Senate to hold hearing on bounties

[Mayhem]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7...senator-dick-durbin-sets-hearing-bounties-nfl

The Senate wants to grill the NFL about bounties. And the NBA, NHL, NCAA and Major League Baseball are invited, too.

Sen. Dick Durbin is setting up a Judiciary Committee hearing about bounties in professional football and other major sports in the wake of news that New Orleans Saints players received extra cash for hits that hurt particular opponents.

The assistant Senate majority leader, an Illinois Democrat, said Thursday he wants to examine whether federal law should make such bounty systems a crime.

"Let's be real basic about it here. If this activity were taking place off of a sporting field, away from a court, nobody would have a second thought (about whether it's wrong). 'You mean, someone paid you to go out and hurt someone?' " Durbin said in a telephone interview before raising the issue on the floor of the Senate.

"It goes way beyond the rules of any sporting contest, at least team contest, to intentionally inflict harm on another person for a financial reward," he said.

His announcement came a day after the NFL took a harsh stand on bounties, suspending Saints coach Sean Payton for all of next season, and indefinitely banning their former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was barred for half of 2012, assistant head coach Joe Vitt got a six-game ban, and the team also was docked two second-round draft picks (one in 2012 and another in '13) and $500,000.

This is such bullshit! I looked the other way when Congress got involved in the Steroid thing. But Congress does not need to be wasting time on this. The NFL has handled the situation as well as anyone could ever expect, there's nothing more that needs to be done, it's not like the story is going away anytime soon....and there is no foreseeable benefit to the guvmint wasting everyone's time when there's much more important things that should be dealt with.

:angrymob: I'm sick of these idiot politicians wasting time, anytime. These days, it's a criminal waste of the American people's time. :surprise::wtf::cussing:

 

[gunslingingbird]

It's an election year. Of course they're gonna use every major news story as a chance to appeal to voters. Everybody couch potato in America who's been watching the news is gonna think, "Gee, Senator Asswipe really cares about playing by the rules, so to speak. Maybe we should elect him and those who think like him back to office so everybody follows the rules." I think it's a waste of time. The NFL is handling matters in its own way. There's absolutely no need for government involvement.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Why in God's name do we not DEMAND that every politician only serves TWO TERMS? The president can only serve two terms. Why in hell can those lazy old fuckers be allowed to sit on their fat asses for 20, 30, 40, years?

Two Terms, gawd-damn it! Nothing more.

 

[Xombie3000]

Is it wrong that when I read the thread title, the first thing my mind went to was Dog The Bounty Hunter and Boba Fett?

 

[lurkingdirk]

Well, the Senate is accomplishing absolutely nothing anyway, why not let them accomplish nothing in the sports arena for a while?

 

[zeeblofowl_1969]

Our grandstanding government getting more face time.

 

[John_8581]

:2offtopic

Yes, though you do learn some things. Hey remember those Congressional MLB steroid hearings....




Three days later, Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for what? Steroids. :rofl2:

 

[Mr. Hyde]

I, for one, am glad that our elected representatives are choosing to spend valuable time on this most important of subjects. I mean, we've solved all of the other problems that are facing our nation...

 

[gunslingingbird]

:2offtopic

Yes, though you do learn some things. Hey remember those Congressional MLB steroid hearings....




Three days later, Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for what? Steroids. :rofl2:

Wasn't he also the spokesman for Viagra? I'd say that counts as a performance-enhancing substance.

 

[~~whimsy~~]

I'm so glad professional sports ethics is more important than national infrastructure.

Way to go you elected ones! Really focusing on what the majority of people are concerned about! I know when I wake up in the morning all I think about is what the New Orleans Saints coach is doing rather than what the politicians are doing and how it is effecting me and society...

 

[cindy CD/TV]

Since when are paper towels worth Congressional scrutiny :dunno: What's next ... Brawny? Noooooooooooooo! :eek: