Show Driving 9 Where's Wheres eres ere's Comparison t th e by hij FRANK K BAKER BAKER- Although there seems little litLie excuse for it it the state high school athletIc ath- ath th- th letIc association has hao become embroiled in an argument over the selection of the fourth team from region 2 to the state tournament Granite as champion and Jordan as up runner-up of the Jordan district district dis dis- and North Summit at Coalville as winner of the Summit division have already been assured of a berth in the annual classic here next week Dissension centers about the selection of or the fourth team A proposal proposal proposal pro pro- was made in December that the third-place third club in Jordan di division division di- di vision meet the Summit for the extra post but it was re rejected reJected rejected re- re with the understanding that Jordans Jordan's third-place third school be en entered entered entered en- en directly without the risk of or a a. playoff Bingham clinched third place in Jordans Jordan's eight-club eight circuit and prepared to enter the tournament only to be informed it U would have to beat Summits Summit's up runner-up or stay at home The December action had been changed in a vote of basketball board members over the telephone Case of Changing Horses In Middle l of Stream Naturally Bingham officials protested and the entire Jordan di division division di- di vision has ra rallied lied to their support A party from the division di made a n trip to Price this we week k to cnn carry cany their protest personally to W. W W. W Christ Christensen Chris Chris- t president president- of or the state association A special meeting of at the board of control will be held here at the mi otel TOi Utah Thursday evening at which time its ten members will travel jm sm the four corners of or the state to sit through a stormy session which should not be taking place at all Had Jordans Jordan's teams start started d the season with ith the understanding that their third-place third member would have to participate in a a. playoff they could go through with the program in good grace But no nol I They play out their schedule le in good faith expecting to be represented b by the first three teams Now they arc are told the plans have been changed that Bingham m must play Wasatch of eber for the extra berth beIth Possible for Fou Team Four Loop To Equal Team Eight ul Circuit in Representation Beyond the midstream indecision I find two other criticisms with the playoff proposal There is of course the numerical contention about Summits Summit's team four-team division having the chance to send two teams or as ns many as ps Jordans Jordan's eight-club eight circuit would send in case Wasatch should Teat tat Bingham That is debatable however because as nearly as possible the theory If f the tournament is 15 to enter the strongest teams If Wasatch could beat eat Bingham say Dingham-say say In the more lair fair test of a three-game three series instead I of a single game playoff it playoff it would add something to the tournament There is a still more vital point however and that is the matter of drawing power the cold hard facts lads if you OU please of making the tournament ment pay for Itself The association once recognized that by admitting two teams from the Salt Lake division of only four clubs because became those teams ams came from the heavy population centers near the tournament gym It seems a to recruit more than half ball the entries from the valley region between Logan and Nephi Still SUlI these schools because of their convenience to Salt Lake and their greater population contribute the spectators whose admission fees make it possible for everybody everybody- the outlying representatives to to to have the event The truly unfortunate thing about the whole business now is that the discussion becomes a matter of personal personal- Matters 1 like these should be settled long before they become a a. question of whether you go or I go They should be determined d when nobody knows who'll have the t e chance to togo go r Re Real and J imaginary rivalries sometimes bordering on bitter hatreds at eds are arc brought ro about by such episodes Players and hundreds of enthusiastic townsfolk at both Bingham and Heber have had their hopes built up by the contradicting contradict contradict- ing proposals No lio matter what the board decides one faction will feel feelan feelan an injustice e has been done Under such a circumstance it behooves the board to take the lesser evil stick evil stick to the decision decision decision de de- de- de made before the season started started and and let this be a alesson alesson atess tess lesson n not to let political enthusiasm bring about another midstream change of heart |