What Jim Thorpe Was Doing With Those Taxes He Wasn't Paying

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 7, 2009 9:02 AM EDT Comment 13 comments

A few weeks ago, Champions Tour favorite Jim Thorpe pled guilty to tax evasion. He owed millions in taxes for money earned from 2002 through '04. He could face a couple of years in jail and up to a $4.1 million fine. It's clearly an unfortunate situation.

But, what was he doing with all of that money that he should have paid to the IRS? Perhaps he was hanging out at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.

Thorpe has a page on Foxwoods' site for their golf course. On it, he writes a letter to friends.

Hi all,
As a PGA Tour professional, I have played resort golf courses all around the world and none compare to the professional service and outstanding amenities provided by Foxwoods Resort Casino and Lake of Isles.

Next time you're in the Northeast, come and visit Foxwoods for everything it has to offer. Shuttle across the street and visit Lake of Isles, home of two Rees Jones designed, 18 hole championship golf courses; my home away from home. Lake of Isles is rated in the top 100 golf courses you can play and is number one in Connecticut. And while you're there, look me up.

Well, it's time to get back to the practice range.

See you soon,
Jim Thorpe

I can think of at least three things that are now wrong with that letter. None of them have to do with the phrases "Rees Jones" or "none compare to."

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humor aside – Thorpe got involved in a series of bad investments and apparently some less than scrupulous tax advisors. It’s a sad story for a great golfer and a good man.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he honestly just got in with some bad people. I just found it kind of interesting that the letter was still up on Foxwoods’ site. More of a poke at them than anything.

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 7, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Thorpe is still an endorsed pro for the course and resort, it should be up there. There haven’t been any gambling allegations, and he hasn’t killed or robbed anybody at the point of a gun – he got into tax trouble. Geez – we have three cabinet members who have done the same or worse than Thorpe.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree. I don’t care that they take it down, I just find it funny in light of what has unfortunately happened.

You take the good, you take the bad, you take it all, and there you have… :)

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 7, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thorpe is from just up the road from Raleigh (Roxoboro, NC) and like Charlie Sifford, he is thought of very well around these parts. That he has been found guilty of tax evasion is bad news indeed.

by Old Man Par on Oct 7, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jim Thorpe is Awesome

…and Foxwoods is awesome. And I’ve got the video to prove it. http://blip.tv/file/488695

As I said last month when this was being discussed, Jim Thorpe simply wasn’t as "well-advised" as other (much wealthier) Americans who don’t pay what they should in taxes …and get away with it.

I know so many hedge fund guys and self-described Wall Street Big Shots and they’re constantly bragging about how they’ve found ingenious ways of hiding their wealth and evading taxes. They use the same skills they used to become wall street honchos to game the system and not get caught. Mr. Thorpe was a professional golfer, he didn’t have that skill set. And apparently he didn’t employ an accountant that did. We all make bad decisions, at least occasionally. JT was unlucky enough to get caught. Hopefully his jovial and gentle spirit will allow him to get through this.

by golfgirl on Oct 7, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

uh-oh – is Patricia posting another video of her winning gazillions at the blackjack table again ? :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just hope he doesn’t get jail time. It’s kind of silly to put a 60+ year old man in jail for tax evasion. Like you said, there are plenty of Americans who have done way worse (and many never been caught or prosecuted).

As for Foxwoods, I’m going to be in the Boston area on the 14th. Should I go there? You close to there, Patricia?

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 7, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Foxwoods

If you can get down there, by all means particularly if you can get the chance to play, The course should be pretty glorious with the folliage next week. I’m about 1 1/2 hours from Foxwoods abt the same as Boston-Foxwoods. I might be able to get up there …It’d be awesome if we could pull together a spontaneous Golf Tweet-up. :o)

by golfgirl on Oct 7, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what’s the best airport to fly into ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 7, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bradley...

in Hartford would probably be the best. Or Maybe Logan. That would be awesome if we could do a Foxwoods Tweet UP. :o)

by golfgirl on Oct 8, 2009 1:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RB's a Bal'more guy, hon...

…(OK, sorry for mocking Maryland-speak; here in New England I’ve heard worse), so it would be more convenient to fly Southwest nonstop into TF Green Airport (PVD) in neighboring Rhode Island.

by IceCat on Oct 8, 2009 3:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the Southwest flight would be best. The kicker is that I’m taking Jetblue because it was $60 round trip, so I had to do it. This was just on a whim!

Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 8, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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