tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post4426474309886081777..comments2023-09-11T08:58:24.710-06:00Comments on Reach Upward: Why College Sports?Scott Hinrichshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-16580479659112413512008-12-10T16:47:00.000-07:002008-12-10T16:47:00.000-07:00That's a thought-provoking write-up, and I'm a col...That's a thought-provoking write-up, and I'm a college football fan, LOL! Hmm... thanks for the interesting thought topic! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15875615042494162401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-25447075537298352922008-12-10T11:07:00.000-07:002008-12-10T11:07:00.000-07:00David, I guess if we're going to talk straight abo...David, I guess if we're going to talk straight about higher ed, we might as well consider the whole ball of wax instead of just the sports. But what do we do about it?<BR/><BR/>JHP, I think intramural sports can and should be an important part of a high school education. But I still can't fathom spending time and resources spectating the big ticket sports or spending one more penny of school budget on them than on any other school club or extracurricular pursuit. Why should an accident of geographic proximity cause me to root for one school's team and against another? It makes no sense to me. I don't get the us vs. them mentality fostered by this system.<BR/><BR/>My kids happen to attend the same high school I attended. If one of them were playing sports, I'd certainly attend the games and cheer for them. But, as has been my practice in their soccer pursuits, I would also cheer the good plays by the opposing team. Since none of my kids currently plays high school sports, I feel zero incentive to attend any game or support a particular team.<BR/><BR/>If all extracurricular activities were completely self funded, we'd certainly be excluding those that couldn't afford the fees. But I question the value of spending significant sums of taxpayer money on a handful of talented performers when most kids have no hope whatsoever of benefiting from that largess. The funding for this type of entertainment might be more wisely spent.Scott Hinrichshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831447472339880148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-45115105760167168042008-12-10T10:04:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:04:00.000-07:00Interesting idea. How do you feel about high scho...Interesting idea. How do you feel about high school athletics?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10424035.post-84681688644370485022008-12-10T09:57:00.000-07:002008-12-10T09:57:00.000-07:00But Scott, I say, how long has it been since acade...But Scott, I say, how long has it been since academic institutions have been primarily about academics? If we're really honest with ourselves we must admit that the vast majority of academic institutions are simply businesses for profit using academics as their stated purpose for making those profits. Athletics are all a part of the identity and marketing for the institution but the end goal of the athletic and the academic side of the business is to generate a profit for those in power (the board of regents, state board of ed, whoever it is for any particular institution).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com