These changes are practical, could be implemented immediately, and would make for a sports world truer to the Declaration Of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill Of Rights.
Sports are physical competitions with an objective outcome. Their rules should therefore encourage active play (vis a vis strategic time-wasting, for example) or make outcomes more objective (vis a vis human error and judgment calls). Here are 13 such changes, all of which are practically feasible, gleaned from extensive perusal of available online suggestions (and common sense).
NBA: Declare That Any Defensive Contact Made Without An Effort To Contest A Shot Is A Foul
Unless the defender has established position before the offensive player has left the ground, and raises their arms to contest the shot, that's a blocking foul. No more of this sliding under at the last second and huddling in a defensive crouch as you fall over bullshit. That's not sports. If you want to play defense, play defense. Any sport whose rules encourage players to stand still with their hands between their legs needs to take a look in the mirror.
Via: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
MLB: Universalize The Designated Hitter
The American League has a designated hitter, the National League does not. This makes no sense and is an increasingly annoying distraction given all the interleague play that now goes on, forcing teams to prepare for most games one way, only to do things totally differently a few times a year. It also makes us watch pitchers try to bat. DH everywhere.
Via: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images
NFL: Make Pass Interference A 15-Yard Penalty
In the NFL, the penalty for defensive pass interference is an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. This makes one particular kind of subjective and hard-to-review human judgment call far more important than any of the others in the sport. College's 15-yards-and-a-first-down penalty is the way to go.
Via: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
