SPORTS GROUCH

Ok, Dutch Fork and Clemson fans, listen up.

You may not like what you’re going to read, but you ought to read it anyway.

Our question: How good or bad is the continuing dominance of a few teams in all sports in general?

I say it’s bad, but don’t have the first clue about how to change it.

Under head coach Tom Knotts, the Silver Foxes have dominated Class 4A and 5A high school football for more than 5 years. How is it that Dutch Fork domintes schools similar in school population size and talent in all phases of the game?

The same is true for Clemson and Alabama football. Coaches Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban have developed plans that mow opponents down.

Before this year’s national title game, it was so unthinkable that Alabama could lose that the bookies gave them the odds.

To everyone’s surprise, but Clemson’s coaches, fans and players, the Tigers not only won. They made Alabama look like high schoolers.

It may be great for the fans of great teams, but is it bad for football? I would like to feel that on any given day or night, a favored team can be upset.

3-Point Heaven

With March Madness weeks away, it looks like the Atlantic Coast Conference buzzsaw will rip through the rest of the pack again.

Virginia is number 1, but Duke and North Carolina are right behind them.

In the NBA, the rise of the Golden State Warriors after years of mediocrity is because of 3-point shooting. If you’re good at it, you suck the defense out of the paint and open up scoring inside.

Why Golden State is so good at it isn’t the question. Why other teams have not been able to copy or defend them is the real question.

Other dominators

For years, the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. Millions hated the Yankees so much they would have pulled against them against the Russians.

In the NFL, the New England Patriots have become the sport’s nemesis.

They are in danger of setting new records within the sport. But they aren’t unbeatable.

Is Patriot dominance good for pro football? I don’t know, but football attendance and TV viewing are in decline.

The NFL has sought parity with a draft that lets the poorest teams pick first. Has it worked? Perhaps a little.

Do fans want parity? I’d say most of them do. They want a team they can pull for that has a chance.

What’s do you think? OK, let’s see if you’ve paid attention.

The Sports Grouch welcomes readers’ emails at ChronicleSports@yahoo.com .