Sports leagues team up against Congress

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Five major sporting leagues are joining as one team with the military to do battle in Congress.

In May, 24-Hour News 8 first reported cuts to military sponsorship of NASCAR, IndyCar and others . Now a letter is being sent to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner. It targets the money one congresswoman calls "wasteful" but the military calls "well spent."

It is a rare move, five sporting leagues joining as one voice: NASCAR, IndyCar, the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA. They've launched with a letter in their latest move to save military sponsorships.

At issue: Rep. Betty McCollum, a Minnesota Democrat, says military sponsorships are wasteful spending. She proposed cutting $80 million dollars - the biggest hit slashing NASCAR and IndyCar and forbidding any funds to be used to sponsor sports.

But the letter from the five pro sports organizations explains the sport sponsorships help achieve military recruiting and retention goals.

" ... in 2010,” the letter says, “the Army’s recruiting efforts at NASCAR events resulted in 46,000 qualified leads."

The Army has said one-third of its recruits came from motorsports marketing, including recruiting stations at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"Given the success ... ,” the letter goes on to say, “enable them to continue to have the same access to media and venues as world-leading businesses and non-profits."

Panther owner John Barnes said the National Guard is prohibited from advertising on national TV. Sports sponsorships are one of their few avenues with a far reach. He said losing it would put the Guard at a huge disadvantage against other armed forces.

The National Guard Association said as troop strength was shrinking a few years ago, " ... we abandoned convention, ... linked recruiting messages to popular musicians and motorsports."

It worked. Recruiting improved in quantity and quality of applicants.

Not only did Indianapolis-based IndyCar team Panther Racing fly driver JR Hildebrand to D.C., but now one of the many veterans they have hired is appealing to Congress.

The vote in Washington comes Thursday. With the powerful lobby of professional sports pushing back, some feel it's now game on.