FanNation

I want to let everyone know right now that I am against abortion of any kind.

Likewise, I am against embyonic stem-cell research of any kind. (But not adult stem-cell research)

Finally, I will not vote for Hillary Clinton in the upcoming election.

This pits me against St Louis University coach Rick Majerus in all 3 categories.  Majerus, last weekend, stated his support on these issues in a pro-Hillary rally last weekend when asked by a local reporter.  This has raised the ire of Archbishop Raymond Burke, who has called SLU (A Catholic university) to reprimand Majerus, claiming that the coach's viewpoints are in direct violation of Catholic teaching.

At this time, I have no idea if the university will take any action against Majerus, who has politely stated that he will not back down from his opinions.  All week, there have been differing opinions on whether Burke or Majerus is right in this situation, bringing up issues such as free speech, politics, and religion.

And although I stated at the top of this column my opinion on the issues themselves, the purpose of me writing is not to give my opinion on whether Majerus SHOULD be fired or reprimanded.  I merely want to give you a number:

20

That number, my friends, is the amount of points SLU scored against George Washington University a couple of weeks ago.  The Billikens are currently tied with that same GW team for 12th place in the Atlantic 10.  Needless to say, the coach's methods have come under fire this year, especially given the fact that his relationships with his players are, to say the least, strenuous.  With that in mind, one has to wonder whether Burke would be so vocal with his opposition to Majerus had the Billikens had the record of Dayton or Xavier, 2 schools which are well on their way to an NCAA berth.

And that question is a moot point anyways.  We don't know how Burke would have reacted in a different situation, because it is not possible to change those circumstances.  The Billikens are 1-3 in conference play on January 26, 2008, and that will never change.

However, I did not hear Burke say anything when Majerus was hired last spring.  Majerus' arrival was greeted with much fanfare as the coach who was coming to save a very mediocre progam and bring SLU in the national limelight.  I did not hear Burke's comments on whether the man SLU hired would have his viewpoints in line with Catholic teaching.  And needless to say, Majerus has been a staunch liberal for some time.  The coach was very active in the labor movement and in Milwaukee Democratic politics when he was coaching at Marquette.  And I highly doubt Majerus was asked his position on abortion when interviewing for the Billikens job. 

Maybe we can give Burke and Majerus' critics the benefit of the doubt that they didn't know his viewpoint on abortion when Majerus was hired.   But other aspects of the coach's resume are there for public record.  Even before S.L. Price's article on Majerus a month ago came out, the coach's reputation for swearing and verbal abuse on players was well known.  There is also the matter of Majerus going back on his word after accepting the USC job.  He was also investigated by the NCAA for infractions while at Utah.  I might add that none of these sins should necessarily bar someone from coaching basketball.  Majerus has a right to coach if a school chooses to hire him.  But it is sheer hypocrisy for someone like Burke to ignore these qualities when it helps bring a program to prominence while focusing on the issues after losing 49 to 20.  And Burke is not alone in this hypocrisy.  Witness SMU football and Baylor basketball.  One wonders whether Christian institutions have lost a bit of their soul in going after athletic prominence.

And public universities are no better.  One has to wonder whether Indiana University would have been as outraged by Bob Knight's antics had the Hoosiers not lost to Pepperdine.  The sad thing is it doesn't have to be that way.  Look at Vanderbilt's revival after getting rid of its athletic department.  But needless to say, until colleges clean up their act at the top of the line and in their standards, they have no business crying foul when things begin to go south.

(Note: This author clearly wishes to state that he is against the death penalty in all forms as well.  Therefore, although this author has probably shown hypocrisy in his life, this issue is not one of those times!)