Sen. Lankford seeks to end federal subsidies to professional sports stadiums

Lankford Wants to Stop Federal Subsidies to Professional Sports Stadiums

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 14) – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the No Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act, a bill to end generous federal subsidies for professional sports stadiums. The bill would close a loophole in the tax code that allows professional sports teams to finance new stadiums with municipal bonds that are exempt from federal taxes. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is leading the bill’s introduction in the House of Representatives.

Amid NFL protests, Fort Gibson football team takes the field in a different way

In the midst of the ongoing controversy over the National Anthem at football games, with college and even high-school players now joining the new "fad" of protesting, the Fort Gibson (OK) High football team took a different approach at their home game against Poteau last night:


Thanks to Payton Fore Photography for the photo.

Video:

Eddie Huff on National Anthem protests: what did Hitler think?

Former KFAQ host Eddie Huff posted these thoughts on the NFL national anthem protests, and I just had to share it:

"For all of those who think the anthem is a symbol of white superiority and oppression, and think President DJT is a racist beneficiary of "White Privilege," I ask one question.

What do you think Adolf Hitler though of when he heard the American National Anthem? Two words:

JESSE OWENS!!!

The 1936 Olympics in Berlin were to showcase Aryan superiority but Jesse Owens, a BLACK, AMERICAN, athlete, Pee'd all over that in winning a record 4 Gold Medals.

Imagine Hitler's demeanor each time Jesse stood on that podium above Hitler's specimens of white superiority. I will bet that Hitler had the Star Spangled Banner banned.

It was not the flag and anthem of Germany, France, Russia, Arab or even African nation that was played. It was the Anthem of the United States of America. Jesse returned HOME to receive a "Ticker Tape Parade" celebrated as national hero.

So the next time a person tells you that the Flag and Anthem are racist symbols, ask them what Hitler thought about that."

Coburn still being felt: NFL to drop tax-exempt status

Although he is no longer in the U.S. Senate, Tom Coburn's influence is still being felt. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo today that announced the league's office is dropping their tax-exempt status.

Several years ago, Dr. Coburn began to push for eliminating tax-exempt status for professional sports organizations. The status made it into editions of Coburn's annual Wastebook catalogue of wasteful government spending. Since Coburn's retirement, a growing number of members of Congress have taken the issue up.

Goodell called the tax-exempt status "a distraction", and said dropping it would not greatly affect operations at the NFL's central office.

OU Goes 1, 3, 4 and 21 in 1st Round of NFL Draft

Former OU Sooners players were hot items in the first round of the NFL Draft, which took place this evening.

Quarterback Sam Bradford was the first pick, going to the St. Louis Rams. He became the first quarterback from the Big 12 to be the first draft choice.

Number two went to Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska.

Number three was defensive tackle Gerald McCoy of OU, who went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Number four was offensive lineman Trent Williams of OU, who was chosen by the Washington Redskins.

Also picked in the first round were Russell Okung of Oklahoma State (number 6), Jermaine Gresham of OU (pick number 21), Dez Bryant of OSU (number 24), and Tim Tebow of Florida (number 25).

Bradford To Have Surgery, Enter NFL Draft

OU Sooners Quarterback Sam Bradford has elected to receive season-ending surgery on his injured shoulder, and plans to enter the 2010 NFL Draft, according to a press release from OU this afternoon.

According to OKBlitz.com, Bradford will be holding a press conference on Monday at 6pm to talk about his decision.

Dumb Athlete Alert: MLB Edition

Dumb Athlete Alert: MLB Edition - by the Muskogee Politico
or, Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

Major League athletes make a lot of money, no matter how good they are, or how famous they are. After all, the minimum salary in Major League Baseball is $390,000, $457,588 in the NBA, and $310,000 in the NFL. How's that for a minimum wage?

And that's just the base salary. Oakland Raiders' cornerback Nnambi Asomugha will make $28,500,000 next year - the highest in the NFL (so far). Boston Celtic's forward Kevin Garnett makes the most in the NBA, at a mere $24,751,934. The New York Yankees third-baseman Alex Rodriguez rounds out the major sports with a MLB-leading salary of $28,000,000.

So when an athlete makes money by the boatload like that, why is it that some of them put all their eggs in one basket?

Case in point: MLB players Scott Eyre, Johnny Damon, Xavier Nady, and Mike Pelfrey. These players all had accounts with Stanford Financial. The federal government has frozen Stanford's assets, and the SEC has charged Stanford with running an 8 billion-dollar scam, or Ponzi scheme.

Enter the 'eggs in one basket' problem.

Xavier Nady, salary of $6.5M, can't buy a new apartment because his credit card accounts are frozen due to the Stanford Financial situation.

Johnny Damon, salary $13M this season, doesn't have the cash to pay his bills or mortgage.

Mike Pelfrey, who made $1,987,500 in 2008, says that 99% of his money is tied up with Stanford Financial. He's having to use a small account with Bank of America to pay his bills.

And now, for the best of all - Scott Eyre. He made $3.8M in 2008. He has $13 in his wallet (that's right, thirteen dollars). His checks are bouncing, and if if takes a week or two to get his money from Stanford, he'll have to borrow from his teammates.

Just one more reason why you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket, especially when you have a lot of them.