Games & Taxes

Johanna, Jacksonville, FL — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:14:24 GMT

I'm sure in part this is true...there is fleecing, but I'm sure someone failed to mention that football is a monster of money that most of the time DOES benefit the school, or at least in my knowing with U of Florida. I know a lot of raised money does go to scholarships as well as better funding for lesser known sports programs that otherwise would go unfunded..
If you are going to do story, investigate a little more!

Games & Taxes

Bill Hyden, Tulsa, Oklahoma — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:20:40 GMT

This is akin to John Yang's FLEECING bit of this date. I am concerned about University team logos mostly being made in foreign countries. I have learned that CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company) handles 'selling' of logos for the universities, possibly without regard for the equipment, caps, sweatshirts, etc.being made by low-wage sweatshops. I could find not one Made in USA during a search. CLC contact is Derek Hughes (770) 799-3245 dhughes@clc.com

Games & Taxes

Kevin Cowell, Naples, Florida — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:48:07 GMT

Gentlemen:

While your report on the fleecing of America, Suite deal for sports fans, depicted a means of taxpayers footing the bill for athletics (note; all your video showed football, not other athletics), you failed to tout the benefits to young people who otherwise would not have an opportunity to enrich their lives and other with the benefits of a college education. As like so many other stories, NBC only chose to focus on one side of the issue, rather than weigh the benefits on the other side(s) of the story. I would like to offer some counterpoints to the article you aired on NBC Nightly News of 10, October, 2007.

Universities use the revenue generated from donations to offer scholarships to well deserving young people who otherwise would not be able to see a college campus. In addition, the revenues from football and basketball games allow a university to fund programs for athletics that otherwise, could not financially stand on their own independently. Furthermore, the scholarships and facilities that are funded by these donations facilitate a training and conditioning environment for our Olympic athletes, (since our government refuses to fund these endeavors) And returning to the "investment" of a college scholarship to young people for athletics. We have may outstanding leaders in our nation thanks to the opportunity afforded to them through athletic-academic scholarships, that came about as a result of donations making this possible ( Alan Page-State Supreme Court Justice, J.C. Watts- Congressman OK,) and the thousands of other athletes who have become teachers and coaches to our next generation of young people who need the leadership and guidance that athletics offer them.

As you can see, there is a counter point to the "fleecing" of tax revenue, to the "investment" in the next generation of citizens that will be leading this nation. While we may debate the cost-benefits ramifications of donations to colleges, I deeply resent that insinuation that donations to a university athletic program, are some sort of tax dodge, and an indirect means of "fleecing" or "stealing" money from taxpayers, and the basis of your accusations then should apply to charities, foundations, churches, and political parties, alike.

I believe that my donations are an investment in the future generations of our nation, and as a proud alumni of my alma mater (University of South Florida), I take great pride in the contribution my wife and I are making to our university, community, and our country.

Kevin Cowell
University of South Florida, Class of 1995
GO BULLS!!!

Games & Taxes

David, Little Rock, AR — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:53:20 GMT

If a person (or a company) earns money, they own the money. It's theirs. Not the government's. Not society's. Not the taxpayers'. It's theirs and theirs alone. If they donate their money to a tax-exempt organization, they are the ones giving it away, not the government or the taxpayers.

No one is getting fleeced; the government is just opting not to tax someone, and believe me, fewer taxes don't hurt anyone.

Games & Taxes

Wyatt Murphy, Athens, GA — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:22:11 GMT

In response to your fleecing of America story on October 10, what exactly were the news editors thinking by airing this story? The prevailing attitude was rich people get tax breaks for football seats and the government does not get their cut.

A person can decide to donate their money that they earned to where they wish, that is the definition of charity. It is their money, it was taxed when they earned it, now it has to be taxed when they GIVE it away? Where does our government have the right to say, the rest of society deserves a share of your generosity? The politician in your story in whines, where is our share for the common good? This is socialism in action. It is a prevailing attitude that permeates our government, our media and our lives. The story repeatedly states that 80% of the donation is tax deductible. What about that other 20%? IT IS TAXED.

The report calls into question the nature of the donation itself, namely to college atheletics. Football is most often the only self sufficient mens sport within college atheletics. Other mens sports such as baseball, golf and tennis need football revenue to survive. In addition, universities must fund all womens sports which must be available due to Title IX equal education act. These teams budgets also run deficits. The report never sites these issues. It concentrates on sky suites and tax deductions.

At my alma mater, the Univeristy of Georgia, a set of season tickets for one seat in a stadium with a capacity of 92,000+ requires a minimum donation of $1200 or higher. What about those donors? Should they be taxed exta for their donation? The report makes no mention of smaller contributors. Why? Because that issue is not sexy. It does not advance the notion of rich people stealing from the government.

If one day we find ourselves standing in line for bread dressed in the same brown suit asking "Where is my share?" you can thank stories like this.

Games & Taxes

Chuck Darnell — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:22:54 GMT

Once again the Socialist propaganda machine that is NBC speaks for the big brother government it desires.

Games & Taxes

Paul, San Antonio, TX — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:51:59 GMT

Fleecing = taxes not being collected? Fleecing is when taxes ARE collected and then spent on constructing a $6 million restroom at a national park. When taxes aren't collected it just means that some gluttonous bureaucrat got a little less money to blow. SO much tax money is collected that whenever a public need is found to be lacking it is solely because of waste.

Games & Taxes

Blake, Cabot Arkansas — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:52:38 GMT

Are you kidding me? We earn the money. It's our money, not the governments. How hard is that to understand. My sentiments have already been posted so I won't restate them. It's been awhile since I have disagreed to this extent over a report seen on any type of media. If the editors allow this type of propaganda, and that's exactly what it was, then I have to seriously reconsider where I get my news from.

Games & Taxes

James, Indianapolis, IN — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:25:44 GMT

Socialists go to Cuba, or back to the Soviet Union, or even China, but not in MY AMERICA! Socialist pigs. If someone wants to donate money to a tax-exempt organization, then by all means do it because they earned it and it is their right. Where in this does the government have the right to tax? Why is it that certain people in the government and the media want a piece of everyone's hard-earned money. To say this is a fleecing is completely ignorant. John Yang is an idiot!

Games & Taxes

Emma, Columbia MO — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 20:14:06 GMT

Since when does tax exemption = government subsidizing college sports? In what world does that make any sense?

Clearly Yang has proven that he is not a news correspondent but a 'reporter' with an agenda.

Games & Taxes

John, Crestwood, Kentucky — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:54:46 GMT

I was absolutely shocked when I read this story. While I didn't see it televised, this really drives home the point that media is firmly ensconced with the political left. Who cares that a donation was made to collegiate athletics and in return get preferential treatment when purchasing season tickets to events? What I find ironic is that no one is mentioning donations being made to local theaters and acting companies. If I make a donation to them, is the federal government in a sense supporting them as well? Don't think that perferential treatment doesn't occur in your local theater either. You need not look any further then the evening's program.

Watch out folks, if the government gets its way, we are all gonna be standing in line waiting for toliet paper and day old bread.

Games & Taxes

Keith Kennedy, Pelham, AL — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:12:55 GMT

This story is just another example of the liberal/socialistic yellow journalism. I am confused as to how the American public is being fleeced if someone wishes to make a donation to any University's athletic program??? The money is coming from personel funds, not Government funds. The only thing the Government is not getting would be the taxes on the amount donated. Last I checked charitable donations were tax deductible. What are you going to say next, that the Government is supporting Churches, The Boy Scouts, etc.??? I tell you who is being fleeced...The American Public that wasted their time by tuning in to your biased report. Whatever happened to objective journalism? It seems that the socialist & democrats have killed it. This is one conservative voter and TV viewer that will exercise his rights not to tune in too your reports or your network anymore.

GIVE ME A BREAK---Go back to college and relearn your trade.

Games & Taxes

John Swansey Waco , Texas — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:06:48 GMT

Texas furnishes schools and bools and we pay the tax.s to pay for it ., BUT--School politic.s is the dirtest of all . For instance in Brownsville Texas my friend was the sports reporter and after having the bigest game we had had he tried to account for the money . HE was told to for get it and that upset him and said no the people need to know where thid money goes , SO the dext day when he went to work the paper fired him . ?? now who has power ???
My friend in Clevland texas who owned th eland next to the school ---the school wanted to buy it for a football field , So So to do something good SHE GAVE this peice of land to the school , there after she came home one evening and there on the oporch her son was trying to sew up his football suit . and had a bile to wash , they were in rags , She went to the school and asked the supertentent why he sent the rags to her house to be washed , HE said OH mrs. ----
We had to pay so much for that piece of land that we could not buy any new equipment . Man that made her madd a so she really got mad and yold him SHE GAVE THAT LAND TO THE SCHOOL , he couls have hid under the desk , So you see how this money is hidden and so much goes into their pockets . I told an ex principle about it and he laughed and said well you know where the money goes . in their pockets .
we pay school tax;s then they still want more money so take it from the washington and when they do the goverment has the control / of the school
to teach our children how ro have sex and not teach them how to make a living ,
Now look at the football players at school . how many get a scholar ship . ??? the others worked just as hard to win ??? so waht do the kids get for making money for thte school ?????nothing
wake up put the clamps on the schools anda put teaching back in the schools instead of using our young ones to make money to put in their pockets .

Games & Taxes

John SWansey Waco Texas — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:17:53 GMT

About Tax.s in the 30's we did not have all of these tax's but our goverment is too greedy and are taxing every thing they can think of . When they took away our gold standered system today our doller is only worth about four cents
Face it -- from your payrole they first tax you for the federial tax . then the state tax , the take out SS and for med care , now every time you buy something , for instance gas tax, cig,tax , sales tax , property tax , Man just look at the list . So so if for instance you could spread the dollar over the tank of gas the pack of cig , and the sales tax , for the candy bar . how much tax have you spent .
Wake up and stop this taxing . The dems will bleed you to death by adding a tax every time they turn around ,

Games & Taxes

Chelsi Fillmore,Indiana — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:52:43 GMT

dear whomever,
i think we should get rid of the standard system it is like so old. Besides every other country that i can think of has the metric system except the United States of America.The metric system as i am told is a lot easier anyway. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Games & Taxes

Robert Cook, Nashville, TN — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:58:56 GMT

If not collecting tax money from charitable donations = fleecing?

Then, Socialist agenda = "journalism".

Games & Taxes

Derrick M., South Bend IN — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:39:25 GMT

What is going on here???!!! I think I just stopped watching NBC (EXCEPT on a few Saturdays in the fall, go IRISH). It's my money, and my donation that receives the tax credit. Just like when I donate to the YMCA, I get a tax credit. This is part of why I donate... to get a tax credit in support whatever I want, including college athletics! I am turning off NBC for good because this, to me, is boarder line socialism.

Games & Taxes

David, Seattle, WA — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:22:27 GMT

Put this reporter/journalist on the "Socialist watchdog list". Blatant disregard to all our forefathers worked/fought for to make this a free country. This is patriotic only if you live in N. Korea.