If you’re a regular visitor to Awful Announcing, you can probably count one on one hand the amount of political stories on this site. We normally allow other sites to handle politics and we keep to sports media. It’s been good that way. But a story came to our attention that we couldn’t ignore.

The ABC/Univision network, Fusion, discovered that two major sports leagues have been spending money on the mid-term elections. Now when you look at campaign spending, what Major League Baseball and the National Football League have contributed to various campaigns is a mere pittance in comparison to some heavy spenders.

You may not be aware that MLB and NFL have formed political action committees and have contributed to various candidates across the country:

Major League Baseball and the National Football League’s political action committees have donated almost $1.1 million combined during the 2014 election cycle. It’s a record-setting year for MLB, which has contributed over $600,000 to campaigns, more than any other election since its PAC was founded in 2002.

Again, compared to what both leagues take in from their media rights, this is the average person giving a $1 tip for a $10 diner bill.

However, it is notable to whom the leagues are giving their money. Major League Baseball has spent over $600,000 in this political campaign. Of that amount, $17,000 went to Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey. Why is that significant? Well, Markey once chaired a House committee which oversaw broadcast, cable and satellite TV and MLB certainly has an interest in the industry owning a network and depending on television to distribute its games.

The NFL has has spent $478,500 thus far and $10,000 went to Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell who is locked in a tight re-election battle. Another $7,500 was given to Nebraska congressman Lee Terry who held hearings on concussions in sports. Fusion reports that in those hearings, Terry was not as critical of the NFL as other legislators.

In addition, the leagues spend money on lobbying. Almost $600,000 has been spent by the NFL this year alone to lobby Congress on issues including broadcast rights, blackouts, copyrights, concussions and most recently, domestic violence. Since 1998, the National Football League has spent $13.6 million on lobbyists.

Now whether a candidate feels sports money can put their campaign over the top is another issue. However, it’s quite interesting to see that both MLB and the NFL are willing to throw some of their cash into the political process.

Neither the NBA or NHL have political action committees at this time.

[Fusion]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.