Senator wants Spygate explanation
I love Sen. Arlen Specter. Mainly because he's a thorn in the side of the NFL. It was Specter and colleague Sen. Pat Leahy who helped pry loose the regular season-ending game featuring the Giants and the Patriots that the NFL insisted would remain exclusive to the NFL Network and a few other outlets. In the end, everyone with a TV was able able to see the historic game.
Now, during Super Bowl Week, Specter is on the NFL's case again. This time, he wants some explanation about Spygate. He's upset that the NFL destroyed those tapes so he wants to have a hearing or something and drag Roger Goodell down to Washington to answer a few questions
Well, I've already gotten an e-mail from a Washington attorney wanting to explain why Specter is all wet and over-reaching in his authority as a U.S. senator. Yeah, I probably agree, but I'm still enjoying it because at the end of the day, here's the important thing ... the words are Specter's:
"The NFL has a very preferred status in our country with their antitrust exemption. The American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game."
Actually, the American public is entitled to a lot regarding the NFL because without that antitrust exemption these franchises wouldn't be worth eighty-bazillion dollars.
Besides, I want to see Bill Belichick try to brush off questions from that senate committee Specter sits on.
Comments
I dont believe any other sport is allowed anti-trust exemptions. Yet, NASCAR and others seam to be making money just fine.
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Baseball, I think.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Captain Jack | February 1, 2008 1:09 PM
Yeah, it's not like we wouldn't be wasting money on an issue that was done and over months ago...Let it go! As much as you want it to, it's not going to make that Ravens' loss any easier.
Posted by: Matt Parker | February 1, 2008 2:11 PM
That a Senator is devoting his energies and resources to this when we are entering a recession, have millions of Americans not covered by any form of medical insurance, are seeing unemployment rates rise, and involved in a military conflict consting us over $100 billion annually across the globe is both nauseating and disgusting.
Though the steroids affair in Congress is also another example of, "You guys should have bigger fish to fry," there is at least established law regarding dealing steroids that serves as some justification for our government getting involved. Spygate was a case of a team breaking league rules concerning fair play, not violating federal law.
The leap from the destruction of video tapes at the conclusion of an investigation to violating a federal anti-trust exemption by fixing games is absurd -- though independent media reported on Spygate, it was Goodell's office that allowed it to become a visible controversy to the public and therefore put it in front of the paying fans. Hardly what I'd term a cover-up for games fixing.
It should also be noted that Specter is in bed with Comcast cable, which is has been fighting with the NFL over charging for NFL Network broadcast rights to their subscriber base. Not that an elected official would ever leverage a situation like this for financial reasons, heavens no.
Forget about Spygate, Senator. How about bringing some stability to Iraq so our kids can come home, or attacking the skyrocketing mortgage foreclosure rates to help ensure that they have a home to return to?
(Sorry Bill, but this waste of time really gets me heated).
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Jay,
You make good points on the larger issue of priorities. And whether something like Spygate is worth the effort of a U.S. senator is a fair enough question. The one thing that I'd point out is that Specter has been on the NFL's case about keeping its games on free TV long before there ever was an NFL Network and a fight with the cable industry. Whatever Specter's relationship with Comcast may be, that's an issue that goes back years and years with him.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Jay Maduro | February 2, 2008 10:40 AM
IF THE SENATE GETS INVOLVED THEN IN ALL FAIRNESS THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE ALL POSSIBLE CHEATING. THE STEELER COACH ORDERING HGH IN 2005, THE DOLPHINS HIRING SCHULA ILLEGALLY IN 71, THE JETS CAMERA ANTICS IN THE 2006 PLAYOFFS, THE COWBOYS SPYGATE FOR THEIR SUPERBOWL RUNS(USA TODAY).
THE PATS ACCEPTED THE PENALTIES WITHOUT RIGHT OF APPEAL. LET'S MOVE FWD. THE YANKS HGH/ STEROIDS IN THE LATE 90'S. EVERY TEAM WILL BE BUSTED SO THEN WHAT. SPYGATE IS A STUPID RULE ANYWAY. THE DOLPHINS IN 2006 KNEW BRADY'S AUDIBLES(HOW?)
Posted by: DAN CORKERY | February 2, 2008 3:32 PM
When Donaghey's sports betting allegations came out it was ironically in the off season. They are probably just gearing up to bust Bill for CHEATING!
Peace...Iron Mike
Posted by: Educated Bet | February 2, 2008 9:52 PM