11/05/24
December 02, 2005
Oh, for God's sake!: The chairman of a U.S. Congressional committee has called for a hearing on college football's Bowl Championship System.
Um, what? I can understand if this dude was from Oregon or something. But Texas? Have they ever been snubbed?
posted by panoptican at 08:56 PM on December 02, 2005
Yes, I think Congress has better things to do. However if it takes government action to get me my college football playoff, so be it.
posted by Fade222 at 09:15 PM on December 02, 2005
I'm with Fade. I hate congressional showboating, but I hate the BCS more. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
posted by rcade at 10:04 PM on December 02, 2005
does anyone know the REAL reason we don't already have a playoff?... that BS about missing class non withstanding... why not use a bcs type system to seed a playoff
posted by thomaspearce34 at 11:45 PM on December 02, 2005
We absolutely need a playoff in NCAA, but please don't let the Congress be the catalyst. I understand college ball is big business, but don't we have MUCH larger fish to fry?
posted by willthrill72 at 12:16 AM on December 03, 2005
The Squeaky wheel always gets the grease! With an election year a comin- any greasing that will get done and noticed may help one or several congresspeople get re-elected.
posted by daddisamm at 12:24 AM on December 03, 2005
They're trying to distract people from the war. For or against, all concerned want people to forget how they voted, so holding a high profile hearing helps. When the number of dead reaches 2200 expect them to hold hearings on which Tele-Tubbie really was or was not gay.
posted by commander cody at 03:43 AM on December 03, 2005
It has nothing to do with the war. It has to do with people that have too much time to do next to nothing. #1, these Congressional imbeciles. If people paid more attention to what they do, we would not be paying farmers to raise corn that wasn't needed, and then have ADM make ethanol from it, then pass laws forcing us to use it. #2, the BCS itself. Who the hell needs them? Everyone always bitches when their team does not get selected. In this case it's Texas, and they have a lot of congressional reps due to their population, so they want to do something for their team. It would be better if the Congress paid more attention to spending less money instead of ways to use up what they didn't spend, but that's not going to happen until the people start looking closely at them BEFORE they elect them, not after. Not sports? You're right, but neither is the subject matter. Get them out of each other's business, and then wait, because someone else will think THAT needs an investigation.
posted by mrhockey at 07:10 AM on December 03, 2005
When did the BCS screw Texas????
posted by Fade222 at 07:24 AM on December 03, 2005
does anyone know the REAL reason we don't already have a playoff? Because none of the big bowls are willing to get slotted as a semi-final or quarter-final game. They have deep pockets and influence with the NCAA. Of course, the NCAA is stupid since they would make so much more money with a playoff system. Which would make the NCAA even more powerful and awful than it already is. So I never know what to think.
posted by yerfatma at 09:26 AM on December 03, 2005
"The man who fixed the BCS". THAT'S what I want on my tombstone! Three words define the entire situation...billion dollar industry. With that kind of money, SOMEBODY had to check things out. Fix my social security worries, you idiot, and leave football, and all sports, for that matter, to the common man! JESUS!!!
posted by Thumper at 09:55 AM on December 03, 2005
It has nothing to do with the war. It has to do with people that have too much time to do next to nothing. Noooo, it has everything to do with the war, and the price of home heating oil and natural gas, and the state of the economy, and all of the other ugly and intransigent survival issues that are facing the American people. No one in Congress wants to grapple with those. They'd rather deal with this fluff!
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:23 AM on December 03, 2005
I understand Congress wanting to get involved in the steroids dispute because it is a public health concern that involves the nation's youth. Congress is going to have a tough time explaining to me how the BCS involves Congress. Congress does not have the ability to effect commerce in the U.S. unless they have a legitimate interest. What it the legitimate interest? No one likes the BCS? Too bad, that is up to the colleges and the BCS. Congress had better watch their step because they are coming dangerously close to interfering with commerce and that is serious. This also applies to Arlen Specter getting involved in the T.O. ordeal. The Eagles have followed his contract to the letter. Congress has no business getting involved.
posted by mcstan13 at 10:44 AM on December 03, 2005
Please don't interfere with these hearings (aka 'show and tell') - instead, send emails feigning interest. As long as Congresspersons are 'investigating' such trivia, they are not passing new laws which increase your taxes or limit your freedoms :-)
posted by joeO at 11:22 AM on December 03, 2005
Congress is, however, mortgaging our kids' futures and bankrupting the nation. Oh wait, look over there, BCS!
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:03 PM on December 03, 2005
The BCS is flawed. Bull! Here is what is flawed. Congress and Sports Writers. Politicians have one purpose, get re-elected. To do so they will lie and distort no matter what the cost. Sports Writers....keep this in mind. One of the idiots picked Purdue as number one in a preseason poll.
posted by imhipdigit at 12:21 PM on December 03, 2005
By the way....it was Tinky Winky that was the gay one...right?
posted by commander cody at 05:41 PM on December 03, 2005
"College football is not just an exhilarating sport, but a billion-dollar business that Congress cannot ignore," said committee Chairman Joe Barton, a Texas Republican. Says all you need right there: "a billion-dollar business;" "Congress cannot ignore;" "Texas;" "Republican."
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:22 PM on December 03, 2005
Got money need government help to spend it. Got football need help playing it. College football is the farm system for the NFL. Government and college football both need help. No independent team should be able to play for the championship. When you don't have to play the same teams year after year noone can size you up and get some idea how to defeat you. Who did ND play other than USC that was a power this year and they got beat by Mich. State. If some of these teams had to play in the PAC 10, Big 10, SEC, or Big 8 they would not have as good of records.
posted by coach at 09:19 PM on December 03, 2005
Next on tap: The Tuck Rule in the NFL, MLB's Designated Hitter discrepancy and moving back the three point line in the NBA. These three items should keep Congress busy until the next mid term elections.
posted by Ranger84 at 09:20 PM on December 03, 2005
Don't forget the NBA dress code, as a violation of free speech Ranger84.
posted by Fade222 at 11:04 PM on December 03, 2005
To determine who is the best college football team I think you have a round robin style tourny where each teams cheerleaders jello wrestle each other in their under garments. This is just as arbitrary as the BCS (bogus college standings) and a lot more entertaining.
posted by HATER 187 at 11:24 AM on December 05, 2005
Hater, you think way too small. Get the fans of both teams on the field, this side this end, that side that end, as many as will fit, armed with anything they want...toss a football in the middle, and give the championship to whoever manages to push the ball across the other team's line the most number of times.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:45 PM on December 05, 2005
I see....kind of like escape from NY meets college football. I will call it escape from Ann Arbor. Kurt Russell is attached to the project.
posted by HATER 187 at 02:46 PM on December 05, 2005
lbb, there's an idea I can get behind! Personally, though, I'd prefer to see the two university chess teams battle during halftime, with the halftime lasting as long as the matches take and the broadcaster being forced to stay live. The winner gives a field goal to its football team on the scoreboard.
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:37 PM on December 05, 2005
I'd like to hold a congressional hearing on finding better things for Congress to do with their time. Maybe next they can have a hearing on why Ben Affleck is always in such shitty movies.