Letters: College sports could be salvaged with regulations
Regulations could save college sports
I’ve heard, “We can’t blame (Zach) Collins and (Nigel) Williams-Goss for going pro,” so often I believe it. However, as a fan of college basketball for more than half a century, I reserve the right to play the blame game. I blame the NBA for infecting and corrupting amateur basketball with its big-buck priorities and outrageous sense of entitlement. With a spine and a sense of fair play, the NCAA could save college basketball. Gonzaga should be part of the resistance before it becomes Kentucky West and Mark Few goes pro. Of course, it’s not just the NBA. The NFL sets its hooks in high schools before USC and Alabama arrive. College tennis has been on life support since the 1970s. Baseball is resurgent because maturity is not a liability in MLB. The solution? The ugliest word billionaires know: regulation.
Rusty Nelson
Rockford
Thanks to Idaho
for hosting tourneys
Congratulations to the University of Idaho and athletic director Rob Spear on their decision to host next year’s NCAA women’s regional basketball tournament in the Spokane Arena plus the return of the men’s March Madness first round in 2020.
It’s always fun with so many visitors here supporting their teams and likely seeing the city and our region for the first time. It also contributes to our local hotel, restaurant and business community. It’s great exposure and public relations for the University of Idaho.
Way to go, Vandals.
Jeff Clausen
Spokane