Sports and Politics: A Death Mix

So apparently, Floyd Landis got the shaft following his Tour de France win, because the laboratory that handled his abnormally high testosterone test evidently "made an administrative error" with his samples. Landis was absolutely destroyed in the media, both stateside and abroad (especially in France, where the Tour is held), and I doubt that this admission of error will do anything to restore his shattered reputation. Landis, who battled a hip injury so severe that he could not walk under his own power throughout July's Tour, captured the hearts of Americans with his small-town heritage and career of constant struggle and strife in cycling. Landis' win extended the streak of American victories in the French event to eight years running, something that was the subject of great disdain to Frenchmen. After trying unsuccessfully to bring down fellow American Lance Armstrong during his run of seven consecutive Tour de France wins on the same charges of doping, maybe they thought Landis could be an easy target. Shame on you World Anti-Doping Association, Dick Pound, and everyone else involved in this despicable smear campaign. The sad part is, Landis will never return to his place of high esteem after this.
This has been in the news for awhile, but now that politicians, specifically San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and California US Sen. Dianne Feinstein, have jumped into the fray, the San Francisco 49ers proposed move is under heavy fire. Feinstein is reportedly looking into the possibilities of passing legislation that would not allow the 49ers to keep both their nickname and "San Francisco" in their team name if they follow through on plans to move a scant 35 miles up the road to Santa Clara. Mayor Newsom is also threatening to pull supporting police officers and use of city transportation on game days. All of this could have been avoided if San Francisco had simply worked harder on joint plans to build a new stadium for the 49ers. Now, in order to gain some political capital, we see these two fine politicians grandstanding on the issue. I love this, because professional sports are clearly the top priority for Feinstein in the US Senate. Issues like Iraq, terrorism, Social Security, Medicare, and tax reform are not nearly as important.
Sen. Feinstein is not the only Senator doing a solid job of grandstanding and smiling for the cameras, though, because the beloved Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is holding hearings on the NFL Network. To be clear, the NFL Network, a joint venture of the NFL and its owners, is a cable network that will begin to air select NFL games starting on Thanksgiving Day, and running through the end of the regular season. The NFL is the only pro sports league to televise every single game played, and every game is available in that team's home market as well. When ESPN took over Monday Night Football this fall, the same sort of situation the NFL Network games poses, the games were also put on over-air TV broadcasts in the local markets. The NFL Network's games will work the same way, so if your home team is playing on NFL Network, you will still receive it on free local broadcast. Evidently, Sen. Specter is worried that this would violate Anti-Trust laws (it clearly does not), and wants to capitalize on possible hero status, because his state is home to two NFL franchises. All that he accomplished, however, was to look like a pompous prick.
Unless you are the President throwing out a first pitch to a baseball game, or a Congressmen returning to play in your Alumni Marching Band (Pat Tiberi), or two Governors making wagers on big college football games, politics should not mix with sports. Please take heart and learn this!