THE 2010-2011 PACIFIC-LIFE PAC-10 TOURNAMENT
PAC-10's Shutdown
Again, we take pause at the demise of a well-balanced, eclectic mix of West-Coast Regional Favor. Going forward, this blend of ten is not just altered, but in my altogether selfish view, pointlessly diluted.
PAC-10 Commissioner Larry Scott, perhaps channeling a reincarnated Gordon Gekko; insisting on wrecking The PAC-10 Conference, "Because it's wreakable"
Colorado to the PAC-10 was a bold yet risky, premeditated, leap-of-faith in the supercharged landscape of an accelerating Intra-Conference Arms-Race. Scott's proactive CU move was clearly an effort to beat the BIG-XII (& others) to the punch.
It nearly worked.
By all accounts. the next big Division-I reshuffle is looming. Colorado breaking-away to the PAC-10 was a vital domino; a necessary kick-start to begin the inevitable chain-of-events.
In hindsight, the PAC-10 going all-in was an understandable, forward-thinking move. With respect to the 'Super-Conference' hullabaloo, a great many very real & unfavorable PAC-10 ramifications were in store for Larry Scott & the PAC-10 to remain inactive. CU's move left Big-XII in obvious peril, especially after Nebraska expectantly looked out for 'Ol Red, & departed the BIG-XII for the Northern Pastures of The Big-Ten.
With the first two small dominoes falling right into line, Scott & the Pacific Ten AD's set sights on the ultimate prize &'Big Enchilada", TEXAS. The Horns would invariably travel west with much of their Big-XII coat-tailing 'Tees', (minus the pesky Private Catholic Institution, Baylor).
Colorado enabled Texas to act with an irreproachable freedom of choice to logically jump a dwindling 'Big-Six' Conference for a vibrant one.
In Mid-June, 2010, Texas to The PAC-10 was an imminent, no-brainer move for UT. The Texas Schools garnering shared revenue from the Nation's #2 Media Market of Los Angeles, in addition to lucrative 'Fab-4' California Schools (2-LA's + 2-Bay's), not to mention #8 (Seattle/Tacoma) & #17 (Phoenix/Scottsdale) markets, as well as direct proximity & influence to Sacramento, Portland, Spokane, San Diego Media Markets (whilst maintaining their own DFW, OKC, HOU Regions)
Burnt-Orange Nation, UT Blog Site is to the BIG-XII | PAC-10 tit-for-tat what Deep-Throat was to The Nixon Campaign (for those old enough to recall Watergate), On Sunday June 13, 2010, Burnt-Orange was reporting that agreements in principal were in place with five additional Big-XII Schools to join eleven PAC-10 Schools. Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State would reportedly join Colorado to comprise THE PACIFIC-16 CONFERENCE, beginning play in all scholarship sports beginning September 2012.
The REAL proof that rumor is crossing over into realism is when pre-licensed, proto-type logo merchandise is noticed in and around an Athletic Department. As such, PAC-16 Logos & PDF's were feverishly duplicated, fabricated, and authentic PAC-16 logos in the approved autumn orange & cream UT shades were perceptively seen in on Texas' Campus, on Wednesday & Thursday, June 16 & 17, 2010. As late as 1:30 CDT, Thursday Afternoon (6-17-10), a Press Conference remained tentatively scheduled for FRIDAY NOON (6-18-10) in AUSTIN, TX.
The odd-man out in the PAC-16 scenario would have been the BIG-XII itself, of course. Yet the best of all possible worlds for PAC-16 Teams, Schools & Fans. Not to mention, the endowment & revenue the UT HORNS EMPIRE brings to any Conference, with all that would entail. Moreover, even the most staunch purists (myself included), would have been happier than pigs in slop for the logical, altogether no-brainer reunification of the ORIGINAL (Pre-1978), PAC-8 (Current PAC-10, Minus the Arizona Schools), when the Conference was spilt into Divisions.
As we now know, ESPN wisely smelled a the Fox Sports Rat, & literally threw more money at Texas (& their 'Tees) than they can ever recoup, yet coerced UT to remain OUTSIDE the Fox-Controlled PACIFIC-12 Conference.
Too Damn Bad.....for everyone
It was a bold move by the New PAC-12 Commish; one he now truly must wish he'd have held off with....when he had that Ace up his sleeve.
Now were all left with a flaky, drastically watered-down Plan-B. The Hodge-podge of a 2 more 'onezy' schools up in the Rockies (w/all due respect to CU & Utah), schools which represent a sideways move (Buffs), and frankly, a ordinary, NON-BIG-6 School that hit the Jackpot in the PAC-10.
When all the dust cleared, The University of Utah is the one and only Winner here, becoming the 71st BCS Conference Team. The Utes - by default - slid into the 12-Hole vacancy created BCS' requiring at least a dozen teams to Stage a Conference Football Title Game.
FEW THINGS GNAWING - AGAIN, w/PAC-10 TOURNAMENT starting.
THE PAC-10 TOURNAMENT - In LA - ALWAYS?
w/PAC-10 Puppetry by Fox Sports, & FSN Headquarters (not coincidentally) a stones' throw across Ave from The Taj, i,e., Staples. patently clear this will not change any time soon. Can't dispute Staples amenities, it is still exasperating to see cavernous, 80--95% vacant arena for nearly all Tourney Game(s). It does not put the PAC-10 | PAC-12's best foot fwd Really unable to conclude that The Wednesday Play-in Game(s), or the 3 vs 6 Game among Washington Schools would be a big draw in Phoenix than it is in LA, Yet, I'd bet these games would receive exceedingly higher attendance in Portland, Oakland or some of these On-Campus, glistening new Venues, such as Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene or the site of Women's PAC-10 Tourney at The Galen Center 10 Minutes from Staples.
If New Commish is really intent & serious about drumming up Basketball Interest, yank this gem away from Fox's Stranglehold - at least every other year, & get a Rotation going among REGIONS:
ARIZONA REGION
- Rotate w/Phoenix | Tucson
- Rotate w/among Spokane | Seattle | Portland
- Rotate w/San Jose | Oakland | Sacramento
- Rotate w/Los Angeles | Anaheim | San Diego
- Rotate w/Salt Lake | Denver | Boise | Las Vegas
(Kansas City - BIG-XII, WCC - Vegas)
Great attendance generally coincides, as these folks are CBB-HOOPS-STARVED Fans.
INAUGURAL 2011-2012 PAC-12 FOOTBALL TITLE GAME:
RE-THINKING AN EXCEEDINGLY BAD IDEA
In a yet another imaginative move by Commissioner Scott & the AD's, has installed the overall, top regular season finisher as automatic HOST for the Inaugural PAC-12 Title Game, and all Title Games for the foreseeable future.
After considerable thought, this move isn't doing itself any favors; appears short-sided, & patently unfair.
The PAC-12 Conference attempting to manufacturing a stacked deck by making sure the team w/best overall record has another HOME GAME to seal deal as safer bet to win & get to BCS-Title, ect. (Adding to this justification is an inescapable issue of West Coast apathy for neutral events)
My Beaver Homespun bias in unapologetic full-view, Oregon is presumed to be UNANIMOUS repeat PAC-10 | 12 Football Champions, w/another heavy Home schedule. The Ducks also receive the added, even-year padding, i.e., Oregon on the positive end of the 5 of 9 Conference Games at Autzen.
OREGON already has every conceivable advantage coming into 2011....do we really want to hand over yet another prize?
Gift the Big Zero another BCS-Shot, w/this already clear. stacked deck?
I don't.
Yet another Larry Scott 'diddle' that can't be 'un-did'
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