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Government Mandated Playoff? I Don’t Think So
Published by MoonDog on January 21, 2009
Last week U.S. Representative Joe Barton of Texas introduced legislation that would force college football to implement a playoff format and eliminate the current BCS system.
Talk of a federal government induced playoff in college football heated up during Chris Berman’s interview with then-presidential nominee Barack Obama. During the halftime show of an NFL Monday night telecast last year, Berman asked Obama what changes he would make in the world of sports.
Obama said he would like to see a playoff in college football and from that point forward, the discussion of a playoff has grown louder, although it’s a discussion that has been taking place for years.
Barton, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in typical political fashion, didn’t provide specifics regarding the type of playoff he wanted to see, only that he believes the BCS is flawed.
The bill – co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat, and Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican – “will prohibit the marketing, promotion, and advertising of a postseason game as a ‘national championship’ football game, unless it is the result of a playoff system.
“Violations of the prohibition will be treated as violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act as an unfair or deceptive act or practice.”
It’s obvious to every college football fan that the BCS is flawed, and I doubt anyone needed a representative serving in the U.S. Congress to inform us of that.
As a long-time proponent of a playoff, there are any number of scenarios that I would favor, but not one that is mandated by the federal government.
Considering the 535 members of the U.S. Congress can’t handle the most pressing issues facing the nation, why would we entrust them to oversee a college football playoff system?
Frankly, I don’t believe anyone currently serving in the House or Senate could get their fragile little minds wrapped around an issue as complex as a playoff format.
I’m of the opinion that the television networks – not the federal government – will ultimately be the driving force towards a playoff. Money is the key to any format, be it the current BCS system or a potential playoff.
If the networks decided they would only negotiate contracts based upon the implementation of a playoff, that’s the day the BCS will come to an end. But don’t look for that to happen anytime soon.
We’ve already learned the current BCS format will remain in place until 2012 and could be extended to the year 2014.
It should be noted that President Obama has never said he would work towards forcing a playoff in college football. I sensed some believed Obama would make such an effort based upon his response to Berman’s question, but clearly he was speaking only as a fan.
All of us should keep things in perspective and realize the nation obviously has more pressing needs to be addressed than a college football playoff. I’d say the likelihood of Obama attempting to force Congress into passing legislation on a matter as trivial as a playoff is zero.
In the meantime, the debate will continue whether a playoff is needed or not. But those debates shouldn’t take place on the floors of the U.S. House or Senate, at least not in an official capacity.
As for Representative Barton and everyone else serving in the U.S. Congress, instead of worrying about a college football playoff, perhaps they can figure out how to solve the nation’s $10.6 trillion debt.
I’m not going to hold my breath.
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Tagged with: Barack Obama, Bobby Rush, Bowl Championship Series, Chris Berman, College Football Playoff, Joe Barton, Michael McCaul, MoonDog, U.S. Congress, U.S. Representatives
Toss The Burner: Jan. 21, 2009 | Steady Burn on Wed, 21st Jan 2009 09:36
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