This Just In ...

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA), the governing body that regulates high school athletics in the state has a history and reputation of ruling with an iron fist. Last week, in an effort to exert its mighty power, the WIAA filed a lawsuit against a group of Wisconsin newspapers. 

Seems the WIAA, as the Sheboygan Press editorializes, “filed the lawsuit because it wants to control just about every form of communication imaginable at state events it sanctions. The WIAA is seeking to restrict the content local newspapers provide to their communities including  'Internet stream, photo, image, film, videotape, audiotape, writing, drawing…' The WIAA is attempting to control the dispersal of content from these events, not because the organization is worried about high school student athletes and the sanctity of amateur sports here in this fine state, but because the WIAA is interested in two things: control and money."

Anytime anybody wants to go to court, they’re not very pleased. The WIAA also can’t be too thrilled with certain developments surrounding their biggest events of the year, the boy’s and girl’s state basketball tournaments.

I’ve been involved in local high school athletics in some form or fashion for over 40 years. During that time period, I’ve met and worked closely with numerous high school athletic administrators, officials, teams, and coaches. Many of my colleagues share the view that the WIAA, headquartered in Stevens Point, has a major bias against southeastern Wisconsin, especially the city of Milwaukee.

When it comes to football, the WIAA has nothing to worry about. MPS hasn’t had a serious state football contender since 1986 when Frank Budzisz’s Milwaukee Tech Trojans lost their only game of the season in the state title game to Manitowoc, 28-20.

But basketball….now that’s a different ballgame.

Year after year after year after year after year, somehow, someway, the WIAA brackets for the state basketball tournaments work out in such a way that all of the Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin powerhouses knock themselves out during the regionals and sectionals. With all due respect to the Wausau’s and Green Bay’s and La Crosse’s and Oshkosh’s of the world, the best Division 1 high school basketball teams in the state every year are not the ones playing in mid or late March in Madison. Many are sitting at home watching on television. And that’s just the way the WIAA wants it. The feeling is Appleton Xavier will bring more fans that will spend more money and behave themselves more so than say, for example, Milwaukee Bay View.

This coming week, the girl’s state tournament will be held. Two-time defending Division 1 state champion Milwaukee Vincent is back. Also making the trip to Madison is Milwaukee Rufus King. The way the tournament is set up, the two Milwaukee schools could meet in the championship game Saturday night.

Over on the boy’s side, there are still the sectionals to get through, but Milwaukee could have two teams, Milwaukee Washington and the surprising Milwaukee Hamilton making the 90-mile trip west at the end of next week.

Hiring lawyers. Suing media giants. Possibly dealing with several Milwaukee schools and their fans. No, the WIAA can’t be too happy.