(C. Julian White is a Columnist for “The Thirsty Quill,” and will be a frequent contributor and Political Commentator for the site)

“Using Performance Enhanced Checks, While Hanging in the BCS Balances”

By: C. Julian White, Columnist

“I’d take significant action to prevent the spread and use of performance-enhancing substances. I think it’s a game we’re going to be in for a long time,” explained John McCain during a Monday Night Football half time interview with Chris Berman.  Senator McCain had been asked what he would change in sports.  Viewers realized for the first time, apart from past political rhetoric at debates, the real stand he would make if he were to win the Presidency of the United States.

“I think it is about time that we had playoffs in college football. You know, I am fed up with these computer rankings, and this and that and the other. Get eight teams. The top eight teams right at the end. You’ve got a playoff. Decide on a national champion,” responded Barack Obama when asked the same question. Likewise, viewers realized for the first time, apart from past political rhetoric at debates, the real stand he would take if he were to win the Presidency of the United States.

Both candidates relayed a desire to correct the inequality of prevalent issues within the sports world, yet their comments were representative of so much more. 

Senator McCain responded by addressing a topic that is no longer glamorous to the sports fanatic.  Jose Canseco, Marion Jones, and Roger Clemens have run this topic into the ground.  It is one that is now passed over for more attractive discussions by the media, yet, is still an unpleasant reality within the sports world.  Performance-enhancing drug use presents a difficult challenge from the bottom up.  This challenge is one of corruption, and one that shakes up the equality from within.

Senator Obama responded in regard to a topic that rises in popularity each November.  It is one that is rarely overlooked by the media.  Popular sports analysts provide daily commentary on how to best address crowning the champion of the college football world.  Naming a BCS National Champion presents a difficult challenge from the top down.  This challenge is one of unifying various factors of subjective value within college football.

Senator McCain clings to his position to institute change, be it in sports or Washington, by way of moral and ethical resolve in order to establish individual responsibility from the bottom to the top.

Senator Obama clings to a belief to institute change, be it in sports or Washington, by way of unifying differences in order to establish order from the top to the bottom.

Senator McCain stands by what has worked before, be it in sports or Washington. He proposes hard work and fairness as the way to build champions and establish legitimacy of the sport being played.

Senator Obama stands by what has not worked before, be it in sports or Washington. He endorses unification of society through a marginalization of values as the best way to establish new order.

Both candidates have waged verbal wars, but their comments on what they would change in sports reveal who they truly are.  Both are mavericks, fighting for change in a losing battle.  Performance-enhancing drugs will persist in sports as long as the athlete seeks to advance himself for selfish gain.  A BCS Playoff will not exist as long as conferences, schools, and bowls seek selfish gain.

Regardless of which candidate you voted for, or which candidate ends up serving as the next President of the United States, these facts are evident even to the most casual political observer. Don’t buy into the hype of a looming Armageddon, or political radicalism. Don’t kid yourself into thinking one man’s set of values, or his proposed policies, have the power to bring about real change for “his” cause.  After all, the incoming President, just like all of his predecessors, will be bound by a system of checks and balances that always provide the best course of action for all people; and that will most certainly not change.

(C. Julian White is a Columnist for “The Thirsty Quill,” and will be a frequent contributor and Political Commentator for the site)

John McCain: A Maverick For Personal Responsibility

Barack Obama: A Maverick For Order