I have questions.

Do you have the answers?

I certainly don’t to these troublesome queries:

•

Why ... does the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference insist on playing boys and girls basketball games on the same night at different sites?This has perplexed me since, I don’t know, the beginning of time.There is no compelling reason to do this, but many compelling reasons to

not do this.For one, the gate is split. Fans have to make a choice of which game to attend. Neither game, then, gets particularly good attendance.Just imagine how many people would have packed Moniteau’s gym Monday night for the Warriors’ KSAC boys showdown with Union.As it was, the gym was half full (or half empty if you are a pessimist).Another glaring problem with this set-up is family.There have been and currently are many brother-sister tandems at schools in the KSAC. You are forcing families to make difficult decisions, not to mention creating discord at the dinner table.Parents: “Yes, Johnny, we are going to your sister’s game tomorrow night, not yours. Eat your beans.”Johnny: “I knew you loved Jenny more!”•

Why ... do some games start so stinkin’ late?I understand why some hockey games in the PIHL have West Coast-esque starts — ice time is at a premium.But there is no excuse come playoff time for games to start at 8 or 8:30 p.m., sometimes at neutral sites an hour (or more) away.I also understand the need to get mom and dad out of work and to the game on time, i.e., to get mom and dad to the game on time so they can spend $14 on a pair of overpriced tickets.But these are kids, after all, kids who have homework and school the next day.You’d think school districts wouldn’t want their student-athletes sleeping through first and second — and sometimes even third — period.•

Why ... do fans hate basketball officials so much?You’d think John Q. Ref ran over the family pet with their car or pushed grandma down a flight of steps or cut in front of them in the checkout line at Walmart.Perhaps it is “Fan Rage,” the phenomena that makes even the most mild-mannered person out there red-faced with anger.I have said this time and time again: officiating a basketball game is one of the most difficult things in the world to do, right up there with hitting a 90 mph fastball.Sure, basketball officials make bad calls ... sometimes a lot of bad calls. They also make good ones ... a lot of good ones. Cut them some slack and leave the rage for the road and that car going 10 mph under the speed limit in front of you.•

Why ...As my philosophy professor once answered, “Why not.”