Mizzou is considering leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference. If Mizzou splits, it stands to reason that the Big 12 would never hold another end-of-season conference basketball tournament in Kansas City. The men's tournament has been held at the Sprint Center three of the last four years and is scheduled to return in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The women's tournament has been held at Municipal Auditorium three of the last four years and is scheduled to return in 2012.
Dated October 7, James' letter called Big 12 tournament week "an important economic engine" for the region. He put the value at $14 million a year, but such economic-activity numbers tend to be guesstimates. In any case, the Sprint Center owes its very existence to the city's attachment to the Big 8 and Big 12 tournaments.
Says the mayor:
Kansas City gains a lot from its affiliation with the University of Missouri. Conversely, we also stand to lose a lot should that change. We believe that this region collectively values University of Missouri athletics — has, does and will — to a degree that won't be replicated elsewhere. And that staying here, in the Big 12 Conference, within your home region and among your fans and rivals[,] is the right decision to honor your history, fulfill your present, and secure your future.James also recognized the football game that Kansas and Missouri have played at Arrowhead Stadium since 2007. That game, too, might vanish if Missouri joins the SEC. Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self, for one, has indicated that maintaining the KU-MU rivalry will not be a priority if the two universities belong to different conferences.
Showing 1-4 of 4
What an idiot this guy is, he might end up being dumber than Funkhouser. He can't get his own child to obey the law, and thinks opening his mouth to weigh in on college athletics is his business. I watched him hem and haw on Week in Review last night, he's like O-Blame-Ya all talk and all campaigning all the time. When asked "what has been your most significant accomplishment since being mayor?" he replied ...."duh...I'm not in the news for disagreeing with the City Council"
Just a thought but why would the Big 12 tourney move from kC with out MU? kU is a successful program, and with ISU, KSU nearby, it's still a logical location. So what if kU and MU game goes away, MU-Arkansas or kU and whoever beats them will still garner fans in seats.
Besides, if anyone says that MU should do anything other than what is best for MU, they have other motives.
whoa boy; that's some unseemly (not to mention risible) beseeching right there!
p.s. - security word, suitably enough, is OSSIFY.
All these years academic excellence has been touted as the collegiate end game. Athletic programs have been disciplined for anything that spoke of financial gain no matter the merit or financial straits of the players involved. But when it comes to the administrators the dollar trumps ethics for it is their pocket in which they will land. The conduct of these people makes pretty much a mockery of everything in collegiate sports.
like
dislike
