"We (the NFL) respectfully disagree with Senator Specter's characterization of the investigation conducted by our office. We are following up after yesterday's meeting with Matt Walsh."
The NFL has to play nice, so you can see why they "respectfully" disagreed with Senator Specter.
I, on the other hand, have no reason whatsoever to "respectfully" disagree.
While a high-ranking United States Senator was meeting with a man about a football game, one could argue that there were other things going on that deserved his attention.
I know what you're thinking. What else could possibly be happening in the real world that's more important than an NFL team stealing defensive signals?
Maybe a few things...
Some would argue that instead of wasting time meeting with Mr. Walsh, Senator Specter should have been meeting with the family of Cpl. Jessica A. Ellis.
You see, while fighting in a war that Senator Specter supported, she was killed. Her death was announced by the military while he was meeting with Matt Walsh on Tuesday. Jessica was a 24-year-old from Bend, Oregon. She was killed by an improvised explosive device that was detonated near a vehicle she was in.
Some would argue that Senator Specter should have been looking into how our military can gain an advantage over the insurgents in Iraq so people like Jessica don't have to die instead of looking into the competitive advantage gained by an NFL coach from taping defensive signals.
While he was giving his press conference on Spygate, your share of the United States' national debt went above $30,800.
That's just your share.
The entire bill? That's over $9.3 trillion dollars.
One could make the argument that Senator Specter should have been figuring out how much to fine our government for allowing us to get into this situation instead of talking about how the fine the NFL gave to the Patriots was inadequate.
In the month of April, while Senator Specter was threatening the NFL and demanding to talk to Matt Walsh about a video tape, he could have been working on a plan to help the 20,000 people who lost their jobs in that month alone.
Maybe he should have been looking into how to keep his constituents alive?
Philadelphia is now referred to as the city of death, since it's murder rate is the highest it's been in 20 years. Perhaps instead of trying to stop the shooting of sideline video, he should have been looking into stopping the shooting of American Citizens in the city he represents?
Rather than worrying about the NFL's monopoly on professional football, maybe Senator Specter should have been looking into Big Oil's monopoly — especially since there were reporters who didn't make it to his press conference because they couldn't afford the gas.
Senator Specter claimed Wednesday that nobody has ever questioned his integrity. Yet he gladly takes money from companies like Comcast and supports companies like Exxon/Mobil who take advantage of the people he represents.
Seems to me, someone with integrity wouldn't do such a thing.
Who knows, maybe he'll give up golf like President Bush until the NFL resolves this crisis that's apparently worthy of more United States Senate attention than Osama bin Laden.
We may not be able to catch the guy who destroyed the World Trade Center, but we sure as hell will take down the evil Bill Belichick!
Patriots fan or not, you have to be ashamed, annoyed, and downright angry that your tax payer money is being wasted on this crap.
Especially considering that this is all being done by a man who admitted on Boston Sports Talk Radio (850-WEEI) that he was only interested in Spygate because it cost the Eagles (his favorite team) a Super Bowl.
Well, fine. I give up. The Eagles can have their Super Bowl. They win.
If it means our government can go back to concentrating on petty, insignificant issues like Iraq, the War on Terror, unemployment, the cost of gas, and the national debt, I'll gladly give up one of the Patriots' three Super Bowls.
Just tell me what I have to do to make my government get the hell out of my sports.
I'm SeanMC.
SeanMC is a senior writer for Bleacher Report and writes a column for Sports Central every other Thursday. You can read more articles by SeanMC on his blog.
May 15, 2008
Paul:
Enough is enough. This man and his personal crusade to make the world an uglier place has gone to far. The good people of Pennsylvania need to stand up and hold Mr. Specter accountable for his reckless waste of their tax dollars. Most people know by now what this is really about. It has everything to do with the fact that there is a long standing rivalry between Comcast Cable (headquartered in PA) and the NFL and Comcast being one of Specters biggest cash cows. This has nothing to do with Mr. Specters concern for Steelers and Eagles fans. Give us a break you windbag media monger.
Mr. Specter, the NFL has levied the harshest penalty it has ever put down on the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick for these so called Spygate infractions. Belichick was fined $500,000 the team $250,000 and the loss of a first round draft pick. This is a matter for the NFL to handle an entity of the private sector and has no business being dragged into the already overburdened Senate. Worry about your constituents and state of PA wich recently held the dubious title murder capital of the country. Get your priorities in order or get out.
May 19, 2008
Anthony Brancato:
If John McCain is entitled to his crusade against mixed martial arts because he’s been taking millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the boxing industry in a neighboring state, then why isn’t Arlen Specter entitled to his crusade against the Patriots when their actions may have impacted two teams in his own state ?