Do we need a sports czar?

First the banks, then the auto companies. Energy and health care loom large on the horizon.

What will be left for the Obama administration and its "progressive" allies in Congress to nationalize next?

Well, if a group out of Boston has its way, the government will soon be increasing its role in American sports.

That's right. Sports.

Picture a National Football League operating under the guidelines issued by a federal sports czar whose mission is to increase "inclusion and diversity."

Far-fetched? Maybe not.

On Wednesday, the organization Sports in Society suggested that President Obama create a Cabinet-level position to enhance the federal government's role in sports.

A "secretary of sport and culture" would help encourage more youth participation and promote healthier lifestyles, according to the group. "Far more must be done to ensure accessibility to sport and culture for marginalized populations, particularly women and people with disabilities," argues the group's proposal.

Midnight basketball, anybody?

A visit to the group's Web site reveals more feel-good blather.

The mission of Sport in Society is to use "the power and appeal of sport to foster diversity, prevent men's violence against women, eradicate youth violence, and improve the health of disenfranchised urban youth, all of which are critical to the health and safety of our citizens."

Given such a mission, one can imagine the extent to which Sport in Society would like to see Washington meddle in American sports. Sanctions for not having a diverse enough double-play combination?

Encouraging people to improve their health by participating in athletic activities is a good thing. Getting kids interested in playing Little League or Pop Warner is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

But we do not need the federal government taking a more interventionist role in the American sporting scene. Could there possibly be a worse idea than this one?