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05-08-2015, 08:30 AM | |
Be Kind To Your Pets
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VARSITY
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The Clarks Love Money More than Vets
Apologies if posted before, and maybe this ought to be in the DC section.
Washington Post reports that the Federal Military has paid millions to the NFL to "salute" veterans. The Clarks took $250,000. So much for the NFL saluting soldiers out of the goodness of their hearts. The Chiefs don't need the money. They should send that cash back to the military to buy body armor for active service guys, so we wouldn't have so many "wounded warriors" to salute. This whole thing makes me more cynical than I already am, if that's even possible. Just salute veterans because its the right thing to do, and pick up the goddamn check. They put their lives on the line for us, it's the least a tax-exempt, multi-billion dollar enterprise like the NFL can do. I didn't get a harrrump outta that guy...... http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...rss=rss_sports During timeouts at home games, the New York Jets air a Hometown Heroes segment in which a U.S. soldier or two are shown on the Jumbotron and everyone thanks them for their service. The soldiers and three friends get seats in the Coaches Club. It’s a nice salute. It’s also funded by U.S. taxpayers. According to Christopher Baxter and Jonathan D. Salant of New Jersey Advance Media, the Department of Defense paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million from 2011 to 2014 for salutes like the Hometown Heroes segment and other advertising at professional football games. All but $100,000 of that money came from the National Guard. U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called the spending wasteful and disingenuous, Baxter and Salant report: “Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes,” Flake said in an interview. “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.” Flake added that he has no problem with the National Guard spending money on recruitment advertising at football games. “The problem, he said, was spending taxpayer money on a program that, on its face, appeared to be a generous gesture by a football team,” Baxter and Salant write. The story goes on to detail what the National Guard gets in return for its spending: Aside from the Hometown Heroes segment, the agreements also included advertising and marketing services, including a kickoff video message from the Guard, digital advertising on stadium screens, online advertising and meeting space for a meeting or events. Also, soldiers attended the annual kickoff lunch in New York City to meet and take pictures with the players for promotional use, and the Jets allowed soldiers to participate in a charity event in which coaches and players build or rebuild a playground or park. The Jets also provided game access passes. A National Guard spokesman said the agreement with the Jets helps promote and increase “the public’s understanding and appreciation of military service in the New Jersey Army National Guard increases the propensity for service in our ranks and garners public support for our Hometown Team.” A Jets spokesman says the team works with the National Guard just as it works with any other sponsor to tailor in-game advertising. According to the report, the Colts and Ravens are among the other teams that have similar agreements with the National Guard. |
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05-08-2015, 09:52 AM | #31 |
MVP
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As a veteran I firmly stand in the who gives a shit camp. I didn't join to serve, I was a broke ass with no prospects and very few options. It changed my life, but whether the NFL recognizes it for free or it's a recruitment tool I don't care.
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05-08-2015, 09:53 AM | #32 |
Supporter
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05-08-2015, 09:54 AM | #33 |
Veteran
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05-08-2015, 10:00 AM | #34 |
Arrowhead Trail of Tears
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I like money
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05-08-2015, 10:18 AM | #35 |
Supporter
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Pocket change
Didn't we already know all we needed to when we found out breast cancer research got like .00005% of proceeds from bundle of sticks pink NFL gear?
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We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W. Last edited by Baby Lee; 05-08-2015 at 10:23 AM.. |
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05-08-2015, 10:21 AM | #36 |
Now you've pissed me off!
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First, realize that the NFL doesn't do this because it cares about the soldiers. It doesn't care about domestic violence or breast cancer, either; it cares about affecting the appearance that it gives a shit, which will ultimately make it more money.
This was done to defray the loss of advertising revenue that those spots occupy. |
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05-08-2015, 10:27 AM | #37 |
Rockin' yer FACE OFF!
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**** that, flyovers are awesome...just relax and watch the planes fly over. I think their pretty cool.
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We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!! |
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05-08-2015, 10:27 AM | #38 |
Veteran
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I've known many military people from all branches from growing up on bases around the world and my own time in. Motivations are different but the risks are the same for all.
For many it's a job that has a lot of potential for danger and personal injury due to accident, neglect or equipment failures and why you are there really doesn't matter; volunteer blood is the same as draftee blood. Our family "tradition" is military service, nine generations now with my youngest son in the Navy. There were all kinds of people that were in the military with more than a few I served with that had the choice to either enlist or do prison time (Vietnam era). Today they have a surplus of people trying to enlist and recruitment spending is not needed. There are waiting lists for all services except the Marines, the Air Force being the longest. Traffic tickets can exclude you from being accepted, any tattoos have to be photographed and judged acceptable, they check your background, talk to your teachers, etc. You can be kicked out for underage drinking, being physically unfit or not advancing in rank/grade sufficiently. They really don't need to recruit at all. |
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05-08-2015, 10:31 AM | #39 |
Fight, build, win!
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05-08-2015, 10:39 AM | #40 |
Beyond the Rapids
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05-08-2015, 10:44 AM | #41 |
All about that Paper Boi
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05-08-2015, 10:52 AM | #42 |
Rockin' yer FACE OFF!
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My son signed up for the Marines right after High School. He was an honor student, and did not need military service. Now, admittedly he signed up for the adventure of it too, but a lot had to do with 9-11. He was 7 when it happened, so it's something he grew up with. I never told the boy that he had to join the Military, much less the Marines, but I'm proud as hell of him for it. He doesn't think as much of his service as everyone else does (told my wife she loves the Marines more than he does...heh...and all the guys he serves with concur....) and gets a little annoyed or embarrassed by some of the attention he gets, but I tell him to live with it. It's the only way people know to express their appreciation. Again, it's not anything he had to do, he just wanted to.
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We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!! |
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05-08-2015, 10:53 AM | #43 | |
Someone pass the antifreeze
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05-08-2015, 10:55 AM | #44 |
Mostly Ignored
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05-08-2015, 10:57 AM | #45 |
All about that Paper Boi
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