Having Solved The Economic Crisis, Congress Turns Its Attention To Running College Football

• March 26, 2009

Which is, I’m sure, one of the things Thomas Jefferson had in mind when he helped found this country.

WASHINGTON — Everyone from President Barack Obama on down to fans has criticized how college football determines its top team. Now senators are getting off the sidelines to examine antitrust issues involving the Bowl Champion Series.
The current system “leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year,” the Senate Judiciary’s subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights said in a statement Wednesday announcing the hearings.
Under the BCS, some conferences get automatic bids to participate in series, while others do not.
Obama and some members of Congress favor a playoff-type system to determine the national champion. The BCS features a championship game between the two top teams in the BCS standings, based on two polls and six computer ratings.
Behind the push for the hearings is the subcommittee’s top Republican, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. People there were furious that Utah was bypassed for the national championship despite going undefeated in the regular season.

Bread and circuses.

Tags: Asshats, Domestic Issues, Politics, Sports

http://Array carrick

This sounds more like regulation of commerce to me, a constitutional duty of our US congress. In principle regulation of commerce is a good thing to do, though maybe not in this case. But I’m outside of the fray on this one (meaning I have no opinion.)
Brent

In my opinion the NCAA is a corrupt organization so I really don’t care what happens to them.

In my opinion, the general principle is always worth defending – my disgust with the particular organization, such as the NCAA, notwithstanding.
Hawk

There is alot of money at stake here. Why should the state universities in Utah have to qualify to get any of the money and can almost never get any share of the championship money, while the state school of Texas automatically get a payday? I think this is an appropriate action by a senator from Utah.
Brent

Regulation of interstate commerce is, per the constitution, a role of government. And college football is big business. But even so, there are better things for Congress to be doing.

The definition of regulation in 1776 was very different than the modern socialist definition that we all know and love. Harassing “Big Business” (or small) is not a constitutionally authorized power of congress.
Brent

I don’t disagree, Brent. The interstate commerce clause is perhaps the most abused part of the Constitution. But it is in there. And it does allow at least some level of government regulation of interstate commerce.

Yes, general regulation of interstate commerce. Regulation = to make regular, to smooth, to ease, etc. The concern was states inhibiting trade with one another through various legislation enacted by state governments. There’s no power for the federal government to virtually takeover an industry because it happens to occur across state lines.
Brent

There is alot of money at stake here. Why should the state universities in Utah have to qualify to get any of the money and can almost never get any share of the championship money, while the state school of Texas automatically get a payday? I think this is an appropriate action by a senator from Utah.

No, it is not in the least appropriate. It is on equal ground, as far as its inappropriateness, with a senator strong-arming other companies in order to benefit the “home state” company.

BTW, I loved watching Utah this year. They may have been the best team IMO. But so what? Sony still claims to have had the better tape player (Betamax), too…
Anthony

I’ve never followed sports (college or otherwise) and couldn’t care less how championships are decided.

But I do have a question. Why is congress wasting their time on a non-issue? they have no constitutiona authority to make any judgement on this, and have much better things to do, like chainsaw the budget.
eneils bailey

Ummm…Yummy…Yummy.

Big ole perky titties…
Nice, firm, tightly twatted asses.

Where’s my BCS ballot?

Sports is fun, isn’t it?

Most valuable player?
A wide receiver?
A split end?
Or a tight end?

My apologizes to you overly-sensitive freaks.
docdave

The reason that the Feds were given control of interstate commerce was to keep states from putting up barriers like tariffs to restrict one states products from transport and purchase from another state. To say that the Feds have abused this limited right is a gross understatement.

Remember this was done when states were sovereignly superior to the central govenment.
jimmypop

how can this old douche have nothing better to talk about?
Eneils Bailey

Who gives a small hole in a donut, a cold cup of coffee, and a handful of rat bait as to who is the best college football team in the nation as long as we can spectate the important things in life.

I want tighter shorts, no panties, smaller t-shirts, bigger nipples, more beer when I watch college football. Who gives a shit about what happens on the field when you can spy-glass this stuff in the stands.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

But rube, the only two named “leaders” who are actually doing something are gop.

Darn gop’s, why don’t they just work on getting El Rushbo’s talking points out there.

That’s the real goal of the gop, isn’t it?
http://SayAnythingBlog.com The_Whistler_ofnd

It seems that while it may not be unconstitutional for Congress to act on this matter, they probably have something better to do.

Still if they screw up the NCAA football playoffs they really haven’t done any real harm which would be a nice change from the Pelosi congress.

In my opinion the NCAA is a corrupt organization so I really don’t care what happens to them.
http://twitter.com/r0ckH0pp3r sayanything-3285

I think there may be more important questions to answer right now – like, why didn’t girls dress like that when I was in school?

SigFan on March 26, 2009 at 10:13 am

they did, you just went to the wrong school?
http://northerngleaner.blogspot.com/ Gene

OK, I admit, I didn’t read the article. I have no idea what its about. Me like the Picture.
http://twitter.com/r0ckH0pp3r sayanything-3285

In my day if they wore jeans and a t-shirt that was considered racy.

my days at FSU was ’83 and ’84. and the 2 in the pic are kinda dressed down.

GO ‘NOLES; GATORS SUC – LOL
SigFan

they did, you just went to the wrong school?

Nope – I go way too far back for that. In my day if they wore jeans and a t-shirt that was considered racy.
SigFan

Even though I find the whole formula they use to figure out who gets in and who doesn’t rather convoluted and confusing, I don’t really give a rip enough to want Congress to figure it out for me. I think there may be more important questions to answer right now – like, why didn’t girls dress like that when I was in school?
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

Regulation of interstate commerce is, per the constitution, a role of government. And college football is big business. But even so, there are better things for Congress to be doing.

This isn’t them solving a problem. This is bread and circuses.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

But rube, the only two named “leaders” who are actually doing something are gop.

Yeah, funny how I criticize both Republicans and Democrats.

That’s called “principle.”

There is alot of money at stake here. Why should the state universities in Utah have to qualify to get any of the money and can almost never get any share of the championship money, while the state school of Texas automatically get a payday? I think this is an appropriate action by a senator from Utah.

Seems to me that collegiate sports should be left up to the colleges. If they don’t like the deal they’re getting, let them solve it with the appropriate organizations.
http://suitepotato.blogspot.com/ sayanything-4808

The which is not forbidden is not compulsory. Of course congress disagrees whenever it is convenient for them and not for us…
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

I don’t disagree, Brent. The interstate commerce clause is perhaps the most abused part of the Constitution. But it is in there. And it does allow at least some level of government regulation of interstate commerce.

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Having Solved The Economic Crisis, Congress Turns Its Attention To Running College Football

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