Lawmakers question Big 10

[tfoolry]

Lawmakers question non-profit status of Big 10.....

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100624/NEWS09/6240359/Grassley-Harkin-ask-for-Big-Ten-expansion-details

[badger]

Oh yeah, it's not just Iowa, it's all conferences and athletic departments that are being the subjects of debatable taxfree status.

For those of you that enjoy knowing how much athletic departments spend (including coaches salaries), you will want them to keep their tax exemption, as I think making them private, taxable entities will take away this public record privilege.

For those of you that like to brag that OU's athletic department is self-sufficient and subsidizes academics, you'll also want tax exemption status to stay, because if all of the income, donations, etc etc is taxed, I worry where that will take us. Will donations be considered investments again, like a stock market, mutual fund relationship?

About the only plausible argument for tax exemption to be revoked is the fact that state budgets are going down everywhere and states need to tap into a cash cow that will get those funds up.

[Leroy Lizard]

About the only plausible argument for tax exemption to be revoked is the fact that state budgets are going down everywhere and states need to tap into a cash cow that will get those funds up.

That may be an excuse, but it isn't a reason. In short, they're acting as if money is a prime motivating factor for maintaining the organization. For example, if any records show that they are making certain moves to deprive other competing conferences tv revenue, that would be acting like a corporation.

[NormanPride]

It would be hard to prove that they're making moves to keep the little guy out, especially since BSU jumped to a bigger conference and Utah jumped to a BCS conference. There is enough mobility based on merit that any arguments against them are silly.

[Leroy Lizard]

It comes down to documentation. What reasons did they give for their actions and what made it into the paper trail?

[sooner_born_1960]

It comes down to votes. Which state's representatives are going to vote for any change in the universities' status?

[Leroyt]

How could anyone ever think that the prime motivation in college athletics is money?