Free Throw Time

bzappster — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:50:26 +0000

You’re watching a college or NBA game on your 65″ tv. The game is exciting, its moving, flowing and then all of a sudden a whistle blows. It’s a shooting foul and all that energy and motion stops. The camera’s show the soon to be foul shooter then cuts to the foul violator and 30 seconds and 2 free throws later the action picks up again (if it hasn’t fizzled out). Well, what if, there was something called free throw time just like there is something called injury time in soccer. The concept of injury time is a soccer player gets injured and goes down on the field and out comes the stretcher. The player is picked up and shuttled to the sidelines where he is checked and the game continues on. If the soccer player can’t be moved to the sidelines then the clock continues but the time the player is on the ground while play is stopped will be added to the end of the game.

In basketball, college or the NBA, when someone is fouled, a foul should be called. However, instead of the player shooting his free throws at the time of the foul, he shoots them at the end of the game. This way the action continues and never stops, especially when its very exciting.

Opponents would say foul throws are a part of the game and also let players rest and let couches call substitutions. To these opponents I say I agree, it would be weird to not see a player shoot foul shots during the game and not let players rest or be substituted for. However, there is nothing more entertaining then seeing teams trade baskets (or even high percentage missed shots). Keep the game flowing and you’ll keep your audiences (especially important for network execs).

Tracy Mcgrady and Other Young Athletes

bzappster — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:44:12 +0000

Copyright David Sherman/NBAE/Getty ImagesWas watching ESPN yesterday, highlights of a Rockets / Mavs game comes on, Rockets win but that wasn’t what impressed me. It was seeing Tracy McGrady speak after the game and speak eloquently and with confidence. I was shocked because the last time I saw him speak a year or two ago, he almost couldn’t pronounce his words and was shy. But then I realized something. Why shouldn’t he be speaking with confidence, he’s a man now. Back two or three years ago he was just a kid, sure a 6 foot 9 kid, but still a kid. We’re mean to these kid athletes and impatient with their unpromised results from all the hype. Give em some time to grow and be patient and don’t get frustrated if they fail. They are allowed to fail and have bad nights and not be serious and have fun. If they do give you a good night, consider yourself lucky as a fan. If they have a bad night but their footwork was much better, then feel happy, like a father or mother, that there is progress. Sure they get paid millions of dollars but no amount of money will every make a 20 year old be more mature instantly. The sweetest feeling is picking a kid you know will be great but in 5 years and then around 5-6 years they are! Think Eli manning, how can any reporter live with himself for bad mouthing Eli??? He was just a kid and still is a kid, just a little smarter and smart enough to win a superbowl. Fans should think of their favorites and teams teams as kids and never be disappointed in them for failing or not trying on certain nights (or not trying at all cause that’s just who they are). There is usually a reason why athletes have bad games or don’t try hard enough and like a parent, if you could, you would talk with them and see what’s wrong and how you can fix it. Want to feel really good about yourself? Help your kid be happier and do better and revel in any progress they make. Do the same for your favorite athlete and teams and I don’t see feeling bad about a loss every again. It’s nice to see kids mature and even nicer that you knew they would because you were patient. BZ

Zappy's CONSIDER THIS...

Free Throw Time

Tracy Mcgrady and Other Young Athletes