Posted on 02/02/2014 5:37:21 AM PST by cambyses
The other day I got an email from a liberal friend of mine asking to sign up a petition to end the NFL's "charity" tax break. In the same day watching TV, - I believe was MCNBC- the commentator, interviewed some old famous football players, tray to convince the audience how danger is the American football. And to support his "concept", he kept quoting several times pres Obama :If a have a son I would not let him play pro football". Is that an attack of the liberals on the American football or I am too sensitive?
FWIW, I wouldn’t want my sons playing football; injuries they sustain as kids can be with them for the rest of their lives. If they were serious about it, I would consider it; I wouldn’t encourage it at all. You also have to be on top of things medically; I wouldn’t trust a team doctor at all.
Message: "Nice franchise youse got here. Be a shame to see anything happen to it."
I think these are two distinct issues. I think the fact the NFL, not the individual teams, get this “exemption” is a horrible misjustice. Let me see, the Commissioner earns 30 million a year? How is that worthy of an exemption from the organization paying tax? If they pay him, or her, such a salary, they can afford to pay some sort of tax IMO. What do they do with the remainder of the money?? I believe they file some kind of return, a 990 perhaps, so what portion of the return goes to salary and what percentage to “good works”. It is a sham IMO.
On the issue of football, yet there is and has been, a move to lessen the damage to individual players. Yes, a lot of individuals get hurt, some seriously, at an early stage in life and they carry these throughout life. On the other side, this is a voluntary activity. IMO, once you know the risks, or your parents do, and you are allowed to do so, I have no problem with it. How does this differ say from Skiing for instance? Anyone consider the number of broken bones and those killed hitting trees every year? If they ban football or make it unwatchable, how can they let skiing go uncontrolled or even swimming in your own pool? No, we don’t want the government sticking its nose in here. Not on my watch.
Seeking to end NFL’s charity tax break is a conservative act.
The politicians thump their chests over this issue, but in the end not one extra dollar of tax will be extracted from football. Far better would be pressure on cities and states to not build new stadiums but force the teams to build them if the want them.
Don’t all pro (and college) sports still rely on 50% deductibility for tickets and luxury boxes?
It would be great if football would be gone. Maybe the high schools could start to focus on education. Maybe the nation’s males could get out of their chairs and act like men.
Idiotic comment.
If not football, sports enthusiasts will find other outlets, and violence is one of the draws. Ever watched a hockey game? Heard of gladiators? This has been common since ancient times.
FWIW, football is often a money-maker for high schools, and a vehicle for keeping kids in school. In Texas, if you don’t pass all your classes, you are off the team until academics improve.
Spoken as the parent of three sons, all of whom played football, and who now have five engineering degrees among themselves and very good incomes. All products of Texas public high schools and universities.
You need to lighten up.
Some old quarterback guy named Michael Nesmith or something. Did they talk to, what's his name, Joe Dakota?
men are becoming too strong. Either because of better work out or because of Juicing. Some of these football players are huge. And Equipment cant keep up.
You can make all the rule changes you want. But all it takes is one cheap shot, or even a innocent but powerful hit and its lights out.
The NFL is a non-profit corporation.
The Real Super Bowl Question: Should The NFL Be A Nonprofit?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomwatson/2014/01/30/the-real-super-bowl-question-should-the-nfl-be-a-nonprofit/
The National Football League takes in more than $9.5 billion per year and is exempt from Federal taxes. As a nonprofit, it earns more than the Y, the Red Cross, Goodwill, the Salvation Army or Catholic Charities – yet it stands as one of the greatest profit-generating commercial advertising, entertainment and media enterprises ever created.
For the love of Richard Sherman, how can this be?
An arcane tax code change that eased the 1966 merger of the NFL with the old American Football League landed the new combined entity in section 501(c)6 of the tax code, designated as an industry association. The designation actually covers “chambers of commerce, real estate boards, boards of trade, and professional football leagues.” This does not cover the league’s 32 individual franchises, which also rake in billions.
(more at the link.)
sorry....I do not remember their names. I was focused on the “message” the commentator try to spread.
I (successfully) discouraged my boys from playing football. My reasoning was that they were of roughly average size, and the pileups are huge. Instead, they played hockey--where the damage is usually done one on one.
No problem. Just joking around.
The NFL is not a "charity." It is a non-profit corporation that doesn't pay any taxes because all of the net income accrues to the individual teams that comprise the NFL, not the National Football League itself. The league derives just enough "income" from its member franchises to pay its own administrative costs.
The players are getting bigger, and the physics just don;t work; a human body is just not designed to absorb those impacts repeatedly. The worst part of it is that is doesn’t have to be a cheap shot, just a run-of-the-mill play.
The federal government is infinitely more dangerous and destructive than football. And participation is not optional.
The federal government is infinitely more dangerous and destructive than football. And participation is not optional.
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