Fight Tickets: On Juice and Cash and Politicians
Have you ever tried to buy ringside seats to a major fight in Vegas? You can't. Those seats are only available if you have some serious juice. Senator Harry Reid accepted free ringside seats to watch some fights in Vegas and that has caused legitimate controversy in the national media. But Senator John McCain insisted on paying for his seats to those same fights and has emerged unscathed; indeed, McCain is being used as a contrast to represent the honorable way to do things.
But is the story really about being able to pay? Plenty of wealthy people would have loved to shell out big bucks for ringside seats — but few wealthy people get the chance. Ticket access requires influence.
To me this story is all about the special privileges an elected representative of the people receives, ones that that the people themselves don't get. In short, Senator John McCain got a chance to buy tickets that aren't for sale to the rest of us. Citizen John McCain could never have gone to the MGM box office to purchase a couple of ringside seats to see Oscar de la Hoya fight (unless citizen John McCain liked to gamble fortunes — in which case the tickets would have been comped by the casino).
True honor would have been to go buy tickets to the sellout fight without using the power of his office. True honor in Las Vegas, though, offers lousy views. Had McCain actually paid to see the de la Hoya fight the regular way, he would probably have had to sit in the nosebleed seats with the other common folk.
In fact, at one of the fights, McCain was put in a special area near the action with a credential that simply isn't for sale to anyone. McCain dutifully sent in a check as if he had received his usual ringside seats. Boxing promoter Bob Arum told the Review Journal he was at a loss when he got McCain's check. "Those credentials cannot be sold. There's no price on them," he said. Arum donated the money Catholic Charities.
I do not fault McCain for using the fact that he is a United States Senator to get his hands on great seats to a fight he wanted to go to. But realistically the value of a ringside seat to an MGM Grand fight has nothing to do with the dollar amount printed on the face of the ticket.
(Photo: Sam Morris / AP)
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It would have been illegal for Reid to pay for these tickets! The MSM doesnt even investigate the truth, it is just looking to bring down a democrat. As if the systematic and extensive corruption of the republicans can be cast over the dems. I recommend you research your opinions.
Posted by: Joe Leonard | May 31, 2006 at 09:19 PM
I hear what you are saying, but let's say the governor of Nevada wants to see a big name Boxing match simply because he is responsible in part to what happens to that industry. What does he do if it's sold out? What does he do if he wants to see all aspects of what's going on? Attending every match for free obviously wouldn't pass the smell test. But there are also real issues that accompany a visit by a elected state official such as a Governor or Senator. Security being at the top of the list. I'm not sure how/why you expect John McCain to stand in line for however long in line at the box office to buy a ticket. Or why he should be sitting in the middle of grandstand 'xyz' with all the distraction and extra security detail that would have to be present... Again, I hear what you are saying, but don't think you addressed the point realistically.
Posted by: Brian | May 31, 2006 at 09:48 PM