Read the debate intro, Loyal Homer’s argument, and Bleacher Fan’s argumentabout whether or not the U.S. Congress should be involved in sports issues.
In theory, this debate should be black and white. Congress versus no Congress. But, like many of our other debate topics, the involvement of Congress in sports issues is as complex as it is relevant. Sports leaders are interacting with members of Congress in some capacity every day. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has worn a path from the NFL offices in New York to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., including an appearance yesterday.
Loyal Homer called Congressional involvement in sports issues “wrong and unnecessary.” I do not go that far with my assessment. Loyal Homer also misdiagnosed some classic Sports Geek sarcasm in the debate intro when he wrote that sports are, “purely a form of entertainment.” Sports are not purely a form of entertainment. Sports are business… BIG business. Congress likes to stick its nose where the big money is. But, is Congress taking on a noble endeavor to rid sports of illegal activity and unfairness? Probably not, but the debate verdict is still awarded to Bleacher Fan.
Bleacher Fan is right to point out the double standard held by some that sports must all be fair, but that the government – in the case of this debate, Congress – has no right to become involved. Bleacher Fan is also correct to point out that sports organizations are no different than any other business.
Congress is not in the fairness business. Congress is in the law making business. But, characterizing Congress as simply a “law making body” is like saying a Ferrari is just another car. The responsibilities of a Congressperson are extended to other areas of our lives. Congress routinely extends its power to create dialogue about particular injustices in various segments of the population. Examples include an issue involving a cluster of dangerous pollution spewing smoke stacks near a neighborhood or a business arrangement that is entirely unfair to a majority (read: the BCS). Congress does not have nice, neat lines hemming in its power and responsibility. Those elements are fluid because society needs them to be. Extending that power to an issue in sports – BIG issues in sports – is a positive thing for society.
Like government, sports are a highly visible element of society (there are as many sports channels as news channels). When injustice or cheating occurs, sometimes the sport’s governing entity is slow to clean it up… or even acknowledge it. Sports organizations have shown over time that a certain level of accountability is necessary, and Congress is positioned to provide that accountability.
Congress can and should be involved in sports to the extent that fairness must have a voice. Often in sports, as in “real” life, old decisions shape current realities. For example, American schools go dark in the summer because the summer used to be the planting time for our formerly agrarian economy. In sports, it is college football’s resistance to abandoning the seemingly antiquated bowl system in favor of a more modern approach to determining a champion. Oh, and that antiquated system substantially benefits the finances of the top 65 university’s in the country, arguably to the detriment of the lesser funded schools. Life happens, and old injustices remain untouched. It is a good thing for society that representatives are charged with the responsibility of preserving some level of fairness. It helps when the aforementioned representatives are elected, too.
With the verdict rendered, I also believe it is fair to write that Congress does prioritize. While Utah Senator Orrin Hatch’s letter is ten pages and addressed the President (and he probably had an aide write it), the BCS issue has not found its way onto the Congressional docket. Sometimes only the perception of action is necessary to drive results. In other words, when Congress tables the Health Care Bill to tackle this BCS issue a massive problem exists. However, that situation is unlikely. For right now, the degree Congress involves itself in sports – a hearing on occasion, a ten page letter to the President, grandstanding behind the mic at a local fundraising event, even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell being forced to answer some serious questions about concussions in the NFL – is fine.
I agree with Loyal Homer that Congress would never make a law that directly intervenes in sports activities. It is likely Congress never will write sweeping legislation designed to institute a playoff system into college sports. If it does, then Congress will have overstepped… and The Sports Debates will not be the only website or news outlet voicing concern.
To all of you readers, it is apparent that the judge supports government interference.
I’m not understanding this verdict. I don’t pretend to be a Congressional scholar by any means, but I don’t see where Congress should have any say in the BCS, steroids, concussions, etc. Shouldn’t it be up to each entity to regulate these things?
Why should Roger Goodell, Bud Selig, and other leaders have to answer to Congress when it’s quite apparent some of those in Congress have no expertise whatsoever in sports? Should Sen. Jane Doe from California, who likely rarely watches sports, be able to tell NCAA leaders to implement a playoff?
I think it’s unwise to assume political leanings from this verdict.
It is up to each entity. However, if each entity is not governing properly and laws are being broken (see steroids in baseball), the Congress has a legitimate right to bring that information to light and leverage the entity into action.
I do not believe the BCS will ever become a campaign issue or a bill on the House floor. However, if laws are being violated Congress is within its jurisdiction to begin a dialog.
I’ll grant you the steroid issue. But I don’t believe laws are being violated in the BCS system.
As for Roger Goodell having to defend the NFL and what it is doing to prevent concussions…I think it is just ridiculous. Rules have been instituted into the league. More flags are being thrown to protect the players (maybe too many actually). Research is being done. Not sure why Congress thinks the league is not being governed properly and why they think laws are being broken. You know football is a dangerous sport when you sign your contract to play. Concussions, as horrible as they are, are just part of the game and have been for years. No matter what rules are put in place and what Congress thinks the NFL should do, you can’t prevent them
Like I said in my WINNING argument (:)), Orrin Hatch is creating an opportunity to start a dialogue about the fairness of the BCS. That is a function of Congress, and a healthy debate to have. The BCS has gone without accountability for too long.
Congress isn’t creating legislation to force the NFL to throw more flags. Congress is simply investigating the number of concussions suggesting the NFL do whatever it can to either prevent or treat the increased number of concussions that occur in the NFL. I see nothing wrong with questioning the NFL’s willingness to care for players who suffer concussions in the course of doing their jobs. I applaud Congress for creating accountability.