Former NFL Lobbyist Playing Role In Potential Web Gambling Ban
 |
Ex-NFL Lobbyist Tied To
Potential Web Gambling Ban |
Former NFL lobbyist William Wichterman is "playing a controversial role in the Bush administration's last minute effort to implement a ban on many forms of Internet gambling before the end of the president's term," according to sources cited by R. Jeffrey Smith of the WASHINGTON POST. Wichterman, who now serves as Special Assistant to the President and Office Of Public Liaison Deputy Dir, along with others at DC-based law firm Covington & Burling had earned $2.8M "lobbying for the NFL against Internet gaming and on other matters from 2004 through March" of this year. The '06 law seeking to curb Internet gambling at the "center of the White House review has been of intense interest to the NFL." With the NFL's support, it "was tacked onto unrelated legislation." Since then, the measure "has been attacked as unwieldy or unworkable by banks and the Internet gambling industry, now based mostly overseas and bringing in millions of dollars each year." Internet gambling officials "have long maintained that the NFL's real motivation is to block any competition for lucrative 'fantasy football' gambling via the Internet, which was explicitly exempted from the 2006 ban." U.S. Rep. Stephen Cohen (D-TN) Friday wrote White House counsel Fred Fielding to "express concern that the 'impetus for the rule may have been a particular White House employee who has a clear and obvious conflict of interest.'" Cohen said that he "had been told that Wichterman 'has been a source of considerable political pressure to speed this regulation through to finalization'" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/12).
SUPER SLOWDOWN: In St. Petersburg, Janet Zink reported Super Bowl XLIII organizers in Tampa "say they need $12[M] to stage the event, $8[M] of that from private sponsors," and they are 80% of the way toward that fundraising goal, "not much better than three months ago." Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee Exec Dir Reid Sigmon cited the economy as a reason for the slowdown, but he said that he "still believes the money will be in before the bills have to be paid." Sigmon: "There continues to be a great deal of interest." Zink noted the "newest sponsors" include Publix, Pulte Homes, Walter Industries, Syniverse Technologies and CBS Radio. Tampa's Super Bowl bid also "included a promise to provide 20,000 hotel rooms from Orlando to the Pinellas beaches," but "so far, there's been no rush on rooms." Hillsborough County (FL) Hotel/Motel Association Exec Dir Bob Morrison: "The pace is slower than when we had the game back in 2001." Meanwhile, the NFL also has "canceled plans for a free concert and fireworks at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg." NFL VP/Corporate Communications Brian McCarthy: "We're focusing on other events" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 11/10).
 |
Writer Notes Scheduling Conflicts Presented By
Placing NFL Team In London |
LONDON BRIDGES: SI.com's Peter King speculates on the logistics of an NFL team in London: "A London team would probably have two three-game road trips to the U.S., staying in -- for example -- suburban Philly and working out at the Eagles' complex on a trip to face New England, the Jets and Washington. That would eliminate the wear-and-tear on the British franchise. Now, for travel over there, I'm sure the league would give a bye either before or after most games in London to the opposing team. Aside from that, there's not much else the league could do to eliminate travel problems. Other than, of course, for teams to quit complaining and play" (SI.com, 11/11).
CRACKED CODE: SI.com's Andrew Perloff wrote the NFL "has been trying to crack down on boorish behavior at the stadium, but the games I've attended this year still feel out of control -- and I'm in the press box." Perloff: "I can't imagine having to sit in the crowd. ... I don't understand how anyone can drag their kids into that kind of environment. While nothing beats the excitement of a live football game, is it really worth exposing them to a bunch of obnoxious fans who are using the game as an excuse to get loaded?" (FANNATION.com, 11/11).
|
Related Stories By Company
|
Related Stories By Sport
|
Goodell Asks Congress For Drug Policy Help
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
NFL, NFLPA To Hold CBA Meeting Tomorrow
November 3, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Vikes-Pack Most-Viewed Fox Game Since '95
November 3, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Favre's Green Bay Return Earns 18.3 Overnight
November 2, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Is Parity In The NFL A Thing Of The Past?
October 30, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
John Riggins Bashes Dan Snyder
November 6, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
WAC Hires PR Firm To Help Boise State
November 5, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Randy Lerner Opens Up About Browns
November 5, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Touchdown Jacksonville Revived To Aid Jags
November 5, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
Browns Refuse To Publicly Discuss Kokinis
November 4, 2009 :
SportsBusiness Daily
|
|
