Doctor of Sports Newsletter
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is undoubtedly the biggest event in world golf. The United States v Europe brings out extreme competition, nationalism, and fabulous golf. As the event has grown immensely during the past few years, I would enjoy making some comments regarding the players, course, scoring, fans, teams, and coverage.
Pageantry of College Football / College Draft
Pageantry is defined by Webster as an elaborate display or ceremony. College football with pep rallies, speeches, parades, bands, alumni clubs, expensive club seats, homecoming, media, and endless hype has morphed into a winners’ and losers’ industry at all levels (fortunately or unfortunately). There is no comparable sport; and although money, social and sports media hype every first down, the sport is exciting and unpredictable. Teams must play well to win. A caromed pass with a team in the Red Zone that is picked and run back is a startling 14 – point turnaround. This makes the sport (unpredictability). Is there a parade, loud music, dance after the game, and alumni parking lot bragging rights? Yes, and that will never change. Oil barons will use tax write-offs to support 2nd place, a rivalry defeat, or a Bluebonnet Bowl win. Fall splendor, expensive tickets, visiting dorm and frat friends, beer, and an escape chance to act unruly for 3 hours will salvage my life. The pageantry began along the sidelines November 1869 at the Rutgers (sister school to Queens in England) field v Princeton. Why isn’t Rutgers or Princeton an Ohio State?
2025 World Series
The 2025 World Series between the Toronto Bluejays and Los Angeles Dodgers was one of the greatest baseball series of all time. Our national pastime was self-evident with repeated great batting and fielding plays by both teams. It appeared most of the fans were cheering for Toronto as a victim in a David-Goliath matchup. The Dodgers payroll is at $.5 Billion per year and growing. The key was not money; but recruiting by the Dodger scouts – bringing Sasaki, Ohtani, and Yamamoto to MLB from Japan. It was not money that won the Series for the Dodgers in the final # 7 game by a score of 5-4. The play with the best players on the planet produced the win.
American Football Rule Changes – Defensive Pass Interference and QB stuff
Since the controversial 2018 NFC Championship game decided by a “no-call” defensive pass interference (PI), the United States at all levels of football from Pop Warner to the NFL has been besieged by controversy. Placing aside offensive PI, defensive PI is under the NFL rule in Section 5 of the Rule Book: SECTION 5 - PASS INTERFERENCE
Beginning Basketball Rule Tweaks
Amateur Basketball Shot Clocks:
There is a chapter within “Glass Backboards – A Coast-to-Coast Anthology of American Basketball” regarding tweaking the rules. Historically and thankfully the stalls ended with the amateur shot clock – college in 1985 (45 seconds), 35 seconds in 1993, and 30 seconds in 2015. Eleven states have high school basketball shot clocks. The evolution of basketball through the shot clock and use of it beginning with the 24 second NBA rule in 1954 paved the way to modern basketball transition. I was at Creighton when colleges were still allowed to stall most of the 20-minute halves, win at the free throw line by having a plethora of shooting guards on the floor, and fans walked out of the arena. North Carolina under Dean Smith brought the “Creighton” game to its team – and won a high percentage of games by stalling.
More Basketball Rule Tweaks
A) End of Game Close Reviews on Who Touched Ball Before Basketball Travels Out of Bounds is a “Jump Ball.”
The end of a basketball game with reviews, challenges, referee confusion (looking at one another), players/fans/coaches pointing and screaming is mind boggling. I am not a fan of review for any reasons – including flagrant fouls (more later). Thus, when we all witness a ball skidding out of bounds on a basketball court, who fortunately obtains possession is mere luck, consequence, or life itself. An athletic play to cause possible loss of possession may turn sour with a “bad” call and video review unable to provide absolute evidence of reversing a “bad” call. The better team may lose the game on the frequent missed close call giving ball possession to the wrong team. Both teams feel they have ball possession, refs are subconsciously affected by home crowds and threatening coaches, and the review takes forever. Two commercials, a potty break, and an argument surrounding the computer or television erupts. Finally, the announcers review the call after watching the video – and they are split over who now has possession in a tie game.
4th Down – A Precarious Decision
The 4th down decision by American football coaches from Pop Warner to the NFL playoffs is nebulous. The extreme is successful Coach Kelley of Arkansas high school football – who never punts and has no punting practice nor punters on the team. Kelley plans to win and not playing not to lose. Kelley’s success rate on 4th down is quite high. Kelley also onside kicks instead of automatically kicking the ball to the opponent; and Kelly always attempts 2-point extra points. Avoiding punting in high profile high school, college, and professional teams would possibly lead to what happened to Coach Bengston – who followed Vince Lombardi. After struggling with the team for 3 years, a disgruntled fan hung his dog on the clothesline in Green Bay. How anyone has that on their conscience for life is beyond contemplation (prayers).
Pickup Basketball (Hoops)
One of the most common recreational sports in the United States and now globally is pickup basketball (hoops). There are some misconceptions and absolute unwritten and written rules about play – which I will discuss.
The exercise component of hoops is nearly 1000 calories of burn/hour. It is difficult to find a sport to compete with the health benefits. Endurance, stamina, coordination, athleticism, and training are constantly tested. Defense means as much as offense (a hand in the face of a jump shot can bring the percentages down 30%). Defense is burning calories due to the intensity. The exercise and stamina required of pickup hoops is tremendous – a definite cardiac stress test for middle aged men and women. The American Medical Association recommends a minimum of one hour exercise daily. Pickup hoops exercise is well beyond the AMA recommendation.
Sensible College Sports
NCAA and collegiate sports at all levels makes sense. The leadership, fitness, life skills, respect, work ethic, and competitive spirit emanate from all amateur sports. As a physician I note advancements through sport in needed adult adaptations in all personal, social, and uphill situations. Sports instructs us in dealing with a difficult marriage, an office spat, dealing with a transgender issue, child medical or behavior issue, or a troubled athlete as a coach or parent. The college athlete has been challenged, and has the solving skill set mentally and physically through training, organizational skills, and just plain hard work. NCAA athletes compete at non-scholarship levels (D3 tennis) or lucrative high-pressure positions (D1 QB SEC Conference).
Golf Rule Changes
Balls landing in the fairway in a divot receive a drop – yes, it is fair, but life is not fair…and neither is golf. The Rules Committee and golf founders want players to be able to adapt to being in the corner of bunkers, standing sideways or downwards, and knowing how to hit out of a divot (forward weight with ball in back of stance hitting through the ball with divot – one more club with steep backswing). A plugged ball excepting sand trap is allotted relief (Rule 16.3). Leave these rules alone.