Hoyer's Hoops Controversy: Mixing Politics and Sports -- and Asking for Trouble

Politicians and sports mix uneasily, so it probably should not have come as a surprise when an innocuous resolution honoring the University of Maryland's men's basketball team found stiff opposition on the floor of the House of Representatives this week.

The measure from House Majority Leader (and Marylander) Steny Hoyer eventually passed, 279-132, yet most such items roll through on a voice vote, getting few (if any) "nays." But it seems a California lawmaker, Republican Rep. John Campbell, is still annoyed with Hoyer for killing his resolution last fall to recognize the national champion men's volleyball team at the University of California at Irvine, The Hill newspaper reported. Hoyer scuttled the resolution, Campbell said, because yet another California House member, Democrat George Miller, was miffed with Campbell for his vote on an unrelated matter.

The trivial spat gives new meaning to the college basketball cliche "March Madness," The Hill said.

Campbell, taking his revenge, pointed out that the Maryland Terrapins had simply made the NCAA Tournament, not won the national championship this year, and had -- based on one study -- the lowest graduation rate of any men's team in the tournament field. (For the record, Maryland was the regular season co-champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference.)