I heard this on the radio this morning. Did you know that the United Stated Government pays the NFL millions of dollars each year for the NFL’s endorsement of the US Government and its military? All military branches reported spending $53 million on marketing and advertising contracts with professional sports organizations between 2012 and 2015. More than $10 million of that went to the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA and Major League Soccer, according to a report from the Unites States Senate.
All of this, by the way, is to convince young men and women to join the military. It’s a recruitment tool, nothing more.
So here’s one man’s solution. Since Robert Kraft and John William Henry II, who are worth $6.2 Billion and $2.5 Billion respectively, are being paid to be patriotic, let’s do the same with NFL players and the others and pay them to stand. They, like the team owners, can negotiate their own contracts to stand up and promote enlistment in the military.
I mean, since patriotism is for sale in the USA, let’s go whole hog free market!
jconway says
One of my favorite Maroon articles was an oped calling for the nationalization of the NFL. I think this might become a more mainstream solution, and since taxpayers subsidize so much of it anyway, we might as well keep the profits, force in basic concussion science and veteran health care acknowledgement, and restore the constitution to nfl players.
Christopher says
If we are going to nationalize industries let’s start with those that provide services people actually need. I have no interest in being part owner of the NFL.