Only the umps had better view of game
Ticket prices at the new Yankee Stadium have been an issue since the park opened before the 2009 season, but New York Gov. David Paterson found out Monday the cost of attending a game at the house that Derek Jeter built is far more than anyone anticipated.
The state's Public Integrity Commission levied a $62,125 fine against the lame-duck politician for "soliciting, accepting, and receiving" five free tickets to Game 1 of the 2009 World Series.
The ethics panel ordered the hefty penalty after it found Paterson sought out and accepted the tickets for himself, two aides, his son and his son's friend and then lied under oath about how he acquired the tickets.
The major issue is that the Yankees regularly register as a lobbying entity because the team often has interests before the state.
Paterson used a variety of excuses in an attempt to cover his tracks, including saying that he planned to pay for the tickets and he was attending the game on official business.
According to the New York Post, which sparked the investigation, Paterson told investigators it could damage civic pride if he didn't attend.
"There are events that are very high profile -- if a governor does not attend them, they would create problems," Paterson said. "I felt that it was my professional duty to be at the game."
In the end, the panel didn't buy it and imposed a $60,000 fine, not including the face value of the five tickets.
A hefty price to pay for viewing a ballgame, especially for a legally blind man.
How much do you think Lou Ferrigno would pay to attend a symphony?
■ WHERE WERE THE PILLOWS? -- Apparently, the women of the Lingerie Football League take their games very seriously.
After the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Breeze took a knee to secure a victory over the Miami Caliente on Friday night, a few Caliente players took exception to several Breeze players starting to celebrate the win on the field.
A benches-clearing brawl ensued and several suspensions have been issued. Tampa Bay assistant coach Patrick Chukwurah, an NFL veteran and current member of the United Football League's Florida Tuskers, was fired for his role in the melee.
Video of the entire incident is up on Youtube and was viewed countless times by Leftovers in an attempt to deliver an accurate description of the scene.
Ah, the sacrifices we make for our readers.
■ HULKAMANIA -- Former pro wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan has reportedly checked into a Florida hospital to have surgery on his problematic back, according to gossip site RadarOnline.
Doctors will need to be careful when they put The Hulkster under to perform the surgery.
They should make sure to drop his arm three times to ensure he is truly out, because often it appears he is asleep after two arm drops, but on the third, he holds his arm up and shakes it triumphantly to show the crowd he is still cognizant.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
