In the season of giving, why sports leagues are greedy

In a time of caring and good will towards men,

There are several sports leagues in need of amends.

In attempts to increase only their wallets,

They are willing to ruin their established products.

Forget Tiger and Elin, Saban and Weis,

If anything it's the leagues who haven't been nice.

We start with the NCAA,

A prestigious organization it's fair to say.

They yell and scream for the BCS,

Claiming, "We can't have playoffs! These kids need their rest!"

But when it comes to March Madness, low and behold,

The college presidents have no trouble striking gold.

They are going to increase the field to 96 teams,

Leaving 32 with byes -- the rest: extra games.

Now the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Pac 10,

Won't ever have to fear missing the tournament again.

12 teams from the Big East? Why not?

A second bid for Conference USA... nuh-uh.

Why, you may ask, would the NCAA do this?

Why take a perfect system and pretty much ruin it?

Money, unfortunately, is the reason,

With 32 extra bids, there's more season.

More coaches can keep ahold of their jobs,

More schools can get cash for go along.

ESPN gets more to broadcast;

It sweetens the pot for their upcoming contract.

But the NCAA is not alone,

In making cash priority 1.

Following in the footsteps of the NBA and NHL,

Major League Baseball wants to extend their playoffs as well.

5-game first round? There's no wonder they hate it.

It makes each game exciting, but perhaps not high-rating.

Why let the Red Sox, Yankees, Angels and Cubs,

Go out in five games, which occasionally does,

When they could give each team two extra games,

Reducing the chance of a upset, I claim.

In a best of seven series, who else would you favor,

But the team with the $220 million pay-roll?

They're going to do it, just wait a few years,

Though when it finally happens, I may be in tears.

Then there's the NBA, Donaghy aside,

Who are considering Las Vegas as a place to preside.

The NFL has it right with a 16-game season,

But from the way they're talkin', you'd think they weren't pleasing.

In a few years it'll expand to 18,

Which on the surface seems like a good thing.

But there will come a point when they give us too much,

And with an 18-game schedule, I admit I fear thus.

And you, BCS, why can't you change!

Don't you know everyone around you all says the same!

We all want a playoff, but you do not want it,

Because reducing the big bowls could reduce your fat wallet.

MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA,

Football and basketball in the NCAA,

If you're in need of a New Year's resolution,

I am more than happy to provide a solution.

Sometimes less is more.

Sometimes three is greater than four.

I know it's easy to grab for the money,

And that not wanting more could leave you all hungry.

But like everything else, sports have saturation points too,

Points when we get sick of both the product and you.

Consider that next time you think of expansion.

Plus, do you really need more? You all live in mansions!