USA TODAY's Fredreka Schouten reports watchdog group Rootstrikers, working to "reduce the role of money in politics," is urging support of a bill proposed by U.S. Sen. TOM COBURN (R-Okla.) that would "bar sports leagues with annual revenue of more than $10 million from claiming tax-exempt status." The pro sports groups "defend their status and note that the exemptions apply only to the league offices." For instance, the NFL's 32 teams "pay taxes on their revenues." However, no other senator "has signed on to co-sponsor the bill." Coburn cites the lack of support on the "industry's clout on Capitol Hill" (USA TODAY, 12/20).
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE....: Lelands.com is auctioning a jersey “believed to have been worn by” CHRISTIAN LAETTNER during Duke Univ.’s game against Kentucky in the East Regional Finals of the ’92 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The website “has set the reserve price for the jersey at $100,000” (ESPN.com, 12/18). Lelands.com also is auctioning former MLBer LIVAN HERNANDEZ’ ‘97 World Series ring and MVP trophy, with the reserve on both items set at $5,000 (MIAMIHERALD.com, 12/18).
NAMES: In N.Y., Ken Davidoff named late MLBPA Exec Dir MICHAEL WEINER his "Baseball Person of the Year." Davidoff wrote, "There's little doubt in my mind that Michael Weiner left the greatest impact on the baseball industry in 2013, and in the lives of so many around it. Now it's up to the people in and around the game to carry on his legacy into 2014 and beyond" (NYPOST.com, 12/18)....Longtime NHL Rangers season-ticket holder EILEEN ADLER on Thursday "slapped Madison Square Garden with a lawsuit" because a security guard "rushing to break up a fight at a recent game shoved her over a row of seats." Adler, who has had season tickets for 25 years, "broke two ribs in the fall." The incident occurred during the May 23, 2012 game against the Devils (N.Y. POST 12/20)....Hockey HOFer MARK MESSIER has been named brand ambassador for the Harvard-Yale “Rivalry on Ice” game to be played on January 11, 2014 at MSG. The game will be broadcast live at 8:00pm ET on NBCSN (Leverage Agency)....Cubs SS STARLIN CASTRO reportedly had $3.6M “seized from his bank accounts Wednesday for refusing to pay 3 percent of his contract to a baseball school in the Dominican Republic” (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 12/19).
