On the useless theme, there are inconsistencies, traditions and and anomalies in sports that should be banished to the "ash heap of history" (Thank you Ronald Reagan. Although he MAY have been referring to something a little more serious).
Get rid of:
- Second serves in tennis (a "do-over" in pro sports? C'mon)
- Off-sides in hockey. The most exciting play in hockey - the breakaway - is virtually banned. Why? Do what soccer does, make the last non-goalie defender a moving 'blue line'.
- Offensive goal-tending in basketball.
- Time-outs in any sport in which coaches are allowed to talk with players. What were they doing in practice that they need a refresher every five minutes? It's an insult to the players and it's totally changed the game. I think all the time-outs that have been added in recent years only help teams with deeper benches. Which is why the BCS basketball teams love them.
- The 'two club-length' rule in golf. How many times have we seen a golfer hammer a drive wide of the rough and behind a tree only to determine the lie to be unplayable. The they get rescued by the two-club length rule which gives them plenty of distance to find a better lie. I seem to remember Ernie Els winning a US Open this way. These guys get free clubs ... hit it where it lies.
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