Was ASU’s decision to cut three Olympic sports (men’s swimming, wrestling and men’s tennis) on Tuesday a necessary or unnecessary evil?
You tell us.
But whatever side you choose, it was painful to be around ASU. The vibe around the athletic department was worse than a funeral, and the loss goes beyond Tempe. It cuts into the high school landscape as well.
Wrestling isn’t what it once was - only two Pac-10 schools still have programs - and the same can be said for tennis and (to a less severe degree) swimming.
But whether local high schoolers were good enough and interested in staying here and going to ASU, they at least had the option to stay close to home, compete nationally and receive an education through their sport.
Now, the area’s grapplers, swimmers and volleyers must decide whether to pursue their sports’ passions on a national level. If the answer is “yes,” they better be ready to move elsewhere.
Today, the sports vs. home options went from “and,” to, “or.”
