Congress finally tackles an important issue ----- college football

Now I happen to be among those who firmly believe that the BCS is FUBAR. The need for a college football playoff system is great -- but congressional hearing aren't going to bring it about. It might make Joe Barton feel better and get him some cheap publicity, but that's about it.

Besides, doesn't Congress have more important things to worry about -- like a war, massive deficits, health care, etc.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/ncaa/12/02/congress.bcs.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Congress calls hearing on Bowl Championship Series

HOUSTON (AP) -- Calling the Bowl Championship Series "deeply flawed," the chairman of a congressional committee has called a hearing on the controversial system used to determine college football's national champion.

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, charged with regulating America's sports industry, announced Friday it will conduct a hearing on the BCS next week, after this season's bowl matchups are determined.

"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. Barton's panel is separate from the House Government Reform panel that tackled steroids in baseball.

The committee announcement called the hearing, scheduled for next Wednesday, a "comprehensive review" of the BCS and postseason college football.

and we're all set. Or that lobbyist Mack Brown.

it ranks up there with steroids in baseball and indecency on the airwaves.

do we really want congress tackling issues like unemployment and the debacle in iraq?

But when it comes to things like the war profiteering all you hear are crickets chirping.

Now THERE's a shocker. I guess if Texas loses in the Big 12 championship game today, Barton and his cronies will intervene to send Texas to the Rose Bowl anyway.

He needn't worry, really. The BCS "formula" has deeply embedded subroutines S10 and F12, which are computerese shorthand for "Screw the Pac 10" and "Fluff the Big 12." Year after year the Pac 10 gets short shrift, its teams delegated to lesser bowls while the Big 12 gets a favored spot where they get their asses handed to them and the Big 12 is exposed as the fraud that it is.

So technically they actually are doing their job. But you are right on the principle. If only we could get them to care this much about the issues that really matter.

How about a meaningful hearing on prewar intelligence, boys? Or maybe Ohio election fraud?

I agree on all counts. BCS is FUBAR, but treason, murder, grand theft by connected corporatists, payoffs, bribes, and general corruption come first.

I'm of the opinion that we should just whole-cloth jettison state-sponsored college football programs and make the NFL directly support their farm teams.