Thursday, February 8, 2007

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.

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