Fishing around to give the IHSA a few more ideas for activities
In spite of typically morose weather, spring's still a time for looking forward…
…to bass fishing?
Yep, you read that correctly.
A year from now the IHSA will introduce its latest "sport" in an effort to further its worthy cause of finding an activity for every high school student.
Well, I'm here to help.
Why stop at bass fishing? Why not look down all avenues in all seasons for all styles of competition?
Serious, comical, realistic or dream-induced, everything should be on the table.
In no particular order (or level of seriousness) here's a list of one fool's vision of the future in high school athletics and activities…
• Auto racing: Schools have the ideal coaches in the driver's education department -- as well as the ideal pit crews in the auto shop classes.
• Boxing: We're already enjoying physical, aggressive sports like wrestling and football.
Why not one more?
• Cross country skiing: Winter is no doubt the cabin fever season, so let's bring at least one sport outside. It'd be the perfect complement to cross country running in the fall.
And rumor has it there was a decent amount of snow this winter.
• Curling: One of my favorite winter Olympic sports, or at least one of the most mesmerizing. In any case the winter's a pretty thin season for sports.
• Darts: The team could ride the bus to the alley with the bowling team.
• Billiards: See above.
• Croquet: The backyard seems to promote the best elements in sport. Just look at what it's done for high school badminton.
• Iron Chef: Ever see that riveting cooking show on the Food Network? Home economics teachers could "serve" as coaches.
Pun intended.
• Ballroom dancing: Actually, I may be serious about this one. It'd bring us all a welcomed touch of class.
• Weight lifting: It's practically an off-season sport for many athletes already. It gets pretty competitive in those steamy weight rooms.
• Cycling: This seems like a natural. If it grew in popularity, maybe it'd inspire kids to ride their bikes to school and bring some much-needed relief to all those jammed-up school parking lots.
The list of potential sports and activities could go on and on, but there are also some deal-breakers. Poker, for instance, is out for obvious reasons. Just because it's on ESPN doesn't make it good for you.
We wrap up this vision of a new era in high school competition with some point-counterpoint.
It's a basic list of what the IHSA currently has … and what it could have.
Competitive cheerleading … competitive student sections.
Journalism … blogging.
Chess … checkers.
Scholastic bowl … Trivial Pursuit.
Tennis … table tennis.
Wrestling … arm wrestling.
Volleyball … beach volleyball.
Water polo … polo.
Football … rugby.
Badminton … bean bags.
Bass fishing … the possibilities are endless.