Hightower Lowdown

One of the most jaw-dropping plays in pro football this year was made off the field: the ol' down and out sucker play, a pass pattern the owners of NFL run to perfection. The play is designed to pass the multimillion dollar cost of their sports palaces to us taxpayers, with local politicians running interference for the fat cat owners.

The latest owner to try to score on this trick play is Robert Wood Johnson IV, heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune. This gabillionaire recently paid $635 million to buy the New York Jets—an exorbitant price, since the team doesn't have its own stadium. Despite being called the New York Jets, the team actually is in New Jersey, where they play at the Meadowlands.

So, no sooner had he plunked down more than the team is worth than Mr. RWJ IV began to whine for taxpayers to build a new stadium for him—one with lots of luxury boxes he could sell to his corporate pals. "The Jets have never had their own stadium," he whimpered. "They have never had the homefield advantage, so to speak." Need a hankie?. Sure enough, Mayor Rudy Giuliani is already talking with Johnson about a billion dollars in public funds to build a stadium for him in Manhattan. But, wait—the Jets are profitable where they are, and the fans are incredibly loyal. Every game is sold out and there's a long waiting list of people wanting tickets.

Heads up New York! This is not about "home field advantage," but about bailing out this poor little rich boy who paid too much for his toy. Let him subsidize his own losses.