rules Page 4 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
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...
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 Will Get Rid Of Its Dumbest Rule
On Thanksgiving, Jim Schwartz boned Jim Schwartz by throwing a challenge flag on Justin Forsett's 81-yard touchdown. But really, the NFL boned Jim Schwartz—the rule that you can't challenge a play that's automatically reviewed, and if you try, you're penalized and it's not reviewed, is awful, illogi...
The 10 Commandments Of Basketball Refereeing
Last week, FIBA Asia held its annual referee clinic in Singapore. Along with boring clerical matters like getting licensed, attendees also received a pen! With a roll-out scroll featuring FIBA's 10 Referee Commandments. Like Moses down from the mountain, a Reddit user has passed along the wisdom con...
Last Night Was Probably The Closest We'll Ever Get To A Super Bowl Fair-Catch Kick, The Rarest Play In The NFL
When the Ravens intentionally took a safety, to give themselves better field position and run a few seconds off the clock, it brought the 49ers to within three points. It was the smart call, but it also raised the possibility of the rarest of all football plays—the fair-catch kick. It's only been at...
"What A Joke This Sport Is!" Jeff Van Gundy Is Not A Fan Of The Designated Hitter Rule
The Thunder's beat-down of the Lakers last night got a little boring towards the end, as beat-downs will, and unlike some spectators, Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy were contractually obligated to remain in their seats. Naturally, talk turned to the designated hitter, and—like many people, but in h...
Here Are The Three Flops That Have Led To NBA Warning So Far This Season
Just before the season began, the NBA outlined its new procedure for curbing flops, the habit of exaggerating contact that ran over Jeff Van Gundy's dog when Van Gundy was only a young boy....
The Jets, To The Patriots: "Hang On A Minute"
The Patriots' hurry-up offense is quick—too quick, according to the Jets. They point to a crucial moment in the Patriots win over the Broncos two weeks ago in which the Patriots had sped up their offense so much between snaps that the Broncos didn't have time to make substitutions. That's not fair: ...
The NBA Releases A Video Demonstrating The Seven Illegal Flops That Will Get Players Fined This Season
The NBA released a video yesterday of all the flops that they officially consider flops now that the NBA is officially considering flops. It has a weird narrator who uses unnecessarily colorful language, which is great. We get a "grossly embellished fall to the floor" from Reggie Evans, an "over-e...
Royal And Ancient Golf Club Updates Stupid And Ancient Rules
Golf's governing body, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, has updated some of its stupid and ancient rules. Among other overdue adjustments: golfers will no longer be penalized with a stroke if a gust of wind displaces the ball. The organization is still grappling with dinosaur interference. [AP]...
Minor Football League Cannot Remember Its Own Quirks, Takes Away Points At Championship Halftime
Not too many people know about the drop kick rule in pro football—it's one of those things Bill Belichick ordered Doug Flutie to do so that the Patriots might rub the league's nose in it. Essentially, one can punt the ball through the uprights for an extra point or field goal. But modern offenses no...
Last Night's Winner: David Stern's Excessive Complaining
In sports, everyone is a winner—some people just win better than others. Like David Stern, who, in advance of NBA labor negotiations, is making vague Rovian noises about cracking down on "excessive complaining."...
Weekend Winner: NFL Rule 8, Section 1, Article 4
In sports, everyone is a winner—some people just win better than others. Like the "going to the ground" rule, which cost the Lions a victory yesterday and which comes from a part of the rulebook apparently written in crayon....
In A Town Called East Hampton, A Man Called Mike Lupica Played A Game Called Softball
Because no one reads the newspaper, and SportsCenter's anchors are too perky for this early in the morning, Deadspin combs the best of the broadsheets and internets to bring you everything you need to know to start your day....
Another Prerequisite For Referees: Superhuman Vision
The NCAA is expected to enact a policy Wednesday to cut down on flopping by help-side defenders sliding under the basket. Here's the catch: The semi-circle to enforce the rule won't actually be painted, only imaginary, like the chances of this new rule ever working....