1. Baseball - The Drag Bunt: Nowadays everyone tries to muscle up a 450 foot towering home run and I don't get it. The steroid era is over, pitchers are dominating like never before, and these new stadiums are bigger than ever. So, why not lay a bunt down, get on base, and spark a rally? I mean it's a free base hit the 3rd baseman is giving up. Not to mention, the next time you step into the box the 3rd baseman will have to respect the drag thus opening up more room for you to slap a single through the hole. I think the game of baseball would serve well from more use of the drag bunt as it has become a lost art in the game today.
2. Basketball - The Pure Point-Guard: Other than maybe Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash, the NBA, specifically the point-guard position, has become a scoring position. Some of the leagues best "point-guards" like Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Derron Williams, Tony Parker, Steph Curry, John Wall, and Kyrie Irving are predominantly looking to score first rather than assist a teammate. I think that this is partly because the point-guard position has become a position for undersized scorers with great athleticism but nonetheless, pass the damn ball. I would have loved to been able to watch Magic Johnson play, arguably the greatest true point-guard of all time, and hope the art of the pure point-guard is not lost forever.
3. Football - Hard Hitting: The old days of hard hitting football are over. The "new" NFL has made a point to reduce injuries and future health problems for its players. I can respect the league's decision to try and protect the players' health but defenses are definitely paying the price. The NFL is now a quarterback-driven league with an emphasis on throwing the ball down field essentially taking advantage of the rules in play that protect certain hits on wide receivers and quarterbacks. I think football has lost some of its toughness label because of the new NFL but if it means better long term health for the players I don't know that I can argue against that. As it is, big hits and less penalized games are long gone because the art of lowering the boom on someone has been replaced with holding a player up until the whistle sounds.
4. Hockey - Playing Hockey: The old adage, "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out" couldn't be more perfect for how the NHL is today. The days of fluid skating, crisp passing, and beautiful goals are gone having been replaced with unnecessary hits and constant glove droppings. Hockey is a physical sport yes, but it shouldn't be a sport that hands out suspensions following every game. The beauty of the game has been overtaken by a ruthless style of play that has bigger consequences than suspensions. One of the game's ambassadors and great players, Sidney Crosby, took a vicious blow to the head last year and has still not fully recovered. Hockey is becoming wrestling on skates and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would be wise to push for a change in the way "hockey" is played without getting rid of its natural rough and tough atmosphere.
Gotta compete.
Bisq
No comments:
Post a Comment