D. Ryan Monceaux
Sports Editor
There are many debates in the world of sports: to DH or not to DH in baseball, instant replay in football, aluminum bats or wooden bats and the playoff system in college football. While all these arguments deserve to be discussed in the open arena of public opinion, none of them fuels the fire like a pro vs. college athletics argument.
Well, it is time that we end this silly argument and decide who is right and who is wrong. College sports, a venue for amateur athletes to showcase their talents competing against other amateurs, is in line with the original competitive athletic events, the Olympiad. Professional sports, which pit one marketing campaign against another, are not quite what the Greeks had in mind.
There are far more advantages to being a college fan than to being a pro sports fan. And golly-gee, I think I will take you through the best. I mean, it isn't every day that I have a medium in which to express my views without any immediate backlash ... oh, wait. Yes it is.
Regional rivalries: The UH-Rice rivalry is a perfect example. We are not in the same conference as Rice, but we still have a great rivalry against them in most sports, and starting in the near future, football again, too. In pro sports, how big is the Rangers-Astros rivalry? And that Mavericks-Spurs one? Yeah, I thought so. I would rather see A&M vs. Texas in crew than watch a Rockets-Mavs game. And I don't even know what the hell crew is.
Tailgating: This is the ultimate experience. Coming out, eating all day and setting up shop early on campus is the epitome of "the experience" in sports. At my former school, LSU, this was just as important as the football game itself. And you know how seriously those Cajuns take their football. At the Oiler games, I don't ever remember seeing anyone tailgating. Oh yeah, it was against Astrodome rules.
On-campus stadiums: OK, here at UH we are just about to realize how important this one is. I mean, would you rather see a game at Kyle Field or Tiger Stadium, or the Astrodome? I mean, give me a break. Cameron Indoor at Duke and the Swamp at Florida make the Compaq Center and Texas Stadium look like a joke.
Live mascots: Does anyone remember when Shasta was live and living on campus? I have seen pictures, and it must have been a riot. Bevo and Reveille bring just as much excitement to the game as anything else. In fact, all live mascots do. But in the pro sports' defense, it is difficult to get a pair of Knickerbockers or White Sox to stir up much excitement.
College towns: Huntsville is a college town. College Station, obviously, is a college town. Austin, even though it has grown up around the school, is a college town. How many pro teams can say that their cities revolve around how they do? Baton Rouge is awesome when LSU wins, not so hot when it loses. New Orleans, 70 miles east, parties even if the Saints play like the Ain'ts.
Coming back home: Yes, it is nice that Ricky Henderson is now in his fourth or fifth or 100th stint with the Oakland Athletics. But who cares? Clyde comes home to take a job for his school, and they carry the announcement on national television. Okay, maybe it is more than a job, but it is the same principle: It is a bigger deal because people hold college athletics closer to their hearts.
Saturdays: I would much rather spend my entire Saturday on campus tailgating and getting pumped up for football than doing anything else. The excitement, the food, watching other schools on television in the parking lot - well, that's a perfect day for most sports fans. For pro sports, Monday Night Football is seen as the best game of the week. Yeah, there is nothing better than slamming into another Monday and trying to get pumped for a game that won't even be played in your time zone. With college sports, there is always a game in town. Even if it means going over to Rice to see the Owls and some other wannabe.
College athletics are much more exciting and entertaining than pro sports. Plus, the cost to go to a game is much more viable on a college campus than in a pro stadium. The competition is usually better, and the rivalries, one of the reasons we all love sports, are more intense.
It's really short and sweet: College players turning pro are usually taking a step down.