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You aren't looking very close then. It's funny that college athletics (and college football in particular) have become such a boogie man all of a sudden. I'd say the reality TV media culture is a bigger and far more distructive distraction than college athletics. I'd also throw in video game, internet, etc technology in general as bigger a bigger distraction that sports. Sports, at the very least, fosters a healthy competitive lifestyle that encourages physical activity in many people who badly need it.

I was talking about school-sponsored distractions, but I agree that the internet/reality TV-age encourages lots of degenerative behavior

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Why can't colleges do both? Why does a university with big time athletics have to choose one or the other? I'd agree with the argument in cases where school's that have no business trying to have big time college athletics are bleeding the school dry. However, the author thinks that any and all sports is just an unnecessary distraction when he and others who agree with him haven't shown any evidence that a school can't have both a successful athletic program AND be able to produce scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, economists, etc as well. The either/or finality of the author's argument is ridiculous.

Well then, let's allow straight-up "Sports Entertainment" majors. Teach kids wanting to be pro athletes the business side of sports as well as train them physically to become a pro athlete. Make it a bona fide course of study instead of engaging in the current charade. But that might only further encourage massive athletic departments and higher emphasis on sports than other fields of study. Not sure that would be a good thing.

FWIW, I don't think ALL college sports should be gutted. I just think the Big Business of college sports, notably football, has gotten out of hand. Too much television and money involved.

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P.S. I find it a little convenient too that you are apparently a Georgetown supporter and see college football as a waste of time and resources.

LSU undergrad, Georgetown Law ... I've experienced both extremes in terms of "football culture."

This post was edited on 5/7/12 at 11:52 am

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Posted by Govt Tide

Member since Nov 2009

9141 posts

Posted on 5/7/12 at 1:30 pm to gizmoflak

quote:
Well then, let's allow straight-up "Sports Entertainment" majors. Teach kids wanting to be pro athletes the business side of sports as well as train them physically to become a pro athlete. Make it a bona fide course of study instead of engaging in the current charade. But that might only further encourage massive athletic departments and higher emphasis on sports than other fields of study. Not sure that would be a good thing.

FWIW, I don't think ALL college sports should be gutted. I just think the Big Business of college sports, notably football, has gotten out of hand. Too much television and money involved.

I wouldn't have a problem with such a major. Whether academia finds "sports entertainment" a worthwhile pursuit or not, it is in fact a large and lucrative industry that provides many high paying jobs on and off the field/court/course. From that standpoint, it makes as much sense to have a major in sports entertainment as it does some of the more abstract majors like Philosophy. As long as such a major doesn't take away from the sciences and business at a school then it could only be a positive imho.

There is no doubt a lot of money involved in college athletics especially football. The solution is to pass rules and legislation that results in the big money sports enhancing the academic experience at colleges. Total elimination of college sports is an incredibly shortsighted idea unless every conceivable idea to make its impact on colleges a net positive isn't first totally exhausted.

This post was edited on 5/7/12 at 1:32 pm

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