Yet another bowl black eye
Do we really still need any more evidence that the bowl system is all about money?
Current and former employees of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl said they were encouraged to donate money to specific political candidates and were reimbursed by the bowl through bonus payments, an allegation the bowl game’s CEO denies, The Arizona Republic reported.
The newspaper reported that five current and former high-level employees of the bowl game, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they made contributions at the urging of Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker and were reimbursed through bonus checks. Three of the five said they were reimbursed after giving to specific candidates.
The donations totalled more than $38,000, according to the report.
State and federal campaign laws prohibit corporations from funnelling corporate donations to political campaigns through individuals.
“If employees are giving contributions and they were being reimbursed, it’s illegal, and it’s something we definitely would review,” state elections director Amy Bjelland said, according to the report.
Same old same old. It is not longer a surprise that college sports is dollar motivated. And really I don’t even mind it. But I can’t stand the pretense. So again let’s cut the B.S. and just admit we are running a very profitable business here, and not worried about student athletes. It would save so much time vs. defending a morally corrupt but very lucrative industry.
