Slashdot Mirror
Senators Threaten To Rescind NFL Antitrust Exemption
An anonymous reader writes In response to the FCC's discontinuation of rules that support the NFL's blackout policies, the NFL issued a statement indicating that it would nevertheless continue to enforce its blackout policies through its private contract negotiations with local networks. On Wednesday, however, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) announced a bill that would rescind the antitrust exemption that enables the NFL to demand blackouts in the first place and formally warned the NFL to abandon blackouts altogether. The antitrust exemption gives sports leagues "legal permission to conduct television-broadcast negotiations in a way that otherwise would have been price collusion" and further allowed the formation of the NFL from two separate leagues. Meanwhile, the NFL enjoys a specialized tax status and direct monetary support from taxpayers to build arenas and stadiums.
The NFL also gets nonprofit status on top of this. Could we do more to support them?
I dunno. Let's rename them to the Israeli Football League and see what happens.
The League of Extraordinary Lobbyists?
Because its been stuffed down someones pants. Its a commonly known fact that all bribe money has been grundled.
I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
Football is *REALLY* *REALLY* stupid. I can't get my head around the overwhelming exuberance that people feel over this brief period of watching people chase a ball around a field.
Tell me, is it more or less stupid than watching a bunch of people dress up in spandex and pretend to fly a spaceship?
How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
Actually Blackouts are great. When the Jaguars are blacked out I get to see some real football.