Several years ago, I was in a road race and I came in second. My mom, in an attempt to be funny asked me: “How many were in the race? Two?” No, it was three. Well, it was actually more like 100 but that’s not the point. My prized medal has gone 
missing, and I have no idea where. What are my chances of contacting the FBI to help me in my search? I understand they are now specializing in that kind of stuff.
No Axe to Grind
OK all you Pats fans, before you go ballistic in attacking me for being anti-Tom Brady, let me say that in my opinion (for what it’s worth), I think he is the greatest quarterback who has ever played the game, and that includes Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith and anyone else who might come to mind. It isn’t about them either or even Brady.
It is about a stolen game jersey and the FBI tracking the shirt to a director of Mexico’s major newspaper publishing company (OEM). The thief has allegedly been identified as Martin Mauricio Ortega, who was associated with the newspaper Diario La Prensa. When the FBI found the jerseys, they may have also stumbled upon Von Miller’s helmet from Super Bowl 50. That’s why I’m asking if my 2nd place medal was also found.
It has been reported by ESPN that the FBI used footage to determine who was coming in and out of the locker room in order to match the footage with the 20,000 press credentials granted to the media. How many hours did that take? How many agents?
The jerseys are (for now) the property of the FBI in Boston. I hope Brady gets them back. I hope everyone congratulates the FBI and all of the law enforcement agencies on retrieving the lost articles of clothing and Von Miller’s helmet. After all, I am sure the FBI has nothing else on its plate.
I am just wanting to know who is footing the bill?
What did it cost?
Since Robert Kraft has compared the loss of the jerseys to losing a priceless Picasso or a Van Gogh (or that painting of dogs playing cards on the velvet background), I want to ask a simple ethical question: who authorized the use of the FBI and how much did it cost the taxpayers? There was a total of four law enforcement agencies involved in this case.
So, I am not accused of being an anti-football curmudgeon (I love football), to my mind, this case does not have to be about football at all. It can be about using the FBI to find Elvis’ blue cape and suede shoes.
According to the FBI website: “The very heart of FBI operations lies in our investigations—which serve, as our mission states, ‘to protect and defend the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats and to enforce the criminal laws of the United States.’”
Within what area of FBI jurisdiction does the theft of materials from a locker room constitute a terrorist threat?
It is said that the jerseys could be worth up to $500,000. Who determines that value? That’s a lot of overpriced hot dogs. How much for an original Ryan Leaf jersey? Or Babe Ruth’s baseball bat or Willie Mays’ glove? Will the FBI go after sports equipment every time a piece is stolen? How about a “Marvelous” Marv Throneberry baseball card?
My questions remain: who decides? Who pays?
My medal is still missing and it is a great personal loss. Oh yes, and I also had a signed Phil Rizzuto photo too. I loved “The Scooter.”
I would like to request an FBI investigation. Who do I call?
Kraft and Brady could buy a small country if they so desired. I don’t begrudge them one dime, but how about kicking back a little to the taxpayers? Not for myself, mind you, just for the services rendered. Ethically, I think it would be the right thing to do.
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