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Home > Blogs > Upon Further Review > Archives > 2008 > July > 01 > Entry

Why do sports always get everything?

By Kyle Nagel | Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 01:01 PM

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The letter to the editor this morning on the Opinion page is entitled “Why is busing for sports still funded?”

Here’s a snippet:

(A story on possible cuts to busing) discussed limitations and cuts to the educational field trips and transportation to classes. Why not also discuss the added expenses of school sports and recreational activities? Why are these recreational activities usually protected by school districts from cost cutting, while transportation to school and other educational opportunities are limited? Why do schools prioritize and protect these essentially recreational activities for relatively small groups of privileged students?

Good points, no question. The letter cuts to the heart of discussions we often have about the place sports holds at schools, whether high schools or colleges.

But, like at other places, there are different rules for sports. I can’t speak to any particular high school in the area, but at many places, the athletic department pays for the athletic busing. Just as, at colleges, the athletic departments use their own revenue to pay for traveling and other expenses.

People often ask the fair question about why tuition rises at Ohio State while the athletic department is making more then $100 million a year. The schools, though, tell us that they operate in different piles of money. There’s one for the school (or many for the many other parts of the school) and one for the athletic department. Theoretically, the athletic department is in charge of making and spending its own dough.

Now, back to high school busing. I don’t know how every high school does it, but often sports have to earn their own way. That’s why they charge to get into football and basketball games and why you see teams doing fundraisers.

I know the writer of this letter, as she sometimes e-mails wanting to discuss the business of sports, particularly at the college level. Many feel that the business of sports is ruining parts of the educational foundation.

That could be true. But, many times, they do often earn their own way.

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