And yes, that’s not the Laffer Curve they’re talking about being written on a napkin…

We’ve noted in the past how much we loathe members of Congress getting involved in the affairs of professional sports.  So imagine our anger at this news item:

A group of 13 U.S. senators wrote a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell urging the league to make the games televised on the league-owned NFL Network more widely available.

Among those signing the letter, dated Tuesday, were Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), …

The Senate is now worried about sports on pay TV?  Makes me wonder: next time my cable goes out, should I just complain to Specter and Leahy?

Normally we say politicians should stay out of sports.

And normally we disagree with Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) on lots of things, except for believing in life on other planets, for which he is our leader.

But today we suspend our prejudices for both and salute this hearing being held on Capitol Hill this morning:

Friday, October 24, 2008

10:00 a.m.

2154 Rayburn

This hearing will examine whether New York City officials improperly reported to the Internal Revenue Service and prospective bond purchasers inflated values for land and buildings in order to secure more tax-exempt bonds for the construction of a new Yankee stadium. The City proposed using an innovative financing mechanism for these bonds, known as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs). The hearing will also examine whether the City’s efforts to stop finalization of proposed U.S. Department of Treasury regulations that would effectively prohibit the use of PILOTs in this context serve the public interest. The Domestic Policy Subcommittee has previously held three hearings examining the use of federal tax-exempt financing for construction of professional sports stadiums and arenas. Chairman Kucinich also issued a letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg outlining the Subcommittee’s concerns.

Witnesses for the hearing include:

Mr. Randy Levine, President, New York Yankees

Ms. Martha Stark, Commissioner, New York City Department of Finance

Mr. Seth Pinsky, President, New York City Economic Development Corporation

Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky, 92nd Assembly District New York State

Or, as the New York Daily News puts it:

The federal government just gave America’s richest sports team another gift.

For the second time in two years, the Internal Revenue Service has approved special rules that allow the Yankees to use additional tax-free bonds to pay the skyrocketing costs of the team’s new stadium.

This time around, the extra bonds could be worth as much as $366 million.

So on this rare occasion we say to Rep. Kucinich and Congress: Play Ball!

Spin of the day:

Just before the first pitch of what many expect to be the lowest-rated World Series in history, in terms of television viewership, Commissioner Bud Selig characterized the ratings as a short-term concession to the long-term growth made possible by the sport’s competitive balance.

“You have to have a sport that produces hope and faith,” Selig said prior to Game 1 between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies, “because it’s that hope and faith that sustains the sport.”

First, Barack Obama makes this joke at the Al Smith dinner in NYC:

I have to say tonight’s venue isn’t really what I’m used to. I was originally told we’d be able to move this outdoors to Yankee Stadium, and — can somebody tell me what happened to the Greek Columns that I requested?

Then what does he do?  Campaigns in George Steinbrenner Stadium in Tampa, where the Yankees hold spring training.

Chutzpah for this Chicago White Sox fan!

So what does he do next?  Congratulates the Tampa Bay Rays this way:

He also said that he wanted to get a mohawk, a trademark of the team, but the advisors warned against it. “I was going to cut my hair in a mohawk in solidarity but my political advisors said they weren’t sure how that was going to play with ah, swing voters.”

Well, his advisors may say no.  But we say, yes we can  …

We noted earlier that a horse named ROVE would be battling CRAFTY MAVERICK in a Wednesday race at Beulah Park in Ohio.
Alas, dreams dashed again.

Deadspin reports:

And coming up on the rail, it’s Landslide!: Rove has been scratched from his claiming race against Crafty Maverick and Bad Little Fellow. If he didn’t have that 300-pound jockey named George on his back the poor guy might have had a chance.

Extreme Mortman senior horse racing correspondent Craig Brownstein alerts us to this major Ohio development after studying with his magnifying glass the Daily Racing Form:

ROVE the racehorse continues his downward trip through the claiming ranks and has surfaced in Ohio for a race at a flat mile at Beulah Park this Wednesday.

He faces what looks to be another mediocre field that includes CRAFTY MAVERICK.  The morning line hasn’t been fixed yet but I expect long odds.  His claiming price is now $3,500.00.

Also on the card: EX NAVY in the second race.  Good luck players.

Poor Chicago Cubs.  Poor Hillary Clinton.

They both have to wait for another season.

We interrupt our dashing and erudite coverage of media and politics to bring you this … Maryland Terrapin football player Kevin Barnes’ takedown of California’s Jahvid Best

No wonder the Maryland coach’s name is Ralph Friedgen.

And this priceless reaction from Barnes:

“He’s not permanently hurt, so I’m fine with that. Had he died or something, I’d have felt bad, but he’ll probably be playing next week.”

I may just donate to the Maryland Alumni Fund after all.

Bank failures?  A dime a dozen.

Government intervention in the marketplace?  Happens all the time.

Financial stocks tanking on Wall Street?  Yawn.

So what’s different today that spells total catastrophe and doom?

This stunning, unbelievable occurrence:

On Capitol Hill, key lawmakers either declined to comment on the Lehman’s fate or did not return calls. A spokesman for Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), for whom the day’s events represent a hometown crisis, said Schumer, who chairs the Joint Economic Committee, was withholding comment until the status of Lehman Brothers became clear.

Chuck Schumer speechless?  That’s it.  The world is officially upside down.  I’m putting whatever money I have left in my mattress.  And I’ll keep it there until Schumer holds another press conference.