If you have ever had any fears that the United States Congress was wasting its time poking around in places it didn’t belong, you can now lay those fears to rest once and for all. As proof Congress is focusing fully on the most pressing issues facing the nation, from health care reform and economic recovery to the threats posed by terrorists organizations, today comes the news that a House subcommittee approved legislation that would try to force the NCAA to adopt a college football playoff system to determine the national champion. Next week, we hear the Senate will begin debating whether or not future Star Trek movies should be forced to give a fairer treatment to the Romulan side of the story.
Regardless of your feelings about the BCS or a playoff system, I would hope we could all agree that the U.S. Congress should be focusing on other matters right now…and forever. Can’t we just let the NCAA, the various colleges, coaches, and fans figure this one out? Apparently, a very large portion of people don’t think so, if the online poll in the NewsOK is to be believed.
This is precisely why government has grown so big. We expect it to fix any and all grievances we have, no matter how minor or justified. I know, I know: some of you will point out how much money is involved and that there’s an issue of interstate commerce at hand. Yeah, right. Even if you believe that’s truly sufficient justification for Congress to intervene, do you really want people like Nancy Pelosi and Orrin Hatch determining the future of one of our most beloved sports institutions? What you then get is a sporting system that’s more inundated with politics and corrupting influence by the powerful, rather than by merit and ability, than it already is. And just like the “Economic Stimulus Package” that was riddled with waste and corruption, we know how well that will work out.
As if the free market system weren’t aleady under enough attack from the Democrats in Washington DC, now Republicans are taking the lead in forcing colleges to abandon the BCS and adopt something that’s “more fair”. Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) is teaming up with former Black Panther and Rod Blagojevich defender, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) in holding hearings that could lead to a government imposed play-off system in college football.
Whether you are for the BCS or you prefer a play-off (I personally support a play-off over the BCS), any sensible conservative should be screaming, “what the heck is Congress doing messing with this?!?!” Shouldn’t our elected officials be spending their time on more pressing issues like reducing the soaring federal budget, combating terrorism on the seas, and for Republicans – getting a game plan to combat the liberal proposals coming down the pike on climate change and healthcare? Right after the election, Obama opined that he favored a play-off over the BCS, and given his expansionist view of government’s role, it shouldn’t be surprising to see other liberals like Bobby Rush trying to have government intervene in this issue. But why Mr. Barton, who has been a pretty consistent conservative?
In the past, Republican Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and John Cornyn of Texas have made similar calls for Congressional intervention. What leads these otherwise solid conservatives to abandon their principles all in the name of the pigskin? Might it be any coincidence that both the University of Utah and the Texas Longhorns have complained more than once about being shortchanged by the BCS system when it comes time for bowl selections?
Speaking as a fan of both the OU Sooners (who have greatly benefitted from the BCS system multiple times) and the BYU COugars (a Moutnain West COnference team that in 2007, played in the Veags Bowl despite going 11-2 and going undefeated in the conference) I believe that it’s past time college football join the ranks of every other NCAA sport and pick a champion the old fashioned way – on the field, rather than let the polls determine who gets to play for the championship. But if it’s a good idea, then let the free market work and we will get a play-off. I second what Jonathan Tuurley,a constitutional law expert at George Washington University said, “This is a rare effort by Congress to prevent people from using what is a commmon description of sporting events.” The legislation, he said, “may run afoul of the contractual agreements between parties, wiping out benefits that have already been paid for by companies.”
Efforts to impose a play-off in Congress go against conservative priniciples of less government interference in private contracts. Should Republicans seek to return to majority status, they better start acting more like conservatives and less like cry babies who are willing to abandon their principles just because their football team didn’t get to play in a BCS bowl.
