&gt; According to the latest report, a follow-up to one McCain released in May, military services have dished out $53 million in sports-related marketing and advertising contracts since 2012. Of that, more than $9 million went directly to teams in the five biggest American professional sports leagues (the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS). Although Flake and McCain determined that some contracts constituted legitimate marketing and advertising, such as stadium signs and recruiting booth space at games, 72 of the 122 contracts they uncovered involved inappropriately funded “patriotic tributes.”<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.slate.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;sports&#x2F;sports_nut&#x2F;2015&#x2F;11&#x2F;paid_patriotism_the_pentagon_gave_50_sports_teams_taxpayer_money_to_honor.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.slate.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;sports&#x2F;sports_nut&#x2F;2015&#x2F;11&#x2F;paid...</a>