An analysis of political donations from January '99
through May 2000 identified $3.7M in contributions from
sports figures, according to Phillips & Weir of USA TODAY,
who write that "most went to" PACs and political parties,
with $390,516 to presidential "hopefuls." GOP Presidential
candidate George W. Bush led with $160,797 donated by sports
figures, followed by former Democratic Presidential
candidate and NBA HOFer Bill Bradley, who received $101,805,
and former GOP candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) with
$48,250, and VP Al Gore with $36,500. Sports figures
accounted for "less than" 1% of total contributions. Team
owners "easily outgave" athletes among sports contributors,
with 83.3% of sports contributions to the athletes' 2%, or
$75,404. The "top spender" was Orioles Owner Peter Angelos,
who gave "all but" $3,000 of his $758,000 in donations to
Democratic committees. Other donations from team ownership
include: Reds' Carl Lindner, $733,000; Chargers' Alex
Spanos, $263,500; Marlins' John Henry, $202,000; RDV Sports'
Richard DeVos $121,500; Pacers' Herbert Simon, $109,500 and
Melvin Simon, $102,000; Trail Blazers' Paul Allen, $101,000;
NHL Stars' and MLB Rangers' Tom Hicks, $69,000; and
Washington Sports' Abe Pollin, $48,000 (USA TODAY, 7/12).
MORE NAACP BOYCOTTS? In Charlotte, Wallsten & Goldberg
write that the NAACP "moved to aggressively expand" its
economic boycott of SC Tuesday to include the "high-profile"
sporting events. NAACP officials are still unhappy with the
state's Confederate flag policy. Officials said that Serena
Williams "has decided not to play" in the Family Circle Cup
in SC in April (see THE DAILY 4/13). The NAACP is asking
golfers, including Tiger Woods, "not to play" in the MCI
Classic at Hilton Head Island in April. NAACP execs said
"they'll target other high-profile events," including first-
and second-round games of the 2002 NCAA men's basketball
tournament in Greenville (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/12).
