Washington ? Tackling an issue sure to rouse sports fans, lawmakers pressed college football officials Friday to switch the Bowl Championship Series to a playoff, with one Texas Republican likening the current system to communism and joking it should be labeled “BS,” not “BCS.”

John Swofford, the coordinator of the BCS, rejected the idea of switching to a playoff, telling a House panel that it would threaten the existence of celebrated bowl games. Sponsorships and TV revenue that now go to bowl games would instead be spent on playoff games, “meaning that it will be very difficult for any bowl, including the current BCS bowls, which are among the oldest and most established in the game’s history, to survive,” Swofford said.

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who has introduced legislation that would prevent the NCAA from calling a game a national championship unless it’s the outcome of a playoff, bluntly warned Swofford: “If we don’t see some action in the next two months, on a voluntary switch to a playoff system, then you will see this bill move.”

After the hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee commerce, trade and consumer protection subcommittee, Swofford told reporters: “Any time Congress speaks, you take it seriously.”

Yet it is unclear whether lawmakers will try to legislate how college football picks its No. 1 before the first kickoff of the fall season. Congress is grappling with a crowded agenda of budgets, health care overhaul and climate change, and though President Barack Obama favors a playoff, he hasn’t made it a legislative priority.

College football’s multimillion-dollar television contract also could be an obstacle.

The BCS’s new four-year deal with ESPN, worth $125 million per year, begins with the 2011 bowl games. That deal was negotiated using the current BCS format. While ESPN has said it would not stand in the way if the BCS wanted to change, the new deal allows the BCS to put off making major changes until the 2014 season.

Barton, the top Republican on the committee, said at the hearing that efforts to tinker with the BCS were bound to fail.

“It’s like communism,” he said. “You can’t fix it.”

He quipped that the BCS should drop the “C” from its name because it doesn’t represent a true championship.

“Call it the ‘BS’ system,” he said to laughter.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Missouri QB arrested

Columbia, Mo. — Highly touted Missouri freshman quarterback Blaine Dalton has been suspended indefinitely from team activities following his arrest on suspicion of drug and traffic violations. The 18-year-old Dalton, named the top high school player in the Kansas City area as a senior, enrolled at Missouri a semester ahead of schedule to participate in spring practice. The arrest took place late Thursday near the Missouri campus.

GOLF

Watson, Goosen tied at top

Charlotte, N.C. — Bubba Watson overpowered Quail Hollow and wound up with a perfect day — he tied a course record with a 30 on the front nine, shot 7-under 65 to share the lead, and doesn’t have to play with Tiger Woods. Retief Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion who thrives on fast greens, had another 68 on Friday to join Watson atop the leaderboard at the Quail Hollow Championship with an 8-under 136.

Woods seized control with a 55-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole and had a two-shot lead for most of the back nine until making bogeys on two of the last three holes for a 72 that left him one shot behind.

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson shot 67 and joined the group at 7-under 137 that included Woods, Jim Furyk (66) and George McNeill (68). Another shot back was Phil Mickelson, who shot 71.

Former Kansas University golfer Gary Woodland was even par after a second-round 74 and made the cut on the number.

Daly fires 72 in Spain

Girona, Spain — John Daly continued his 2009 debut at the Spanish Open, shooting a 72 in the second round to sit 11 shots behind leader Thomas Levet.

AUTO RACING

Vickers wins Sprint pole

Richmond, Va. — Brian Vickers turned a lap at 127.131 mph to win the pole position for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

Vickers was the 10th driver on the track in qualifying Friday night, and his speed held up as notable short-track qualifiers Jeff Gordon and hometown driver Denny Hamlin made runs at him. Gordon got the closest at 126.844 mph, but was forced to settle for the outside of the front row. Hamlin will start third after a lap at 126.665, with Martin Truex Jr. fourth.

Busch overtakes Edwards

Richmond, Va. — Kyle Busch passed Carl Edwards on the first lap of a restart with 22 laps to go and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway. Busch, who led four times Friday night in the Lipton Tea 250, made the move that counted in the third and fourth turns on the 229th trip around the 0.75-mile oval. Edwards led the previous 71 laps, with Busch seemingly the only other drivers with a car to contend.

Edwards held on to finish second, followed by Matt Kenseth and Brad Keselowski.

Miss America to sing at Indy

Indianapolis — Miss America Katie Stam will sing “America the Beautiful” before the start of the Indianapolis 500. The University of Indianapolis student and native of nearby Seymour, Ind., will sing during the pre-race ceremonies May 24.

BASEBALL

Rangers shelve Hamilton

Arlington, Texas — The Texas Rangers placed outfielder Josh Hamilton on the 15-day disabled list prior to Friday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox because of a strained left rib cage muscle.

NFL

Chiefs revamp scouting

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs completed the revamping of their scouting department, naming Phil Emery as director of college scouting and filling three other positions.

The Chiefs also named Jim Nagy as regional scout, along with Jay Muraco and Pat Sperduto as area scouts. Rod Perry, who joined the team last season, was promoted to area scout, while director of pro personnel Ray Farmer and area scouts Willie Davis and Terry Delp were retained in their roles.

Stafford has first practice

Allen Park, Mich. — Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz says quarterback Matthew Stafford was “overanxious” in his first day on the practice field with the team.

The No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft was joined Friday by fellow first-round pick tight end Brandon Pettigrew, the rest of Detroit’s selections last weekend and undrafted prospects such as Demir Boldin and Gerald Riggs Jr.

Peppers a no-show

Charlotte, N.C. — Julius Peppers was the only player missing Friday from the start of the Carolina Panthers’ three-day minicamp.

Yet it was impossible to find anybody visibly upset or concerned that the franchise’s all-time sacks leader was in protest mode instead of accepting a guaranteed deal that would pay him more than $1 million a game.

“It’s kind of what I expected. He hasn’t signed his tender yet,” coach John Fox said. “I know he’s working out. He’ll be in great shape.”

Vikings may discuss Favre

Eden Prairie, Minn. — Brett Favre says he’s retired, but Minnesota coach Brad Childress acknowledges it’s likely the Vikings will at least assess their interest in the record-setting quarterback later in the offseason. Childress declined Friday to directly answer a question about whether he’s spoken recently with Favre. The coach says he has been too busy with the NFL Draft and the team’s rookie minicamp.

NBA

Rondo escapes penalty

New York — The NBA has decided not to take any additional action against Rajon Rondo for his skirmish with Kirk Hinrich in Game 6.

The league said Friday the first-quarter play would stand as a flagrant foul against Rondo. It could have upgraded the foul or even suspended the Celtics’ point guard for Game 7 of the series tonight.

Chicago was leading 34-25 Thursday when Derrick Rose rebounded a missed three-pointer by Boston’s Stephon Marbury with 30 seconds left. That’s when Rondo shoved Hinrich into the scorer’s table. Hinrich pushed him back, and Rondo then threw an elbow that missed.

HOCKEY

U.S. defeats France, 6-2

Bern, Switzerland — Six players scored for the United States in a 6-2 win over France in second-round play at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.

TENNIS

Federer, Djokovic to meet

Rome — Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic posted straight-set wins Friday to set up a semifinal meeting in the Rome Masters, and Rafael Nadal also advanced.