Big-time sports should get a “delay of game” penalty. That includes football and basketball for the pros and Division I college games. Advertisements and video replay have destroyed the feel of these contests.
Even a mere 8-10 years ago, things were different. Ads weren’t as long. Video replay wasn’t ubiquitous. I don’t know the exact number of minutes and seconds allowed for timeouts back then vs. now, but the change feels titanic. And, it’s in a bad direction – slowing down play, changing momentum, destroying the texture of the game.
I clearly remember the first time I understood how slow game play was when you attend in person. Five of us who graduated from the University of Illinois returned for a reunion football game at Soldier Field in Chicago. We were pumped. Good to see each other. There was excitement about the team that year.
We get to the game, probably down a beer or two, do some early chants as the crowd shows its energy. Then, timeout a few minutes into the first quarter and it lasts over four minutes. Several minutes later, a player is injured and it takes seven minutes to get him off the field. Wait, now it’s a TV timeout, and again, that’s another four minutes, maybe more (who’s checking? Seems like forever.). The offense can’t get it together so they call a timeout. Then another injury and who knows how long that took.
All I remember is that we looked up at the scoreboard and there was still a minute or so left in THE FIRST QUARTER and 55 minutes had elapsed since the opening kick. Do the math. There are four quarters in a game. If you multiply an hour by four, that’s four hours, then add halftime and the time between quarters and we were likely facing a four-and-a-half hour+ ballgame.
Not acceptable. You can’t sit through crap like that. Boredom sets in. You drink too much. You don’t pay attention to play. Your mind wanders. You wonder what traffic is going to be like getting out of the parking lot. And, fans head for the exits (if they chose to show up in the first place).
The amazing thing to me is how many people still choose to go to live pro or DI sporting events. I include myself in this number, though my willingness to attend is tempered more intensely with each ensuing year.
Basketball, highly dependent on momentum, loses much of its mystery and chemistry as long timeouts stop a team in its tracks better than a tight defense. Just this past week, I watched a few minutes of an NBA game that turned an easy replay into a seven-minute extravaganza, as all three officials got called into view and comment on a fairly straight forward situation. Play on.
Time for limits. Allow officials three replay looks, then make a decision. Or set a time limit: 30 seconds to make your review, then decide. Ultimately, officiating reviews STILL REQUIRE A JUDGMENT. And, ultimately, there are still going to be coaches, players, fans and announcers who disagree with what the officials do.
Head back to high school, folks. The games are shorter, the kids play hard and there are no replays or television commercials. Collegiate Division III games are similar. There’s great intensity. The players and coaches get into it. And you can still get home in time for a good night’s sleep.
Even a mere 8-10 years ago, things were different. Ads weren’t as long. Video replay wasn’t ubiquitous. I don’t know the exact number of minutes and seconds allowed for timeouts back then vs. now, but the change feels titanic. And, it’s in a bad direction – slowing down play, changing momentum, destroying the texture of the game.
I clearly remember the first time I understood how slow game play was when you attend in person. Five of us who graduated from the University of Illinois returned for a reunion football game at Soldier Field in Chicago. We were pumped. Good to see each other. There was excitement about the team that year.
We get to the game, probably down a beer or two, do some early chants as the crowd shows its energy. Then, timeout a few minutes into the first quarter and it lasts over four minutes. Several minutes later, a player is injured and it takes seven minutes to get him off the field. Wait, now it’s a TV timeout, and again, that’s another four minutes, maybe more (who’s checking? Seems like forever.). The offense can’t get it together so they call a timeout. Then another injury and who knows how long that took.
All I remember is that we looked up at the scoreboard and there was still a minute or so left in THE FIRST QUARTER and 55 minutes had elapsed since the opening kick. Do the math. There are four quarters in a game. If you multiply an hour by four, that’s four hours, then add halftime and the time between quarters and we were likely facing a four-and-a-half hour+ ballgame.
Not acceptable. You can’t sit through crap like that. Boredom sets in. You drink too much. You don’t pay attention to play. Your mind wanders. You wonder what traffic is going to be like getting out of the parking lot. And, fans head for the exits (if they chose to show up in the first place).
The amazing thing to me is how many people still choose to go to live pro or DI sporting events. I include myself in this number, though my willingness to attend is tempered more intensely with each ensuing year.
Basketball, highly dependent on momentum, loses much of its mystery and chemistry as long timeouts stop a team in its tracks better than a tight defense. Just this past week, I watched a few minutes of an NBA game that turned an easy replay into a seven-minute extravaganza, as all three officials got called into view and comment on a fairly straight forward situation. Play on.
Time for limits. Allow officials three replay looks, then make a decision. Or set a time limit: 30 seconds to make your review, then decide. Ultimately, officiating reviews STILL REQUIRE A JUDGMENT. And, ultimately, there are still going to be coaches, players, fans and announcers who disagree with what the officials do.
Head back to high school, folks. The games are shorter, the kids play hard and there are no replays or television commercials. Collegiate Division III games are similar. There’s great intensity. The players and coaches get into it. And you can still get home in time for a good night’s sleep.