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Talking Points: Pac-10 TV deal

The Columbian
Published: May 4, 2011, 12:00am

1

The traditionalists on the Talking Points team aren’t wild about the Pac-12.

But with reports that commissioner Larry Scott will today announce a TV deal with ESPN and FOX that will bring the conference $3 billion, it’s hard to argue with the results.

Time will tell, of course, how this plays out in terms of getting to see our favorite teams on the tube. But it’s encouraging to see the behemoth that is ESPN involved. It’s something the conference needed to do to improve its relevance nationally.

The money will certainly be welcomed by all 12 universities, none more than Washington State and Oregon State.

2

Congratulations to the Portland Winterhawks for reaching the Western Hockey League finals.

Just a couple of years ago, the Winterhawks were one of the worst franchises in junior hockey. A proud tradition had been forgotten, and the team and its sport were not relevant even in this market of limited sports options.

But credit owner Bill Gallacher, president Doug Piper, general manager and head coach Mike Johnston, assistant coach Travis Green and the rest of the staff for brining great professionalism and tremendous players to Portland.

Games 1 and 2 against the Kootenay Ice are Friday and Saturday in the Rose Garden. If you haven’t yet seen future NHLers Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter and others, there’s no better time than with a championship at stake.

3

“Lack of institutional control.” The phrase no university wants to hear, has been uttered to Boise State by the NCAA.

The major violation involved women’s tennis, of all sports.

A tennis player was allowed to compete for the Broncos before she was enrolled at the school.

A silly little mistake, to be sure.

Except that any blunder that brings NCAA investigators to campus could become very large indeed.

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