Specter a clown when you have that drunken murderous scumbag Teddy Kennedy as your state senator??
Also, how come Patriots fans didn’t seem to mind in September when John Kerry was sticking his nose in on their behalf, urging for the Week 17 game against my G-MEN to be nationally televised? Shouldn’t he have had more important stuff on his mind too, just like Specter?
I agree he is wrong here, but you want a clown? I give you your MA homeboy Kennedy. And if you want a clown in PA, I give you Mayor John Street. Specter is not a villian, he’s just wrong.
“didn’t seem to mind in September”
*in December, that is…where’s that edit button?
FYI Everyone – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell knows that he has made a mistake. His late Father was Senator Charles Goodell (R.NY)
This isn’t about football or baseball. It’s a business issue. The reason Congress is getting involved is because the sports and entertainment business is one of the biggest businesses and markets in the country. When the credibility of something as big as sports comes into question it’s a huge issue. Enron, insider trading, its all the same. When business ethics is in question the government has to get involved. This isnt a politcal issue, its the leading and most publicized issue in the entertainment industry. It’s not pointless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHEO_fG3mm4
I think there is one way that Goodell can make this all better. Specter said the punishment was too light. Goodell should suspend Coach Bill for 48 hours, effective immediately.
:0
Go Giants!
Pete,
FYI. In 2006, Time Magazine named Arlen Specter one of the 10 best Senators. He is one of the most well respected and effective Senators that this country has ever produced.
With that said, you are right, the spygate thing should be left alone.
Time magazine? LOL!
They also publish Joe Klein a/k/a Joke Line.
Case closed.
You forgot to add that while your Nero-like elected reps concern themselves with jockstrap trivialities there are a least six sections of the country, including California, New England and, of course, Dixie (where secession is always in vogue) who have formed secessionist movements because they feel they’re not getting true representation from D.C. Go figure.
Southron
I’m sorry, Catherine; but you say, “when business ethics is [are?] in question, the government has to get involved”;
As in, the U.S. Congress should be the supreme judge of what is and what is not ethical behavior? From this, can I assume that you are either the most ingenious person in all of the Western Hemosphere or you have been in an isolation tank for the last twenty-five years.
Southron
Amen.
This sideshow is garbage. Anyone attending this publicity circus isn’t fit to represent their constituency.
Hey, I’ve read this blog for quite a while but this is my first comment.
Great posting. I almost always roll my eyes when sports writers talk about politics, but I think this is a rare exception.
And let me add this:
Specter’s number two campaign contributor is Comcast. And his #1 contributor is a PAC set up by the law firm that represents Comcast. In that light, it’s not all that surprising that the Senator is taking an inordinate interest in the NFL’s broadcasting deals.