It is sad that an elected politician has made his major political priority an attack of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. With all of the problems confronting our society in local, county, state and federal governments, state Assemblymen John Burzichelli (DGloucester) continues his relentless effort to destroy the NJSIAA in an attempt to force a charge of $3 for admission to playoff and tournament athletic events.

My parents paid $2 a game to see me play high school basketball in 1957! My NJ Giants ticket price just went from $85 to $120 per game, college games cost anywhere from $25 to $90 per game. The NJSIAA tournament ticket prices of $7 to $10 are a bargain.

Just what can you purchase today for $3; maybe a bottle of water, maybe a cup of coffee, maybe a small candy bar, but certainly not any form of entertainment. Seriously, does this politician think that this is the greatest problem facing the lives of the residents of New Jersey for the past five years? Does this man live in a cocoon, not in touch with the real world?

It is very apparent that Mr. Burzichelli does not know what it takes to organize and run a successful athletic program on the state level the magnitude of New Jersey. During his five years of antagonizing criticism of the NJSIAA, I have not heard him make one objective, constructive suggestion of policy, regulation, management or otherwise.

His ultimate idea of increasing the state bureaucracy by putting this in the hands of the state Department of Education is absurd. The work accomplished in Robbinsville by the 12 to 15 employees of the NJSIAA is excellent.

To create a state department under the Department of Education to run high school athletics would probably take 25 to 30 inexperienced employees to accomplish what is currently being done by a minimal work force.

Is he aware that these directors many times work seven days a week? They conduct workshops, seminars and tournaments throughout the entire school year. The staff in Robbinsville has always been open, objective and concerned with the welfare of high school athletics in New Jersey.

New Jersey is often looked at as the role model throughout the nation for other states to focus and model their policies, programs, tournaments, regulations, etc. to become more successful. This is evidenced by the selection of Robert Kanaby, formerly the NJSIAA executive director for well over a decade, to serve as the executive director of the National Federation of High Schools.

If Mr. Burzichelli is successful in persuading other politicians to support his unfounded contentions and destroy the NJSIAA, the ultimate victims will be the student-athletes throughout the state. If the NJSIAA cannot conduct tournaments in the manner in which they are being run today, the feasibility exists that these tournaments could either be curtailed or eliminated.

Now is the time for parents of student-athletes to be heard, not after the hammer has fallen. School districts, conferences and officials groups must be heard. Let’s not ruin a good thing that is currently provided for our student athletes.
Cordell “Rap” Reinhardt
Columbus

Editor’s note: Rap Reinhardt is a former teacher, coach and athletic director in the Freehold Regional High School District.