To the columnists, reporters and other members of the media who place a sports ballot, whether it be for Hall of Fame, Top 25 poll or awards: do you feel better about yourself?

Unlike citizens who are given the right to vote in government, members of the media are given the privilege of voting and they’re abusing it. They’re using their ballot to make statements about the morality of sports or a response to a flawed championship system or they’re just plain incompetent.

Daily Southtown columnist Paul Ladewski turned in a blank baseball Hall of Fame ballot for two reasons, both of which confirm his privilege should be taken away.

Reason No. 1 – since nobody has been voted unanimously Ladewski didn’t want Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn to be the first. So under that logic, we should never elect a minority president because historically it’s never happened. Somebody should tell Sen. Barack Obama of this new precedent and fast.

Reason No. 2 – Ladewski is so disgusted about the steroid era that he’s not voting for anybody.

“Better late than never,” he proclaimed this week in his column explaining why he’ll be submitting a blank ballot.

So let’s see, he got column space along with numerous television and radio appearances for this lack of action.

Congratulations.

For punishing Mark McGwire and denying Ripken the highest ever percentage of votes, you’ve now broken a journalist rule because the story is now about you and your ballot. Also, players don’t use steroids or cheat anymore because of your stance. Sounds about as ridiculous as your ballot and lack of participation.

Then we get to the final Associated Press college football poll. Albuquerque Journal reporter Greg Archuleta was the only voter that placed Boise State as the nation’s number-one team. He admitted that it’s possible part of his vote was a referendum on the Bowl Championship Series formula.

“I felt like most sports have a elimination system and Boise State was the last team yet to be eliminated,” Archuleta said.

Boise State ended the 2006 season as the only undefeated team; their victory in the Fiesta Bowl was the second greatest college football game in my generation.

But let’s get serious.

Florida deserves the national championship because on a neutral field, they took the unanimous No. 1 (including Mr. Archuleta’s previous vote) and introduced them to the woodshed behind the swamp to the tune of 41-14.

Boise State on the very same field beat a two-loss Oklahoma team with a hook-and-ladder, wide receiver option pass and statue of liberty play, in that order. That’s me interpreting reality, which is what voters should do.

“I didn’t think I’d be the only one, trust me,” Archuleta said. “I will admit that I think if Florida plays Boise State 10 times they beat them nine, but all they’d need is that one great night.”

Boise State’s 13-0 record is not a product of its national dominance, but a product of its laughable schedule.

Computer guru Jeff Sagarin rated its Western Athletic Conference No. 10 among the 12 Division I-A leagues this season. Boise State’s WAC brethren played 16 non-conference games against teams in the BCS top 30 and lost all 16.

That’s not bad, that’s a joke.

Voting them number one is not a joke. It’s ignorant or irresponsible, but either way it’s wrong. What do we do when we abuse a privilege? We take it away. That’s right, I’m suggesting we take the vote away from the media. And to those in the media that have taken their vote seriously – sorry, the stupid few ruined it for everybody.