San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
Jump from sinking Pac-12 ship no big shock
Sez Me …
During the souped-up muscle car race on the Modern Collegiate Athletics Speedway, the Pac-12 had lost horsepower and got itself lapped.
And so it eventually became a jalopy stalled on the tracks, with the money train fast approaching.
I’m not going to say I’m shockproof, for me it was nothing more than a mild surprise when USC and UCLA turned in their letterman’s jackets to leave a conference on fumes and four flats for the numerically challenged but rich, tricked-up Big Ten.
How can there be shockwaves when one considers the crazy current currently running through college sports?
Hundreds of disgruntled athletes are traveling to other programs willy-nilly for playing time and NIL money.
And the Trojans and Bruins aren’t the first schools to cut the ropes and pull away from longstanding docks. Oklahoma and Texas, two of the top 10 football colleges in history, are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC.
This, really, is no bigger deal than that. Except the Pac-12 is losing the two major football schools in the nation’s secondlargest market.
The conference, once the best, has lost its greatness. And its most historic football program (USC) and basketball program (UCLA) are, quite simply, leaving for the dough while getting the dough is good (Big Ten TV money will be double what they’ve been getting).
The conference is spineless, and it’s going to be scrambling to survive. As it is, there are rumors Oregon may be leaving the league and, along with independent Notre Dame, joining the Big Ten, with the Arizona schools joining the Big 12.
So, don’t touch that dial. The dominoes are lined up from Southern California to Piscataway, N.J., home of Big Ten footwipe Rutgers. And they are unsteady, at best.
Logistically, it’s mysterious, Fiscally, it is genius.
Looking at the billions the NBA is shelling out for players who aren’t going to win their teams anything that matters, why should anyone be upset by this? If even the fittest fall behind, they may not be able to catch up.
They’re talking about maybe two superconferences by the time the music stops and everyone in this go-round is seated. There are 129 Division I football programs now. There won’t be when the band leaves the stage, maybe half of that.
As for the travel, there will be plenty of money for chartered flights.
Teams have been known to travel for hours by bus. This has been thought out. This was premeditated.
Now, where does this leave San Diego State, one of the three Division I football schools in Southern California? They were talking about joining the Pac-8 when I was going there and Don Coryell was boatracing everything in his regatta, then the Pac-10, then the Pac-12. USC and UCLA recruit here. They didn’t want the Aztecs on their lake.
But the Pac-12’s legs are wobbly. It’s going to be desperate. If it survives — and reports say they’re exploring all avenues — the Aztecs, with top-25 caliber football and basketball programs, a new stadium, fine arena, and good Olympic sports teams, finally may have a chance.
I wouldn’t bet on it. This is, after all, San Diego. Living here all my life, I have thousands of reasons to be skeptical. …
Standing O for LSU Chancellor Michael Martin, who said it best in 2011: “I think we ultimately could end up with two conferences — one called ESPN and one called Fox.” …
Is Jorge Alfaro the fastest catcher in history? Possibly. We’ll know more after the NFL combine. …
The Padres are baseball’s
Floyd Mayweather Jr. Good pitch, good defense, no punch. They have to spike the bowl. Soonest. …
White Sox trainers tell some players to take it easy on the legs and not run out routine grounders. Modern players have to be told? …
Russell Westbrook doesn’t pass on his $47 million option, which is $23 million more than
Jerry Buss paid for the Lakers. And slightly more than what
Alex Spanos put up for The NFL Team That Used To Be Here — or, if you prefer, the Judases. …
But Russell doesn’t cheat anybody. He plays 110 mph, which in the NBA is more like warp speed. …
James Harden has Tom Bradyed, declining his $47 million option to make millions less so the Sixers can have more dough to get players and win championships. The comparison stops there. …
I mentioned insane NBA contracts. Zion Williamson is getting a 5-year, $231 million max rookie deal from the Pelicans. He’s played 85 games for them, missed 141. …
The college basketball Hall of Fame has named its 2022 class, and once again, Steve Fisher is not a part of it. Leaky ship of anonymous fools. …
The Holiday Bowl was made for San Diego State (which didn’t work out) and tourism (which did). Petco is the perfect venue for the Holiday — especially when two teams play in it. …
Fred Couples on Phil joining the LIV Tour: “I don’t think I’ll ever talk to him again.” Not on the way to a bank, anyway, when Mickelson will be laughing too hard to speak. …
So what would you prefer, a gabfest with Couples or $200 million? …
On Feb. 24, Brooks Koepka
said this about the LIV Tour: “Somebody will sell out and go to it.” Guess who’s gone to it. …
Congratulations to Ernie Zampese for receiving an “Award of Excellence” honoring assistant coaches by the Pro Football Hall of Fame — just days after being inducted in the SDSU Hall of Fame. Coryell told me: “Ernie is the best coach in the world. The best coach I can think of.” …
The new Padres City Connect unis will make for ideal sleepwear. In what way do they represent San Diego? I see no bike lanes on them. …
A British homing pigeon took a wrong turn and ended up in Alabama, presumably for a better NIL. Said Boris Johnson:
“We had a deal!” …
From Geoff Grammer: The minor league Albuquerque Isotopes had a half-dollar hot dog night and 21,452 were sold. Attendance: 6,347. That’s 3.38 dogs per customer. Or one Joey Chestnut .…
Sesame Street’s Elmo got vaccinated. Now if only all the other puppets would. …
Hershel “Woody” Williams,
MCRD trained, and the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient (for heroism on Iwo Jima), has passed at 98. Know the average lifespan for a flamethrower carrier (which he was) on Iwo? Four minutes. So, when you call an athlete a hero and courageous, think of Woody, and please stop. …
I’ve never been there, but I’m guessing the Supreme Court building is air conditioned. …
Just when you think it’s impossible for people to get more stupid, we hear the Texas Education Agency is recommending that its schools change the word “slavery” to “involuntary relocation.” Finally, their textbooks revert to the original words of the Emancipation Proclamation, that Lincoln freed the involuntary relocators. …
Stink O’ The Week Sezment: Antebellum II. I’ve already been through that crap. …
What’s the big deal about those strange lights seen over San Diego last Monday night? They simply were UFOS, carrying Martians, who find asbestos a delicacy, checking out the 101 Ash Street property. …
Big Deal II: My wife tries to grab the steering wheel all the time.
sezme.godfather@gmail.com Twitter: @sdutcanepa