Budget Crisis Could Bust Championship Television Coverage

In watching Georgia Public Broadcasting's coverage of state high school championship coverage, I remember thinking to myself. "This looks like something I would watch on ESPN."

Unfortunately, potential federal cuts to public broadcasting leave future coverage in doubt.

For many high school athletes, a state championship appearance will be their only chance to play in front of a televised audience providing the opportunity to not only create, but capture those memories for a lifetime and share them with future generations.

Handy cams are great, but I'd argue players who reach the state championship final should have the opportunity to record or purchase a television quality copy of the game.

The only way to do that is to have a professional television crew courtside - Often funded by public broadcasting.

Personally, the 8mm tapes I have sitting in a box of my sports highlights simply do not cut it considering I am unable to even play them back at this point.

Maybe companies such as ESPN will step in to fill the void, but this would create a new set of issues regarding access to the televised events.

The simplest way to guarantee quality championship coverage for years to come is to ensure public broadcasting's fiscal viability.

Athletes and their fans deserve it.