Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said a man’s finesthour is when he lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious.This word, victorious, is seldom heard when describing sports at SanDiego State University.The word exhausted, however, accurately describes my attitude towardathletics on campus. The weekend before last was the first one allseason in which the Aztec (I apologize for my ethnic slander)football team didn’t lose. They had a bye.
The victory over Wyoming on Saturday hardly makes up for theperformances we’ve read about this year.
My question — why does The Daily Aztec even cover varsity sportswhen there is such a burgeoning intramural scene on campus? Until theAztec varsity sports get back on track, I suggest focusing sportscoverage on intramural athletics.
I’m a member of the Fighting Effins, an intramural flag footballteam. We’re called the Fighting Effins because I live next door toEffin’s Pub. They even kicked us down some of their coveted T-Shirtsdecorated with the boisterous Leprechaun who one of the waitressesstrangely calls “Bob.” If I had been able to get a hold of CoxCommunications, we would have been called the Effin Cox.
Not only is our name imaginative and quite beguiling, we have onlyallowed six points against us all season.
It is amazing if the Aztecs hold a team to six points in aquarter.
We won our second game 40 to nothing. Were there any reporters atour game? Sadly, the sports section failed to send even one of theirflunky reporters out to the intramural football field that week.
Why haven’t I ever read a touching Cinderella story about a flagfootball team overcoming adversity and winning the SDSU intramuralchampionship?
People like to read about championships. When The Aztec constantlyprints stories about our losing varsity sports teams, the studentbody becomes depressed. The only thing that could possibly be moredepressing than the sports situation on campus is the AssociatedStudents Council.
It’s bad enough having terrible sports teams — now we have todeal with finding some “non-offensive” mascot that will probably benamed after an endangered species or something. I’m seriouslyconsidering transferring to Florida State where I can call myself aproud Seminole and take part in the “Tomahawk Chop.” Rey Soto, don’tfollow me there.
Another sport that constantly plagues the pages of The Aztec ismen’s basketball. Despite having a beautiful arena, they’re horrible.Until they get their act together, I don’t want to hear about them.Cover the intramural basketball teams. Although I don’t and probablycan’t play basketball, it’s still an event worth covering. Everysemester there is an intramural champion. I don’t think the word”champion” will ever be mentioned when talking about any varsitysport on campus.
Oh, and in case anyone from Canada, the Midwest or the East Coastis attending SDSU, we do have a hockey team. In fact, I was a memberof the Skating Aztecs last season. Although we didn’t pull out toomany victories, our games were quite violent, bloody andentertaining. That’s more than I can say for football or basketballin the last couple of years. Last year, I had a cumulative 30stitches in my face while playing hockey. I bled for this school andnever once received any benefits that other athletes on this campusreceive. Never did I see my effort validated by the sports section ofThe Aztec.
What’s up with that?
Because of the lack of media attention given to intramural andclub sports, participants are cheated out of the benefits of collegeathletics. For instance — groupies. The football, basketball andbaseball teams have “sluts” who follow them around, willing to doanything to “aid” the football program.
Never once was a girl impressed by my ice-related accolades. Whydon’t I see herds of women chasing the Fighting Effins around campus?We’re undefeated for crying out loud! The answer is simply becausethere is a media bias against athletes that choose not to playvarsity sports. I should be respected for this choice, not punished.
I would have played on the varsity football team if it weren’t forthe NCAA’s ridiculously strict rule that forbids schools from payingcollege athletes. I refuse to work as a slave while the universityrakes in the profits from my hard work.
Bottom line — intramural athletes are fed up with the second-ratetreatment they receive. Where is my priority registration? Where aremy free books? Where are my groupies? We had better get someattention or there’s going to be a revolution.
Despite my disappointment, I will continue to play where the gameis still pure. Where the athletes play for love of the game and notthe promise of a free education, glory and easy women. Where athletesplay despite the pain of severe hangovers or liver problems. I willcontinue to play for the Fighting Effins.
Also, check out the documentary film, “Remember the Effins.” It isa touching story in which students living on different floors in thesame dorm learned to overcome their differences and respect oneanother.
–Reed Albergotti is a journalism junior. Send e-mail to daletter2000@hotmail.com
