How big is KU basketball? This big
Yael T. AbouhalkahI’m finishing up an editorial for the weekend decrying the overzealous funding of college athletics.
So I report, with a straight face, the following news:
The University of Kansas Jayhawks basketball team was involved in three of the four most-watched college games this year.
Of course, KU’s NCAA title game contest with Kentucky topped that list. It was the 15th highest-rated show.
NCAA tourney games against Ohio State (#21) and North Carolina (#32) also made the top 50.
What’s all this prove?
Being involved in the latter stages of the NCAA tournament helped, of course. That’s when the most people are watching March Madness.
And I’m sure KU’s “national brand” helped. After all, the Jayhawks are one of the winningest schools in college basketball history.
Still, going all the way back to the over-the-top investment in college sports, it’s tough to justify just how much money is spent on it these days.
Kent Mueller
10 months, 2 weeks agoAnd with a relatively low amount of taxpayer money. I’m sure schools spend more on intra-mural sports than intercollegiate sports. And that is a good thing. Intercollegiate sports are driven by fans, may of them alums. They pay money to watch and be a part of a sports program. There is little evidence that much if any of that money would have been give for academics if sports did not exist.
If you want to “do the right thing” and stand up to the over-popularization of college sports, then eliminate all college reporting in your sports section. You think your company derives a benefit? You bet it does. I think your circulation would decrease noticably without college athletics.
I seem to sense an editorial coming that will, in essence, lecture people on how they should spend their own money. Will I be right? Stay tuned.
Rick Adams
10 months, 2 weeks agoKay,
You are so funny on all of your posts - but you seem to offer no possible solutions to anything. Why exactly do you write here ?