By Jeff Moss
DetroitSportsRag@GMail.com
December 29, 2014
The last time we checked in with Kate Ready — the Detroit Tigers’ Director of Media Relations — she was cockblocking me from the Dave Dombrowski season-ending press conference and reporting me to the Detroit Jewish News.
She has pretty much stayed off my radar since being very mean to me at Comerica Park, but that changed earlier this evening when she sent this INCREDIBLY tone deaf and moronic Tweet from her personal account ….
Of course, the $48 million to which Ready, Set, Say Something Stupid was referring is the salary Jim Harbaugh will reportedly earn as the head coach of the University of Michigan’s football program over the next six years.
And being that U of M is a PUBLIC university, the Tigers’ Propaganda Dominatrix somehow thought the taxpayers were going to foot the bill for Harbaugh to resurrect the Wolverines.
This obviously is not the case. Harbaugh is NOT going to cost the taxpayers of this state a plug nickel. The Michigan Athletic Department has a self-contained budget, so John Q. Public won’t be paying Jim anything to scheme plays against Nebraska.
Now, keep in mind that Miss Ready is an employee of Olympia Entertainment. Ya know, the company owned by the Ilitch Family. The people building that sparkly new hockey arena right down the street from the Tigers’ home ballpark.
Well, Bill Bradley of Deadspin.com, how is this new Red Wings Taj Mahal going to be financed?
The total price tag, including additional private investments in retail and housing, is an estimated $650 million, $284.5 million of which will come in the form of public investment.
Ok, ok, so $284.5 million is coming from public investment. Ya know, taxpayers. But this money couldn’t have been earmarked for something else more impactful than a new home for the Red Wings and their predominantly suburban Caucasian fans, right?
If you’re searching for something particularly craven in the complicated financing structure—that is, something other than the careless use of public money itself—look to where, exactly, the tax capture comes from. In December 2012, the Michigan legislature restored Detroit’s ability to levy school-tax funds from the downtown district for economic development purposes. If that $12.8 million annual gift weren’t going to the Ilitch empire, it would go to the state’s School Aid Fund.
Well, I know textbooks, computers and additional teachers aren’t as important as #fixtheroads, but what can I tell ya?
Look, I am pretty agnostic when it comes to public funding of stadiums. I don’t like the fact that taxpayers are expected to foot part of the bill when these billionaire owners can afford them on their own.
But I am also a realist and I know this is how the game is played. I am actually excited to see how this project impacts Downtown in conjunction with some of Dan Gilbert’s projects. Also, I am not getting any younger. One day, someone is going to break their neck walking down those narrow steps at Joe Louis Arena.
I also don’t like pissing in a trough.
But how fucking dumb and tone deaf would you have to be to go on a social media platform and bitch about Harbaugh’s contract — which won’t come out of taxpayer’s pockets anyway — when you are employed by a company that has its hand out to the tune of $284.5 million?!?!!?!?!?!??!
Money that would be used for schoolchildren if weren’t set aside for the future home of Anthony Mantha and Tomas Tatar.
I am asking you, Kate Ready!!!!! On behalf of the Detroit Jewish News.
What a clueless dolt.
Or as Ricky Roma famously said in “Glengarry Glen Ross” ……
You never open your mouth until you know what the shot is.