Structure of sports sure to change

Any fan of competitive sports generally boasts their own competitive streak; we all want to come across as knowing more than the next guy.

For instance, I tried to tell Red Sox fans that J.D. Drew at $70 million for five years was a bad deal, only to be shouted down by those most under the influence of Fenway Kool-Aid.

Perhaps Drew’s contract will become more than a golden parachute of sorts, but so far his pace of 12 home runs and 66 RBIs is worth far less than $14 million a year.

I’m sure of that. What I’m less sure about is the future shape of high school sports in these parts.

Not long ago the belief here was that sports might be privatized, the victim of budget constraints or lack of spending discipline, depending on your point of view.

School sports would be replaced by a club format not so different from what now exists during the summer, when the Boys and Girls Club or YMCA expand their offerings or sport-specific entities such as AAU basketball or ASA softball become more prevalent.

But I’m less inclined to think that way today, believing that most educators appreciate the complementary benefits of academics and co-curricular activities.

But there remains uncertainty concerning interscholastic sports in Maine, just as there is uncertainty with the plan approved by the Legislature to reorganize school systems from Kittery to Fort Kent.

A structure that presently includes 152 school administrative systems soon will become 80 regional school units, and what will begin with consolidation at the upper reaches of school administration ultimately will trickle down to the inevitable consolidation of schools themselves.

As informational meetings are held and towns begin addressing their individual best interests, some ancillary concerns already are being raised on the athletic front.

At least one school official this week discussed the reluctance to recommend an athletic infrastructure improvement at his school, fearful that regionalization might soon make the upgrade obsolete given the top-notch facility that already exists at a potential partner school.

And what of two schools lumped into the same administrative unit that both offer a smaller sport such as golf or tennis? Will a regional board still fully fund the sport at both schools, or will we enter a new, expanded era of cooperative programs, such as currently exists in high school hockey?

And as schools from more rural communities consolidate, will some sports fall victim to increased day-to-day travel costs, or will those costs be offset by savings elsewhere?

Ultimately some entire schools will perish, yet high school sports in Maine will endure these changes, just as education in some fashion will endure. But the loss of local control and tradition will be lamented by many, as a new wave of Monson Slaters or Brownville Junction Railroaders will be relegated to history.

Sports are but a small part of the school reorganization issue, but they will be an emotional part, particularly for those who find community identification through Tigers or Buccaneers or Minutemen or Wolverines.

It’s highly likely that at the least such emotions will spur more people to get involved in shaping the future of high school sports in their community and education throughout their region.

But hurry, change is coming soon.

I’m as sure of that as I am of J.D. Drew.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net