What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:
1
The latest math-challenged proposal from the BCS involves three semifinal games. The Rose Bowl would be a traditional matchup of the Pac-12 and the Big Ten, and the other semifinal games would feature the four highest-rated available teams. From all that, two finalists would be culled.
Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia, responded, “I just reject the notion that the Big Ten and the Pac-12 ought to be treated differently in this process.”
Maybe. But while some pretend that the sanctity of the Rose Bowl is about tradition, it’s really about money (of course). The Rose Bowl annually draws significantly higher TV ratings than any bowl game other than the BCS Championship.
If other conferences really want to break the Pac-12/Big Ten stranglehold on the proceedings, they should schedule another game to compete with the Rose Bowl’s traditional afternoon time slot on New Year’s Day. But, alas, that would make too much sense.
2
Item: Coach wins national championship, immediately leaves for another school, and takes entire team along. News: It’s not John Calipari.
Susan Polgar just coached Texas Tech to its second straight title in chess. Yes, chess. She then left for a job at Webster University in suburban St. Louis, where her program will have access to the swanky new Chess Club and Scholastic Center, a 6,000-square-foot shrine to the game. She’s bringing seven players with her to Webster, where they will receive scholarships.
Big-time bidding wars in college chess? Check and mate.
3
Here’s the lead on a story from the news parody site The Onion: “A rousing T-shirt cannon party at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena was repeatedly marred by men coming out to play hockey Thursday, despite jeers and pleading from the crowd.”
The story might be fictional, but it pretty much sums up the state of professional sports events these days.
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