Ex-Healdsburg star Sarah Sumpter won the Big West Conference cross country championships this past weekend in Riverside for UC Davis.

The NCAA is trying to control illegal activity – a fool’s errand in my book considering all the ways to cheat. Shawn Sumpter, Sarah’s mom, can tell you first-hand how strick the NCAA is.

“I can not have contact with any runner who is thinking of going to UC Davis,” mom said. “Because my daughter is getting financial help from Davis and that I also am helping financially. I have a relationship with Sarah and the university in other words.”

I can see the reason for the rule but, in my view, it is silly. If the mother of an athlete is going to turn someone’s head, that athlete is of slim and fragile mind. Giving money, houses, cars, that’s one thing. But for Shawn to say to a prospective recruit, “Yeah, Sarah really likes it at UC Davis”, is a little obsessive-complusive nuerotic and unnecessary to me.

I’m even surprised Shawn could speak to me. OK, I’m only kidding.