HANOVER, N.H., Dec. 3. IT seems Dartmouth swimming, which faces elimination at the end of this season due to budget cuts, may have a new life — for the right price.<\/p>\n
Finding dark humor in a desperate situation, team members have put the men's and women's team up for bid on eBay, the popular online auction site. <\/p>\n
"Have you ever wanted to own your own sports team?" the listing reads. "If so, this is your chance. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of NCAA Division I collegiate memorabilia. Do the words 'corporate sponsorship' mean anything to you?"<\/p>\n
The listing continues: "As you may or may now know, the illustrious Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH), a respected member of the elite Ivy League community, has recently announced that it will no longer be offering men's and women's varsity swimming after the conclusion of the 2002-2003 season 'as part of planned College-wide budget reductions' that call for a $260,000 reduction of their annual athletic budget of a modest $10.8 million dollars.<\/p>\n
"Cutting the swimming program would save the College $212,000 or 1.962962963% of its yearly athletic budget. <\/p>\n
"Mind you, Dartmouth College is a wealthy institution with an endowment of approximately $2 billion, give or take ten million here or there. Who could possibly expect them to be able to spare a measly $200 thousand? <\/p>\n
"Make sense yet? Didn't think so."<\/p>\n
The men's and women's team annually spends $212,000. The opening bid for the team is $211,000. <\/p>\n
No word on what the college would do should any serious bidders step forward. <\/p>\n