PRESIDENTIAL FANTASY LEAGUE:
WEEK TWENTY-ONE SCORES

by Max Klinger

Where the avenues of sports and politics meet, there is a mailbox where we deposit a weekly letter; a mailbox called the Presidential Fantasy League (see every PFL ever right here).

The two biggest things happening in politics, actually the world, right now (sorry Oregon State) are the financial bailout and the first of the three presidential (and vice-presidential) debates being held tonight. In the spirit of the times, PFL is adopting a special format this week. Call it PFL: The Financial Bailout Edition.

Since one of the main tenets of this whole bailout debate is how much taxpayers are going to have to kick-in to rescue Wall Street (and ultimately everyone), we decided to look at how much our PFL endorsers and contributors are pulling down from their main source of sports income, and in effect, who will be footing more of the bill in the future. Plus, it’s just interesting seeing these guys' raw salaries on paper.

The following are the incomes that PFL’ers earned in the last year directly from their sport—excluding bonuses and/or endorsements (which for some might actually be more than their league salary).

Oh, and about the debate tonight, read this article and keep score. We will be.

TEAM McCAIN: “It’s the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys.” —Democratic Rep. Barney Frank on McCain potentially sitting out Friday's debate.

Curt Schilling: $ 8,000,000 (note: he didn’t throw one pitch)
Roger Goodell: $ 11,200,000
Woody Johnson: $ 25,900,000 (the Jets' pre-tax income last year)
Jerry Jones: $30,600,00 (Cowboys' pre-tax income last year)
Chuck Liddell: $1,500,000 (over the last calendar year)
Jeff Suppan: 8,250,000
Bill Bidwill: $19,700,00 (Cardinals' pre-tax income)
Louis Gonzales: $2,000,000
Norv Turner: $3,000,000 (estimate)

TOTAL: $110.15 million of taxable income

TEAM OBAMA: “It is surprisingly irresponsible and politically dangerous for the Obama campaign to try and insist on a debate Friday night.” —Newt Gingrich

Baron Davis: $ 15,070,000 (with Warriors)
Charles Barkley: $ 1,500,000 (TNT contract)
LeBron James: $ 5,825,000
Derrek Lee: $ 13,250,000
Diana Taurasi: $ 43,000
Ben Eager (Blackhawks): $ 550,000
Greg Oden: $ 3,885,000
Chauncey Billups: $ 6,364,000
Dwyane Wade: $ 3,841,443

TOTAL: $50.33 million of taxable money

SCORING:

Basically, Team McCain will wind up funneling more of their money towards a bailout (no wonder McCain is stalling). While this could be considered a noble move by some, the PFL is a competition, so we'd have to consider them the bigger losers when—or if—this whole bailout thing goes through.

But really, we all lose. So let’s score this week like so: Team Obama: -50; Team McCain: -110.

TOTAL SCORES AFTER 21 WEEKS:
1. Team Obama: 705
2. Team McCain: 620

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Got an issue with the way we're sizing up the candidates? Something we missed? Got an idea for the rules? Send us your thoughts: editor.espnmag@gmail.com

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