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Sunday, March 15, 2009

March Madness Thoughts

The politics of sports (March Madness, BCS, NBA, NFL, MLB, whatever) are just annoying.

March Madness & the pathetic love for 'power conferences'. (What they don't seem to get is that 1- small conferences schools can't just get up and go join a power conferences, and 2- power conference schools aren't always willing to play smaller schools, because it's a no-win for them.) That said, if you don't have 20 wins, there is no way you should even be considered for an at-large bid. Period. (In other words, screw Arizona.) SDSU, Creighton, St. Mary's... they all deserved bids over 'Zona & Wisconsin & the likes.

The BCS and their big-6 love. See above for the problems in going by schedule/conference. Utah a couple years back, Boise State after that, Utah again this season... they went undefeated, they deserve a shot at the NC. Especially, as was the case this year, when there is no other team that is undefeated.

Quite simply, it obviously just about the money, and nothing at all about letting the players play and the better team win. The NBA is a great example of this... 'star players' (as decided by the league) get preferential treatment (they get more calls, they get away with more stuff). The game has become totally about offense... rules have been instilled to make it near impossible to play defense. Oh, and the double-dribbles/up-and-downs that aren't (under the guise of being a "pro-hop"), and traveling that isn't (if you're LeBron or Wade or the rapist)... and the NBA seems to be encouraging the move away from a "team" game to that of an "individual" game. Oh, and the flopping.

The NFL is there too... all the recent rule changes have been made to make sure the quarterbacks guys in skirts don't get hit. Plus, rules have been made to make the defense totally unable to play the game. And the fact that teams (cough*Patriots*cough) can get away with cheating. And the "No Fun League" rules that have ruined the fun that came in watching. And the horrible, horrible TV contracts that prevent them from switching games... even in blowouts.

And the MLB... seriously... no salary cap? I understand that they want the Yankees to continue to grow because everyone hearts NY, but what about teams like Pittsburgh & Kansas City that don't even have a chance?

Seriously... this is pissing me off.
They might be getting more money... but at what expense? Is it really worth it?
Might be time to find a new interest/hobby.

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