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Millionaire Entertainers Seeking Free Labor for Super Bowl

KELO TV reports that the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee is recruiting volunteers to welcome visitors to the big game in Minneapolis next February 4. The volunteer recruitment pitchman is South Dakota native NFLer Chad Greenway:

The NFL will take in $14 billion this year, the average player makes $2.1 million, and they want hundreds of people to come work their big advertising and tourism event for free?

39 Comments

  1. mike from iowa

    Could be a whole lot worse, Master. The NFL could condemn John Q Public, declare imminent domain and take the people and force them to pay the NFL to work the event. :)

  2. El Rayo X

    Since the NFL is no longer tax exempt, volunteers are needed to make ends meet.

  3. Owen

    Sorry but i just might sign 👆

  4. Nick Nemec

    Do you get free game tickets?

  5. John Kennedy Claussen, Sr.

    Cory, the title of this post is spot on. I had the exact same thoughts when I watch this news story on TV.

    What I really found sad, though, was the fact that this idea was coming out of Minnesota and not South Dakota. It is, as if the cancer of a low wage, or no wage in this case, mentality of the elite of our society has begun to creep into not only NFLer but also DFLer country too.

    During the Cold War, communist countries would often try to boost morale through sporting events, the successes of their Olympic teams, or with a greater emphasis of expression through the arts and sports in the absence of genuine opportunity and freedom for all.

    One only has to look at this call for volunteers, or the often bolstering of the “Sports Authority” in Sioux Falls, or concerts with big name entertainers to show how our political and business leadership in this state and region attempts to offer big event euphoria in place of real hope and opportunity.

    It is time to offer real wages and good benefits to the people of South Dakota, and not ask for volunteers from a people who are underpaid, overworked, and used with or without a Super Bowl moment…

  6. Christine

    I’m not 100% sure on this, but I think this is typical for the Super Bowl in any location. People who are big fans of the sport will want to volunteer to do this.

  7. John Kennedy Claussen, Sr.

    Typical or not, these “volunteers” should be paid. Given the value of a 30 second spot during the Super Bowl, or the millions of dollars some athletics make off the NFL, or the millions of dollars in corporate welfare that cities spend in building sports facilities to keep given professional teams, everyone who works at the Super Bowl should be paid. There is no need for volunteers. This call for “volunteers” is merely an example of corporate greed run amok.

    When the Twin Cities hosted the Super Bowl in ’92, I do not recall such a request for “volunteers” for the Super Bowl. Now I know, it is 26 years later (2018), but in those 26 years real wages have not gone up for most Americans, while corporate wealth has swelled even after a taxpayers/workers’ bailout of corporate America just a few years ago. So it is only fair to pay the “volunteers” and not make them merely serfs for a game that only the patricians can truly afford to watch in public.

  8. Porter Lansing

    This is a lot more legitimate than Mitt Romney running for President saying, “I’m the only man who ran an Olympics in the black. I’m a huuuuuuge success in business.”, when he had tens of thousands of Mormons volunteering for free. Romney is a “venture capitalist” which means he buys struggling businesses with assets, lays off the workers, fires management, runs up lots of debt, declares bankruptcy, reorganizes with lower wages and no benefits and puts million$ in the Mitt Romney Personal Fund. Someone in Sioux Falls covets this paradigm, too.

  9. grudznick

    You know, in many communities in South Dakota the people take pride in showing them off and putting on a really swell event. They enjoy volunteering in ways that shine a positive light on their communities. At least, for those of you who live outside South Dakota, that is the way it is in our state. Perhaps the Minnesotians are growing a little of that pride and sense of volunteerism as well. Stop being greedy and wanting cold hard cash and step up and help your community, they might be saying. I say bully on them.
    Imagine the tax revenues generated and the hotel fees and the economic boost this would be if such an event came to Rapid City. I think Rapid Citians would step up and volunteer to show people around town and pick up garbage and generally help lead parades and such if that happened. I am not terribly surprised that Minneapolites would as well.

  10. mike from iowa

    The NFL and manyplayers give back to their communities. Greenway has a foundation in Minnesota and has been named the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year and the Vikings Community man of the Year. Walter Payton MOY award is the biggie in the NFL.

    If only he were a DEM he’d be perfect.

  11. grudznick

    Mr. Greenway, despite his purple horns, is from South Dakota. Of course he’s a generous and compassionate man. His education was funded just fine by South Dakota tax payers and he was taught by mostly above average teachers who received a good wage for their efforts.

  12. mike from iowa

    Mr Greenway was given a free ride scholly to the U of iowa where he tore a knee up and redshirted his first year and became an All-American football player and a 1st round draft pick where he earned millions of dollars. The topper-

    Chad Greenway in retirement speech: ‘Thank you, Iowa’

    iowa also made a millionaire first round pick out of Riley Reiffof South Dakota. iowa also has Reiff’s younger bro as a red shirt sophomore defensive tackle who looks to get significant playing time this fall.

  13. mike from iowa

    btw, Grudz, Reiff signed a deal with the Vikings that will pay him over 5o million dollars for the next five years. Reiff is guaranteed 38.5 million of that contract.

  14. grudznick

    I have never heard of this Reiff fellow, so thank you for that news from Iowa, Mr. Mike. And it was really swell of your public institution to allow that young South Dakota boy from Vernon to go to your tax payer subsidized institution for free. Very swell indeed.

  15. mike from iowa

    . Riley Reiff grew up in Parkston, S.D. He said it’s about a half hour from Mount Vernon, where now-retired Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway . Reiff was an outstanding high school heavyweight wrestler and golfed as well. Well rounded athlete.

  16. grudznick

    I bet he ate a fair amount of Dimock cheese then, to fuel his wrestling and golfing. Dimock cheese is the best thing for breakfast or lunch omelets.

  17. Porter Lansing

    Send me a couple horns of that Dimock Pepperoni Cheese with the pheasant on the label, Grudzie . I’ll pay ‘ya. 😎

  18. grudznick

    Next time my granddaughter goes through there I’ll have her put a couple extra on my tab and have them shipped right to your home.

  19. grudznick

    And you know, Mr. Lansing, I think it gladdens my heart to imagine a Colorado fellow like you shuffling around Westbury Park gnawing on a big chunk of Dimock Cheese. Cheese fixes things.

  20. grudznick

    Cheese will also be evident with all of the helpers, volunteers with a strong sense of community service, when a slew of South Dakotan’s go over to help out the poor Minnesotians with putting on this superbowl, for most of them will be wearing cheeseheads and watching the Mighty Packers of Green Bay win the game.

  21. Porter Lansing

    Right, as usual Grudz. In fact, I’ve got so many of your goats in the basement, I had to make some goat cheese. I call it Grudzie’s Regret. Send ‘ya some, with the check. 🐐🧀

  22. grudznick

    Don’t spend so much time watching the kids in the playground out your back window, Mr. Lansing.

    All your goats are belong to us.

  23. Porter Lansing

    Oh, now I got ‘ya. You learned how to use map software. Good job, Mr. G. I thought Westbury sounded familiar. I moved to downtown Littleton, 10 years ago. Right by the light rail train station. Come visit. 😊

  24. grudznick

    I’ll bring the cheese, you bring the money and some fancy Colorado beers for us to quaff on a bench.

  25. Porter Lansing

    Excellent. There are six places within 3 blocks to get gravy ‘taters, too. High class neighborhood, ‘ya know. 😎

  26. grudznick

    Very excellent. Are they all ADA compliant and is it sausage gravy? One is more important than the other.

  27. Jenny

    Well I’ll be darned, I’d never heard of this Riley Reiff either and I’m surprised my Vikings are paying him that much. He played for the Lions for five years and was never a pro bowler. Sigh….the Vikings are notorious for getting players that are never as good as they think they’re going to be so I wouldn’t be surprised if Reiff turns into a flop for them. Greenway was good, though.

  28. Jenny

    Grudzie, Minnesotans probably volunteer more than South Dakotans. Volunteering is big in this state. I was really surprised to see how many people volunteer when I came here.
    (South Dakotans like to think they’re the only ones that do good for others.)

  29. grudznick

    That’s great, Ms. Jenny. Unfortunately people like Mr. H are complaining that some others want South Dakotan’s to volunteer, in Minnesota of all places, and do so without being paid. The horror! The horror!

    I say it’s Minnesotians who think they are all uppity and snooty about themselves. We just laugh and laugh and laugh, and then volunteer some more.

    How’s Teddy working out?

  30. grudznick

    Ms. Jenny, do Minnesotians generally like Dimock Cheese? I like New Ulm beer, do you like New Ulm beer?

  31. Jenny

    No, I don’t see Minnesotans as full of themselves. They actually come off as a quieter timid people (must be the Scandinavian heritage) whereas South Dakotan are much more chattier. South Dakotans want to know everything about you where Minnesotans just play it safe and talk about the weather.

    Who knows if Bridgewater will ever play again, I liked him, but Bradford is the starter for now.

  32. Jenny

    Minnesotans go for cheese curds.

  33. Porter Lansing

    Jenny’s gonna chew you up, Grudz. She’s smarter than you and me put together.

  34. grudznick

    Jesse the Body is a great example of quiet and timid Scandinavians in politics. Or that crazy senator you have, a libbie insaner than most. Timid and quiet, not full of himself at all.

    Who is this Bradford fellow? Eh, doesn’t matter.

  35. Porter Lansing

    Scandinavians are quieter than Germans? LOL

  36. Jenny

    I’m not a beer drinker, prefer wine coolers.

    Wisconsinites can drink any South Dakotan under the table and they drink more than Minnesotans but Minnesotans drink more than South Dakotans.

  37. Jenny

    Sam Bradford is the starting quarterback that took over when Teddy Bridgewater got hurt. He had a pretty good stats last season and will hopefully will hopefully get better.

    Al Franken is Jewish and a Harvard scholar. I just don’t see what is so ‘insane’ about him. There are no scandals of his to speak of and he’s worked hard to rid himself from his comedic image. He’s not really known as a loud mouth in Congress I don’t think. He asks good constructive questions at Senate confirmation hearings. I guess believing in Universal healthcare and LGBT rights are radical ideas to pubs. His very first Bill that passed in the Senate was having service dogs for PTSD soldiers coming back from war, that’s not radical just decency in wanting to help Vets. .

  38. Jenny

    Sam Bradford is the starting quarterback that took over when Teddy Bridgewater got hurt. He had pretty good stats last season and will hopefully will hopefully get better.

    Al Franken is Jewish and a Harvard scholar. I just don’t see what is so ‘insane’ about him. There are no scandals of his to speak of and he’s worked hard to rid himself from his comedic image. He’s not really known as a loud mouth in Congress I don’t think. He asks good constructive questions at Senate confirmation hearings. I guess believing in Universal healthcare and LGBT rights are radical ideas to pubs. His very first Bill that passed in the Senate was having service dogs for PTSD soldiers coming back from war, that’s not radical just decency in wanting to help Vets. .

  39. mike from iowa

    Sorry Cory, but I can’t let the honor of my Hawkeyes go undefended.

    Reiff was drafted the same year as the Vikes to Kalil as their left tackle. Reiff played in spots as a rookie. Kalil started and the rookie season was the only one where Kalil graded out higher. A stump could protect the q-b better than Kalil. Kalil is a first round bust. Reiff, while not pro bowl material, is more than adequate as a left tackle, plus he can and has played right tackle and in a pinch could move inside and play guard, plus never once has he complained about where he had to play. He is a true team – firster.

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