Monday, January 11, 2010

CHANGE: The time is right for change in sports.

Recently ESPN Magazine printed an article called the 31 things that will make sports better. About two-thirds of which are stupid ideas that will only hurt the sports in which they effect. Honestly is there really a problem with the NFL's pace of play (#2), or the American League's Designated Hitter rule and the National League's lack there of (#3), or my personal favorite govern the length of a basketball player's shorts (#10). ESPN open your eyes, your rules either change the game itself or are so miniscule they don't matter. Here are a sports fans real things that need changing for the better:

15. Fix NFL overtime.
It took NFL decades to finally adopt the two point conversion and it's changed the game. Adoption of college football overtime rules brings in more excitement and parity in a horrible system.

14. Ban all performance enhancing drugs.
Every sport from baseball to horse racing needs mandatory random drug testing aided by swift and harsh punishment for violators.

13. Stiffen salary cap in baseball.
No more you pay a fine if you're over (I'm looking at you Yankees) each team must stay below a total player salary of $100 million per year. If you're over you don't play and you forfeit each game until it is resolved.

12. Separate professional-amateur olympic events.
Still hold the Olympics on schedule in the appointed city but in the major sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, and hockey) countries must field two teams a professional team and a amateur team.

11. No drafting of high school students.
A required two year gap must occur after high school and drafting (college or international play can be used in the interim).

10. Banning the BCS.
Give us what we, the fans, want a playoff. Nothing fancy just a simple eight-team three-week playoff, teams are determined by the top eight computer generated teams.

9. Abolishment of unions.
Screw the unions, they only serve as a safety blanket for athletes who can't follow the rules in the first place.

8. Unify boxing titles under one banner.
How many damn boxing champs are there? For each weight class there is one belt, period.

7. Allow athletes to compete in multiple sports.
Remember the good ol' days when Dion Sanders and Bo Jackson played baseball and football that was so much fun why can't it still be done today?

6. Allow athletes to show emotion.
If a player is showing a little emotion and is not harming anyone, let it be. If a Ute player wants to flash the U at the stands during a game let him (Referees will need common sense for this one...I know unlikely right?).

5. Simplify NASCAR scoring.
If a driver wins, 25 points, one less for each place after the winner. You led the most laps? Tough...you only get the most points if you win.

4. Expanded instant replay in NFL, NHL, NBA and NCAA.
It has greatly helped the NFL and college football, and is pointless in baseball.

3. Centralized scheduling.
For college sports, allow the NCAA to schedule all games. Conference games will be scheduled normally but non-conference will be randomly set, giving mid- and low-major the opportunity to prove themselves against the big boys.

2. Force athletes to take responsibility for their actions on and off the field.
Act irresponsibly and you're next pay check is automatically donated to charity.

1. REPLACE BUD SELIG IMMEDIATELY!!!
The commissioner of baseball has ruined the once great game, Bob Costas needs to take over now and produce rampant changes.