Spring Break
Here's my 3-peat
Kye Johnson
Issue date: 5/30/08 Section: Sports
The Spurs players were literally hugging Shaq and turning the NBA first-round playoffs into a game of hide-and-go-seek, where Shaq wouldn't even bother setting up an offense but instead looked like a 7-year-old on a playground with his head on a swivel, searching for the next kid to come tag him.
That's not basketball.
So let's change the rule so we can actually play basketball again. The Spurs, and any other team that has taken advantage of this loophole have made a complete mockery of the game, and the NBA is going to continue to let it happen? How bad do these guys hate Shaq? In my mind, an intentional foul or a foul that deliberately stops the natural flow of the basketball game should mean one free-throw plus the ball. It's a joke that the Spurs won their first-round series by playing a game of huggy-bear instead of playing basketball.
No one thought to make a rule against Hack-a-Shaq to begin with because nobody thought a team would be moronic or cowardly enough to pull something like that.
The NBA seriously dropped the ball on this one and will regret not changing this rule sometime next year.
Ah, yes. Dropping. Please tell me you saw those hockey players who were celebrating some victory (because no one really knows what team it was, let's be honest) when the trophy broke right in half as one celebrating player went to hand the thing off to one of his ecstatic teammates. How embarrassing.
But probably not quite as embarrassing as it is to play for the Boston Red Sox right now, because despite the Mariners players' best efforts, they actually won two games in a row this week against the Sox, bringing their record to... so far in last place early in the season that I already don't care anymore.
And since we're back on the baseball note again, I just pray that Major League Baseball doesn't implement a home-run official to review controversial homers from a TV booth upstairs. Baseball is the only pure and sacred game we have left in this world, and as soon as it gives in and allows replays to be a part of it, I might actually quit watching.
Think about it: Replays? In baseball? That actually is the most counterintuitive thing I've ever heard. An umpire screwing up is one of the top four greatest things in baseball - not to be outdone by the guy who catches a foul ball with a beer in his other hand, bench-clearing brawls and walk-off home runs. Wait, was that a home run? Better check the replay. Sit tight, and I'll get back to you on that one.
Kye Johnson, sports columnist
sports@dailybarometer.com
That's not basketball.
So let's change the rule so we can actually play basketball again. The Spurs, and any other team that has taken advantage of this loophole have made a complete mockery of the game, and the NBA is going to continue to let it happen? How bad do these guys hate Shaq? In my mind, an intentional foul or a foul that deliberately stops the natural flow of the basketball game should mean one free-throw plus the ball. It's a joke that the Spurs won their first-round series by playing a game of huggy-bear instead of playing basketball.
No one thought to make a rule against Hack-a-Shaq to begin with because nobody thought a team would be moronic or cowardly enough to pull something like that.
The NBA seriously dropped the ball on this one and will regret not changing this rule sometime next year.
Ah, yes. Dropping. Please tell me you saw those hockey players who were celebrating some victory (because no one really knows what team it was, let's be honest) when the trophy broke right in half as one celebrating player went to hand the thing off to one of his ecstatic teammates. How embarrassing.
But probably not quite as embarrassing as it is to play for the Boston Red Sox right now, because despite the Mariners players' best efforts, they actually won two games in a row this week against the Sox, bringing their record to... so far in last place early in the season that I already don't care anymore.
And since we're back on the baseball note again, I just pray that Major League Baseball doesn't implement a home-run official to review controversial homers from a TV booth upstairs. Baseball is the only pure and sacred game we have left in this world, and as soon as it gives in and allows replays to be a part of it, I might actually quit watching.
Think about it: Replays? In baseball? That actually is the most counterintuitive thing I've ever heard. An umpire screwing up is one of the top four greatest things in baseball - not to be outdone by the guy who catches a foul ball with a beer in his other hand, bench-clearing brawls and walk-off home runs. Wait, was that a home run? Better check the replay. Sit tight, and I'll get back to you on that one.
Kye Johnson, sports columnist
sports@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Suzanne Vesely
posted 5/31/08 @ 4:46 PM PST
Regarding having replays in baseball.
It's impossible to use replays because of those who are already on base. Baserunners and coaches will spontaneously make base running decisions based on the umpire's call real-time. (Continued…)
SuzanneVesely
Suzanne Vesely
posted 5/31/08 @ 4:59 PM PST
Regarding having replays in baseball.
It's impossible to use replays because of those who are already on base. Baserunners and coaches will spontaneously make base running decisions based on the umpire's call real-time. (Continued…)
Suzanne Vesely
posted 6/01/08 @ 12:43 PM PST
Here is an example: With instant replay, if the ball is hit right on or very near the foul line or post, and the umpire signals fair, you risk an outfielder stopping with the ball and insisting it is foul, and then asking for an instant replay, meanwhile the guy who was on 2nd base is now home and a run scores. (Continued…)
SuzanneVesely
Suzanne Vesely
posted 6/01/08 @ 12:45 PM PST
As a followup to the previous post:
Here is an example: With instant replay, if the ball is hit right on or very near the foul line or post, and the umpire signals fair, you risk an outfielder stopping with the ball and insisting it is foul, and then asking for an instant replay, meanwhile the guy who was on 2nd base is now home and a run scores. (Continued…)
Suzanne Vesely
posted 6/01/08 @ 1:54 PM PST
As a followup to the previous post.
Here is an example: With instant replay, if the ball is hit right on or very near the foul line or post, and the umpire signals fair, you risk an outfielder stopping with the ball and insisting it is foul, and then asking for an instant replay, meanwhile the guy who was on 2nd base is now home and a run scores. (Continued…)
SuzanneVesely
Suzanne Vesely
posted 6/01/08 @ 1:55 PM PST
As a followup to the previous post.
Here is an example: With instant replay, if the ball is hit right on or very near the foul line or post, and the umpire signals fair, you risk an outfielder stopping with the ball and insisting it is foul, and then asking for an instant replay, meanwhile the guy who was on 2nd base is now home and a run scores. (Continued…)
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