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We rank 'em. You react. That's how the Daily List rolls.9/15/2008 02:48:00 PM Five Rules That Need Changing
By Lang Whitaker, SI.com
The Chargers got hurt by the "inadvertant whistle" rule this past Sunday.Photo by AP
Ed Hochuli may have a blown the call at the end of the Broncos/Chargers game, but really, did anyone understand what was happening? Even though I watch football all weekend every fall weekend, the whole tuck rule/fumble/interception thing remains a mystery to me. But it's not just football -- here are five sports rules that need to be changed.
1. The Tuck Rule: This rule is supposed to make fumbles by NFL quarterbacks easier to rule as a fumble or a interception, but I don't get it. Did Cutler fumble? Wasn't he trying to pass the ball? No clue...
2. Illegal Defense: This NBA rules has been massaged the last few years to allow zone defenses, but I say ditch the whole thing. If you want to put all five defenders in the lane and let the other team shoot open jumpers from the outside, go for it.
3. The Designated Hitter: What can I say, I'm an NFL guy. If you wear an MLB uniform, you should be forced to hit.
4. The College Football Clock Rule: This summer, the NCAA tweaked their rules in order to shorten games, and in the process they've managed to make clock management a mostly ineffective skill, at least until there are under two minutes left in a game.
5. Restrictor Plates: I'm not a huge NASCAR fan, but forcing the cars to go slower than they're capable of going just doesn't make sense to me.
What rules would you like to see changed? Let us know below...
Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com9/11/2008 03:06:00 PM Greatest Performances by a Backup
By Lang Whitaker, SI.com
Will Matt Cassel make the most of his golden opportunity?Photo by AP
As if Boston fans didn't have enough to worry about, what with the Red Sox about to head back to the postseason and the Celtics prepping to defend their NBA title. But now Tom Brady is injured, and New England turns its lonely eyes to one Matt Cassel (no relation to Celts PG Sam Cassell). Perhaps Cassel can turn in a performance for the ages, and join the greatest performances by a backup in sports history...
1. Lou Gehrig: In 1925, Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp went down with a headache, and Gehrig filled in that day...then went on to play in every game for the next 14 years.
2. Tom Brady: During the 2001 season, after Patriots starter Drew Bledsoe was injured with internal bleeding, Brady stepped in, finished the season 11-3, and led the Pats to a Superbowl victory.
3. Robert Horry: Since the 1999-2000 NBA season, the most games Robert Horry has started in a season is 26, but he still always seems to come up big in crunch time.
4. Frank Reich: Most people forget that when the Bills came back from a 35-3 deficit to beat the Oilers, it was Reich, not Jim Kelly, who led the way.
5. Magic Johnson: OK, so Magic was really a starter (at point guard), but with the 1980 NBA Finals on the line, he filled in for an injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and posted 42 points, 15 boards and 7 steals and led the Lakers to the NBA title.
Which backups do you think have turned in the best performances? Let us know below...
Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com9/08/2008 03:49:00 PM Athletes Who Should Wear Their Nicknames
The fearsome marketing wing of the NFL rose up this weekend and brought the smack down on the receiver formerly known as Chad Johnson. If you missed it, Johnson legally changed his name to become Chad Ocho Cinco, a jarring collision of English, Spanish and poor grammar, no matter which language you prefer. Naturally, Ocho Cinco wanted to wear a jersey with "Ocho Cinco" on the back, but the League refused, saying Mr. Cinco had a "financial obligation" to Reebok, which probably doesn’t want to be left with a few thousand irrelevant "JOHNSON 85" jerseys sitting around their warehouse.
Chad Johnson is hoping to wear his Icho Cinco jersey in a game this season.Photo by AP
It's all light and fun, until you consider that Señor Ocho Cinco may no longer even be good enough (he had a whopping 1 catch on Sunday) to warrant a (self-imposed) nickname on his jersey. Here are my top five players who should have been allowed to wear their nickname on their jerseys ...
1. MAGIC -- These days he goes by Mr. Johnson, but a Laker jersey with MAGIC across the back would be a huge seller.
2. TO -- After watching him on Hard Knocks all fall, I fell like we’re seeing a different Terrell Owens than the one who fractured teams and had to have his stomach pumped. Maybe he should celebrate by rocking a nickname on his shirt.
3. HUSTLE -- Pete Rose was commonly known as Charlie Hustle -- imagine the popularity of a jersey with HUSTLE across the back, particularly in hip-hop videos.
4. REFRIGERATOR -- William Perry came along about two decades early.
5. THREE FINGER -- Mordecai Brown was better known as "Three Finger" Brown, one of the coolest and strangest nicknames ever.
Who else deserved their nickname on their jersey? Let us know below ...
Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.comRecent PostsArchives
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