http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/24/sports/24NFLL.html
N.R.A.'s Ads on Teams' Broadcasts Irk League
By MIKE FREEMAN
Listeners to the Washington Redskins' radio broadcasts this season on the
flagship station WJFK-FM have heard a former Redskins great, defensive
lineman Dave Butz, speaking on behalf of the National Rifle Association.
"Who are the members of the N.R.A.?" Butz asks in one of the advertising
spots. "We come from all walks of life - we're police officers, engineers,
members of the armed forces - even ex- football players like me. In fact,
we're as diverse as America itself. But we all share a belief in the right
of responsible gun ownership. That's why I'm proud to be a member of the
N.R.A."
Some National Football League owners, general managers and other officials
are angered that the N.R.A. is advertising on three teams' radio broadcasts.
That bothers the league officials because the N.F.L. has had serious
public-relations disasters with the high-profile arrests of some players,
including Rae Carruth, the former Carolina Panther, who has been charged
with first-degree murder for allegedly masterminding the shooting death of
his pregnant girlfriend.
Guns and professional football do not mix, some league officials believe.
"It is almost comical," said one American Football Conference team owner,
who would speak only if he was not identified. "How can any team justify
this in light of what has happened to some of our players recently?"
According to its spokesman, the rifle association launched a radio
advertising campaign with three high-profile teams - the Redskins, the
Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles - to use the popularity of
professional football to help expand its membership.
"The N.R.A. is about a lot of things, such as gun safety, conservation and
police firearm training," said Bill Powers, an N.R.A. spokesman. "We want
people to know that, and we think the N.F.L. can help us spread our message.
The N.F.L. and the N.R.A. is a natural fit."
With the league attempting to deal with a rash of player violence off the
field, league officials ask whether it is appropriate for teams to associate
themselves with the rifle association.
Though the league cannot prevent players from legally purchasing firearms,
many teams privately tell players that firearms are more trouble than they
are worth.
Six team officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they said
they feared upsetting the rifle association, agreed it was irresponsible to
allow the N.R.A. to associate itself with professional football.
Powers said the rifle association's radio campaign uses the voices of former
players like Bill Bergey, who played linebacker for the Eagles from 1974 to
1980, and Lem Barney, a defensive back with the Lions from 1967 to 1977.
According to Powers, the Redskins first approached the association about
doing the advertisement, and the association agreed. Then, he said, the
N.R.A. expanded the spots to Philadelphia and Detroit.
The radio stations pay rights fees to the individual teams so they can
broadcast the games. Then the station seeks advertisers to offset those and
other fees.
So while the teams and the rifle association do not deal with each other
directly, the relationship between teams, advertisers and the stations is
symbiotic; there is more than enough of a link to make some in the league
extremely uncomfortable.
Detroit games are broadcast on WXYT-AM with an audience of 600,000 to one
million, according to Bill Keenist, the Lions' vice president of
communications, broadcasting and news media. Keenist said the Lions did not
allow the station to take advertisements from casinos or exotic dance clubs.
He said the Lions did not see a problem with allowing advertisements from
the rifle association and had not received any complaints from fans, other
teams or the league.
The Eagles had no comment, and the Redskins did not return phone calls.
The league cannot prevent its teams from having the N.R.A. as a sponsor.
Powers said his organization would most likely purchase radio advertisements
in other N.F.L. cities and expand into other sports, such as baseball and
Nascar, under an umbrella called N.R.A. Sports.
"My hope is that teams realize this association is terrible for our sport,
and back away," one National Football Conference team general manager said.
N.R.A.'s Ads on Teams' Broadcasts Irk League
By MIKE FREEMAN
Listeners to the Washington Redskins' radio broadcasts this season on the
flagship station WJFK-FM have heard a former Redskins great, defensive
lineman Dave Butz, speaking on behalf of the National Rifle Association.
"Who are the members of the N.R.A.?" Butz asks in one of the advertising
spots. "We come from all walks of life - we're police officers, engineers,
members of the armed forces - even ex- football players like me. In fact,
we're as diverse as America itself. But we all share a belief in the right
of responsible gun ownership. That's why I'm proud to be a member of the
N.R.A."
Some National Football League owners, general managers and other officials
are angered that the N.R.A. is advertising on three teams' radio broadcasts.
That bothers the league officials because the N.F.L. has had serious
public-relations disasters with the high-profile arrests of some players,
including Rae Carruth, the former Carolina Panther, who has been charged
with first-degree murder for allegedly masterminding the shooting death of
his pregnant girlfriend.
Guns and professional football do not mix, some league officials believe.
"It is almost comical," said one American Football Conference team owner,
who would speak only if he was not identified. "How can any team justify
this in light of what has happened to some of our players recently?"
According to its spokesman, the rifle association launched a radio
advertising campaign with three high-profile teams - the Redskins, the
Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles - to use the popularity of
professional football to help expand its membership.
"The N.R.A. is about a lot of things, such as gun safety, conservation and
police firearm training," said Bill Powers, an N.R.A. spokesman. "We want
people to know that, and we think the N.F.L. can help us spread our message.
The N.F.L. and the N.R.A. is a natural fit."
With the league attempting to deal with a rash of player violence off the
field, league officials ask whether it is appropriate for teams to associate
themselves with the rifle association.
Though the league cannot prevent players from legally purchasing firearms,
many teams privately tell players that firearms are more trouble than they
are worth.
Six team officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they said
they feared upsetting the rifle association, agreed it was irresponsible to
allow the N.R.A. to associate itself with professional football.
Powers said the rifle association's radio campaign uses the voices of former
players like Bill Bergey, who played linebacker for the Eagles from 1974 to
1980, and Lem Barney, a defensive back with the Lions from 1967 to 1977.
According to Powers, the Redskins first approached the association about
doing the advertisement, and the association agreed. Then, he said, the
N.R.A. expanded the spots to Philadelphia and Detroit.
The radio stations pay rights fees to the individual teams so they can
broadcast the games. Then the station seeks advertisers to offset those and
other fees.
So while the teams and the rifle association do not deal with each other
directly, the relationship between teams, advertisers and the stations is
symbiotic; there is more than enough of a link to make some in the league
extremely uncomfortable.
Detroit games are broadcast on WXYT-AM with an audience of 600,000 to one
million, according to Bill Keenist, the Lions' vice president of
communications, broadcasting and news media. Keenist said the Lions did not
allow the station to take advertisements from casinos or exotic dance clubs.
He said the Lions did not see a problem with allowing advertisements from
the rifle association and had not received any complaints from fans, other
teams or the league.
The Eagles had no comment, and the Redskins did not return phone calls.
The league cannot prevent its teams from having the N.R.A. as a sponsor.
Powers said his organization would most likely purchase radio advertisements
in other N.F.L. cities and expand into other sports, such as baseball and
Nascar, under an umbrella called N.R.A. Sports.
"My hope is that teams realize this association is terrible for our sport,
and back away," one National Football Conference team general manager said.
