ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Better Uses for the Money Than This

There seems to be a football bowl game now for every fruit, patriotic idea and corporate sponsor under the sun. But the latest proposal to name that game is such a mouthful that glassy-eyed TV viewers may have trouble saying it in a single breath.

Imagine: It’s Dec. 29, the sandwiches made from holiday leftovers are out on the table, and the sports fan of the house speaks: “Honey, pass that channel-changer! Time for The Orange County Freedom From Drugs Bowl.”

An Orange County supervisor is promoting the idea as a way to match the addiction of holiday football on TV with an educational, anti-drug theme, all to be financed with $800,000 seized in drug raids.

The goal would be to transform the existing and financially troubled Freedom Bowl in Anaheim into a nationally syndicated advertisement against drugs.

In fact, meetings have been held, and enthusiasm is high in some quarters, especially from the promoters of the Freedom Bowl. They’ve been looking in vain for six long years for a corporate sponsor. Suddenly they think they’ve found their angel.

But counties have better uses for their money in the war on drugs than sponsoring instant replays. A lot better uses. Just imagine what some drug-treatment and counseling program could do with $800,000--especially at a time when programs have been cut back, treatment workers are suffering from burnout and the caseload is growing.

It would be one thing if a host county were guaranteed revenue from such a sporting event for its anti-drug educational and enforcement efforts. But that’s not the case.

The sad truth is that this is a bowl game that’s been in trouble for years. So this plan sounds much more like the gridiron equivalent of the S&L; bailout than it does an effective way to discourage kids from using drugs.

If there’s anything we don’t need, it’s another name for a bowl game.

If there’s anything we do need, it’s sensible thinking about how to spend money constructively to combat drugs.

This is one bowl we’d pass up.