Photo: Earl Gardner
Note: PSP is looking for a volunteer to write our Thursday news roundups. If interested, please email dwalsh@phillysoccerpage.com.
Philadelphia Union
The Union have a brutal travel schedule exacerbated by MLS flying commercial.
Sapong and Wondo are vital to their teams’ success.
Is it Adam Najem time? Kinkead is wary of sending the kids to their slaughter.
Local
The Union lost one of their better academy prospects to Atlanta.
MLS
A fourth sub will be allowed in playoff extra time games.
Seba is a free agent after coming to terms for his release from D.C. United.
A group in Cincinnati believes MLS should accept Nippert Stadium as is unless MLS is willing to fork over the money for a new stadium. Couldn’t agree more. The stadium funding scam (and let’s be clear, that’s what it is) needs to end.
Charlotte is also not falling for the stadium scam.
Around the globe
The USMNT defensive depth will be tested due to injuries.
High profile professional footballers are trying to make a difference.
Highlight of the day
A great team goal from Everton, who have become a highlight reel with Wayne Rooney back in town.
Bring back Le Toux. Can’t hurt anything at this point. Give the fans something to be happy about.
bring back Le Toux!
Why? Just so you can say he’s back? Let’s hope the team shows more intelligence.
Seba can be the answer at #10! (jk)
ibc, lol, I needed that.
Pontius is ice cold and needs to sit and get his head together. With Herbers out Letoux can fill in for him.
also the season is more or less lost. If we can get an agreement he is going to retire after this season he can retire a Union player and slide into an office job.
I mean I guess…why not just play Fafa and Epps? I can understand wanting some kind of good feeling from this season, but is this the “progression” we want the team to take?
I think the “show some intelligence” train has left the station. I’ll take the good feelies. Best I can expect.
Please do not re-sign him for the rest of the season. Play Epps, Picault & Herbers when he comes back but it’s the Union so I’m already envisioning the final match of the season where I see Edu, Carroll and LeToux all on the field at the same time.
Seba has heart and hustle, but it’s usually wasted because doesn’t really have quality.
.
Love him, but he would be a definite step backward.
That charter flight rule is a joke. If you’re only going to allow 4 one way charters a year per team then when a team like Philadelphia goes to play at San Jose on a Saturday you might as well have them play LA the following Wednesday and another western team Saturday to minimize coast to coast trips and they won’t run out of they charter flight allotment. It’s not that hard MLS.
Along the same lines, why are the Union flying back to Philly between the San Jose and Toronto games? Wouldn’t it make more sense for the team to fly directly from SJ to Toronto before returning to Philly? Sure, it would require putting the squad up in a hotel for a few extra nights, and making extra arrangements for training space away from home, but it seems like it would also save money on airfare and reduce the travel demands on the players.
I think Toronto is close enough to Philly that I’d rather be home for a few days.
I agree with you that cities should not foot the bill for stadiums, but shouldn’t the owner pay for it, rather than MLS?
MLS and owners are interchangeable at this point. Oweners should pay but so should the league. The collective buying power of the the owners in total(The MLS) to mitigate the expenses of a capital investment in the health of the league.(a stadium)
The stadium funding issues is a scam, but how about MLS’s arbitrary position on whether an expansion team needs to have a SSS plan in place/process to get into the league?
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“Well, I have to say that I find this capricious and arbitrary!” – Cosmo Kramer
Yankee Stadium will be here for years because of this arbitrary position. no way out it seems.
Scam? Hmm
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Every time Ray Lewis played at Heinz Field, he paid Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. In fact, throughout his career, Mr. Lewis contributed $18,720 to the city’s coffers — probably not enough for No. 52 to buy fans in the Steel City. 1 A slew of taxes just part of the ballgame for pro athletes Nick Wass/Associated Press
Pro athletes must pay cities, states in which they play road games
MICHAEL SANSERINOPITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
12:45 PM APR 14, 2013
It’s no secret that professional athletes can earn big paychecks. But in most cities and states they visit, they leave little pieces of them behind.
When the Steelers play in Cleveland, they pay taxes to Ohio and the city of Cleveland. When the Pirates play in San Diego, they pay taxes to California.
Every time the Baltimore Ravens played at Heinz Field, Ray Lewis paid Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. In his career, Mr. Lewis contributed $18,720 to the city’s coffers — probably not enough for No. 52 to buy the allegiance of any fans in the Steel City.
These nonresident athlete taxes — seldom collected 20 years ago — are now significant sources of revenue for municipalities and states and can cause serious headaches for entertainers, athletes and accountants at tax time.
But while a few extra filings this time of the year are a small price to pay for salaries that can soar well into the millions, it’s not just the athletes who are stuck with a complicated tax bill. Any employee who travels with the team, which includes coaches, broadcasters, equipment managers and scouts, is subject to the same tax requirements.
PG graphic: How a Steeler is taxed
(Click image for larger version)
By the middle of the season, an employee’s pay stub can’t be contained on one page because of all the tax withholding from around the country.
“For equipment managers, staff members, umpires, it’s probably more of a burden because they don’t have as substantial pay as the athletes, but they have just as equally complex tax situations when it comes to multistate and city filings,” said Andrew Wilson, senior tax analyst in the Tax Institute at H&R Block.
Among the number of returns Pirates broadcaster Tim Neverett filed this year is one for Colorado that will earn him a $3 refund, far short of the money it will cost him to file in the state.
“Everybody gets hit,” he said.
Of the 24 states that house professional sports teams, 20 collect income tax on their home and visiting teams. And nearly a dozen cities, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Cincinnati, impose “jock taxes” and fees on teams and players to address budget shortfalls and to help pay for arenas and stadiums built with the taxpayers’ wallet. Entertainment tax on ticket, parking tax, revenue from concessions, tax on alcohol, wage tax on all the employees, plus sales tax on products purchased by the team.
Last year it’s estimated PA. collected 18.7 million in jock taxes alone and Philadelphia & Pittsburgh college collected on top of that.
Yea,what a scam.
MLS salaries vs NFL—yeah, I’d be curious if Chester is making as much money off “jock taxes” as Union makes from the parking fees or even the concessions.
If you took a vote today, I’m sure the actual residents of Chester (and any accountants) would be hardpressed to say PPL/TES was worth it to the city.
Just saying.
UnionGoal
Chester doesn’t collect a jock tax, all though Pa. does.