Should the Army drop its $7M sponsorship of NASCAR

[Crossbones Dennis]

A Minnesota Democrat is trying to pull the plug on the Army's $7 million sponsorship of a NASCAR race car as wasteful spending, the National Journal reports.

Rep. Betty McCollum's House amendment would end a decade-long business partnership between the Defense Department and the popular stock-car racing circuit.

The Journal quotes McCollum's chief of staff, Bill Harper, as calling the sponsorships "a waste of money."

"The military shouldn't be in the business of sponsoring race cars, they should be in the business of fighting wars," Harper tells the magazine.

The Journal says the Marines, Navy and Coast Guard dropped their NASCAR sponsorships in 2006, but that the Army spent $7 million on the endorsements last year, down from $11.6 in 2009.

[dennismopar73]

this is a mix bag of worms, even for me ,
i very much support our men whom protect us ,
and give us the freedom that we have , and use everyday,
so i'll leave it lay there

[Crossbones Dennis]

I feel that it's a recruitment tool just like commercials on TV. If you stop them from doing it then you should stop all advertising. Sounds like she has something against Nascar.

[dennismopar73]

well yes it is that thats why i say mix bag,,
warren johnson said , he would never use 'his money to race'
i have long since thought that racers have 'lost ' the sport by
having such
large operations/ budgets/ sponsorship packages,
and none of which comes at any expence to those who race like the forces ,
d s r programs,
i think the drag racing that they are doing has nothing to do with the sport anymore!
the 'package that you see at this level , is not the way the sport was started ,
in as much i really believe has hurt it ,,
drivers come n go ,,switch teams at will , some never hear from anymore,
just paid wheel turners .
but it takes money to run nowwadays so what ya see is whats got
used to got a car /body from the maker , if you was real good!!
when advance did cruz , that was a 7.5 mil operation to run
came right out of working capital from the co, besides any other deal.
the sport is really hurting now economy budget restraints from all co.
made all the teams cut back , some even left due to no sponsors , but they still dont use their monie ,
they have a business that feeds off the extra of other buisness,
if i was a banker that would make me nervious as hell,
i dont know if they makes sence but if you have no skin in the game ,
you are not in the game .
as for the army spending i will venture to say they spend much more than that number!!
should it be cut back,?? YES

[Crossbones Dennis]

What do you think about a local baseball player that turned down an offer with a total value at more than $200 million spread across a nine- or 10-year base?

[dennismopar73]

all over paid,
he may have need to rethink it ,
he has had ahurt elbow for some time now,
should he get hurt could do far worse,
team wise and, money wise,

[p518]

Feb 17, 2011 7:11:46 GMT -6 Crossbones Dennis said:

What do you think about a local baseball player that turned down an offer with a total value at more than $200 million spread across a nine- or 10-year base?

Needs a bigger ball cap and batting helmet to fit his head. His agent just helped him hurt his reputation, here.

Problem is, no one really knows how old he is. Claimed he was 20 or 21 when he first came up and he really looked 25 or 26.

His ten year request puts him at 41 when the contract is over, but he really might be 46 then.

This whole money thing with professional athletes is out of control. They are nothing more than entertainers on a limited time basis.

They need to be paid by incentive and performance like most of the rest of the people.

Off my soapbox now.