Ravens

Obligatory pic of Brady's wife:

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
How about them Richmond Raiders?

home·town noun, often attributive \-ˈtau̇n\
: the city or town where you were born or grew up

Actually, now that I think about it. I kind of hate the Dallas Cowboys for no good reason and I'm still pretty pissed about that Detroit loss. All we need is a Ravens vs. Cowboys superbowl.

Got wrote:
nothing beats this

Well of course he's a Yankee fan.  If he didn't play for the Pats he'd probably be a Cowboy fan as well.

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
How about them Richmond Raiders?

home·town noun, often attributive \-ˈtau̇n\
: the city or town where you were born or grew up

Right.  That's why I was a Baltimore Colts fan.  The only reason I'm a Ravens fan is Bob Irsay.

Yada wrote:

Shemp wrote:
If you're gonna pick a favorite NFL team based on lack of criminal records of the players then you're in the wrong league.  How many Ray Rice-type incidents do you think have occurred league-wide?  Only one was captured on video. 

I'm this close **holds index finger very close to thumb** to abandoning the NFL due to the savages that are employed by the league.  The only reason I have an interest at this point as it's not hard to keep up with what's going on. One game a week, short season, etc. If it was like any other major sport, it would've left my interests long ago.

I abandoned it for the following reasons:

1. Absolutely NO SECURITY for the Superbowl celebration at the stadium. I was in the front row, and the aisles completely filled. I was one punch away from getting trampled to death. It was really scary.

2. The NFL does not pay taxes. Read "how the NFL fleeces taxpayers" in the Atlantic.

3. The concussion, health insurance for older players, the domestic violence (yes, I know the MLB has some work to do there too).

4. The whole referee stuff from 2 years ago. JUST PAY THEM. YOU HAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

5. Blocking home towns from watching their teams if they don't sell enough tickets to the games.

So yeah…then the Ray Rice thing just sealed the deal for me. Been over it for a while. Don't miss watching it AT ALL.

Still hate Tom Brady though :)

I also grew up without football after the Colts left, so there's that too…

K8teebug wrote:
2. The NFL does not pay taxes. Read "how the NFL fleeces taxpayers" in the Atlantic.

This is such a non-starter. You know who else doesn't pay taxes? Your local Chamber of Commerce, the United Auto Workers, and the Better Business Bureau. You know who does pay taxes? The Baltimore Ravens and every other NFL team.

I find the NFL completely ridiculous to the point where I literally have only even seen 1 of the last 4 Super Bowls and consider it to be one half-step above the terribleness of soccer, but come on, the "no taxes" thing is both intentionally misleading/inflammatory and perfectly reasonable.

I agree with all of K8's points above except the concussion stuff. What are you expecting playing a sport where you get clobbered by a 300lb giant on a daily basis? I have no remorse for those guys.

Is my employer going to cover my terrible eyesight and shitty back for sitting on my ass for 30 years? I think not.

Have you watched the Frontline about the "concussion stuff"?

Watch that and then say you're not with me.

K8teebug wrote:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/how-the-nfl-fleeces-taxpayers/309448/

How does this differ from the MLB anti-trust exemptions (and taxpayer funded ballparks)?

Yada wrote:
Is my employer going to cover my terrible eyesight and shitty back for sitting on my ass for 30 years? I think not.

Desk job?

I always figured you worked at a retail store selling hydroponic growing equipment or operated a food truck selling free-range organic falafel.

K8teebug wrote:
Have you watched the Frontline about the "concussion stuff"?

Watch that and then say you're not with me.

I haven't seen it, but once again, when you're being paid to be crushed by a human being and end up with long term injuries and repercussions, I have no remorse.

ggw wrote:

Yada wrote:
Is my employer going to cover my terrible eyesight and shitty back for sitting on my ass for 30 years? I think not.

Desk job?

I always figured you worked at a retail store selling hydroponic growing equipment or operated a food truck selling free-range organic falafel.

My six foot dreads made you think that, huh?

ggw wrote:

K8teebug wrote:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/how-the-nfl-fleeces-taxpayers/309448/

How does this differ from the MLB anti-trust exemptions (and taxpayer funded ballparks)?

You know who else has this same non-profit status? The NHL. And the PGA/LPGA. And pro tennis. The sports leagues all have this (but the NBA), but it doesn't stop this chestnut from getting dusted off regularly about how "the NFL's 9 billion dollars isn't taxed," when really it is, except for the $10/mil or so the league office spends on NFL60/generic football promotion stuff.

MLB had the same exemption up until a few years ago when they voluntarily gave it up because writing that money off WAS BETTER FOR THEM.

Yada wrote:

ggw wrote:

Yada wrote:
Is my employer going to cover my terrible eyesight and shitty back for sitting on my ass for 30 years? I think not.

Desk job?

I always figured you worked at a retail store selling hydroponic growing equipment or operated a food truck selling free-range organic falafel.

My six foot dreads made you think that, huh?

Totally.  I'm a big fan of judging books by covers.

Julian, wrote:

ggw wrote:

K8teebug wrote:
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/how-the-nfl-fleeces-taxpayers/309448/

How does this differ from the MLB anti-trust exemptions (and taxpayer funded ballparks)?

You know who else has this same non-profit status? The NHL. And the PGA/LPGA. And pro tennis. The sports leagues all have this (but the NBA), but it doesn't stop this chestnut from getting dusted off regularly about how "the NFL's 9 billion dollars isn't taxed," when really it is, except for the $10/mil or so the league office spends on NFL60/generic football promotion stuff.

MLB had the same exemption up until a few years ago when they voluntarily gave it up because writing that money off WAS BETTER FOR THEM.

Yes, those other organizations have the same exempt status. My guess is the NFL makes more than all of them combined.

And it's fine if the MLB gave it up because it was better for them. But, they still pay taxes.

I understand ballparks are a different story. And MLB has it's problems too. I'm not saying they don't. But, for me, and it was just my personal choice, I just couldn't watch NFL any longer. I lost my enthusiasm. I understand it's still the biggest sport in America. I don't think they miss me. But, I feel better not watching it. That's just me.

K8teebug wrote:
Yes, those other organizations have the same exempt status. My guess is the NFL makes more than all of them combined.

The thing you're not getting is "the NFL" doesn't make a lot of money. The 32 pro football teams that are represented by "the NFL" – all of whom pay taxes individually – make a lot of money.

When you're talking about "the NFL" that does not pay taxes, you're not talking about the teams; it is the league office, basically. Any money that comes into the league office is used to promote the industry of football – basically the business of its 32 tax-paying member teams. The $9billion TV contract people hear about: "the NFL" doesn't get that, the 32 teams do and pay taxes on it.

This is exactly the same as a Chamber of Commerce taking in some money and using it to put out a cool brochure about local businesses. All the money coming into the CoC is used to promote a local industry, the members of which will then pay taxes on their increased business. It makes no sense to tax the CoC because it is not a for-profit entity. Similarly, "the NFL" head office is not - in and of itself - a for-profit entity. It exists to hope to maximize profits for its industry (the 32 teams) all of whom pay taxes.

And the amount of money "the NFL" has that it doesn't pay taxes on is by one recent estimate, less than $10million. Which is dwarfed by thousands of other non-profits.

Yada wrote:
My six foot dreads made you think that, huh?

can we say hyperbole

ggw wrote:
Obligatory pic of Brady's wife:

this is the true reason why people hate him.  he's talented, good looking, successful… and his wife is Gisele.

i'm a patriots fan, but when i read all that i start to hate him a little too.