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"A legislative proposal would impose a $2,500 privilege tax on professional basketball and hockey players when their teams play in Tennessee."

Dirk: While I'm not surprised to see a legislature facing dire budget circumstances dip into the pockets of pro athletes to help raise funds, the following quote from the AP story at Forbes.com should draw some attention:

"The tax would apply to opponents of the Nashville Predators and the Memphis Grizzlies for up to three games a year. The tax would not apply to NFL players when they visit the Tennessee Titans."

Why, exactly, would the NFL get a pass on a tax like this?

UPDATE: The Tennessean's In Session political blog has more... "Proceeds of the "privilege" tax, which the outline says would apply to NBA and NHL players [home and away], would go to the municipality where the game is played. Some lawmakers objected yesterday to exempting pro football players, but Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr said NFL rules would have penalized the state had it included their guys."

Well, at least we know who runs the show! Exactly how the NFL would penalize the state of Tennessee is a story for another day...

UPDATE 2: The Memphis Business Journal says that Tennessee would tax athletes performing in the state who make more than $50,000 a year. The bill would increase state revenue by more than $1.1 million and the funds would be used for juvenile court-related programs.

about 1 year ago Smashville2_tiny Aditya T (smashville) 10 comments 1 recs  | 

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This should start a firestorm of comments as to the “privilege” tax on professional athletes except for the PRIVILEGED NFL athletes – who makes the most money as far as players go? The Predators can carry less athletes on their payroll at less money than the Titan players. Common Sense never seems to prevail as far as politicians are concerned – I loathe most politicians!

by EXPECTATIONS on Jun 3, 2009 9:08 PM EDT reply actions  

To back that up..

Average Titans player salary—— Average Preds player salary
           $ 1,006,120———————————— $800,000

Players on the Titans—————————Players on the Preds
                    23?————————————————-53

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 3, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think those numbers are reversed

The average NFL salary is a little over $700,000 (according to ESPN the Magazine), and they have 53 active players (plus the practice squad and PUP list).

I think the same ESPN the Mag article listed the average NHL salary at just over a million.

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by August West on Jun 5, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

I checked on the USA Today site for the median salaryhere for the Titans, and here for the Preds

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 5, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

here for the Preds

Welcome to Smashville, Tennessee.
Official Graphic Designer/Researcher of MCM.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 5, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

word

I see: I was recalling the overall average salaries for players in each league, not those 2 specific teams. Makes sense considering that the Preds are at the bottom in salary that they’d be lower than the median.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Jun 8, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

Canada’s jumping on the story

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Jun 3, 2009 11:52 PM EDT reply actions  

The NFL

is the US government of professional sports leagues.

by HartnellsMop on Jun 4, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions  

The NFL already has rules in place

that prevent these taxes. Blame the other league’s unions and commissioners for not handling their business, but the NFL was smart to sew this up early. These taxes are the norm across the country.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Jun 5, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Priveledge

Just as curiosity, but I think you could make a pretty solid argument that by this logic, they should really start taxing country musicians too.

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 5, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

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