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Monday, August 23, 2010
Is Gary Bettman in charge of the LPGA?
Another weekend, another tournament where a fan emails in for a rule violation to disqualify a player:
LPGA spokesperson Sue Witters said they disqualified Inkster Saturday after receiving an e-mail from a fan watching the event on television.
I saw Jorge Posada apply a phantom tag on Franklin Gutierrez. My email went unreturned. Let’s give the last word to the ultimate in rules enforcement:
Remember when the “toe in the crease” rule was introduced to the NHL ... when referees disallowed goals on the mere suspicion the shooter had his toenail in the area? Only days after its adoption, Gary Bettman visited the press box at the Bell Centre. Even before he said hello, it was suggested to him that the new rule made no sense at all. I can even recall the word “sucked” appeared early in our discussion.
His reply: “Well, don’t you think the game should be played by the rules?”
I’ve spoken with my golf friends, and they all agree with the majority of you guys: rules are rules. Them being Canadians, I had also asked them about the toe-in-the-crease rule, and they agreed with the majority of hockey fans: the rule sucked.
Clearly, people are biased by their environment. If it’s a learned behaviour that you apply the Gary Bettman credo in golf, then what Bettman says makes perfect sense. But, since we don’t think like that in hockey and baseball, we’re happy to say a similar-type rule sucked and should be changed immediately.
I’m really in the minority when I say that I’d question every single rule out there for every sport for reasonableness and proportionality. Start with blank slate, add in the core principles of the sport, and build from there.
I may be wrong, but I feel I’m right.