So gas costs a lot. I don’t own a car (and I’m a renter!), but this is what I’ve heard. And then there was this whole stock market/AIG nonsense earlier this week, and a war we’re pumping a lot of money into, and the airline industry isn’t doing so hot, and then the whole housing market has gone to hell and … hey kids, welcome to America!

Would you like to travel in a nice fancy plane on your partial NCAA track and field scholarship? Would ya, would ya? Well, that might be what we consider a huge luxury this year:

The NCAA typically has provided charter services in situations where air travel is appropriate and seats are limited on commercial airlines, but reduced capacity could dramatically increase the cost as well as availability of chartered flights. Projections indicate that charter costs could double or even triple during the next 18 months.

In response, the national office assembled an internal staff group to develop recommendations to alleviate some of the budget strain resulting from increased travel costs and to get ahead of anticipated problems created by diminished airline capacity.

NCAA championships officials acknowledge that adjustments may be necessary to manage some of these costs and the reduction in scheduled commercial flights, but the governance bodies are being urged to take appropriate steps to minimize the impact on student-athletes.

Well, if nothing else, it looks like the NCAA is at least trying their hardest to keep kids on flights. And they say it’s just money-grubbing operation, tisk tisk. If things fall through though, I say it’s time once and for all to invent a flying car that runs on enthusiasm, heart and desire. Every team would get to their destination safe and efficiently, except for Northsouth Harmony State, which doesn’t give a hoot about teamwork and whose sporting teams have hearts of black.

See also: Awful Announcing, Eye on Sports Media