Less than one month before the general election, No. 1 NBA draft pick Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson is a holdout with the Milwaukee Bucks, owned by Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat who is seeking his second term.
Robinson, the nation's leading college scorer with Purdue last season, reportedly is seeking a $100 million deal from Kohl, who touts his congressional record as a fiscal conservative.
Kohl could score political points by bringing a top name to the Bucks, who have not made the playoffs since 1991. But he has said a nine-figure contract is out of the question.
The Bucks, who opened training camp late last week, reportedly have offered Robinson a 10-year contract worth more than $70 million. A recent estimate placed the value of the entire Bucks franchise at $77 million.
Robinson's shadow over the campaign has been acknowledged by Republican state representative Bob Welch, who trails Kohl in the polls.
In a campaign commercial, Welch holds a basketball and discusses Robinson. "They say I'm the underdog in the U.S. Senate race -- and when Herb Kohl signs Glenn 'Big Dog' Robinson, the Bucks, and Herb's campaign, will get a big assist," he says in the 30-second spot. "But this campaign is about your bucks, not basketball Bucks.
"I hope Herb signs 'Big Dog.' Vote for me and the buck stops here."
David Littig, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, said the Robinson affair could hurt Kohl's campaign. "People would be irritated if Kohl didn't get him," Littig said.
Kohl's image as a fiscal conservative would not suffer if the senator approves a jaw-dropping deal to get Robinson, said John McAdams, a political science professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee. "People aren't dumb, they can make distinctions," he said. "They know you've got to pay big money for star athletes."
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