Editorial Board misassessed Coach G's departure

To use another glib sports analogy in a crowded world, my Big D fan hat is off to sports columnist Alex Fanaroff, the self-described "voice of reason," for running all the bases and driving his point home in his commentary that balances the scales of opinion around here ("Loss of Coach G isn't huge," April 10, 2007). If much of the rest of the University is mired in a cost-recovery model (i.e., the so-called $6 burger "value" meal at the Duke McDonald's), then why on earth should Duke pay into the stratosphere for an athletics coach whose program bleeds millions, even near the top of its game? Unlike the questionable appetite for the high-dollar value burger, the market for women's basketball simply isn't there yet.

The Editorial Board got it all wrong last week when it sharply criticized-in a most vehement manner-Athletic Director Joe Alleva and President Richard Brodhead for not giving into what a reasonable person might consider nearer extortion than sound judgment ("Admins mishandled Coach G situation," April 4, 2007). Wouldn't the money we save be better spent, say, not to patch the potholes on Campus Drive because that will never happen, but instead on the fledgling football program, which made a little money last year? Then, perhaps, one day this century, Duke could build a reliable catalyst like Texas so we could more comfortably negotiate for popular personalities like Coach G. Aren't we big econ majors here? Intrinsically, then, Alex Fanaroff, we should have a pretty sensible understanding of what the Editorial Board may want to brush up on. However, in the near term, if the University is looking for a useful spending project on something other than asphalt or football, might I suggest updating the main swimming pool because this one really can't wait another 100 years.

Jeff Anton

Trinity '93

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