Letter: Remove point spreads from all college sports

Thursday, March 13, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

One cannot entirely blame talented and hungry youth for aspiring to wealth and celebrity, if these are the fruition of playing hard and straight. And surely, there aren't enough gentlemen-scholars in the recruiting pool nor an oversupply of coaching prioritization of the whole student vs. the shooting star.

All of which leads us to suggest an idea that will probably not set well with bettors or books but may help to save college players from succumbing to the lure of easy money. The idea is: Take college basketball/football off the boards completely or, if that is too radical, remove the point spread.

Think of it: No spread, no shaving. Just a pure and simple game among guys who are in school and may want to finish their academic education. (Encouragingly, Peyton Manning of Tennessee announced last week he has decided to do so.)

Removing point spreads won't dim the shine of big bucks, but it will help to thin the clouds of gambling-associated temptations that hover over players. Of course, withdrawing college games completely from the betting arena would define the line between amateur and professional and would help to keep the air free and clear, which should be the tenet of all sports.

C.M. Kong