Thoughts for the Week

As a former John Stockton fan, I had to relate a paragraph I read in Bill Simmons column this week: "Did you ever think these guys [The Red Hot Chili Peppers] would still be good after two full decades? I remember being stunned when "Californication" was good and that was eight years ago. They've had one of those John Stockton-type careers where you can't remember one year when they were dominant or anything, then you look back and realize they've been getting it done forever. Although I can't imagine Stockton ever walked around naked with a sock holding his junk."

Let's hope not.

Secondly, the Atlanta Braves were just purchased by Liberty Media.
Here's the skinny: Liberty Media (conveniently located in Englewood, Colorado) transfers approximately $1.27 billion in Time Warner shares to Time Warner. Time Warner then transfers the Braves, a group of craft magazines and $1 billion in cash to Liberty Media in exchange for about 60 million shares (that's 60 million of its currently owned 171 million shares, cutting its stake to about 2.6 percent) of Time Warner; the sole purpose of which is to minimize taxes. Hey Braves fans, how's that working out for you? The team just got sold to minimize taxes. And you thought those outfield seats (with the exception of Francouer's Frenchies) were empty for a reason. Nope, just a tax deduction. More info on the assets for shares discussion here.
(Dale, can't your tithing help?)
Can't say I blame them. When don't we all get hammered by tax regulations. I wouldn't complain (recalling that many other nations pay upwards of 51% for their taxes -- of course they get lots of free things... like health insurance), but I know the income bracket above me pays less percentage wise than I do. So until I get there, I cry foul.