How the New York Yankees and the US Government Are Ruining Sports

The New York Yankees' 2009 payroll will once again hover around $200 million. They have signed CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira to contracts totaling $431 million. They also have A-Rod and Derek Jeter inked at $275 and $189 million respectively.

Obviously the Yanks are flush with cash even in these tough economic times. However, despite all the big spending, the Yanks can't seem to come up with the cash to pay off their new stadium.

So they have decided that the taxpayers of New York City should do the dirty work. While they pay off four guys to play ball, you the taxpayers of New York City will be forced to chip in and help pay for the new stadium.

This is just another example of the government overstepping its bounds. Of course they will say that the stadium will generate revenue for the city. Thus, the citizens should help pay for the stadium.

That's a load of pine tar. The Yankees are a private organization with absolutely no affiliation to the government, and yet they ask the government to tax their own fan base in order to pay for their stadium.

I am appalled that the Yankees would do such a thing when they obviously have zero qualms about spending money.

As for generating revenue, how does that benefit your average taxpayer? The working stiff gets home from his cubicle at five and watches the game. Yet there he is, giving part of his paycheck to the New York Yankees. How does that work?

I know that restaurants, bars, and the like will go up all around the stadium, but why does that require the citizens to pay for it? It was the Yankees' choice to build the damn thing. Just because the stadium benefits other people does not make it acceptable for the government to make them pay for it.

It's a disgrace that we have to live through this. Here in DC, the Nationals did the same thing. The common man is paying for a sports franchise's investments and he has no choice in the matter.

The government has also attempted to play a role in the annual college football postseason debate. President-Elect Obama has stated that he would like to enforce upon the NCAA a college football playoff.

Last time I checked, the Constitution doesn't empower the government to make rulings on college football. Obama expressed a desire to see the federal government control a sport. What is this world coming to?

Next we'll see Obama force the top blue-chip prospects to play at the University of Illinois. Then he'll determine the outcome of every game.

Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton: Sir, Michigan just lost to Ohio State.

President Obama: Damn! Well tell them to reverse the outcome. I had $50 bucks on Michigan.

Eventually, schools will be forced to change their mascots due to their being offensive (wait, they do that already).

It's despicable to see the government playing a role in sports today. They have no business being there. Unfortunately, teams like the Yankees invite them in simply because they don't want to pay for their own stadium which they built.

The government is also invited in by a certain linebacker from USC. The Trojans believed they deserved a playoff to contend for the national championship. So when asked what they could do about it, linebacker Rey Maualuga said that Obama could fix it.

These types of comments display a lack of foresight. The government is already such a huge part of our lives. We are overtaxed and over-regulated to the max, so why call for even more intervention?

If the federal government could actually prove themselves competent at their so-called areas of expertise (e.g. politics), maybe I wouldn't mind so much. However, they can't seem to save anything they touch.

So stay away from my sports, Uncle Sam!