An Open Letter to the Orlando Sentinel

Dave Zirin's recent Nation article exposed the ways that the owner of the Orlando Magic, whose team is currently facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA title, is using his team as the sporting arm of a radical right-wing empire whose reach extends from makeup to militias to reparative gay therapy. My colleague Habiba Alcindor penned the following Open Letter to the Orlando Sentinel. Please feel free to send it on to both the paper's editor and chief sportswriter.

Dear Editor,

As a politically conscious basketball fan, I was shocked by revelations about Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos detailed in Dave Zirin's recent article in The Nation, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Lakers.

While the National Basketball Association portrays Rich DeVos as a benevolent "caretaker" who considers "the real owners of the NBA franchise" to be "the Central Florida community and the loyal Magic fans," the stark fact remains that DeVos is a billionaire reactionary who uses the millions of dollars generated by his sports team to fund a number of partisan causes. Among those listed in the article are "reparative gay therapy...antievolution politics...Focus on the Family, the Foundation for Traditional Values, the Federalist Society, the Heritage Foundation" and the American Enterprise Institute."

In addition, the Amway empire founded and owned by DeVos has been investigated for violating campaign finance laws. Massive donations to the Bush campaign and other Republican politicians have translated into tax breaks for Amway and its employees.

I believe that your newspaper has a responsibility to inform fans around the nation that the talent and heart of their sports heroes on the Orlando Magic as well as their own love of the game are being converted into hard cash used to fund a right-wing political agenda.

The citizens of Orlando should also be made aware that the hundreds of millions of dollars they are contributing as taxpayers to the construction of a new stadium will help DeVos make his Christian fundamentalist dreams of winning the "Culture War" come true.

Please consider publishing an article that would investigate Zirin's claims, address NBA propaganda and let the public know exactly what its tax and entertainment dollars are supporting.

Comments (27)

1. "the stark fact remains that DeVos is a billionaire who uses the millions of dollars generated by his sports team to fund a number of partisan causes."

   Stark fact is, PETER, until it's proven he did something illegal, that's DeVos' RIGHT.

   And donating to Focus on the Family, Heritage Foundation, or the AEI is not donating to campaign...atleast not directly.

   Nor is stadium contruction a direct correllation to "funding the Culture War"...any more than if they funded a stadium for a liberal who donated to Center for American Progress, MoveOn, or THE NATION is "funding the socialist takeover of America" (to use corresponding rhetoric).

   Now that's not to say I support civic-funded stadiums...I think it's a con job.

   But how the owner spends their money is their business.

   Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 08:39am

2. The business of sports should be dealt with in the business section, and the political activity of businessman in the political section. The scope of the sports section should be limited to shots, rebounds, assists and the score. As much as I am a poltical junkie, keep your political issues out of sports.

   Posted by gren at 06/12/2009 @ 09:35am

3. Timely subject....Orlando!

   I'm headed there in 9 days....I will find some way to contribute to DeVos' coffer.....LOL!

   Just kidding, Peter.....I don't give an alligator's tail what the man does w/his money.

   Posted by Happy at 06/12/2009 @ 10:06am

4. Peter, are you just as displeased with George Soros?

   Kinda the same thing. It all balances out.

   Posted by Benchrest at 06/12/2009 @ 10:25am

5. The least the citizens of Orlando can do is insist that DeVos cut drastically the exorbitant ticket prices that have allowed, in part, for his status as a billionaire. That is owed them as stakeholders in his empire.

   Magic players should wear arm bands of blue or green to show their sympathies. I seriously doubt that a red one will show.

   Posted by Sorelish at 06/12/2009 @ 10:29am

6. My gut reaction was that I disagreed with Mask, but as I've written this, I think I'm largely in agreement with him. Damn!

   Yes, it is DeVos' right to be a right-wing sugar daddy, just like it is mine to be a Commie Pinko Red and Mask's to be a Split-the-Difference Centrist. None of us should lose our jobs for that, or be discriminated against in housing, public accomodations, etc., although political affiliation is not in fact covered by most civil rights laws.

   What the critics of DeVos are doing is trying to mobilize fans and the public into withdrawing their support from the Magic as both consumers and taxpayers.

   Consumer boycotts are perfectly acceptable responses to behaviour that you don't approve of, whether you agree with a particular one or not, so I have no problem with publicizing DeVos' activities for that purpose. I wouldn't have a problem throwing up a giant picket line around the arena, either.

   On the other hand, I'm not really comfortable with going after DeVos' tax breaks because I don't think employment, tax status or even economic development grants and tax breaks should be determined by anyone's political affiliations.

   Folks have a right to say that someone sucks without being charged with denying their right to free speech, and they have a right to mobilize the public to do take direct action about it. It's when they try to get the government to to penalize someone for their free speech that we cross the line.

   Posted by cka2nd at 06/12/2009 @ 10:55am

7. Peter, are you just as displeased with George Soros?

   Kinda the same thing. It all balances out.

   Posted by Benchrest at 06/12/2009 @ 10:25am | ignore this person | warn this person

   I hate the word, but "Ditto" anyway.

   At least De Vos has not "bought and paid for an emptysuited figurehead Obamanation President hellbent on destroying the greatest nation!

   Posted by BigPasture at 06/12/2009 @ 11:37am

8. Posted by cka2nd at 06/12/2009 @ 10:55am

   That's fine, cka...

   as long as there's no whining about "intimidation" if some RIGHT-wing magazine or activist wants to start a boycott and/or PICKET of some LEFT-wing financier/industrialist who sponsors groups they don't like.

   WOULD Katha Pollitt, for example, just "take it in stride", if "pro-lifers" organized a boycott and or picket of the NY Knicks if James Dolan was sending millions to Planned Parenthood or NARAL?

   As Asimov said "It's a poor blaster which doesn't point BOTH ways!"

   Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 11:41am

9. I think this is motivated by Peters love of the Lakers. Lakers stink. Go Magic.

   Posted by Extraneous at 06/12/2009 @ 12:18pm

10. Posted by BigPasture at 06/12/2009 @ 11:37am

    Still no escape plan, huh, RIO?

    Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 12:26pm

11. DeVos is in his 80s now so lets give the poor old fellow a break. What could be more heart breaking than to be 83 and a billionaire..?

    Besides, I understand he's willing his transplanted heart to Dick Cheney.

    Posted by Sorelish at 06/12/2009 @ 12:54pm

12. But how the owner spends their money is their business.

    Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 08:39am

    It's always a dangerous sign when Mask and I are in complete agreement!

    Posted by antisocialist at 06/12/2009 @ 12:58pm

13. Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 08:39am

    Agreed. Every owner has a right to do with his money what he wants to. However, I hope that the people of Orlando and the surrounding areas (traditionally pretty conservative from what I understand) can be informed as to where their dollars are going. I just wonder if any of the players care...since they are the ones actively supporting the team. Don't get me wrong, they're just doing their jobs (and well, too...the Magic have played a great series so far [except for Game 1]), but I have always known, for example, that I could never work for Halliburton, because of what they do and how they do it. I'd be curious if any of the team members are active in local (Orlando) politics.

    As for publicly financed stadiums, I am actually quite proud that Los Angeles does not have a professional football team (and I'm a huge football fan). For 15 years, they've wanted to build a stadium on the taxpayers dime and every time it's put to a vote, the people of LA say, "No." (Just like the Republicans!) They won't accept a re-done Coliseum or Rose Bowl...they want a brand new stadium, and we keep saying "No."

    I guess the people of LA are happy with our two college football teams, our pro hockey team, our pro soccer team(s) and the comparatively "liberal" Lakers. heh heh

    Go Lakers!

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/12/2009 @ 1:07pm

14. It's always a dangerous sign when Mask and I are in complete agreement!---Posted by antisocialist at 06/12/2009 @ 12:58pm

    It IS scary, isn't it?...ROFL.

    Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 1:27pm

15. This thread calls for the galvanic appearance of B Kool. Are you waiting in the wings out there? I await your pronouncements.

    Posted by Sorelish at 06/12/2009 @ 1:44pm

16. DeVos is a criminal. He operates a multi-billion dollar pyramid scheme that preys on the poor. Pyramid schemes are illegal, but DeVos is connected. He is the scummiest of all the bigtimer chamber-of-commerce republicans. And he believes in his own deification.

    Posted by gangpapist at 06/12/2009 @ 2:32pm

17. Posted by Mask at 06/12/2009 @ 11:41am

    I would guess that Ms. Pollitt response to your scenario would be the same as mine: mount a counter-demonstration that supported the Knicks' enlightened and progressive practices.

    I might also throw in the occasional chant decrying the Dolan's utter incompetence in running the franchise.

    Just to show my independence from the Garden, of course.

    Posted by cka2nd at 06/12/2009 @ 3:24pm

18. Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/12/2009 @ 1:07pm

    I'm a Vikings fan and I would rather see the owner move the team to L.A., as has been rumored for the last few years, than the people of Minnesota pick up the tab for a new stadium, as "badly needed" as one may be.

    Even better would be if the people of L.A. and California put the brakes on this scam, too, thereby forcing Wilf to keep the team in the Great North.

    Posted by cka2nd at 06/12/2009 @ 3:29pm

19. Even better would be if the people of L.A. and California put the brakes on this scam, too, thereby forcing Wilf to keep the team in the Great North.

    Posted by cka2nd at 06/12/2009 @ 3:29pm

    What's interesting is that the people of LA (and the NFL from what I understand) don't WANT a transplanted team (we already have one transplanted Minnesota team...or do you think there are LAKES out here in the desert?). From what I've heard, even the NFL wants to put in an expansion team out here...

    and I like the Vikes, too (my granddad was a big Vikes fan)... but TWO purple teams out here? ARGH!!!

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 06/12/2009 @ 4:52pm

20. Dig up something secretly racist, and then you'll have a story!

    Posted by winyahn at 06/12/2009 @ 11:18pm

21. Mask said above "....But how the owner spends their money is their business....."

    Mark this date down....this is now the second time that I agree with Mask!!!!

    Posted by sjchermak at 06/13/2009 @ 12:51pm

22. If one is rooting for the Lakers it should not be for the reasons Peter Rothberg says, but for the reasons Michael Wilbon says:

    Tinseltown's Finest By Michael Wilbon Sunday, June 7, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/content/article/ 2009/06/06/AR2009060602060.html

    (link may contain extra spaces that need to be taken out after pasting into your browser)

    "..........LOS ANGELES There's no place in America where pro basketball matters as much as the Lakers do to Southern California in June. The Lakers aren't secondary to the folks here, as the Celtics are to the Red Sox in Boston. There's no pro football team consuming the local passions here like there is in Washington or Dallas.

    The most famous names of all here are Laker names: Wilt, West and Baylor.

    Kareem and Magic, Shaq and Kobe, Buss and Jackson. The Lakers aren't the only show in town -- but they're the biggest, the best and the most important.

    That's because the Lakers, arguably, are the most important basketball franchise in the world.........."

    Posted by sjchermak at 06/13/2009 @ 12:56pm

23. Stephen_Carver1: I'm from Orlando. The Sentinel has gone down the tubes over the past decade (what paper hasn't?). They've been pretty good about calling out DeVos on the whole getting half a billion for a new stadium thing.

    Problem is, as you suggested, DeVos's politics aren't that out of line with the town itself. The Sentinel consistently gets flack from its readers for being too liberal. There's an abnormally high level of those new-agey non-denominational radical Evangelical types, and DeVos tends to play to that crowd with his "pro-Family" marketing schemes.

    And no players are active in local politics. Not even a little bit. Though Shaq might move back and run for Sheriff one day. He's been known to show up at City hall and pitch plans to buy up subprime mortgages in inner-city neighborhoods (to sell for a profit), but I don't know what ever came of that.

    Posted by tpillow at 06/13/2009 @ 4:21pm

24. About 15 years ago, Forbes ran an excellent, thourough article on Amway which described it's founders, practices, and typical acolyte (read: victim) experience. I recommend it as a deprogramming tool for anybody concerned for the well-being of a friend becoming involved in this organization. IO wish I could provide a link.

    Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 06/14/2009 @ 09:06am

25. Forbes doesn't show up in Nexis, but here's an excerpt from a sidebar from a BusiessWeek article from a similar time period (pre-'96 election). Wonder whatever happened to the Congressional Amway Caucus?

    CONVENTION SUBSIDY Amway gave $1.3 million to the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau to fund cable coverage [of the Republicans' 96 Convention]. NEWT'S REVOLUTION Amway gave $2.5 million to the Republican National Committee before the midterm elections. PERSONAL SERVICE Richard DeVos' daughter-in-law, Betsy DeVos, chairs the Michigan Republican Party. AMWAY CAUCUS Five members of Congress are Amway distributors. The company briefs them on its stands.

    Posted by tpillow at 06/14/2009 @ 11:07am

26. So the guy uses his money to fund causes he belives in? So what, PETER? You think it's any different than someone like George Soros funding causes near and dear to him? And I'm thinking the fans couldn't care less either way: Their attendance will rise and fall based on the Magic's win's and losses. As it should be.

    Posted by YEH-LIU-TA-SHIH at 06/15/2009 @ 07:21am

27. the Magic played an absolutely awful finals series. they were incapable of offering one good game, not one. the coach should be fired.

    the Lakers were not much better, including Kobe.

    Dwight Howard, whose day in the sun will surely come, was not ready for prime time.

    the Lakers did not win the series, the Magic lost it.

    the best basketball team ever is not the Lakers but the Boston Celtics.

    the Knicks are beyond discussion.

    Posted by emile duBois at 06/16/2009 @ 6:24pm