Listen up, people!…This week’s MVP Podcast is a great one! Consider…
Batting lead-off is Jeff Hobbs, the principal at Fort Recovery High School and a member of the OHSAA’s Competitive Balance Committee. Recently the CBC presented the OHSAA with an “Athletic Count” proposal designed to level the playing field among member schools and battle the continuing “Public vs Private” debate. Hobbs shares with us what the committee discussed, how he feels and what we can expect from the proposal. It’s a great interview and very, very informative. Hobbs is joined by host Alex Sator and MVP writer Tim Langevin.
Next we have JJHuddle Wrestling Insider John Cummings who was on hand at the epic St. Edward-Graham dual last weekend that the Eagles won in overtime in the last match. Cummings will tell us what he saw and what’s happening around the state.
Finally we have Sidney H.S. boys basketball head coachTom Clark whose Yellow Jackets are a darkhorse in Southwest Ohio. The GWOC school sits 7-6 and has a big test Saturday against Wayne.
All of this as always is brought to you for free courtesy of JJHuddle.com and Miami Valley Sports Magazine.
The “Public vs Private” debate has raged for years, yet public schools have won 57% and private schools 43% of state championships between 1999-2010.
Yet, there are some folks who can’t leave well enough alone. They need to open up the can of worms because the outcry of “not fair” pervades our existence.
It reminds me of the times in junior high school playing pick-up basketball games. You know, that one kid that every time he misses a shot, immediately screams, “foul”.
Here’s my proposal:
Let’s punish greatness and reward mediocrity. Let’s send the message to our kids that hard work, dedication, wanting to be the best, and willing to pay to play with the best is intolerable, and with it, a maximum penalty of five after-school detentions.
Let’s send the message to our kids that a lack of committment, no will to win, and excuses for it, is tolerable and worthy of a blue ribbon at the next school assembly.
Let’s send the message to our kids upon graduation that mediocrity in the work place will lead to a promotion. And that you definitely won’t get fired if you cry, “not fair”. Or better yet, tell your boss that you are on the “free-lunch count” program.
Let’s institute a handicap system like amateur golf where the hack golfer can compete with the scratch golfer. God knows the scratch golfer didn’t spend long hours hitting buckets of balls to attain greatness.
Let’s handicap each game. Let Drew Pasteur, professor of math at Wooster College, crunch the numbers.
For example, Lehman vs Delphos St. John’s in football. According to Pasteur’s computer rankings which involve scores, schedule, and margin of victory, DSJ accumulates 152.7 points and Lehman 127.9 points. Subtract 127.9 from 152.7. That equals 24.8. Round off to nearest tenth and that equates to 25. So, before the opening kick-off, Lehman leads 25-0 on the scoreboard. Then play out the game.
Now that’s what I call competitive balance. Then we only need one division for all schools. Just think how much money everybody would lose.
Picture this outcome for the 2012 state championship football game: Greenville 3 Parkway 0.
Let me conclude in the words of British writer Jonathan Swift, the master of contrast between expectation and reality:
“I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good….”
