I’m not real big on gimmicks. That’s pretty much right down the line, whether it’s sports or basically anything else. I’m not knocking anyone who likes them, they’re just not for me.
So you’ll understand why I’m so against the MLB All-Star game deciding which league hosts the World Series. I know I’m in the minority on this one, but I’ve detested the three-point field goal in basketball since its inception. Ditto for the designated hitter. You can toss in the college football overtime system as well. To me, these are all gimmicks. I’m not going to preach here in hopes of gaining support. If you like any or all of these deals, that’s cool.
But the worst gimmick of all for me is the hockey shootout. This one drives me batty. It’s a team game, and suddenly games that go 65 minutes and remain tied are decided in duels between a single skater and the goalie. This idea is so awful the NHL throws it away once the playoffs begin. Thank goodness for that, at least.
The good news is that the shootout in its current form is on its last legs. The AHL is the guinea pig for prospective rules changes. For those not up on the hockey scene, the AHL is hockey’s top minor league, similar to baseball’s AAA leagues.
The AHL rule is 4-on-4 for four minutes of overtime. At the next whistle, it become 3-on-3. If the game is still tied after seven minutes, the teams then go to a three-player shootout. I’d still like to see that aspect eliminated completely, but based on the early returns, the games are almost all being decided before that happens.
Fan reaction has been hugely positive. It’s wide open hockey, but there’s still a team element, and the fans apparently love it. I think it’s a great idea, and I’d say that this change coming to the NHL next season is a huge favorite.
Now if we can just get college basketball officials to actually call intentional fouls at the end of games intentional fouls, since that’s exactly what they are… but that’s a rant for another day.
What do you think?
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