NFL CRIMINALS = DOMESTIC ABUSERS vs. NON-PROFIT TAX CHEATS

It is hard to identify the greater crime committed by the National Football League (NFL) -- the non-profit league that represents the most popular sport in America, watched by millions of fans each week, raking in millions of dollars in tax-free ad revenue each game played each year -- versus the protection of domestic violence abusers who are players in the sport that creates the millions of dollars in the tax-free revenue stream.

The NFL has taken advantage of the American love of the game and thrown the finger to the sports hungry public by denying a relief in the tax-base that could be balanced by the tax contributions of the FOR-PROFIT REALITY of the NFL league..

Forbes Magazine reports, "the NFL is by far the most popular sport on television and media right fees underpin the league’s sweeping increase in team values. Thanks to new broadcasting deals with NBC, ESPN, CBS and Fox that begin with the 2014 season, evenly-split revenue will increase to $250 million over the next four years. In addition, the league’s one-year Thursday Night Football deal with CBS will add $275 million in revenue to the league this season."

This year, Senators Tom Coburn (R-Okla) and Angus King (I-Maine) introduced the PRO-Sports Act to address this financial issue based on the premise that it is unfair to the American tax-payer. “Tax earmarks are essentially tax increases for everyone who doesn't receive the benefit. In this case, working Americans are paying artificially high rates in order to subsidize special breaks for sports leagues. This is hardly fair,” explained Sen. Coburn.

The NFL felt an earthquake this past month, when video emerged of Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice knocking out his fiancee inside an elevator at a casino in New Jersey. The video shows that Rice drags her limp body onto the floor after the knock-out, once the elevator doors open. Rice steps past her and leaves her motionless body unintended, knocked out. The punishment for the crime of domestic abuse??? The NFL suspended the Ravens running back for just two games after Rice was charged with knocking his fiancee unconscious during the an altercation. Really????

The Baltimore Ravens released Rice, who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, after the video was released online by TMZ, showing the NFL star knocking out his fiancee. "The Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of RB Ray Rice this afternoon," stated the press release. More importantly, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters that the team had not seen the video before it was released online by TMZ. Really??????

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the man responsible for giving Rice the two-game ban, then increased the suspension after viewing the video online for the first time. It is difficult to believe that the NFL did not have knowledge nor access to the security videos at the casino in New Jersey.

In response, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced legislation that stripes professional sports leagues -- including the NFL -- of the tax-exempt status. The bill is entitled, The Securing Assistance for Victim Empowerment (SAVE) Act -- it is estimated to raise $100 million over 10 years for domestic violence assistance programs.

"Stopping domestic violence is a national priority that requires long-term, meaningful investment,” said Booker. “This common sense update to our tax laws would save more than $100 million over 10 years, money that can instead be used to pay for vital support programs that have seen their funding slashed in recent years due to sequestration and gridlock.” Which NFL crime is worse? Cheating Americans out of the NFL contribution to the national economic tax base??? Or protecting the NFL players in the game convicted of domestic abuse??

It seems the public is left holding the clean-up bill in either case.