6/1/2010 - TOC On Chopping Block
One of the greatest spectacles in high school sports in the state of New Jersey is the individual state wrestling championships held in Atlantic City every March.
You may argue that the venue for the finals is not the best place for a high school event to be held, but anyone who has attended the finals can agree the atmosphere is electric and for the student-athletes fortunate to earn a trip to A.C., it is a memory which will last a lifetime.
So what type of person would want to steal that experience from high school kids, their parents and coaches? A grandstanding politician.
Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) has led the charge the last five years to rein in the spending and ticket policy practices of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, and to his credit, he helped shine a light on the NJSIAA when it was running unchecked.
But under the current administration headed by Executive Director Steve Timko, the state has made drastic changes to its spending and ticket pricing and is moving in the right direction. Timko has made the organization more transparent and media friendly.
Apparently, the state is not moving fast enough to the Assemblyman’s liking and he ordered an investigation into the way the NJSIAA operates which is under way.
However, Burzichelli and the NJSIAA made front page news again last week when it was leaked to The Star –Ledger that the wrestling state finals and the Tournament of Champions in the sports that offer the TOC could be cut due to budgetary constraints due to a lack of revenue.
The NJSIAA said it was facing a shortfall of $900,000 for the next school year due to the legislation introduced by Burzichelli in 2005 and signed into law by then-Gov. Jon Corzine in 2007. The law was aimed at keeping ticket prices for state tournament events, which is the main source of the NJSIAA’s revenue, in line with regular-season prices.
One of the ways the state was going to close that gap was to eliminate the TOC. Fortunately, Timko went on the record the other day saying that the state will do everything in its power to keep the TOC. Timko will present a bare-bones budget that includes salary freezes, reduction of meetings, elimination of hydration testing for wrestlers and the state-wide steroid testing program, according to a report in the Ledger.
Also, two longtime directors, Carol Parsons and Bob Baly, are set to retire which will offer further savings. The budget must be approved by the finance and program review committees, but in the same report, the president of the NJSIAA James Sarruda said it was not a slam-dunk that the tourneys would be saved.
What a shame.
So what did Burzichelli have to say about all this? It was pretty predictable.
“It’s unacceptable for the NJSIAA to resort to intimidation and threats to maintain their bloated salaries and benefits,” he said in a statement. “This organization has time and time again refused to make changes necessary to bring spending in line.”
What started out as a well-intentioned investigation into the NJSIAA has turned into a personal crusade by Burzichelli, who apparently won’t be satisfied until the NJSIAA is destroyed.
Yes, as I have stated before in this blog, the state is not perfect. But Timko is trying to do the right things and you can’t change years of mismanagement in just one fell swoop. Burzichelli should wait until the investigation is over until he makes another public comment.
Was the leak to the Ledger a calculated move by the state? It sure was and I can’t blame it.
Burzichelli has been hammering away at the state for the past half-decade. He has made his point, got legislation passed and has helped get an investigation ordered. What more does he want?
So if the TOC does become the victim of the chopping block the only people it will hurt are the kids and there are no winners in that scenario.
The odd thing about this whole story is that you would think Burzichelli’s actions have been spurred on by a vocal group of parents who are sick of paying higher prices for the state tournament. But I have only heard grumblings over the years with most parents fine with the higher prices for the states.
My gut feeling tells me the state will save the TOC because it can’t stomach another public relations disaster. But I think bringing the possibility to light might make some people question what is truly driving Burzichelli?
VIKINGS ROAR---I have to admit, it has been a long time since I covered a volleyball game, but I sure picked a great one to make my return.
Calling last week’s Vernon-Fair Lawn sectional semifinal was as wild of a sporting event I have covered in a long time. The atmosphere at a sweltering Fair Lawn gym was amazing. Both sides were into it from the opening serve and the fans received a treat until the final kill that bounced the Vikes 2-1.
But what an amazing job Jeff DeYoung has done with the Vernon program. He has built the Vikes into a state contender the last few years and has laid the foundation to one of the most successful programs in Sussex County, regardless of sport.
Vernon volleyball might be one of the best kept secrets in Sussex County sports and if the Vikes keep playing like they have, they won’t be a secret much longer.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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