RE: Patt Morrison for Wednesday, March 7, 2012

 

 

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

1-3 p.m.

 

CALL-IN @ 866-893-5722, 866-893-KPCC; OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

 

1:06 – 1:39 OPEN

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30
The NFL is set to crack down on cash “bounty” programs
American football is a bone-crushing game - a full contact sport in which elite athletes fight and claw for every yard. It is no surprise that players competing at this level would hit hard – it’s what they’re paid to do. But an investigation by the National Football League revealed that from 2009 to 2011, players from the New Orleans Saints ran a “bounty” scheme that paid large cash bonuses for targeting specific players with the intent to take them out of games. Among the players targeted by Saints defensive players were marquee quarterbacks such as Brett Favre, who then played for the Minnesota Vikings, and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals. According to NFL experts, under-the-table performance-based bonuses are commonplace even though they’re against league rules, but the findings of an NFL investigation into the Saints’ “bounty” scandal has NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell poised to dole out some very stiff penalties for the players involved. Football is a tough sport, but does this go too far?

 

Guests:
Fred Dryer, former NFL player and actor; played 176 games over 13 seasons for the New  York Giants and Los Angels Rams
Jim Trotter, senior writer for Sports Illustrated

Josh Luchs, former sports agent

 

 

2:06 –2:20

Should taxpayers subsidize wealthy ex-presidents?

Former presidents make millions from book deals and speaking engagements and most in the modern era are, well, rich.  So should taxpayers continue to foot the bill for expenses like staff, office space and travel?  A few lawmakers say no.  Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa) want to revise the half-century old Presidential Allowance Modernization Act, so a former president who makes over $600,000, would not receive any taxpayer money for expenses beyond their $200,000 pension. Last year, taxpayers paid $1.3 million for former president George W. Bush and $517,000 for Carter, including their pensions.  The act was originally enacted to “maintain the dignity” of the office, but in this day and age is that a serious concern?

 

Guests:

UNCONFIRMED

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa)

National Taxpayers Union

Presidential Historian

 

2:20 – 2:39 OPEN

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Vegas goes Vegan. Restaurants in meat-centric Sin City add vegan menus

Traditionally steak-loving Sin City is getting a vegan, health conscious makeover. Hotel magnate Steve Wynn was so influenced by his own lifestyle change to a meat and dairy-free diet that he mandated the restaurants in his Wynn and Encore hotels in Las Vegas have vegan menus. Wynn collaborated with vegan chef Tal Ronnen to create varied, upscale dishes such as fake “crab” cakes made with toasted pasta and tomato confit.  Does this shift towards vegan dining in a city known more for thick steaks and unhealthy excess indicative of a broader change in attitude about food around the country? Former President Bill Clinton switched to veganism and cities such as Los Angeles and New York are already filled with vegan and veggie eateries. Is veganism just a trend or a permanent fixture?

 

Guests:

Tal Ronnen (TAHL ROW-nehn), vegan chef who collaborated with hotel magnate Steve Wynn to create vegan menus for the Encore and Wynn resorts in Las Vegas.

Steve Stallman, president of Stallman Marketing and the Foods Consultants Group, with 25 years experience in food branding and marketing