Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
It’s Week 2 of Commissioner BTI’s changes to sports and Week 1 was a dozy. I continue to stick by my thought that college athletes deserve to get paid, but I now realize I am in the minority. But, most genius’ are in the minority. I digress, here are this week’s needed changes.
1. NBA AND NHL HAVE TO SHORTEN THEIR PLAYOFFS
In last year’s NBA playoffs, the first game was played on April 18th, and the Lakers were crowned champions on June 14th. That’s a span of 58 days. And if you think that meant more drama, you would be incorrect. Only 4 of the 15 series went 7 games. Only 4 more went 6 games. So, in barely half of the total series played did we have ACTUAL drama in a series going 6 or 7 games. The NHL playoffs went 59 total days, and had 6 series go 7 games. They had 4 series that were 4-0 sweeps. Point being, there is a point where it gets old watching the Lakers pound on the Grizzlies for 4 straight games, when 3 would do. I feel that is both settings, the first AND second rounds should be best of 5, and the conference finals and league finals should be best of 7. That would cut the playoffs back by at least 2 weeks. And I know, its all about money, so this is very unlikely to happen, BUT as a casual fan who has no rooting interest other than liking basketball, I am exhausted by the conference finals of watching basketball, and then am not as excited to watch the games that really matter.
2. THE NFL NEEDS TO TAKE OFF THEIR PANTIES AND PUT ON SOME MAN UNDERWEAR
It has become beyond ridiculous how easy it is for a guy to get a penalty in the NFL these days for simply putting a hard hit on a guy. Since when did the NFL become a non-contact sport? I thought part of the appeal of the sport was the hard hitting. I agree that the horse collar needed to be eliminated, and that chop blocks are dirty. But, when a wide receiver comes across the middle and jumps, a defender should be allowed to knock him into the 1950’s. If there is helmet to helmet contact, then that should be a penalty. But this whole “defenseless receiver” rule has made it frustrating to watch. These guys are wearing pads for a reason. If you need the ultimate example, check out Ray Lewis hitting Chad Johnson(I will not call him by the other name). He hits him square in the shoulder pads. Lewis was penalized and then fined $25,000.
3. THE NCAA MUST MANDATE THAT BCS TEAMS HAVE TO PLAY 2 OTHER BCS SCHOOLS IN NON-CONFERENCE
As long as we don’t have a college football playoff in Divsion 1-A, then I think the regular season should be as much a playoff as we can make it. When teams like Florida, Ohio State, Texas, or Kentucky for that matter, can in theory, schedule 4 Sun Belt schools for it’s non-conference, thats not really a fair barometer of teams. But, if we mandate that BCS schools must schedule 2 other BCS schools, then we get a little closer to a fair judge of who is best. Even if a team like Alabama chooses to play Washington State and Indiana, that is still better than playing Florida Atlantic and Rice. Now, you might ask “what about the non-BCS schools?” Well, in the current system, they have no shot at getting to the title game anyway, so who cares? This is exactly the reason why I think USC should get in the title game over a Cincinnati or Iowa, lets say, because the Trojans played both Ohio St and Notre Dame (on the road). If we are not gonna have the playoff, the regular season needs to be as hard as possible.
4. THE WNBA NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED
Do I really need to explain this?
Other Editions: College athletes getting paid, MLB shortening season, Hockey coming back to TV, World Cup every 2 years
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October 21st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
^doozy^
October 21st, 2009 at 12:09 pm
When did this new BTI post start? Jones, do you know he’s doing two posts now?? What is going on here??
October 21st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I’ll be the first to say I can’t stand the WNBA, but there’s no reason to abolish it. It doesn’t harm me in any way, other than having to flip through one more channel, and if it gives little girls something to cheer for then good for them.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Actually, I can’t disagree with anything BTI said. I think someone else wrote this post. Plagarism is not acceptable BTI. As a wise man once said, “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son”. (I am making one or more assumptions here)
October 21st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
The Raw Lewis hit on Ochocinco sure looks like helmet to helmet to me. Don’t know what you’re looking at BTI.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
amen to all points except that hit on Ochocinco was unnecessary. The ball was dead and Ocho was nowhere near it. Other than that, clean hit.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:27 pm
1. Both leagues need to shorten their seasons, too. The intensity would increase dramatically if they were only playing 50-60 games instead of 82 and 84, respectively.
2. My problem is that the calls can be quite subjective. From one week to the next, it’s difficult to tell what will be a penalty and what isn’t.
3. Agreed. Would produce a better claim for whatever team wins the BCS Championship Game.
4. Seriously? I’d rather watch a WNBA game than baseball any day of the summer.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Does the Ole’ Ball Coach have a point? Is he whinning?
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4580985
October 21st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
BCS idea makes sense. Big Least only has 7 conference games so they would need to play 3 instead of 2…not that it would impact national champion.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
8 - Don’t think I would’ve made that complaint public if I were him. Makes him look petty and foolish. IMO
October 21st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
In all four arguments, you ignore market forces dictating the existence of each rule/league/schedule… and I promise market forces will continue to dictate the existence of each (or lack thereof). And read the recent piece in the New Yorker about football in comparison to dog fighting… all about how players try to please their coach by sacrificing their body to the detriment to their long term health (linemen are going brain dead).
October 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I was hard on you during your last round of suggestions, but you are spot on this time. Amen!
October 21st, 2009 at 12:52 pm
A hit “square in the shoulder pads” does not cause someone’s helmet to fly 10 yards. That was a helmet to helmet hit. He deserved the flag (which ended up costing them the game) and he deserved the fine. I know a lot of people want the NFL to be the modern day equivalent of gladiator games, but that should be left to UFC. The NFL is trying to protect the players that are worth millions of dollars to the teams and the league. I would rather see the players on the field rather than on the meatwagon, in the hospital, or out for the season.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
#13–Couldn’t agree with you more. The hit was “helmet to helmet,” which I was taught (and have since taught) to NEVER do, lest you wind up brain dead. I find it amazing (and just a little funny) that the people screaming for more violence only WATCH the sport–they don’t participate. If it were their asses out there, they’d piss themselves the first time an opponent looked cross-eyed at them.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Would you rather watch the Lakers pound the Grizzlies in the regular season?
October 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
^ so it is not Palmer’s fault or the coaches fault they put Johnson in that position. Palmer could have thrown the ball low and not high, and the coaches are the ones who called the play, over the middle against that coverage. Why are they not at fault for putting someone in a position to get hit in the air like that. Also, if a GM or coach, want to protect players, then they devise plays to make that happen. Defense is their to stop the players, not protect them, that is the responsibility of the offensive unit and play calling.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
14) I don’t know if that is aimed at me or not, BUT I am personally not calling for MORE violence in the sport, I am calling for less over-officiating and making every hard hit a penalty. Helmet to helmet should be illegal, chop blocks should be illegal, laying a guy out over the middle should not be illegal.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I know I will get creamed for this but I don’t mind the WNBA. These women are probably playing a more fundamentally sound game than the men. The men’s game, although entertaining, has evolved as athleticism has taken the game beyond the scope of the original rules.
Thus the men’s game ends up with a version of basketball that the vast majority of weekend warriors cannot emulate. Whereas the women’s game tends to provide a fairly accurate model of ‘pure’ basketball.
Okay, kill me.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
#5 about the Ray Lewis hit, go back and watch the video again, it is not head to head, if you pause the video at the point of contact and you will see that his head is off to the side and he hits him with his shoulder pads. Even though that is a penalty, from a defensive perspective, I like it cause those receivers will think twice about coming across the middle.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
What it comes down to in my mind, is the NFL wants more points on the board. They want to get away from the hard hitting football and get more into the “high powered” offense game.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
They can’t abolish the WNBA, I haven’t watched a game yet. Oh wait…nevermind.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
the ray lewis hit was definitely a penalty. i am not sure about the fine being warranted, but like it or not the nfl is trying to protect the offensive players b/c that is their bread and butter. its just the way it is. it was a helmet to helmet and the pass was nowhere close to being catchable. as far as the wnba, that is the craziest thing i have heard in awhile. i’m not a fan of womens basketball, but i choose not to watch. why would you abolish it completely? if you don’t enjoy it don’t watch it.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
The Ray Lewis play was clearly a penalty. Even if you think the hit itself was clean, the fact that it happened when the ball was 6-7 yards beyond the receiver made it a penalty. The ball was already long gone when Lewis crushed the receiver. Johnson already had his hands completely down and looks like he was watching the ground to see where he was going to land.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
The ball was at least 2-3 seconds after the ball was incomplete. It’s no different than taking 2 steps after the QB has thrown the ball and hit him. If he had been there sooner it would have been a legal play. Also, the baseball season does not need to end in November. Before you know it, one day they’ll be playing on Thanksgiving Day.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
‘But, most genius’ are in the minority.’
I’ll assume that was an ironic choice of possessive.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
BTI–Define “lay a guy out.” Do you mean to the point of loss of consciousness? Carried off on a stretcher? Or eventually the receiver can get up and stagger off on his own? Remember the receiver Darryl Tatum hit? He was laid out for life. You may a point (to a point) where it seems the refs are all to quick to throw a flag for a hard, LEGAL hit. I think this started when the NFL owners decided they needed to keep their sacred cows (quarterbacks) from getting laid out. But if a receiver is fair game, then why not a quarterback?
October 21st, 2009 at 2:23 pm
line 3–”make” not “may”. Sorry…
October 21st, 2009 at 2:31 pm
#3 doesn’t hold completely. Not sure about Iowa, but UC has played Oregon St and plays Illinois. Can’t say this year they are equal with USC, but they did or will play two OOC games against BCS leagues. As with any schedule done 3-5 years in advance, there is no control as to whether they will be competitive or not… aka. Illinois.
October 21st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Leave the NBA alone, it’s too short as it is. I want year round basketball !!!
October 21st, 2009 at 4:30 pm
When a player is hit hard like that while up in the air…havent we seen numerous players get hurt? I mean wasnt Michael Irvin up in the air and tackled, came down on his head, then had to retire? NBA first round used to be only 5. But some teams have come back from 3 down to make it an all out series. I dont really watch hockey so they can do whatever. The WNBA is never on any channel anyway so why are you complaining? Those girls work just has hard as the guys and I notice those girls hustling a lot more than guys in the NBA. I actually watched some of the finals and there was some good games…Diana Touriosi was out of her mind in that last game imulating Prince against UNC. Yet again, BTI finds a way to stir up the readers.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Oops, there you go being crazy again.
1. Obviously inferior teams win in 5 game series. And the lengthy season means they need to space out the games so the best players don’t have to miss as many games. Well that and the money from TV.
2. Everybody already pointed out the idiocy in you thinking Lewis had a legal/clean/whatever you want to call it hit.
3. Iowa and Cincy both play 2 BCS schools this year. Iowa went to Iowa State and played Arizona at home. Cincy went to Oregon State and still has Illinois left.
4. Absolutely.
1 out of 4 ain’t too shabby I guess.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:40 pm
31) Really? Really? Only TWICE in the history of the NBA did an 8 seed beat a 1 seed in a 5-game series (denver against seattle in 1994 and new york over miami in 1999). So tell me again why I need to see the 1 seed win 4 games instead of 3.
Not everybody agrees with you on the hit. Read the comments again. Many people agree with me.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Agree on points 1 and 4.
Your comment about Ray Lewis is absurd though. Like #13 said above, how does a hit to the shoulder pads knock his helmet 10 yards? Even still, Lewis was 10-12 feet away when the ball went over Chads head. So it was a late hit AND a hit to the helmet.
Dont agree with your college football comments either. Some big schools schedule big games (OH St and USC for example) because their conference is too weak. Ohio St plays Penn St, Michigan (not even ranked), and Iowa (having a great year but not nearly as good as their record indicates i’d imagine). Pac 10 and Big Ten dont even play conference championship games.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Yeah right, Ray Lewis hit him square on the shoulder pads…guess that’s why Chad’s helmet went flying 15 yards and he had a black eye. *rollseyes*
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
BTI, you’re off point again and starting to show inconsistency. I agree that the NFL needs to man-up, but hitting a receiver mid-air AFTER the play has ended (e.g. the ball has clearly flown past the receiver’s head) should not be allowed. You could see that Lewis took an additional two steps toward Ochocinco after the ball sailed past him, that’s a dirty hit. This also comes from the guy who took up for Tom Brady whining like a bitch because some guy grazed his knee?? Get some consistency, BTI.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
34, wow…if you happen to have the hand eye coordination, why don’t you hit pause at the moment of impact you will see Ray Lewis’ head off to the side. And your whole point of shoulder pads not being able to do that is beyond absurd. Its called momentum, look it up.
yes its probably a penalty cause it was late, but it was not head to head.