Spring Break
A little advice for the new president
Marc Gauthier
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: Sports
In the past year, President Barack Obama has made stands on issues such as foreign policy, the economy and universal health care. But late last year, Obama managed to take a stance on one issue that no president has ever taken on before - the lack of a national champion in college football. The president has come out stating that the no-playoff system is flawed and that those in charge should take a closer look at the BCS.
So now that Obama's presidency is official, here are a few other sports' rules that I'd like him to take a look at in between fixing the economy and fighting global warming.
9. UFC - A fighter cannot kick or knee his opponent in the head as long as he is on the ground.
Now this is what I don't understand. You're competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, one of the most physical sports out there and the nature of the game is inflict as much pain on your opponent as possible, yet you're not allowed to kick or knee them in the face so long as they're on the ground? Though it's perfectly legal to kick or knee your opponent in the face if they're standing up, or even hunched over? Something doesn't add up here.
8. High School and NCAA basketball - Jump ball resulting in the possession arrow.
In the NBA, when there's a jump ball, the two players who were tangled up are forced to literally take a jump ball where they stand across from each other and the referee throws the ball up for possession. It seems fair, unless of course Earl Watson gets tangled up with Dwight Howard.
In high school and college basketball, on a jump ball call, the officials turn to the possession arrow and reward the team who did not win the jump at the beginning of the game with the ball. What kind of fairness is that? In a tight basketball game that could be decided in the final seconds, why should a team be punished by the possession arrow for having a man who can jump higher during the tip-off?
7. High School basketball - No dunking in warm-ups
So now that Obama's presidency is official, here are a few other sports' rules that I'd like him to take a look at in between fixing the economy and fighting global warming.
9. UFC - A fighter cannot kick or knee his opponent in the head as long as he is on the ground.
Now this is what I don't understand. You're competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, one of the most physical sports out there and the nature of the game is inflict as much pain on your opponent as possible, yet you're not allowed to kick or knee them in the face so long as they're on the ground? Though it's perfectly legal to kick or knee your opponent in the face if they're standing up, or even hunched over? Something doesn't add up here.
8. High School and NCAA basketball - Jump ball resulting in the possession arrow.
In the NBA, when there's a jump ball, the two players who were tangled up are forced to literally take a jump ball where they stand across from each other and the referee throws the ball up for possession. It seems fair, unless of course Earl Watson gets tangled up with Dwight Howard.
In high school and college basketball, on a jump ball call, the officials turn to the possession arrow and reward the team who did not win the jump at the beginning of the game with the ball. What kind of fairness is that? In a tight basketball game that could be decided in the final seconds, why should a team be punished by the possession arrow for having a man who can jump higher during the tip-off?
7. High School basketball - No dunking in warm-ups
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