SEC Expansion: A Prescription For A Weaker Conference.

 The powers to be of the SEC invited the University of Oklahoma and  the University of Texas to join the already crowded 14 teams in the SEC.  And the powers o be at those two universities accepted the invitation according to a report in the New Orleans Advocate of 7/31.  Those who support the expansion to 16 teams talk in terms of a more powerful and Profitable SEC.  (Notice they left out the word COMPETITIVE)   

This writer believes previous expansions in pro sports and college sports has produced a weaker and less competitive Conference, Division and etc.  How can those who support expansion justify such a move when they acknowledge that the present SEC is the most competitive and financially well off conference in college sports.  Simply put, they worship the almighty dollar of college sports and ignore competition and the real part it plays in sports.  A good example is how the almighty dollar failed to investigate the latest LSU sexual harassment scandal properly and make its findings public.  It took a report by USA today to break the real story.

The SEC's proposed expansion comes at a time when the BCS is considering expanding the number of teams in its annual playoff system.  It is another move that will weaken  the present play off system of 4 teams in favor of weaker teams.  As a result of expansion in the NFL, at the end of every regular season only 34 or 35 percent of the teams  end up with a winning record.  Does any one really believe that is a competitive league?  And to top it off, all teams belong to a college football draft which the NFL said would bring parity to the league.  Yeah, right.

If the SEC expansion becomes a reality, the conference will  be weakened and less competitive.  It will not show  up  immediately, but one can bet, because of precedent, it will surely take place.  The dollar people will have their way, but competition in sports will decline .

This  commentary written  by Joe Lorio

  

 

Good News On The U.S. Economy and The Second Quarter GDP

The U.S. Commerce Department reported that the GDP for the second quarter (April-June) grew at a solid 6.5%  annual rate and that the total size of the economy has now surpassed its pre pandemic level.  That adds to the first quarter GDP that was 6.3%.  Those numbers are a reminder that for the year 2020 the GDP contracted at a -3.4% rate.  So the nations economic well being has improved for the first 6 months of the current year.

The Commerce Department also reported that (1)  Consumer spending and business investment surged in the quarter.  (2)  Underpinning the recovery have been trillions in federal money and that consumers will continue to spend.  (That GDP for the year 2021 should grow at a robust pace of 6.5%.  The numbers tell us the Biden Administration has done a good job with the economy so far and it is now important for the administration infrastructure plan to become law with his parallel American Rescue Plan to keep the economy and jobs moving forward for the long term  It is even more important now because of the threat of another shutdown due to another virus outbreak.  

As a nation we can not afford to sit back on what has been accomplished over the first 6 months of 2021.  There is more that has to be done and the President is right to keep his focus on the long term health of the economic recovery and do what is necessary to sustain economic growth.

In a separate report the U.S. Labor Department reported that wages and salaries of workers in the private sector increased 1% in the second quarter to go along with the 1.1% increase in the first quarter.  It was the second largest increase in over a decade.  The 2.1% increase in wages and salaries for the first half of 2021 was higher than the 1.4% increase in the second half of 2020.

And once again it is a democratic administration that is moving America forward out of the economic recession that began in February 2020.  And for those who follow the facts, it was predictable.

This commentary written  by Joe Lorio