Rand Paul Staffer Blames Ohio Taxes for Losing LeBron James to Florida

[Pryderi]

Facebook quote: David Adams is glad to see big-taxers in Ohio blamed for losing Lebron James.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=572677562

[HughBeaumont]

1. Whudduh dumbshit.

LeBron's mind was made up months, possibly years ago. Ain't nothing Ohio taxes would have done to keep him here. Not every goddamned thing is political.

[OhioChick]

2. No shit....

That was in the making years ago.

[Luminous Animal]

3. Yeah. California's high taxes. That's why the Lakers are such a shit team.

Oops. No they aren't.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "Whine" - Republicon losers

More likely he moved to get away from whiney republicon losers.

Sheesh.

[Pryderi]

5. Pic here:

[HughBeaumont]

7. The 5 people that "like this" ought to just stop breathing. NOW.

You can't fix stupid.

[Renew Deal]

6. Lets say that's the case, Lebron would have easily covered the taxes with the higher cap.

He's full of shit.

[OhioBlue]

9. not only that..

you would have to consider higher cost of living in Miami, possible damage to his "brand"... now that he will be playing second fiddle to Wade he might lose some of the "shine" and endorsement money. Who really knows how the finances will work out. But it is BS to think that this had anything to do with tax rates... gawdddd.. the people pushing this make me sick.. they're gonna have top athletes asking for freakin' tax incentives next.

[Renew Deal]

11. I've heard it with the Knicks too, but the Yankees don't seem to have a problem

And neither do the Mets.

[OhioBlue]

8. what a load of crap!!!!

Taxes had nothing to do with it.

at all.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. Dear David Adams, Let me fill you in on sports payroll...

The athlete is taxed based on the location of the game, ie, where the "work" is performed. If the athlete plays a game in Dallas, Texas - the athlete owes local and state taxes to Dallas and Texas on top of his federal filing. The only more complicated payroll system to professional sports in the US belong to hospitals whose staff may serve different roles during a pay period.

While Florida doesn't have a state income tax, that doesn't mean he is on tax-free grounds.

Look it up and quit acting a fool.

Regards,

Someone who knows this shit

[SpiralHawk]

12. Oh, wow. Like facts and stuff. No Republicon will want to read your post

Because it is factual and makes sense and stuff.

Republicons just make shit up. All the time.

[Ruby the Liberal]

24. I know I was surprised to find out how complicated professional sport payroll is

but I also know that I would have checked my facts before authoring an article claiming knowledge on the subject.

Pro athletes (and those who employ them) have an extremely arduous task in tracking their salary percentage via locations.

Knowing how it works and seeing this ignorance posted is irritating.

[TexasObserver]

13. Since Lebron is taking several million less a year in Miami ....

So much for that stupid argument. He's voluntarily taking a couple million less a year in Miami than Cleveland. If there is one thing clear about this matter, it is that tax considerations were never important.

[Liberal In Texas]

14. It seems to be a Libertarian talking point.

Libertarian/Conspiracy Wingnut Alex Jones was going on and on about it last week.

[KharmaTrain]

15. It Was A Factor...

He took less money on the deal cause he would make it back on the lack of personal income taxes in Florida. I'm sure the fact the Cleveland owner appears to be a douchebag also had something to do with it as well.

[Ikonoklast]

18. Gilbert bent over backward for James.

That's where all the vitriol came from.

You go out of your way for an employee, doing everything in your power to keep him happy, giving in to every demand, and then they crap all over you on national television without even the courtesy of a phone call beforehand.

I might be a tad miffed, too, and react angrily.

[KharmaTrain]

22. The Cost Of Doing Business

We had the Lebron dog & pony show roll through Chicago...many of us knew it was disengenuous and self serving. While James is a pampered poodle he also made Gilbert a lot of money. It's part of doing business...free agents pull these tricks all the time to play one team against the other for the most money and so be it. My teams have lost players this way...it took nearly 40 years for many Blackhawk fans to forgive the team for letting Bobby Hull get away, but owners don't air their laundry like Gilbert did. It's fine in a cocktail party but it just shows how immature he is by climbing into the mud with Lebron.

[Ikonoklast]

23. Oh, I'm not apologizing for Gilbert, the guy is a dick.

I can see where he's coming from, and getting miffed about it, but he should have been the better man and just wished James the best of luck, and left it at that, and done his bitching in private.

Gilbert actually had the better money offer, it's just that James wanted to move to where the party was, and it ain't in Cleveland.

[dsc]

16. He is going to continue living in Akron

and will then still be paying Ohio's and Akron's income taxes.

[OhioChick]

20. He lives in Bath Twp n/t

[Johonny]

17. And that's why he needs to be a Senator from Kentucky?

He does realize Ohio and Miami are not located in Rand Paul's state.

[Ganja Ninja]

19. Lebron grew up in Ohio and went straight to the NBA's Cavaliers where

he played for 7 years. If he had re-signed with the Cav's he would have been stuck in Ohio for another 6 or 7 years. Isn't it just possible that he wanted a change of scene? How many people who have his kind of money would stay in Cleveland?

[Pryderi]

21. Looks like he's leaving Rand to work on the Governor's race:

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jul/13/paul-campaign-chairman-leaving-team/

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A key strategist behind Republican Rand Paul's political rise says he is leaving Paul's senatorial campaign to become campaign manager for a tea party-leaning gubernatorial ticket that is being formed.

David Adams said Tuesday he's looking forward to his new role in next year's governor's race, and said his departure from Paul's campaign staff does not reflect any conflicts in the campaign.

Adams was campaign manager during Paul's successful run for the GOP Senate nomination, but was shifted to campaign chairman in a reorganization after the May primary.

Adams said he'll manage a Republican gubernatorial ticket that he expects to form soon. He didn't say who will be on the ticket, but said it will represent tea party ideals.