Regular HOTLINE readers know that we’ve been documenting that no-income tax states aren’t just dominating economically, but also in the world of sports.

Now, The New York Times has picked up the story, and noted this week that the Florida Panthers are playing in their third straight Stanley Cup final, right after Tampa made three in a row. Why are all the best skaters playing for Florida teams? Here’s The Times explanation:

“Florida takes no state income taxes out of paychecks — a huge talking point when it comes to the Lightning and Panthers’ runs. The Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators and Seattle Kraken also play in no-state-income-tax states.”

The Times story reports that the teams in high tax states now complain that this gives Florida “an unfair advantage” especially against “Canada and high-tax states like California, New York/New Jersey and Minnesota.”

The high tax states now want to level the playing field by “addressing this situation” in the collective bargaining agreement.

Here’s a better solution: get the blue states to cut their taxes and lure in superstars in sports and business. If they don’t, the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls and the San Francisco 49ers may never win another championship.