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There is far too much politicking involved in major sports these days. It is inevitable, sports have become too large of a business and politicians know that their constituents look favorable upon them when they become involved with sports. The latest area where politicians are sticking their nose in the distraction that is sports involves college football and a push towards a playoff system.
I would love to see a playoff system personally, I think it would be a great answer to all of the problems of rankings and ratings of teams that end up undefeated yet have only played one tough opponent all year, and to disappointing championship games where Oklahoma always loses. I would push for no less than a 16 team playoff so that even the less deserving teams have a chance to prove themselves. The bowls can host these games in whatever clever fashion they choose, so things don't even have to change too much. There also could be the NIT type games for teams outside the top 16, so you still have all of your other bowl games. The logistics of when to start and when to play all of these games so they make it on prime time slots will take some working out, but it could be done.
All of that said, I think that these changes should stay out of Congress, and out of Washington all together. Believe it or not, I even disagree with Obama pushing his weight around on this one, he needs to focus elsewhere. I think it was a joke that we had to hear all of the Congress and steroids hearings that were funded on our dime, that was a waste. Sports are a distraction for the masses, that are becoming far too important on Wall street and far too many D.C. streets. I can understand that with the 2011 bid by ESPN to carry the games at a heavy price of $125 million per year this industry has grown larger than it should, but Government involvement will only make this worse. Honestly, do we really need a Representative from Texas "introduc(ing) legislation that would prevent the NCAA from labeling a game a "national championship" unless it culminates from a playoff system." This is absurd, shouldn't this Rep. be at a hearing dealing with the other pigskin issue today instead of at a hearing cleverly labeled the "House Energy and Commerce Committee's commerce, trade and consumer protection subcommittee," a good front for some good old boys sticking their noses where they shouldn't. Leave it alone, there are so many more important issues to work on.