04/18/24
May 09, 2015
NFL Took Millions from U.S. Government to Salute the Troops: When the New York Jets paused to honor soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard at home games during the past four years, it was more than a heartfelt salute to the military -- it was also worth a good stack of taxpayer money, records show. The Department of Defense and the Jersey Guard paid the Jets a total of $377,000 from 2011 to 2014 for the salutes and other advertising, according to federal contracts. Overall, the Defense Department has paid 14 NFL teams $5.4 million during that time, of which $5.3 million was paid by the National Guard to 11 teams under similar contracts.
As a non-American, I have been struck by the number of times the armed forces appear during NFL broadcasts. This partly explains it.
By the way, has anyone else read "Billy Lynn's Long Half-time Walk"? A great novel.
posted by owlhouse at 05:21 AM on May 10, 2015
By the way, has anyone else read "Billy Lynn's Long Half-time Walk"? A great novel.
Agreed. And soon to be an Ang Lee joint, screenplay by the guy who did Slumdog Millionaire.
posted by Etrigan at 12:13 PM on May 10, 2015
Waiting for the first team to announce they're returning the cash. I am a patient man, you see...
posted by billsaysthis at 12:51 PM on May 12, 2015
Fuckin' Guard, I swear...