Agreed. There is another metric to the game however. Caveat, I had no interest in who won that game. The rules have become a deterrent and allows for the “changing” of a game based on dubious calls. I watch football for the “entertainment” as you have said when I have nothing else to do.
I am a true baseball fan however. Baseball, outside of an inconsistent strike zone or the occasional blown call all things are even and based on player production. The game is played without much interference and critical penalties being called (yes I know there are exceptions but they are also very castigated when they happen).
Case and point two issues I have are the interference calls and helmet leads. I always see RB’s lowering their heads and hitting a defender’s helmet head on to make yards, but they never call it and by the letter of the rules it is illegal. Let a LB or DB lead with a helmet and the flag comes out. Another is the interference. You watch offensive receivers and they are always pushing off and using their hands but almost never get called whereas the DB’s always seem to get it when the O needs to extend a drive and in the last 2 minutes. At least do away with spot of foul, make it 15 yards and auto first. A 45 yard penalty is ridiculous and a game changer.
Just like the NBA (that I stopped watching over 20 years ago) instituting the 3 pointer, allowing traveling by the “stars” of the game, ignoring the boxing matches under the rim, it is all about running up the score to make the game appear more exciting. Also, raise the goal at least a foot then it will be a game.
A good football game is 17-14, 21-17, not 45-40. The skins and the Vikings showed yesterday that while a passing game can strike quick, a running game still controls the game (with a good defense). NFL is starting to look like 6 man football.
> At least do away with spot of foul, make it 15 yards and auto first. A 45 yard penalty is ridiculous and a game changer.
That’s a great idea, seriously, not least (and as you said), it goes on all the time but only gets called (and remains very much a judgment call) once in a while.
Good points all. As a former rugby player, I believe that the players should have reduced padding and no helmets. I don’t like seeing a 300 lb. lineman driving a smaller player into the ground with all the force he can muster. The object of such an act is to injure a player; nothing else.
Case in point: When UCLA’s Anthony Barr sacked USC’s Matt Barkley, he drove him to the ground with all his body weight. Sacking him wasn’t enough, was it?
But, that’s what sells tickets.
Basketball has gotten crazy. I wonder when they are going to put a cage around the courts?
“I always see RB’s lowering their heads and hitting a defender’s helmet head on to make yards, but they never call it and by the letter of the rules it is illegal.”
Not so. A running back is not considered to be a ‘defenselss player’. Neither is the defensive back.
The ‘helmet’ rule applies to a ‘defenseless receiver’ or ‘defenslelss quarterback’, for example. It does not apply to a running back unless he was in the act of making a catch.
“Also, raise the goal at least a foot then it will be a game.”
The taller thugs would still have the advantage. The basket should be lowered, thereby, taking the advantage of height away from the taller thugs.
In addition, the court size should be larger, longer and wider, taking away the advantage of the slow-moving, taller thugs. They would not be able to keep up the pace of the smaller thugs.