rule Page 17 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Reading Deadspin? Allow A Former MLS Player To Convince You Otherwise
This morning, I sat at my breakfast table going over the news. Checking through my inbox, I saw an email from a friend: "This is going to make you furious." It contained the link to a Deadspin article: "Getting Ready for MLS? Allow Us to Convince You Otherwise."...

What ESPN And The NFL Don't Talk About When They Talk About "Nigger"
Last week, we got word that the Fritz Pollard Alliance, chaired by ex-NFL player John Wooten, was pushing a rule change in the league that would penalize players for the use of the word "nigger" on the football field. The proposal involves a 15-yard penalty for a player's first offense, with an ejec...

MLB Bans Home-Plate Collisions, But Not Really
Here is the newly approved (and "experimental" ) Rule 7.13. You need only pay attention to the parts I've bolded....

The Extra Point Is On Its Way Out
It may not happen next year, it may not happen within five years, but it will happen, and the NFL's top man is on board: Roger Goodell says the Competition Committee has a number of proposals to do away with the extra point, and he's a fan of one in particular....

Texas Rangers Draft Russell Wilson (Yes, That One)
In today's Rule 5 draft, which allows teams to snatch up other teams' minor leaguers not on a 40-man roster but with a certain amount of service time, the Rangers took Russell Wilson, second baseman. He's probably not going to make much of an impact for Texas: he's got a pretty good football career ...

It Looks Like MLB Will Be Eliminating Home Plate Collisions
The MLB rules committee has voted to make collisions at home plate illegal. This isn't an official rule change yet, as the decision still has to be approved by the players, but it sure looks like the home plate collision's place in baseball is no more. ...

49ers Send Letter Reminding Fans When To Cheer
The 49ers host the Seahawks this Sunday in a massive matchup not only of the NFC West's best teams, but of two of the more competitive fan bases in football. It'll be a "red-out," but in addition to color coordination, the Niners took the time to email fans with gentle reminders to be on time, cheer...

NFL: Jets Should Have Been Called For Same Pushing Penalty As Pats
There was a lot of bitter back-and-forth between the Jets and Patriots about last week's controversial overtime pushing penalty. At first, Bill Belichick didn't seem to know what the penalty was. (He made a big deal about the "second level" in the pushing penalty—"We weren't on the second level wh...

Patriots Had Cheated Before On FGs; Jets Warned Officials
You're looking at a screengrab from last weeks' New England win over the Saints, shared by the Globe's Ben Volin. On a New Orleans field goal attempt, rookie tackle Chris Jones is pushing Will Svitek into the offensive lineman. It's the same illegal move, with the same two players, that got the Pats...

No, The NFL Did Not Quickly Change The Rulebook To Screw The Patriots
America, say hello to Rule 9.1.3(b)(2). One of the NFL's newest rules, enacted this offseason in the name of player safety, controversially won the game for the Jets by giving them a second chance after a missed field goal. It was called correctly, but a misinterpretation of the rule by Bill Belichi...

Cardinals Complain About Dodgers' "Mickey Mouse" Celebrations
With the Diamondbacks and Braves gone golfing, who will make sure the game is played the right way? Worry not, the Cardinals are here to bitch about a pair of Dodger celebrations....


High School Player Penalized For Spectacular Touchdown Run
That's L.J. Scott of Marion (Ohio) Harding High rumbling for a 50-yard touchdown run last Friday night against Bowsher (Ohio). You'll notice that an official threw a penalty flag. The penalty was against Scott. His run was too good for high school football....

Bill Leavy's Officiating Crew Blows Another Call
NFL referee Bill Leavy's season is off to a fantastic start....

The NFL Keeps Sowing Confusion Over What Constitutes An Illegal Hit
The headline on PFT was posted in the wee hours Monday morning. It reads "League quietly shifts focus of helmet-to-helmet hits." Here's Florio:...

Shabazz Muhammad Sent Home From Rookie Program For Having Girl In Room
USA Today reports that Timberwoves rookie Shabazz Muhammad was sent home from the NBA's Rookie Transition Program today. Why? Because he had *gasp* a girl in his room, and unauthorized guests are strictly forbidden at the transition program....

Halftime Interview With Just-Concussed Athlete Doesn't Go So Well
They call sideline reporters boundary riders in Australia. Boundary rider and former Australian rules footballer Cameron Ling thought it would be a good idea to do a halftime interview with St. Kilda's Dylan Roberton the other day. It wasn't....

NBA Board Of Governors Approves Rule Changes For Next Season
Last night, the NBA Board of Governors approved the implementation of a handful of rule changes, which include a few tweaks to the league's instant replay policies....

Aussie Rules Football Player Scores Goal, Falls Down In Same Motion
Despite Australian Rules Football being one of our favorite sports here, we don't cover it often because pesky issues like time zones lead to matches being played while most of us are drunk or asleep. That's a shame, because at least two matches a week are aired here live, and they're almost always...

The MLB Rulebook Makes No Sense And You Will Fail This Quiz On It
Yet another reason we love Jayson Stark with all our hearts: Today, he tackles the labyrinthine MLB rulebook, and gives a 10-question quiz to players, coaches, and media members. They didn't do so hot....