Big Time Bowl Money

Dear editor:

Very interesting article and chart in Newsweek Magazine last week on the subject of how major bowl money is spent by the larger universities who earn the right to play in these games. (I say “major bowls” because there are so many other useless advertising bowls today.) Of course we have always heard that the purpose of the post season games is big bucks that not only help to pay for football operations but also pay for non-profit sports such as track, volleyball and women’s sports, and once in a while to help the university. Well, according to this story it isn’t quite true. As an example, take Alabama’s financial take from last year’s national championship game. And whether it is this game or one for LSU, Georgia, Florida or Auburn, the story is the same.

Alabama received $2,430,400 with the rest of its share going to the Southeastern Conference ($16,069,600). They spent the following on this game:

Transportation: for team and staff for eight days (371 people) $656,057; for band and cheerleaders for three days (403 people) $397,641; for “official party” for three days (83 people). Total $1,219,456.

Meals and Lodging: team and staff $701,847; band and cheerleaders $144,269; official party $193,197. Total $1,219,103.

Other: Performance bonuses $1,256,916 (of course not for the players); commemorative gifts for players and coaches $132,590; tickets $329,250; entertainment (again not the players) $126,784; administrative $165,605; equipment and supplies (thought they brought that with them) $21,794; promotion $4,134. Total: $2,037,073.
That brings a grand total of “expenses” to $4,296,632, or a loss of $1,866,232. They spent almost double their allowance. Great example for college students.

I know that Alabama in turn received their “split” of the balance of some of the money as did all schools in the conference. But boy they sure threw it around in “expenses.” (As they all do)

There are some amazing numbers of people in this report, like team and staff of 371 people (for a football game?), 403 people for band and cheerleaders (including who else?) and an official party of 83. I’m no fool and know what college football has become, but this just shows the excess of the financial part of the game. Universities are screaming for money so they don’t have to cut back on staff and operations, but throw it around like confetti for football. Where are our sensibilities?

Mr. Boehner Can't Face Facts

Dear editor:

Our new Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) is making good on his announced plan to undo the Medical Health Care plan passed in the last Congress under the guidance of President Obama. His goal is to do away with “Obamacare” and prove to the Tea Party Republicans that he is with them in all ways.

During his first interview after being elected Speaker he spoke about “Obamacare” and the fact that “we now have the world’s greatest medical delivery system,” and we just can’t afford the program approved by Congress. But he can’t back that up and the facts absolutely refute his staatement.

Each year the CIA, (yes, our Counter Intelligence Agency) puts out a fact book detailing information on all countries around the world. This year’s book, The CIA World Factbook 2010, proves how wrong Mr. Boehner is. While we do have a great healthcare system it obviously delivers only to those with money or insurance and delivers nothing, or poorly, to those who don’t have the money to buy insurance, have a pre-existing condition, are no longer eligible to be on their parent’s plan and those who are dropped by their insurance company because they are too sick. These disastrous bars against coverage cause and look like the following.

The United States is number 20 in the industrialized world for life expectancy and number 17 in infant mortality (up to one year old.) Our rate for life expectancy in this country is 78.11 years, while those nations with full medical coverage for their citizenry look like: United Kingdom 79.01, Canada 81.23, Ireland 78.24, Israel 80.73, Norway 79.95, Australia 81.63, Finland 78.97, France 80.98, Germany 79.26, Italy 80.20, and on and on. On top of that our infant mortality rate (deaths per 1000 live births) is 6.26. Others? United Kingdom 4.85, Canada 5.04, Ireland 5.05, Israel 4.22, Norway 3.58, Australia 4.75, Finland 3.47, France 3.33, Germany 3.99, Italy 5.51, etc. Makes you wonder about “the world’s best medical healthcare delivery system.

Mr. Boehner also claims that “Obamacare” costs too much and will be a back breaker for our deficit. However, according to the CBO (Congressional Budget Office), a non-partisan arm of the U.S. Congress, the repeal of the Obama Healthcare program would increase the national debt by $230 billion dollars over the next decade. The result? A bigger hole in our pocket book. But Mr. Boehner says he doesn’t believe those figures. Guess he has his own accountants.

Finally, the Speaker said “I don’t think anyone in this town believes that repealing Obamacare is going to increase the deficit.” Mr. Speaker get out of Washington and realize that polls show Americans are split almost 50-50 on the program. It’s the 50 haves against the 50 have-nots.