I think you've nailed the issue... which is that "the sport" has too many "managers" and not enough leaders. Stuffed shirts filling chairs isn't a recipe for long term success when things are on an even keel. When the reality requires greater capacity to understand the emerging complexity and adapt ? Stick a fork in the NCAA.
I note its mostly no longer possible for me to watch a lot of what interests me most... as I'm not subscribed to the SEC channel. As I'm busy enough with other things... that I don't really need to try to find a way to spend more time on sports as entertainment... I mostly follow Auburn basketball now by watching the highlights on YouTube a day or two after the latest game... which saves me a lot of time.
Yesterday, I noted a "free TV" basketball game featuring Auburn vs LSU on a Sunday ? Yeah. They played the "real" game on Saturday evening... on the SEC Network... and the Sunday show was the girls team. I watched a bit of it... not lacking interest in the set up... Auburn playing the defending national champs LSU at home. And, it was a tight game, closely fought. But, I just lost interest in it at some point... it ended... and I had no idea who'd won. Because... it was boring. The girls are competitive with each other... but, they're not even remotely close to being "good" in the way any one of the top 25 men's teams are "good ? Compare them with the men, and... they lack strength, speed, coordination, endurance, skill, and competitive attitude, which, increasingly in women's sports... is interpreted as "willing to commit violence". Women's basketball worse than the men's in having players being charged with assault for on court participation ? Anyway.
The same issue, of course, in sorting out the men. I love the game(s). Played as youth. But, I was never going to be remotely close to being capable of being competitive with... say... Auburn legend Bo Jackson ?
And, really... who is ? Champions are what they are for a reason... which is not "we're all the same" ?
So, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the "participation trophy" crowd teaching their kids that winning is unimportant... and that differences don't matter. But, without enabling participation... you deny future champions the opportunity to become what they could be ? And then, "competition" is NOT all and only about winning... but about learning what there is to be learned from competing... as those lessons learned in sports participation make champions in many things other than sports, too ?
Why don't we solve the girls "problem" by simply dissolving the sex differentiation in sports... and just let them compete to get on the men's team ? Problem solved ? Participation isn't a guarantee you win... anything... including a paycheck. Welcome to reality. I suspect much of what people wring hands over today in relation to "problems" falls into the problem-solution category of "be careful what you ask for, because you might get it"...
Same in relation to "small school" issues ? There's always been a reason we've had leagues in every sport... or, some distinctions... whether in bowling, horseracing, or as weight classes in wrestling or boxing... to enable everyone to participate in competition with their PEERS. Seeking to make every school competitive at the top level is... a pipe dream. There is a limited quantity of "top talent" ? So, rather than engage in fantasy... why not focus on optimizing the distinctions we should have and should recognize ?
"Why go pro (and fail) when you can go to Miami and (succeed and) get a big paycheck ?"
I think that's right... and a case in point in how the re-alignments occurring now can make the "sport" better... in the sense of fostering greater competition among the "top" teams... and "smoothing" the linkages between the college sport and the pros. But, I'd agree there may be more that needs doing, there...
Haven't seen anyone addressing how the pay stacks up... as between playing in college as a top talent, versus playing in a European league, a baseball farm team, or some such ? Keeping kids in school longer probably better for them... and better for the "sport" defined broadly...
Auburn has had a lot of basketball stars, recently, in the "one and done" camp... and that seems it mostly doesn't really work out to well... for the kids, the schools, or the NBA teams they join "too soon". Have another of those freshman talents currently... and, "we'll see" ? |
