Sports is politics: everyone's a homer. Remember that. A few weeks ago, Rumors and Rants took a look at the many eerie similarities between the two verticals of online sports bloggers.
We usually stay away from politics on this site because that’s not what we do. But in these politically charged times it’s hard to ignore them. One of the aspects of this election that hasn’t been there before, is the rapidly growing world of political blogging. It seems everyone has their own opinions on what (or who) is best for this country and why everyone else is wrong. Seriously, these jackasses are so annoying, opinionated, obstinate and polarizing they could be … sports bloggers.
The reason I bring this up is that, as a sports and political geek, I was pretty intrigued on Barack(prior to be elected as #44) commenting about the state of college football (via
LA Times Fabulous Forum):
I realize Barack Obama is busy, but I wish he would have called before making those comments to ESPN on "Monday Night Football" about college football needing a playoff:
"I think it is about time we had playoffs" in college football, Obama said. "I'm fed up with these computer rankings and this and that and the other. Get eight teams -- the top eight teams right at the end. You got a playoff."
Everyone talks about a playoff, Barack is totally pandering to Penn State fans. Kidding, but, only a little. Having a playoff, great, sounds awesome. Have you ever thought about the logistics of it? It's more of a nightmare than being a moose in Alaska when you hear the blades of a whirlybird.
I've weighed in pretty severely on this topic in the past, mainly in my rants at a gamewatch or in a bar, but also at my old BC sports blog at
Heights and Lows. You see, I believe that the BCS system, as it is now, is the American Dream.
The BCS system rewards those who have history, worked hard, and dedicate the resources to football. Sure, it isn't perfect. But at the end of the year, even if the game isn't the greatest, a national champion is crowned. But, I also think there is a Hope factor (I'm totally stealing it, sorry Barack) of being the mythical underdog. I wrote this last year:
If we think separating the second best team in the country from the third is difficult, how much smaller is the margin between six and seven?
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So, that's logical reason. Here's the emotional reason: the David and Goliath Factor.
No matter how bad Stanford finishes this season, those players will have a badge of pride over their win at USC. Appa State, even if it is on its way to another National Championship in I-AA, will be recognized for the win over Michigan. Why? Because they took the wind out of the sails of those teams and knocked them down a peg. They ruined seasons and championship dreams.
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As it stands right now, every Saturday matters. Every Saturday is one round of the season-long playoff to be the last team standing.
Horatio Alger is still alive. And he wears a football helmet.
