An overall inside view of Raymond James Stadium November 11, 2013 in Tampa, Fla. before an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The promotion was nationally televised on Monday Night Football. 50,000 cards were provided to fans by USAA, the official military appreciation sponsor of the NFL | David Drapkin/AP images for USAA)
Let an athlete express a progressive political view, and the media goes into hysterics to marginalize him. For the owners, however, it is viewed as routine: business as usual, as the following article demonstrates, itemizing how major owners are donating money to Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and others.
The U.S. state protects the status of the owners of private professional sports franchises and enshrines monopoly right in law. They operate essentially as a cartel above the rule of law, while the state passes laws that shower them with more and more privileges so as to keep them in positions of monopoly power. The anti-trust exemption created in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 allows the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball to negotiate radio and TV broadcast rights together, enabling billions in broadcast revenue. Or, for example, they create bidding wars between rival cities offering massive public subsidies and infrastructure to create new and more lucrative stadiums. Commissioners have the power of god over the conduct of the athletes on and off the field and select, pay and fire the umpires to officiate the games according to rules set by the cartel.
In turn, as documented by the recent report titled “Tackling Paid Patriotism,” the Pentagon paid sports teams tens of millions of dollars for allowing the military-intelligence agencies to carry out hundreds of displays of pro-war, pro-military propaganda. From 2012 to 2015 alone, the US government spent $53 million “on marketing and advertising contracts with sports teams,” the report notes. “The majority of the contracts – 72 of the 122 contracts we analyzed – clearly show that DOD [Department of Defense] paid for patriotic tributes at professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer games. These paid tributes included on-field color guard, enlistment and reenlistment ceremonies, performances of the national anthem, full-field flag details, ceremonial first pitches… DOD even paid teams for the ‘opportunity’ to perform surprise welcome home promotions for troops returning from deployments.” All of it is done in the name of enhancing democracy, promoting American exceptionalism and eliminating corruption.
Here is a sampling of where self-serving investment from US sports owners to presidential candidates has been going during the 2016 presidential primary, as the crisis of the democratic institutions in the USA continues to deepen. – TS
By JON SOLOMON*, CBS Sports
(MARCH 11) – Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s endorsement of John Kasich this week is just the latest example of a sports figure supporting a presidential candidate this primary season.
Jeb Bush and Chris Christie were the most popular recipients of NFL donations. But like so many who donated to Bush and Christie, the NFL’s money didn’t mean a thing in the year of Donald Trump.
Bush received at least $1.2 million in donations from NFL owners, according to public financing records located on OpenSecrets.org. Jets owner Woody Johnson was the national finance chairman for Bush’s campaign, which also got support from, among others, Peyton and Eli Manning and NCAA president Mark Emmert.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Hall of Famer Roger Staubach were among those who donated to Christie. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair poured in more than $3 million to six Republican campaigns.
In the NBA, Hillary Clinton has dominated donations, receiving money from commissioner Adam Silver and basketball legend Magic Johnson. The Milwaukee Bucks’ president, general manager and coach all gave to Clinton.
Marlene Ricketts, the matriarch of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs, has funded about $5 million to super political action committees (Super PACs) for Republican candidates. She gave $3 million to a PAC that’s airing ads against Trump, who responded with a tweet in late February that read: “I hear the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending money against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!”
I hear the Rickets family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $’s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts told the Chicago Tribune this month, “It’s a little surreal when Donald Trump threatens your mom. The fact is whether it’s my mom or my dad on his Ending Spending (PAC) or my sister on (supporting) marriage equality, or my brothers on what they do, or what we do with the team, we’re pretty much an open book. … Look, if we had something to hide, you guys would’ve found it by now I’m sure.”
So who from the sports world is supporting Trump? No donation matches were found during an extensive search of people who work in sports. Keep in mind, Trump is financing 70 percent of his campaign, according to OpenSecrets.org, so the bulk of his money isn’t coming from contributions. By contrast, donations make up 94 percent or more of the money for every other candidate still in the field.
Trump has received public support in one form or another from some people in sports, such as Paul O’Neill, Tom Brady, Dennis Rodman, Terrell Owens, John Rocker, Latrell Sprewell, Mike Tyson and Herschel Walker. NASCAR CEO Brian France endorsed Trump in late February. Very few donations in sports have gone to Ted Cruz, who is Trump’s top challenger for the Republican nomination, or Bernie Sanders, who is Clinton’s only challenger for the Democratic nomination.
The most recent available donations are from Dec. 31, 2015. Because of that cutoff date, it’s not clear whether Meyer attached a donation with his recent endorsement of Kasich. There are no records showing Meyer has ever donated to a political campaign.
Here is a sampling of where the money from sports has been going during this primary season:
The table below includes contributions made by individuals to campaigns and Super PACs made available via public financing records on OpenSecrets.org. It is a sampling of campaign contributions and not necessarily a comprehensive list.
| PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONATIONS FROM SPORTS FIGURES | ||
| COLLEGE SPORTS | ||
| PERSON | CANDIDATE | DONATION |
| Mark Emmert, NCAA president | Jeb Bush | $1,000 |
| Lou Holtz, ex-Notre Dame coach | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $250 |
| Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for NCAA players | Hillary Clinton | $1,000 |
| Mark Lewis, NCAA executive VP | John Kasich | $250 |
| Tom McMillen, D-I AD assococation director | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| T. Boone Pickens, Oklahoma State booster | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $100,000 |
| Jeb Bush | $2,700 | |
| Carly Fiorina Super PAC | $25,000 | |
| Ben Carson | $10,000 | |
| Kevin Plank, Maryland booster | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Chris Christie | $2,700 | |
| Jeb Bush | $2,700 | |
| Martin O’Malley | $2,700 | |
| Gary Williams, ex-Maryland coach | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Jay Williams, ex-Duke player | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| NFL | ||
| PERSON | CANDIDATE | DONATION |
| Walt Anderson, NFL referee | Ben Carson | $250 |
| Tom Benson, Saints owner | Bobby Jindal | $2,700 |
| Bobby Jindal Super PAC | $25,000 | |
| Jeb Bush Super PAC | $100,000 | |
| Michael Bidwell, Cardinals president | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Joel Bitonio, Browns guard | Hillary Clinton | $1,000 |
| Mike Brown, Bengals owner | John Kasich | $2,700 |
| Lindsey Graham | $2,700 | |
| Dick Cass, Ravens president | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Kevin Demoff, Rams executive VP | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Mike Ditka, ex-Bears coach | Ben Carson | $1,000 |
| Joe Ellis, Broncos president | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Tony Gonzalez, ex-Chiefs tight end | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| John Greco, Browns guard | Hillary Clinton | $1,000 |
| Jimmy Haslam, Browns owner | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $30,000 |
| Jeb Bush | $2,700 | |
| John Kasich | $2,700 | |
| Woody Johnson, Jets owner | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $501,604 |
| Jeb Bush | $5,400 | |
| Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Stephen Jones, Cowboys executive VP | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Mark Lamping, Jaguars president | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles owner | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Nick Mangold, Jets center | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Archie Manning, ex-Saints quarterback | Bobby Jindal | $2,500 |
| Eli Manning, Giants quarterback | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Peyton Manning, ex-Broncos quarterback | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Bob McNair, Texans owner | Lindsey Graham Super PAC | $500,000 |
| Marco Rubio Super PAC | $500,000 | |
| Jeb Bush Super PAC | $500,000 | |
| Ted Cruz Super PAC | $500,000 | |
| Carly Fiorina Super PAC | $500,000 | |
| Mike Huckabee Super PAC | $500,000 | |
| Carly Fiorina | $2,700 | |
| Lindsey Graham | $2,700 | |
| Marco Rubio | $2,600 | |
| Jeffrey Pash, NFL executive VP | John Kasich | $1,000 |
| Howard Roseman, Eagles executive VP | John Kasich | $2,700 |
| Stephen Ross, Dolphins owner | George Pataki Super PAC | $50,000 |
| Dean Spanos, Chargers owner | Rick Perry Super PAC | $5,000 |
| Rick Perry | $2,700 | |
| Jeb Bush | $2,700 | |
| Emmitt Smith, NFL Hall of Famer | Jeb Bush | $500 |
| Steve Smith, Ravens wide receiver | Jeb Bush | $2,500 |
| Daniel Snyder, Redskins owner | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $100,000 |
| Roger Staubach, NFL Hall of Famer | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Andrew Whitworth, Bengals tackle | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Doug Williams, ex-Redskins quarterback | Hillary Clinton | $250 |
| MLB | ||
| PERSON | CANDIDATE | DONATION |
| Hank Aaron, MLB Hall of Famer | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Rocco Baldelli, Rays first base coach | Bernie Sanders | $250 |
| Mike Chipman, Diamondbacks part-owner | Marco Rubio | $2,700 |
| Bill DeWitt Jr., Cardinals owner | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| Bill DeWitt III, Cardinals president | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| David Glass, Royals owner | Mike Huckabee | $2,700 |
| Davey Johnson, ex-Nationals manager | Ben Carson | $2,700 |
| Ken Kendrick, Diamondbacks part-owner | Chris Christie | $1,000 |
| Sam Kennedy, Red Sox president | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Al Leiter, ex-pitcher | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Peter Magowan, ex-Giants owner | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Marlene Ricketts, family ownership of Cubs | Scott Walker Super PAC | $4.9 million |
| Ted Cruz Super PAC | $10,000 | |
| Marco Rubio Super PAC | $10,000 | |
| Rick Perry Super PAC | $10,000 | |
| Jeb Bush Super PAC | $10,000 | |
| Chris Christie Super PAC | $10,000 | |
| Curt Schilling, ex-Red Sox pitcher | Ben Carson | $250 |
| Chris Singleton, ex-MLB outfielder | Ben Carson | $250 |
| Stuart Sternberg, Rays owner | Chris Christie | $2,700 |
| Mark Teixeira, Yankees first baseman | Marco Rubio | $2,700 |
| Tom Werner, Red Sox chairman | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Fred Wilpon, Mets owner | Chris Christie Super PAC | $100,000 |
| Chris Christie | $2,700 | |
| NBA | ||
| PERSON | CANDIDATE | DONATION |
| Rolando Blackman, ex-guard | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Jason Collins, ex-center | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Peter Feigin, Bucks president | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| John Hammond, Bucks general manager | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Grant Hill, ex-guard | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Peter Holt, Spurs owner | Rick Perry | $2,700 |
| Magic Johnson, Hall of Famer | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Jason Kidd, Bucks coach | Hillary Clinton | $5,200 |
| Billy King, ex-Nets general manager | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Jim Paxson, ex-Cavaliers general manager | Carly Fiorina | $500 |
| Vivek Ranadive, Kings owner | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Pat Riley, Heat president | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $10,000 |
| Jeb Bush | $2,700 | |
| Adam Silver, NBA commissioner | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| NHL | ||
| PERSON | CANDIDATE | DONATION |
| Rory Babich, Panthers CEO | Hillary Clinton | $1,000 |
| Mike Fisher, Predators center | Ted Cruz | $500 |
| Erik Johnson, Avalanche defenseman | Ben Carson | $250 |
| Peter Karamanos, Hurricanes owner | Marco Rubio | $2,700 |
| Ben Carson | $1,500 | |
| Craig Leipold, Wild owner | Scott Walker Super PAC | $50,000 |
| Scott Walker | $2,700 | |
| Jim Lites, Stars president | Jeb Bush | $1,000 |
| David Morehouse, Penguins CEO | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
| Chris Rooney, NHL referee | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $3,000 |
| Jeffrey Vinik, Lightning owner | Jeb Bush | $2,700 |
| OTHER SPORTS | ||
| PERSON | CANDIDATE | DONATION |
| Brian France, NASCAR CEO | Jeb Bush Super PAC | $50,000 |
| Jeb Bush | $2,700 | |
| Carly Fiorina | $2,700 | |
| Marco Rubio | $2,700 | |
| Ben Olsen, DC United coach | Hillary Clinton | $1,000 |
| Casey Wasserman, LA 2024 Olympics chair | Hillary Clinton | $2,700 |
Friendship First, Competition Second – An Amateur Sport Website 