Sports Gab:

Let the beatings continue

Recently, the president (Donald Gerth) of a certain university (CSUS) has been under fire from a certain newspaper (Sacramento Bee) for the way an athletic department (Hornet athletics) has been operated.

ENOUGH ALREADY!

There are other things that could be more interesting than what a 70-plus-year-old man is thinking about the same athletic program he has been responsible for handling for more years than anyone cares to recognize. To add to the madness, the Bee ran a sounding-board section last Sunday with opinions that backed the weak article that ran a week earlier. Is it possible that people who might have been in disagreement with the Bee did not get their opinions in ink?

Absolutely.

The article that proved nothing new, or even shocking, had to be backed up by some community members just to help the article seem important or even credible. Why doesn’t anyone ask the more important questions, such as how the numerous problems are going to be corrected? Yes, everyone admits Sac State has a problem with its commitment to athletics, but who wrote down athletic director Debby Colberg’s opinion on the possible solutions that she brainstorms with a number of people every day?

There is nothing wrong with a press that gets a little confrontational, but a press willing to tackle the tough issues might be more credible if both sides of the coin were interviewed, and they weren’t in this case.

Dr. Gerth graduated from the University of Chicago at age 16, which may imply that he did not take much time to participate in sporting events. Is it any surprise that he does not fully support the athletic department? (NOTE: Gerth said he only supported Hornet athletics, and does not pay attention, or spend any time at professional sporting events. Gerth was not spotted at any Hornet basketball games this season, but he could have been lost in the crowd. He could be a difficult guy to spot in a wide-open arena with fewer than 1,000 people in attendance.)

What Gerth should realize is that the stronger the athletic program, the higher the academic bar can be raised at any university. Winning teams and records brings students to campus one way or another.

The school could also reap the benefits of increased alumni support if the Hornet athletic teams were in better shape. Few alums are going to open the wallet when they question the positive effect it might, or might not, have on the program.

What Gerth needs to do is find the happy medium. Get rid of some department and university excess baggage (Judith Davidson) and make some plans to improve the Hornet athletic program overall. Get some financial help from the $50 million that was raised during the yearlong fund search, and leave the program in the hands of Colberg. She knows what needs to happen, and she brings a dedication that Gerth will never have for the Hornet sports teams.