Are Rules Ruining the Game?

Rules are made to be broken. How many times have you heard that line over the years? If you’re anything like me, it is a constant refresher to how most American’s, and much of the human race in fact behave. Much speculation has been made involving children, implying many will do something simply because they were told not to. As talented as the professional athlete is today, they are still playing a child’s game, only at a substantially higher level. Each year more and more rules are added to sports to “make the game better”, but mainly to sell more tickets and possibly keep players safe. In my eyes, safety is something that should always be considered when deciding a rule, but at what point do we sit back and say enough is enough? Over the past years, I have noticed major rule changes in the three big sports in the U.S.; baseball, football, and basketball. Much has been said about last night’s NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, but I wonder if so many rules could possibly be to blame. In my generation, I have seen the way a quarterback can be hit change drastically, typically depending on how the most popular player got injured the previous season. Last night a roughing the passer was called that kept Seattle in the game because a lineman was chasing the quarterback out of the pocket and dove to tackle him below the waist as he threw the ball. This rule only exists because Tom Brady suffered a season ending ACL tear a couple seasons earlier, leading to a penalty that possibly cost Green Bay a win. Officials are forced to allow horse collars in certain spots on the field, but not in others. Sunday Dallas Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree slipped on a hat thrown by an official that was making a signal that the quarterback left the pocket, which changes how defensive backs can play. This resulted in Ogletree having a pass go over his head and prevented a touchdown. The official took the blame, but in my eyes an unnecessary rule caused the situation in the first place. Instant replay is added to the game to make sure plays are correctly called, but only certain plays can be reviewed. Last night the final play was reviewed, but had it happened on the two yard line possession of the ball could not have been reviewed. How much sense does that make? Also, coaches can challenge plays, but not during the last two minutes. WHAT IS THE POINT OF REPLAY IF A COACH CAN NOT REVIEW A PLAY WHEN IT MATTERS MOST? The new player safety rules protect defenseless players, but in fact they are in full pads, choose what parts of the field they occupy, and are in fact making millions of dollars to play a simple game. Baseball has made two changes over the last few years that to this day still get my blood pumping. A game in which players are voted in by fans, is not mandatory, and consists of different pitchers and substitutions every inning does in fact determine home field advantage in the World Series. I have yet to hear a convincing argument supporting that case, and luckily the NFL is smart enough to consider cancelling its Pro Bowl because it is in fact a meaningless game. The second change is adding an additional playoff spot. When I heard this new rule I was very excited, until I learned it was a one game playoff to determine who would represent the wild card position. That means a team ten games better than another can miss the playoffs because one team has a stud starting pitcher like Justin Verlander or David Price. Once again this makes no sense to me, because an overly long 162 game season needs more than one game to decide a playoff spot. Somehow the NBA has stayed out of the spotlight when it comes to rule changes, but they have some that will make you scratch your head. A player cannot take a charge from an offensive player if they are planted inside a restricted area. This rule allows giant centers to dip shoulder and push their way to the basket, with no chance of being called for an offensive foul. They league says the rule was made to stop players from sliding under the basket to take charges, but why can’t officials make that judgment call, since in fact that’s what every call is in the NBA. A second rule that in my mind was added to keep star center Shaquille O’Neal dominant in a sport that needed stars was the “hack-a-shaq” rule. This rule prevented players from fouling someone without the ball at the end of the game. The league said the rule was added to make the game better, I think it allowed players the chance to stay in games they didn’t deserve to be in. Sports were made to be played for fun and watched to entertain the masses once their days have passed. Today it simply is all about the money and keeping a high status brand. Any time unneeded rules are added to anything, value is lost. Next weekend when you are watching the NFL and yelling at replacement officials, take a look at a rulebook and see how many you can remember. It will amaze you how out of hand things have gotten. Unfortunately, the bottom is not near if money and politics continue to run these great games. Follow me on Twitter @DFWsportscreed Edited by Dustin Hughes