NFL: No To Rush, Yes To Tax Cheat

[rick]

Who is Shahid Khan?: No Limbaugh for NFL; But Tax Cheat Muslim (Named for “Martyrdom”) A-OK

www.debbieschlussel.com/17156/who-is-shahid-khan-no-limbaugh-for-nfl-but-tax-cheat-muslim-a-ok/

[valporun]

It is a bit of a shady deal that the NFL owners didn't want Rush because he had a comment that they deemed 'racist' that he openly discussed when employed by ESPN on their NFL Countdown program. I honestly recall hearing the comment about Donovan McNabb, and I didn't feel there was anything racist about it., but because of how media-infused every comment made has become, he paid the price. I don't agree with the NFL's two decisions on this matter, but obviously I didn't have a say in it, and I'm starting to smell a real conflict of interest in Kahn being an owner. I mean if this guy is having so many tax issues between other businessmen that he's having to take to court, what kind of impact will he have on the economics of the game maybe the first time he takes Jerry Jones to court for something Jones does to offend Kahn? It's a raw deal, and I'm not liking it.

[stlvufan]

I also thought at the time that there was nothing specifically racist in Rush's on-air comments about McNabb. In fact, I thought it could be argued that he was pointing out racism on the part of the NFL.

Rush is a lot of things, and he may even be a racist (aren't we all to one degree or another), but it wasn't apparent to me in that incident.

Having said that, I think Rush seeks controversy like moths seek flame, and that probably has as much to do with the NFL's decision in his case. As for the current potential owner, obviously if what rick posted is a credible source, that's a huge problem. I can't offer any insight other than the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has not reported any of the stuff talked about in the blog article (except for a brief mention of the tax problems). Doesn't mean the rest of it is all lies, of course.

[jerome1]

Bernie Miklasz in the St. Louis Post Dispatch:

www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/story/E813E49EF2AB08F6862576CA000FF90A?OpenDocument

Khan also is embroiled in a tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS disallowed some tax shelters utilized by Khan and asked him to pay more taxes. Khan gave the IRS an additional $68 million but is appealing the decision. And he is suing the financial advisers who set up the tax shelters.

This wasn't, and isn't, a criminal matter. It's just a beef over a rather large tax bill.

Khan is haggling with the IRS — does it get any more "American" than that? And are we to believe that no NFL owner, at any time, has sparred with the IRS? Please. Heck, even the league has scrapped with the IRS.

The NFL is a tax-exempt organization. (Yes, really.) A few years ago the IRS proposed new rules to require the NFL and many other tax-exempt entities to disclose more information, including salaries of "key employees."

The NFL resisted and asked Congress for an exception. Ultimately, the NFL did comply with the IRS request.

And the NFL isn't exactly opposed to tax shelters, either.

To raise money for stadium projects, NFL teams have generated millions of dollars by selling personal seat licenses to fans. NFL teams use the money to contribute to the cost of building a new stadium. But the teams do not pay taxes on the PSL sales. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the deals are structured so the PSL money is collected through tax-exempt government agencies.

Peter Flaherty is the president of the National Legal and Policy Center, which wants the IRS to revoke certain tax exemptions. Including this one.

"Is this a legitimate tax-exempt purpose? I don't think so," Flaherty told the Times-Picayune. "Joe Six-Pack doesn't think so."

If Khan likes tax shelters, then he should fit right in with the NFL.

On his nationally syndicated radio program, Limbaugh mentioned Khan's purchase of the Rams.

"Congratulations to him," Limbaugh said. "He says he's a big Rams fan. He goes to the Edward Jones Dome constantly and appears to want to be a pretty hands-on owner, from what we've been able to figure out."

Judging by those words, Rush Limbaugh seemingly approves of Shad Khan as the Rams owner.

Will the NFL?

This will be very interesting, indeed.