Socialism and communism. These are a couple of things that are widely considered to be un-American.

Now we can add the BCS system to that list of truly un-American things. Thanks, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R - Utah.

“The BCS system is anti-competitive, unfair and, in my opinion, un-American,” Hatch said Jan. 30 during a speech he gave to the rest of the Senate.

Hatch claims that if the BCS does not change its ways, legislation will.

When did this topic become an issue that the government should be concerned about? If I’m not mistaken it has more important things to worry about.

Hatch has been against the BCS for years now and has become adamant about making the system as “democratic” as possible due to the success of multiple teams in the Mountain West Conference, including Utah, who beat Alabama in this year’s Sugar Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation.

Hatch makes a good argument, but he lost all credibility with me when he basically threatened the BCS to make changes before the government does. It’s not his place to do that.

The government has been involved with sports for many years, but in the past few years it has been close to crossing the line, if it hasn’t already.

Is it really the government’s job to conduct these witch hunts against sports and many of their most prominent figures?

The government’s actions have been most notable the past few years with its interrogations against current and former Major League Baseball players concerning the use of steroids and human growth hormones.

I place the most blame on MLB Commissioner Bud Selig because he asked for a third party to intervene in this matter.

Now, because of this third party, the reputations of many players from the “Steroid Era of Baseball” — from approximately the late 1980s to around 2004 — have been tarnished rather than celebrated for revitalizing the game after the 1994 players’ strike.

Granted, it was proven that some of these players used illegal substances, but it’s sad that we remember someone like former Athletics and Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire as a cheat rather than a deserving Hall of Famer whose home run race with Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa in 1998 renewed interest in the game.

Also, I know President Barack Obama is the president of change, but do we — or should we — really care what he thinks about sports?

No. Why? Because there are more pressing things going on in this country.

Of course, he can have his opinions about sports like the rest of us, but does he need to be spending time talking in front of cameras explaining why he’s in favor of a playoff system for college football or why he supported the Steelers in the Super Bowl?

I don’t think so.

Just concentrate on fixing our economic problems.

I have a feeling that during his presidency, Obama will make significant changes to sports if he disagrees with any of their rules.

But oh well, he’s the president of change.

Please, government, I beg of you, stay out of our sports and we’ll do our best to make sure no more wrestlers become governors.

Jono Greco is a journalism sophomore.