Originally posted by barrymartin:
The basis for determining right and wrong in this country has, all to often, come down to self interest and greed and the belief it's ok unless you get caught. There should be a congressional investigation on this. DOD is giving our tax dollars to the NFL and other sports organizations to hype the military. This is propaganda. Sick....How will you feel the next time you see the military jets flying over before the game and everyone standing reverently when you know the money that's been changing hands under table? Shameful!
You realize that this doesn't apply to every single team or occurrence right. I do think it says more about the teams that charged for various tributes, pawning it off like a community relations, community service kind of deal than anything else.
That the DoD spends money on recruiting and marketing isn't any sort of new revelation, the reason why this is in the news is because you had teams acting like they were doing something as a simple tribute and not a paid action. They were honoring veterans for their service, people who legitimately deserved it, and then cashing in on the back end. I think that is pretty bogus and shameful.
"Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes," U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said. "You get a good feeling in your heart. Then to find out they're doing it because they're compensated for it, it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly. . . .
"They realize the public believes they're doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism," Flake said. "It leaves a bad taste in your mouth."
The deals include segments saluting "Hometown Heroes," and other advertising and marketing.
The teams that put on these events come off looking pretty shady and less than genuine as a result. No shame in their game at all.
The Jets weren't the only team accepting tax dollars in exchange for access to football, as the Falcons, Ravens, Bills, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, Steelers and Rams have also accepted the money.
[ Edited by Phoenix49ers on May 11, 2015 at 6:23 PM ]