Don't like the format? The majority has voted

There's grumbling about the seMissourian Christmas Tournament format.

Again.

Surprised? Don't be. It wouldn't be Christmas without it. In fact it comes with your paid admission to the Show Me Center -- it says right there on the ticket, "Admit one. Stay awake long enough to watch any first-round blowout and immediately suggest we reformat the tournament. Thank you."

What you may not see is the fine print: "Bemoan the 16-team bracket all you want. It's not likely to change."

The issue, which may or may not be a full-scale problem depending on who you ask, is that the 58-year-old tournament lacks balance. There's an outspoken contingent of onlookers who say the competitiveness is about as bland as watery soup because of a huge diversity in schools, their tradition and, simply put, their ability to win ball games.

The 16 teams in the high school basketball tournament represent the region's largest and smallest schools. There's Jackson, a school with 1,554 students, and there's Leopold with 73 students. In all, two teams are in Class 5, one in Class 4, four in Class 3, three in Class 2 and six in Class 1. It's a mix that creates a few intriguing matchups and its share of mismatches.

An even bigger issue, critics say, is the glaring contrast between the haves and the have-nots of the tournament.

Charleston, Jackson, Notre Dame and Central, for example, traditionally have. Leopold, Chaffee, Delta and Oak Ridge traditionally have not.

In Thursday's first-round games, the average margin of victory was 30 points. In the biggest imbalance of the day's eight games, Notre Dame beat Oak Ridge by 63. There's a reason you won't find Oak Ridge on Notre Dame's regular-season schedule, but that reasoning doesn't apply at Christmas tournament time.

What you don't see from the stands are the reasons teams come back.

For starters, each team is guaranteed part of the tournament revenue, which equals about $600 to play in two games and about $1,200 to play in four games. For a school with 73 students, that's good money for the athletic budget.

But it's not just a financial issue. The Show Me Center itself is a draw to small and large schools because parking is spacious, seating is plentiful and each school is within 45 minutes of the front door.

For the athletes, playing on the Show Me Center floor is an experience in its own right. It's a 7,000-seat arena that lacks the charm and coziness of most high school gyms, and that's what makes it a thrill.

Even its appeal won't quiet tournament's detractors. It didn't Thursday and it won't a year from now. There are plenty who say the warm fuzzies of seeing traditional underdogs step onto the Show Me Center hardwood don't make up for the yawns that followed Charleston's 42-point win over Chaffee at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.

It's hard to say they're wrong, but harder to find a way to change.

The often-suggested invitational-style format could work, and it's even been discussed by the teams in the seMissourian Christmas Tournament, but it costs money. Lots of money. Out-of-state teams need lodging, food and gas stipends and still may not attract enough fans to the Show Me Center to pay the electric bill. Sponsors scoff at the idea of writing a fat check for an unproven idea in a shaky economy.

The divided-tournament format holds promise, but still doesn't guarantee better games. The plan would essentially turn the 16-team event into two individual eight-team tournaments, each with its own champion. Organizers at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament tried that format briefly years ago, then scrapped it. Area teams have debated that idea, too, but most simply don't want it.

That, despite the grumbling from the stands, is what shapes the tournament. Participating schools each get a vote. The majority wins.

Right now, the majority are happy.

The majority like the idea that Advance, Bell City or Scott City can win a championship at the Show Me Center.

The majority like the notion that a team like Delta can play Jackson toe-to-toe in what should have been a first-round disaster.

Until there's a better plan on the table, the majority rules.

Jamie Hall is the sports editor of the Southeast Missourian.