Arlen Specter Is Right About NFL’S Missing Tapes - Efforts To Stifle Him Are Cheap Shots
Arlen Specter is insisting that the NFL explain why it destroyed the New England Patriot’s “cheating tapes”, therefore closing its investigation without ever interviewing the Patriot’s employee who ran the tape system. Specter is ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Now, there are new reports that the Patriots may have spied on the St. Louis Rams prior to the 2002 Super Bowl. Eagles fans have been wondering whether the Patriot’s spied on our team during the 2005 Super Bowl.
In the meantime, some bystanders are leveling broadsides at Specter. The critics say that he received contributions from Comcast which is in a dispute with the NFL over programming rights and prices. First of all, I do a show for Comcast CN 8 and consult the network. I want to make that clear. But I also like justice and the American way., Also, any contributions that were made to Specter by that company or any other are legal. Many corporations contribute to elected officials, which is their right, just as you have yours .
Also, sports fans. Specter is supposed to advocate for Comcast, which in case you have not heard, is a MAJOR employer based in Philadelphia. Specter is from Philadelphia. If he has uncorked a real NFL scandal, so be it.
Now, to the key point. I don’t begrudge the Patriot’s amazing accomplishments, but the NFL has no right to suppress a cheating investigation, especially when it puts its players under a microscope. This is the same league that ignores the pleas of its pioneer players who are going broke and need medical attention. This is the same league that is so proprietary about its policies, that it should be investigated for anti-trust violations. Unfortunately Congress gave the NFL anti-trust protection. That pretty well guaranteed that you would get soaked for tickets, and seat licenses by teams that get tax breaks and own the stadiums that your tax dollars partially paid for.
Now we have a possible criminal matter. In a court of law, destroying evidence can send you to jail. If the NFL boss condoned the destruction of evidence, he may have a real problem.
Arlen Specter, like him or not, has never been a poodle to any company or individual. To suggest that he is, is a major miss on the part of people who may be suggesting that it is all right to condone cheating in major league sports.
The fact that Specter opened the wound on Super Bowl weekend is only fair, especially if cheating was widespread.
Finally, I ask you. Who do you trust? Arlen Specter or Bill Belichick?PS - If you live in New Jersey and Delaware, vote today!
I love football and football gear and bobbleheads but I think the NFL as a business is a scam.
To have to take out a loan or spend big savings just to get season tickets is insane!
It always comes down to somebody trying to make a buck. Always.
and yet, despite all the controversy, and the ‘cheating’ and extra baggage, when it comes down to it, we’ll all still go to the game (if we can afford it) or watch the games and get those McFarlane figures (when they go on sale of course)
Answer-I don’t trust either one.
Just a quick point . . . I believe that Sen. Spetor is no longer the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I think that job belongs to Sen Leahy.
Larry,
It’s Super Tuesday, now known as Tsunami Tuesday! I am in disbelief that you have served up a News Flash about Arlen Spector and the NFL on this deeply religious holiday for politicos. Perhaps you’re playing a fun joke on us and later this morning will post a substantive news worthy political commentary that we can discuss. Many of us are in a frenzy, wildly flipping news channels and blogs since 4am this morning. You owe your readers a bit more today, so let’s pretend the above post is filler until later today when you update it with something good. Cindy McCain is on Today Show right now, so I’m going to look into her Husky Dog eyes for guidance, and will check back later today for something insightful from you.
with more important and pressing issues taking place Sen. Specter has time to pursue this nonsense? What a waste of time and taxpayer’s money.
if they did it once, they did it before. someone needs to look into it. like him or not, arlen is a public servant who should be commended for always speaking out and pursuing issues others avoid.
Couldn’t disagree more with you Larry. This is a total waste of time and money by the esteemed Arlen and a Congress that has accomplished nothing of note.
What’s he going to investigate next, the Alicia Layne incident?
Larry, I’m with George and Dennis on this issue. Perhaps Senator Spector is truly concerned about the integrity of the NFL. Perhaps you support his right to initiate an investigation. Fine but the fact remains that Senator Spector’s and Congress’ time would be better served addressing the real issues facing America today. How about the economy revitalization package before we spinoff into recession? That is time sensitive.
Also, as interesting as your articles are on the political process, it’s hard to imagine you missing the opportunity to comment ahead of time on Super Tuesday and the potential ramifications for both parties.
It’s more a timing issue on both your parts.
Perhaps Senator Spector’s outrage should be toward the lack of a proper pension and medical care program provided by the NFL for former NFL players. The epidemic of concussion related issues for players. A league riding the crest of success should take better care of the people that made it successful. In my opinion that is far more important than some tapes destroyed after the NFL concluded its investigation and handed down the stiffest penalties in league history.
I don’t have a problem with Specter investigating this. The reality is that if Specter were a Democrat, you wouldn’t see any criticism of him and he’d be taken very seriously by the Democrat-Media Complex.
I also don’t buy the “doesn’t Congress have anything better to do” argument.
First, the government is capable of doing more than one thing at a time. Like I said with the steroid issue, should the police stop investigating robberies while there are unsolved murders still out there? Murders are more serious after all…
Second, I’d rather have Congress spending their time on this stuff rather than passing more laws and spending more money and raising more taxes. Keeping them occupied with stuff like this keeps them from dabbling even further into our lives and wallets.
I, for one, am glad to see Senator Specter tackling the big issues. The outcome of football games and defensive signal espionage are matters of national importance. The economy will take care of itself.
Also, the answer to skyrocketing ticket prices? Don’t go! Will your life be meaningless and empty if you don’t go to the game? If yes, then I’d suggest you’ve got bigger problems.
Leo, do I sense some sarcasm?
Specter is right to investigate the NFL. The American people demand due process.
RM, no sarcasm. I believe that the outcome of football games is something that merits serious attention on a national level, not only by the media and the public but by the government as well. Many people devote more time to football than they do to education of their children or improving their communities, so I know it’s something that’s incredibly important.
Last time I looked, this was titled the “Larry Kane Report” not the “Political Report by Larry Kane.” I would say that any issue that Larry found interesting is open for discussion. Content seems to be at his discretion.
Along the same lines, there are many committees working on many things in our goverment at any given moment. If the government were only capable of handling one thing at time, what would DC look like in that quagmire?
The NFL has created this mess — first by not doing a thorough investigation; and second, from what I have read, the commissioner’s office not returning calls from an important member of Congress on two seperate occasions. The best way to avoid the look of impropriety is to be open and honest — two things the NFL has not been. If you want to blame anyone for this story, blame Roger Goddell.
arlen specter like any other person and especially politician is not above rapproach…him being a politician at his level makes him even more suspect…who cares about cheating in the nfl…when there are much greater issues and challenges for our time….paralysis outbreak in meat workers…brittany’s latest hospital stay….scientists creating embryos from 3 people’s dna…the latest hollywood fashions…george clooney might be gaining weight…com’on man .. think you’re embarassing yourself…
Hello Larry,i trust Tom Coughlin, on 01/22/08 he was bashed all day long on your report,now after his great coaching job in the playoffs and the superbowl,I have not read a word about him.
Belichik I don’t trust,but I would kick Andy Reid to the curb if he would coach the Eagles,I don’t trust Andy Reid either.
Spector I don’t trust him,this is a waste of time and taxpayers money,there must be something in it for him.
Thanks Larry,
First off, what politico would you rather hear talking about sports? Spector or Rendell? Do I need Fast Eddie to tell me his opinion about the Eagles for 16 or so weeks? Sometimes you need a person in position to draw attention to matters. But agreed, this shouldn’t consume more time than it’s worth.
It’s as simple as this, as long as the NFL wants to be subsidized by taxpayer dollars, then they have to answer to the government over internal matters.
Slightly off topic, but I don’t feel one ounce of sympathy for the retired football players. When MLB was going through strikes, lawsuits and lockouts the players stood their ground, the NFL players by contrast stabbed each other in the back and crossed the picket lines. The retired players have nobody to blame but themselves and they shouldn’t expect today’s players to stand up for them when they wouldn’t do it for themselves.
First, the government is capable of doing more than one thing at a time.
Joe 9:31
If the government were only capable of handling one thing at time, what would DC look like in that quagmire?
Anthony 10:49
And this congress has accomplished what lately? This isn’t a quagmire now? They can neither handle one thing or multiple things at a time.
And how come no mention of that other female american icon, Maria Schriver, endorsing Obama? Or is everyone still researching the massive accomplishments of Caroline Kennedy, whose endorsement was so HUGE?
Larry - Agree with you on Sen. Spector going after the NFL for destroying the Spygate tapes. If they want to retain their anti-trust exemption, then they need to be investigated to ensure their was no wrong doing on the NFL’s part. If they are found to have illegally destroyed the tapes, then the anti-trust exemption should be taken from them.
As an avid Iggles fan, I would not put it past Cheater Bill to have taped the Eagles walk-thru.
Other, other Jim - hiding under a new name won’t stop me from beating you up on the Great Caroline Kennedy who has accomplished more in one week than you have in your whole life. Come on out to Carlsbad CA, I will take you to Philly’s Best and buy you a cheesesteak and a Stone Pale Ale while I regale you with the accomplishments of Caroline Kennedy and while I’m at it, I will also fill you in on Maria Schriver’s great accomplishments. I guess besides Mother Mary, you also have issues with Mother Teresa and her accomplishments….LOL, that’s right your too busy reading about the awesome accomplishments of BS, LL and PH in your spare time….
OOJ, you hit on the main point. Maybe Congress is structured to deal with multiple, varied issues at one time but they seem unable to overcome the inertia and partisanism to actually enact any legislature. If they do, it is full of pork barrel, buy off items that bloat the cost. It’s like they’ve given up and just go through the motions. Where is the outrage here?
The Spygate deal is a non-issue to everyone but a handful of organizations that want to embarrass the NFL and a few bitter fans.
BTW, I see where Ben Franklin endorsed his old pal John McCain yesterday…
Philly Dan, not hiding, so many Jim’s, had to grab a new name. I’ll be in Aliso Viejo in a few weeks on business (and my life is quite well, thank you) meet you at the Best of Philly there and I’ll buy….shouldn’t take more than a few minutes for you to sum up both their resumes. LOL
Putting the name of Mother Teresa in the same paragraph with those two is a little bit of a reach don’t you think?
I disagree with congressional investigations of sports, not because I don’t think they can multi task, but simply because there are far more important issues facing us. I don’t care if a basketball ref bets on the game and then calls it in his favor. I don’t care if Barry Bonds shoots himself up with nitrous oxide to run the bases faster. I don’t care if Belichick hires the Good Year blimp to go tape other teams training camps. It bothers me that we allow ourselves to get so distracted with this crap.
Does it register somewhere on an importance scale, ok, yes, but only when we have the rest of it fixed. The 12 million illegals. I don’t have a problem with them being here, but get them into the system, paying taxes, etc… A primary system that allows me to vote for the person I want, not my defacto party candidate by the time the PA primary gets here. Viable alternative fuels and moral constraints on consuming what’s left of the non-renewable ones. How about a medical profession based on curing, not on lawsuit mitigation, and a pharmaceutical industry focused on cures, not hair replacement.
I’m ranting, I know, be we are, and have been so off track for so long that when an example like Arlen asking about football tapes comes up, I just tee off.
This is all a waste of time by Specter. Where is the crime. Did anybody lose their pensions like the Enron people? Did anybody hold a gun to someone’s head? This is all a childish stunt by Specter to get his face on TV.
Let’s face facts: the NFL teams all share game films so it wouldn’t be a stretch to figure what a certain team will do in certain situations.While not allowed to video a eam’s signals, there is nothing, I believe, to keep a team from hiring someone to sit in the stands and take notes of what a coach signals and what his team sets up. This is an in-house matter handled in-house. Wish Specter was as upset with the destroyed CIA torture tapes.
Larry, the people seem restless and it doesn’t appear that Arlen is helping matters. Sports is not the opiate of the masses. Most of us realize that Congress as a whole doesn’t deliver unless it’s something wrapped in pork. This generates a cynical attitude towards government that makes Specter seem like a grandstanding fool, whether he is right or wrong. If not for Obama there would be nothing new on the horizon.
My guess is Arlen Spector repsonded favorably to Larry for giving attention to the story on February 1st, and thus he’s decided to continue to cover it. I must admit I’d know nothing about it otherwise, however, its really not too interesting given the current news cycle. Arlen Spector for VP, now that would be an old ticket- 150+ years of experience! Okay Larry, you’ve got our attention, now let the Super Tuesday News Flash rip!
Someone should have investigated the nfl a long time ago. Hat’s off to Mr. Specter! The cheating ref’s calls are endless. The Pat’s and Raven’s last game should have opened everyone’s eyes. Have never seen such bad calls. I know the players can’t say anything, nor can the broadcasters, but maybe the government will find out the crooked crap that goes on. The fans pay to see a fair game and how can it be fair if cheating goes on. And what does the stats mean if they are not real. What is the point of all the sports talk if it is unreal?
Whatever happens in the primary the fact that Hillary won Mass is a total victory over Ted Kennedy. His endorsement of Obama was the kiss of death.
Sure, pro football is a rip-off of the fan, but shouldn’t Congress really be investigating the manipulation of the NYMEX energy prices? Hey, fellas, guess what, ya have a choice on whether or not to buy an Iggles tick, yet ya may not have that choice when your gas and electric bills are double this coming year!
The gas companies and electric companies are ripping off the consumer, say what you will about Chavez and Joe Kennedy, at least they are trying to help out poor people to keep warm, while Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, BP, etc, all from Texas and their pals on Wall Stret are hoping to keep us poor Yankees cold and in the dark this coming year!
Jersey Joe, I respect you but Chavez and Kennedy? I’m on my heels but I would never go to a Kennedy or Chavez for help. I would rather freeze to death, although it’s going to be in the 60’s tomorrow. The major oil companies need
an overhaul, and it will be interesting
to see if a candidate comes forward that
addresses your concern(and mine too).
I wonder what the framers of the Constitution would think about Specter butting into NFL business and Congress spending hours talking with Clemens? I would venture to guess that they would hit the floor. Besides being a huge waste of time and resources I doubt if they ever thought the Congress would have their noses in business like this. How about a little more time on ensuring our security from radical Islamists and figuring out how to cover that 40 trillion shortfall for social security and medicare. Regarding those evil oil companies, take a guess at what Exxon paid in taxes last year…30 billion.
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/tv/howdy-doody.htm