Congress getting involved in sports

[scruffypup]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4015667

I have said this before,... but congress gets involved in sports way way too much. I would rather them tackle real issues of concern to the prosperity of our nation, border security and such,... but again and again they would rather get involved in sports. Utah's senator is pushing this since they didn't get into the national championship,... but this is after two Texas senators were calling for legislation outlawing the BCS from crowning a national champion (after Texas was left out over Oklahoma)....

Damn whiners!!! Stay out of sports,... I don't care if a playoff system is better than the BCS system, politicians need to stay out. The NCAA could just decide not to have a champion which would piss everyone off, but end this mess and be legally able to do it.

 

[sactoking]

So long as sports leagues get antitrust protection, they'll rightfully be under the purview of Congress.

Does the NCAA get Congressional protection like MLB, NFL, etc?

 

[fskimospy]

While I agree that Congress meddles with sports more than they should, the idea that they are somehow not able to address important national issues because of it is silly.

 

[JSt0rm]

Well i kinda think it is an important issue if kids think the only way to be pro is steroids. This is bad for our country.

*I see the article isn't about doping but I'm just saying

 

[Thump553]

I totally agree with scruffypop. The antitrust argument is a valid one, but when you consider that at it's root sports are just entertainment it galls me that so much Congressional attention is literally wasted on this.

Remember last summer when Roger Clemens was hauled before Congress to testify about his (alleged) steriod use? Members of Congress were almost pushing each other aside to pose for pictures with him. Disgusting.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I totally agree with scruffypop. The antitrust argument is a valid one, but when you consider that at it's root sports are just entertainment it galls me that so much Congressional attention is literally wasted on this.

Remember last summer when Roger Clemens was hauled before Congress to testify about his (alleged) steriod use? Members of Congress were almost pushing each other aside to pose for pictures with him. Disgusting.

What do you think Congress would be doing with this time instead? Legislative issues aren't left unsolved because there isn't enough time in Congressional sessions to deal with them.

 

[Jack Flash]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I totally agree with scruffypop. The antitrust argument is a valid one, but when you consider that at it's root sports are just entertainment it galls me that so much Congressional attention is literally wasted on this.

Remember last summer when Roger Clemens was hauled before Congress to testify about his (alleged) steriod use? Members of Congress were almost pushing each other aside to pose for pictures with him. Disgusting.

Athletic licensing and sales is a MASSIVE business. There's a lot of money changing hands and if people stop going to the ballpark and buying jerseys because the image is tainted with steroid use then it can have large industry effects.

It's more business than entertainment, even college sports are.

 

[mect]

Actually, I don't think the NCAA has a champion for college football. The champion is named by the BCS, but it isn't recognized by the NCAA. I could be wrong, but that's what I've heard.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: sactoking
So long as sports leagues get antitrust protection, they'll rightfully be under the purview of Congress.

Does the NCAA get Congressional protection like MLB, NFL, etc?

Not exactly. A school doesn't need to be part of the NCAA. That is why you also have NAIA and Junior College associations. HOWEVER, the NCAA has say in TV contracts and merchandising (though the leagues have more of a say). Without the NCAA's clout, schools would not attract the same media and marketing attention. That is why the non-BCS leagues still have not splintered. they know it would be even worse for them if they left. Like all things NCAA, it's all about the money.

 

[scruffypup]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: Thump553
I totally agree with scruffypop. The antitrust argument is a valid one, but when you consider that at it's root sports are just entertainment it galls me that so much Congressional attention is literally wasted on this.

Remember last summer when Roger Clemens was hauled before Congress to testify about his (alleged) steriod use? Members of Congress were almost pushing each other aside to pose for pictures with him. Disgusting.

What do you think Congress would be doing with this time instead? Legislative issues aren't left unsolved because there isn't enough time in Congressional sessions to deal with them.

You are right,.. they have time since they push through stimulus packages and such without much debate or thought,.. they have left over time,... for things like this!!!!

I would like to see Congress spend as much time on the stimulus packages as the steroid crap at the very least,.....

 

[scruffypup]

And what is the real reason behind this bill,... a couple of schools felt they were slighted, their fans got upset,... so the senators step in,... should this happen anytime a team feels slighted in sports, (we all know this happens on every level all the time for various reasons), then congress will be basically just a sports commission type of agency,....

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Thump553
I totally agree with scruffypop. The antitrust argument is a valid one, but when you consider that at it's root sports are just entertainment it galls me that so much Congressional attention is literally wasted on this.

Remember last summer when Roger Clemens was hauled before Congress to testify about his (alleged) steriod use? Members of Congress were almost pushing each other aside to pose for pictures with him. Disgusting.

if sports were just entertainment then colleges would not depend on their revenues.

for 2006:

Top College Football Revenues
Texas $60.9 million
Ohio State $60.8 million
Georgia $58.7 million
Michigan $50.4 million
Florida $48.2 million

Top College Football Profits
Georgia $44.1 million
Texas $42.5 million
Michigan $37.6 million
Florida $32.4 million
Ohio State $28.5 million

http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/007263.php

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: eskimospy
What do you think Congress would be doing with this time instead? Legislative issues aren't left unsolved because there isn't enough time in Congressional sessions to deal with them.

Can you send me a link to the budget(s) passed over the last 2-3 years? Kthx.

 

[misle]

Repost, Thread Merge

Fern
AnandTech P&N Moderator

Aren't there a few things more important right now than college football?

And how in the world does this even fall under anything that the Senate should be working on?

Senate reviewing how college football picks No. 1

 

[Thump553]

I don't disagree sports-even college sports-are big business. They are. But a lot of entertainment is big business as well, and that is what college and big league sports are at their essence-the equivalent of Roman circuses to divert the populance's attention.

The fact remains that this is about as worthy of Congressional attention as American Idol is. There are at least two dozen other topics I could think of off the top of my head that are far more worthy of immediate Congressional attention.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: misle
Aren't there a few things more important right now than college football?

And how in the world does this even fall under anything that the Senate should be working on?

Senate reviewing how college football picks No. 1

Repost

 

[BeauJangles]

Sports organizations like the NCAA, MLB, NBA, and NFL are granted monopolies by the government. It IS the government's job to regulate them. Believe it or not there is even a committee in the Senate responsible for the regulation of sports. So, when you say something like "Aren't there a few things more important right now than college football?" the correct answer is: "For some senators, yes. For others, their JOB is to regulate sports."

The "government" isn't one dude sitting around making decisions. There are thousands of people and thousands of pieces of legislation all flying around the floors of the Senate every single day.

 

[winnar111]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Thump553
I totally agree with scruffypop. The antitrust argument is a valid one, but when you consider that at it's root sports are just entertainment it galls me that so much Congressional attention is literally wasted on this.

Remember last summer when Roger Clemens was hauled before Congress to testify about his (alleged) steriod use? Members of Congress were almost pushing each other aside to pose for pictures with him. Disgusting.

if sports were just entertainment then colleges would not depend on their revenues.

for 2006:

Top College Football Revenues
Texas $60.9 million
Ohio State $60.8 million
Georgia $58.7 million
Michigan $50.4 million
Florida $48.2 million

Top College Football Profits
Georgia $44.1 million
Texas $42.5 million
Michigan $37.6 million
Florida $32.4 million
Ohio State $28.5 million

http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/007263.php

And Democrats are spending $1 billion an hour.

So go ahead and follow football!

 

[ElFenix]

the BCS doesn't crown a national champion and hasn't even pretended to do so for the last two years.