Death to the BCS

In an article on ESPN.com, it is reported that the US Justice department has issued a letter to the NCAA questioning the anti-trust exemption that the BCS enjoys. The chief anti-trust attorney states:

"Serious questions continue to arise suggesting the current Bowl Championship Series system may not be conducted consistent with the competition principles expressed in the federal antitrust laws."

I ain't no lawyer, but I'm guessing some NCAA and BCS officials are getting very nervous. This in addition to an anti-trust lawsuit that is imminent from the attorney general of Utah, and likely other states. Don't forget the Fiesta Bowl disaster that is still undergoing investigation. All of this may force a dramatic change in the Bowl system that college football uses.

I'm not making a post to debate whether the NCAA should have a playoff (it should), or how many playoff teams should be included (clearly 16). I am posting because of my ABSOLUTE DISGUST with the response of Bill Hancock, the BCS director. I am so sick of the same argument that the NCAA, BCS and a lot of media keep throwing out there. This argument is summed up by Hancock himself:

"Goodness gracious, with all that's going on in the world right now and with national and state budgets being what they are, it seems like a waste of taxpayers' money to have the government looking into how college football games are played."

Look, there IS a lot going on in the world. Our government is very busy and faces challenges at the national, state and local levels. However, THAT DOESN'T GIVE THE BCS THE RIGHT TO BREAK THE LAW, SET UP UNFAIR COMPETITION, AND HOARD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!!! You know what else is a waste of taxpayers' money Bill? How about millions of tax free dollars be filtered to politicians, benefactors and employees that support the Fiesta Bowl - ILLEGALLY!!! That's just the Fiesta Bowl, which got caught. You think the other BCS bowls are squeaky clean?

Do you think the anti-trust chief of the US Justice Department should be trying to solve the medicare crisis? Should she be formulating policy on Afghanistan? Maybe she should be helping out with the federal budget crisis. Heck, why can't she help out Cincinnati and figure out how to pay pensions to all the local police?

Of course, this is a ridiculous concept. Her job is to make sure that companies and entities don't break anti-trust laws. That's it! The government is very large and has many roles. Just because the world is a complex place, doesn't mean that we ignore the law and let things slide. She has every right to investigate the BCS, and I hope she nails them to the wall.