Sunday letters

NCAA football playoffs a bad idea

I only became aware, during the championship football game between Auburn and Florida (State), that this is the last year for the BCS bowl formula.  What a shame!

College football, in our nation’s largest educational institutions, has morphed into a money grubbing business.  Next year the top schools will have a playoff system similar to the NFL. 

Colleges are supposed to be learning institutions not colossal football businesses.  Henceforth, the NCAA conferences will literally knock heads with each other for who is the best team that particular day.  It is not necessary and ultimately meaningless.  When will academic studies become important to college football players?

Pressure on the NCAA from the television networks, e.g. ESPN, had to be a gigantic influence.

Though I absolutely love football and went to a Big Ten school, I am totally against having these tournament playoffs.  The NCAA has surrendered itself to the almighty dollar.

The plan is for a 4-team playoff but you know that 8 teams are just a few years away.

It is no wonder that our nation is falling behind in math, science, engineering and other technical degrees to students from countries such as India, China, Taiwan or anywhere that money doesn’t rule over common sense. 

Jack Abel

Spokane

OK to be a sad Zag

As a University of Alabama alum, I have a situation!

I have a wonderful significant other (a woman) who is a huge Gonzaga basketball fan. She is, as David Ferherty says,..”she who must be obeyed.”

Whenever Gonzaga loses a basketball game (a rarity) she is extremely depressed in ways that affect our relationship that I will not detail here. I have tried to explain to her that a loss in basketball is by no means the same as a loss in football that could affect a national championship. This does not lessen her pain.

Now, I try to explain to her that  like Alabama football opponents, every team that Gonzaga plays gives their absolute best effort because they know that if they can defeat Gonzaga in basketball, like defeating Alabama in football, no matter what happens the rest of the season, they have made their season. They have defeated Gonzaga … so life is good!

So rather than her being overly depressed at a loss (although I still have excessive depression at an Alabama football loss … though thankfully that is an extremely rare event, and I am working on that) I tell her that she should be proud to be a fan of and support such a successful program so that a loss is a major news event. So accept the losses (easier said than done) and be happy that you are supporting such a successful team.

Go Zags and Roll Tide!

Ronald Garrett

Spokane

Ill players should sit

I was amazed to hear the ESPN broadcasters glorifying the Zags players exposing their teammates & everyone in their proximity to their “flu” (their word).

Unfortunately the Gonzaga staff did not use this opportunity to send a message to their students and our community by keeping the players who were ill home. For many, flu related illnesses become quite serious. We need to use common sense and not put winning ahead of the public health. 

Cindy Robinson

Spokane Valley