We’ve done this thread before but not recently (I hope). Please, no smartypants entries .
Baseball: On a ground-rule double with two outs and a runner on first, the runner on first advances to home.
Football: A team can always challenge a call as long as they have a timeout to lose (should the challenge go the wrong way).
Hockey: If a period clock expires with the puck in an attacking zone, the period does not end until the defense clears the puck. The only exception is if the attacking team has the lead when the third period clock expires. Yes, the offense can pull their goalie in this situation.
College football – switch to the NFL rule on going to the ground (if no one touches you, you’re free to get up and continue.)
NFL – switch to the college rule on pass completions, so a receiver only needs one foot down.
I like two feet, but we can ditch that bullshit arbitrary ‘football move’ requirement after the catch.
FOOTBALL
The defense may not call a time out during a field goal attempt once the play clock is under 5.
When a kickoff goes out of bounds, it will be rekicked with a 5 yard penalty. None of this namby-pamby 35 yard line crap.
To score a touchdown, the ball and both feet must be over the goal line.
All time outs the same- no 30 second timeouts, whatever they are.
BASEBALL
No patriotic 7th inning stretch with God Bless America
In special games, the regular PA announcer, NOT Joe Buck, does the player intros.
No dark jerseys worn at home.
Tim McCarver must be gagged whenever within 100 yards of the stadium.
HOCKEY
If tied at regulation, play 10 minutes with same rules as regulation. If no goal is scored, declare a tie. No shootout crap.
One more:
To be eligible for the NCAA title game, a team must play one out of conference road game against a BCS qualifying conference opponent.
Agreed
I’ve said it before: For college football (and maybe other sports), have Euro-style promotion and relegation among divisions/conferences. Top conference is small enough that the regular season will determine the top four teams, who play a two-round playoff during bowl season. Teams can schedule at most two out-of-conference games each year, to allow historic rivalries, but these games don’t count for standings.
Here’s a good refinement: Top conference is nationwide. Next tier down is two conferences, Eastern and Western – winner from each goes up to the top conference each year. Third tier is split into four geographic conferences, and so forth. That way, the lower-level teams don’t have to do as much traveling.
Why, yes, I have thought wayyy too much about this. Why do you ask?
FOOTBALL: A touchdown is having both feet (or knee etc) in end zone (on ground) with ball in hand(s).
Hockey: A team can send any player, star or scrub alike, to the minors for two weeks without waivers. The player would still be paid his NHL salary if on a one-way contract.
After two weeks, the team may bring him back up without waivers. If the team wishes to leave him there, he must clear waivers. If he clears waivers, he can stay in the minors, and if the NHL team wants to bring him back up, re-entry waivers apply.
Edit: Couple more, relating to the on-ice product. Shorthanded teams may not ice the puck without impunity (the face-off being brought back inside the zone.) And minor penalties last the full two minutes, even if six power play goals are scored on the same power play.
40 yard line, actually (at least in the NFL).
Basketball and football: each team gets only two timeouts per game. This would dramatically improve the flow of the game.
Basketball:
Baseball: Pitch Clock. 'Nuff said.
Usually. It’s actually 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff. This came into play in the Vikings-Cowboys game last week. The Cowboys were penalized for excessive celebration, and then the kickoff went out of bounds. The Vikings were given possession of the ball at the Dallas 45.
Two feet gives us truly majestic catches on the sidelines, leap up snag the ball, barely stay in bounds by the tips of your toes. The college one foot rule gives you a clumsy stomp out of bounds. Don’t change it.
I’d like to see good tackling in football. All tackles shall be either with arms wrapped around the midsection, or by pushing with the hands. No more leading with the shoulder or forearm to knock the ball carrier over. Improper tackles get a 5 yard penalty.
Wheelz, in basketball, how about a choice, 2 free throws OR retain possession with a new 24 second clock, available at all times.
Hockey: If puck is en route to net at 00:00, it counts if it goes.
Sure we can do that, I guess, but I’d still say give 'em both in the final two minutes of the game. Whatever helps to make those last two minutes take less than a damn half-hour to play!
Hockey: No points for losing in overtime or the shootout. A win is a win is a win; a loss is a loss is a loss.
I don’t understand the purpose of either of these. For the first, are you just trying to get rid of “icing the kicker”? If so, why aren’t you letting the defense at least stop the clock in case they might need the time to score upon possession? For the second, why? Is it to prevent arbitrary spots on the goal line? Wouldn’t instituting sensors in the ball to determine location be better?