The Bobcat Nation

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articl ... 02hink.txt

Since Im a coach I took offense to the fact that there are too many playoffs. I believe it takes a whole season to build some teams, and yes that means you may lose your fair share during the season, but if you do a good job and your athletes peak at the end like their supposed to. You can take some names and be very successful, even more than some teams that are good from the start of the season. This is High School, it is about giving opportunities and not survival of the fittest as he wishes.

I agree with you about playoffs. They're fun to watch and it's a big deal for a small town team to reach the state tournament. I remember reading about places like Judith Gap and Melstone shutting down for the week when they advanced to the state tournament in basketball last winter. Playoffs are good for Montana sports and create a lot of excitement. I don't know if Hink understands this idea yet.

Wow, I couldn't disagree with him more. Small town sports, including the several rounds of playoffs, are all that so many kids have. Maybe it's better the season end earlier so they can all go out drinking for a few extra weeks before the next season starts.

I don't see how the system is at all akin to the "no child cut" theory he talks about. People still lose out, just with more playtime under their belts. And some travel experience. I know a lot of kids in my highschool, Districts was their first time staying in a hotel.

I'm guessing this means Hinkleman is a fan of the BCS.

If you read this Hinkleman I have a suggestion for the next book you read. "The Games Do Matter." by Brian Kilmeade.

I think he's overlooking the fact that the levels of tourneys aren't just there to patronizingly give kids more chances to play in playoff games. As a small town kid who played in a lot of those tournaments, that idea is silly, and I'm not sure where he conjured that up from.

The reason why you don't have one big state tournament for Class C is because there are a lot of teams, and to simply take one team from each district would be a terribly flawed way of determining who was the best. The levels of tournaments are a sign of a meritocracy, not a feel-good act of charity as he suggests.

Talent is not spread around the state equally in any given year, and it is not uncommon for two teams from the same conference to advance to state and even play in the state championship. Under his dumbass plan, the team who didn't win the district outright would stay home and not even get a chance to compete, while a crappy team that won a crappy district went directly to state.

It is very, very, very difficult to make it to state in Class C basketball (and Class B as well), and that in itself justifies the system. You have to EARN the right to go to state by being one of the very best teams in the state. You don't just get to go because arbitrary district alignments gave you an incredibly easy road to get there. That's why it pulls in big crowds (which does generate a lot of money, if he wants to apply the NBA theory on a smaller scale) and it makes the entire process very exciting. To water that down would be a shame.

On the positive side, he did take a deserved shot at the "Lady Griz" moniker. I've never been a fan of those labels (and I have yet to see a reference to "Gentlemen [mascot]" anywhere).

So far all good posts! Good job.

Geeez, and he wonders why out-of-staters have a bad name?

My opinion of this guy diminishes with every article I read. Why, oh why, must he opine about things he obviously knows nothing about. Ask one of those kids who plays basketball at a very small school (Willowcreek, Reedpoint in the late '80s, etc) who haven't won a game in 3 seasons, "Did you enjoy all your free trips to the post season?" I went to a very small school and one of the best moments of my high school career was winning the State Class C tournament. But, I wouldn't have that memory and especially not that trophy with my name on it if Hink had his way. We lost the championship game at Divisionals and went into state as the second seed.

I'm off today to meet my family traveling from Eureka for the second round football playoff in Baker. I am not only excited to go watch, but it has taken me back to cheerleading in high school. We were always in the playoffs, and even made it to state one year. There is something special about playoffs, and tourney's for other sports, and I have memories from all of them that I cherish. Yes, I had to cheer for a boys bball team that hadn't won a game all year, but we all still had a good time and learned about sticking it through and being there for your friends when they are down.

Sometimes people just forget about what an opportunity they have with sports in Montana. Anyone who travels from Eureka to Baker to watch a playoff game is not only an incredibly loyal fan, but gets the honor to see a very large portion of the great state of Montana. I don't think Hinkleman understands that playoffs bring out the best of Montanans: loyalty and good sportsmanship. It would be wise for him to learn.