USA TODAY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2011

7C

Group takes aim at BCS

Naders League of Fans seeks reforms in sports
By Luke Kerr-Dineen USA TODAY No collegiate sports scholarships, no public money for stadiums, an arm of government devoted to monitoring the sports industry. This is part of the wish list the League of Fans, a sports advocacy organization founded and officially relaunched in June by five-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Nader, who says the group is in the midst of rolling out its sports manifesto, is working to form a coalition that will critique the overwhelming corporatization of sports and to file lawsuits against some sporting institutions. Were in the process now of finding lawyers for a suit were planning to bring against the BCS, Nader says of the Bowl Championship Series, major-college footballs system for determining a national champion. There are some serious antitrust issues in the BCS. Bill Hancock, BCS executive director, says he is confident the system complies with the law. The BCS bowl system benefits all of those involved, Hancock says. Its the best thing ever devised to match the top two teams in a bowl while preserving the importance of the regular season. But Naders group cites the BCS as an example of the win-at-all-costs and a profit-at-all-costs mentality that drives the U.S. sports experience, says Ken Reed, the League of Fans sports policy director. Our goal is to optimize the sports experience for all. As an example of how the group thinks the ideals of sports have gotten out of whack, Reed points to college sports scholarships as encouraging students to prioritize performance in athletics over academic success. Another example is what Reed terms franchise blackmail when an owner demands that taxpayers fund the construction of a stadium to keep the club from relocating. Reed argues that if there were more community ownership of pro teams, such as the NFLs Green Bay Packers arrangement, this practice would be less common. But community ownership of NFL teams has been outlawed since 1960; a number of other leagues, such as Major League Baseball, have pushed for similar restrictions. We dont have any sports policy tied into government, Reed says. No checks and balances. No oversight. Wayne McDonnell, who specializes in franchise relocation and stadium construction as a sports business professor at New York University, backs such League of Fans stances as greater emphasis on health and safety for participants. But he does not foresee fans buying into some of the other proposals. It would never work for your major cosmopol-

By Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images

Finding lawyers: Ralph Nader says the Bowl Championship Series has antitrust issues. itan cities. Theres too many passionate fans, McDonnell says. I think if fans had a stake in their teams, they would rule more with emotion instead of by making savvy business decisions. On stadium construction, McDonnell says the majority of funding should come from private sources. But public support is needed for items such as parking and infrastructure. After all, its the fans who are going to be using these things, McDonnell says. Sports advocacy groups often arise when league lockouts threaten to wipe out games. Reed says the recent NFL lockout and the ongoing NBA lockout contributed to the groups rejuvenation. David Weicht, 53, a life-long University of Florida fan and native of Lakeland, Fla., says he doesnt agree with some of the League of Fans stances. I enjoy being a spectator, and I think that we have a pretty good system in place, Weicht says. I want what a lot of people want, and that is to see the best players possible at every level. Jack Bingham, 21, from Bluffton, S.C., says taxpayer money shouldnt be spent for stadiums. I already pay for tickets and merchandise, Bingham says. I dont think I should have to pay for a stadium, too.

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