Executives from Major League Baseball were in front of the Senate's Commerce Committee today to discuss selling the league's Extra Innings TV package exclusively to DirecTV.
The hearing was called by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), who had this to say:
"Baseball is an integral part of our culture. Sports leagues have tremendous market power. What we need to do is make sure that market power works in the public interest."
My take: People think they have a God-given right to watch their favorite sports teams. Not so. Baseball knows this is not a popular move but has still chosen to go through with the deal. There's nothing wrong with that.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
More Obama-Arenas thoughts
Swampland -- a political blog run by Time -- has joined in on the Barack Obama-Gilbert Arenas chatter.
Check it out here.
Check it out here.
The Givers: NFL -- NFC East
It's time for another installment of The Givers -- an examination of how high-ranking sports executives donate their money to political candidates and organizations. All these figures are for the 2006 election cycle, courtesy of OpenSecrets.org.
Today we move to the NFC, starting with the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones (Owner) -- $5,850 total: $2,100 to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), $3,750 to defeated Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia)
New York Giants
Steve Tisch (Owner) -- $40,900 total: $26,700 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $4,200 to Sen. Hilary Clinton (D-New York)
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffrey Lurie (Owner) -- $9,800 total: $5,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $700 to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pennsylvania), $2,000 to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York), $2,100 to Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pennsylvania)
Washington Redskins
Daniel Snyder (Owner) -- $63,200 total: $50,000 to the Republican National Committee, $5,000 to the Republican Party of Virginia, $4,200 to defeated Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia), $4,000 to defeated Senate candidate Michael Steele (R-Maryland)
The lesson: Daniel Snyder represents D.C. well and doesn't disappoint. He's the clubhouse leader in the NFC right now.
Today we move to the NFC, starting with the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones (Owner) -- $5,850 total: $2,100 to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), $3,750 to defeated Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia)
New York Giants
Steve Tisch (Owner) -- $40,900 total: $26,700 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $4,200 to Sen. Hilary Clinton (D-New York)
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffrey Lurie (Owner) -- $9,800 total: $5,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $700 to Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pennsylvania), $2,000 to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York), $2,100 to Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pennsylvania)
Washington Redskins
Daniel Snyder (Owner) -- $63,200 total: $50,000 to the Republican National Committee, $5,000 to the Republican Party of Virginia, $4,200 to defeated Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia), $4,000 to defeated Senate candidate Michael Steele (R-Maryland)
The lesson: Daniel Snyder represents D.C. well and doesn't disappoint. He's the clubhouse leader in the NFC right now.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Barack Obama could score 85 points on Duke
Dan Shanoff, formerly of ESPN.com's Page 2, had a great post this afternoon comparing Barack Obama to Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards.
A personal favorite of mine is that Arenas actually refers to himself as "The Black President" on his MySpace Page.
Shanoff makes a pretty strong argument actually, noting that both might be the most talented people in their respective fields but are not the frontrunners for the top prize (MVP, the presidency).
The one distinction I would draw, however, is that Arenas comes off as selfish sometimes, taking too many shots. Obama, on the other hand, comes off as overly humble, arguing that he is running for president because of the will of the people, not for his own personal glory.
A personal favorite of mine is that Arenas actually refers to himself as "The Black President" on his MySpace Page.
Shanoff makes a pretty strong argument actually, noting that both might be the most talented people in their respective fields but are not the frontrunners for the top prize (MVP, the presidency).
The one distinction I would draw, however, is that Arenas comes off as selfish sometimes, taking too many shots. Obama, on the other hand, comes off as overly humble, arguing that he is running for president because of the will of the people, not for his own personal glory.
The Givers: NFL -- AFC West
It's time for another installment of The Givers -- an examination of how high-ranking sports executives donate their money to political candidates and organizations. All these figures are for the 2006 election cycle, courtesy of OpenSecrets.org.
Today we look at the NFL's AFC West
Denver Broncos
Pat Bowlen (Owner) -- $1,000 total: $1,000 to Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colorado)
Kansas City Chiefs
Clark Hunt (Onwer) -- $5,100 total: $2,100 to defeated Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia), $2,000 to the Missouri Republican Party, $1,000 to Volunteer PAC (former Sen. Bill Frist's (R-Tennessee) PAC)
Carl Peterson (GM) -- $29,750 total: $14,700 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, $5,000 to Good Government of America (George Allen's PAC), $5,200 to George Allen, $2,100 to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Missouri), $2,000 to the Republican National Committee, $750 to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
Oakland Raiders
Owner Al Davis, GM Michael Lombardi and former coach Art Shell didn't win this season. They also didn't give to political candidates.
San Diego Chargers
Alex Spanos (Owner) -- $92,633 total: $25,000 National Republican Congressional Committee, $25,000 to the Republican National Committee, $7,100 to Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada), $4,833 to the Greek-American PAC, $4,200 George Allen, $2,100 to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), $2,100 to Sen. Bob Corker(R-Tennessee), $4,200 to Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-California), $2,000 to Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida), $2,000 to the 21st Century Freedom PAC (former N.Y. Gov. George Pataki's PAC), $4,000 to Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), $1,000 to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California), $1,000 to former Sen. John Sarbanes (D-Maryland), $1,000 to defeated Senatorial candidate Michael Steele (R-Maryland), $500 to Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Illinois), $1,000 to Rep. Dennis Cardonza (D-California)
The lesson: If you run for office, you can get money from Alex Spanos
Today we look at the NFL's AFC West
Denver Broncos
Pat Bowlen (Owner) -- $1,000 total: $1,000 to Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colorado)
Kansas City Chiefs
Clark Hunt (Onwer) -- $5,100 total: $2,100 to defeated Sen. George Allen (R-Virginia), $2,000 to the Missouri Republican Party, $1,000 to Volunteer PAC (former Sen. Bill Frist's (R-Tennessee) PAC)
Carl Peterson (GM) -- $29,750 total: $14,700 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, $5,000 to Good Government of America (George Allen's PAC), $5,200 to George Allen, $2,100 to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Missouri), $2,000 to the Republican National Committee, $750 to Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
Oakland Raiders
Owner Al Davis, GM Michael Lombardi and former coach Art Shell didn't win this season. They also didn't give to political candidates.
San Diego Chargers
Alex Spanos (Owner) -- $92,633 total: $25,000 National Republican Congressional Committee, $25,000 to the Republican National Committee, $7,100 to Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada), $4,833 to the Greek-American PAC, $4,200 George Allen, $2,100 to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), $2,100 to Sen. Bob Corker(R-Tennessee), $4,200 to Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-California), $2,000 to Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida), $2,000 to the 21st Century Freedom PAC (former N.Y. Gov. George Pataki's PAC), $4,000 to Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), $1,000 to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California), $1,000 to former Sen. John Sarbanes (D-Maryland), $1,000 to defeated Senatorial candidate Michael Steele (R-Maryland), $500 to Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Illinois), $1,000 to Rep. Dennis Cardonza (D-California)
The lesson: If you run for office, you can get money from Alex Spanos
Thursday, February 8, 2007
David Wright dines with Dubya
The New York Post had a story today about New York Mets all-star David Wright eating dinner with George W. Bush at the White House this past Monday, along with San Diego's Trevor Hoffman, Toronto's Vernon Wells, Cubs manager Lou Piniella, broadcaster Tim McCarver and journalist/baseball nut George Will.
Here's Wright's take on the meal:
"The president was so approachable and knew everything that's going on with the Mets," he said. "The man definitely knows his baseball."
Bush certainly knows his hardball. His past career with the Texas Rangers has been well documented. In fact, I think that Bush's ties to baseball played a role in his election as president in 2000.
In many other situations, this would be a cool experience. It would be endearing to see a president take a break from dining with heads of state to meet with a bunch of baseball players from humble roots. But at this moment in US history, with the nation in two bloody wars, I think this type of meeting hurts the president's image.
Whereas most times a politician associates himself with sports it makes him seem like a man of the people, here it just makes Bush look silly. It seems like he should have bigger things on his plate.
Here's Wright's take on the meal:
"The president was so approachable and knew everything that's going on with the Mets," he said. "The man definitely knows his baseball."
Bush certainly knows his hardball. His past career with the Texas Rangers has been well documented. In fact, I think that Bush's ties to baseball played a role in his election as president in 2000.
In many other situations, this would be a cool experience. It would be endearing to see a president take a break from dining with heads of state to meet with a bunch of baseball players from humble roots. But at this moment in US history, with the nation in two bloody wars, I think this type of meeting hurts the president's image.
Whereas most times a politician associates himself with sports it makes him seem like a man of the people, here it just makes Bush look silly. It seems like he should have bigger things on his plate.
The Givers: NFL -- AFC South
It's time for another installment of The Givers -- an examination of how high-ranking sports executives donate their money to political candidates and organizations. All these figures are for the 2006 election cycle, courtesy of OpenSecrets.org.
Today we look at the NFL's AFC South
Houston Texans
Robert McNair (Owner) -- $91,500 total: $50,000 to the Republican National Committee, $20,000 to the Texas Republican Congressional Committee, $5,000 to the National Thouroughbred Racing Association, $4,200 to former Rep. Tom Delay (R-Texas), $2,100 to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), $2,100 to former Rep. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (R-Texas), $3,100 to defeated Illinois Congressional candidate David McSweeney (R), $1,000 to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), $1,000 to Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), $1,000 to former Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas), $1,000 to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), $1,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky
Indianapolis Colts
Jim Irsay (Owner) -- $20,100 total: $16,000 to the Democratic Party of Marion County, Indiana, $2,100 to Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana), $2,000 to Rep. Julia Carson (D-Indiana)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Wayne Weaver (Owner) -- $4,000 total: $2,500 to Volunteer PAC (Bill Frist's PAC), $500 to Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Florida), $500 to former Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Florida), $500 to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Florida)
Tennessee Titans
Bud Adams (Owner) -- $2,000 total: $2,000 to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)
The lessons: 1) Bob McNair is a political heavyweight in the Republican Party. How the hell did Jim Clyburn, a Democrat, get money from him? 2) Jim Irsay scored a double victory this year. The lone Democrat in this division not only won a Super Bowl title, but also won control of the House and Senate.
Today we look at the NFL's AFC South
Houston Texans
Robert McNair (Owner) -- $91,500 total: $50,000 to the Republican National Committee, $20,000 to the Texas Republican Congressional Committee, $5,000 to the National Thouroughbred Racing Association, $4,200 to former Rep. Tom Delay (R-Texas), $2,100 to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), $2,100 to former Rep. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (R-Texas), $3,100 to defeated Illinois Congressional candidate David McSweeney (R), $1,000 to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), $1,000 to Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), $1,000 to former Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas), $1,000 to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), $1,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky
Indianapolis Colts
Jim Irsay (Owner) -- $20,100 total: $16,000 to the Democratic Party of Marion County, Indiana, $2,100 to Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana), $2,000 to Rep. Julia Carson (D-Indiana)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Wayne Weaver (Owner) -- $4,000 total: $2,500 to Volunteer PAC (Bill Frist's PAC), $500 to Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Florida), $500 to former Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Florida), $500 to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Florida)
Tennessee Titans
Bud Adams (Owner) -- $2,000 total: $2,000 to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)
The lessons: 1) Bob McNair is a political heavyweight in the Republican Party. How the hell did Jim Clyburn, a Democrat, get money from him? 2) Jim Irsay scored a double victory this year. The lone Democrat in this division not only won a Super Bowl title, but also won control of the House and Senate.
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