Nov 18 2008
Time for College Hoops; No Time for Extra NFL
One can tell the college basketball season is beginning in earnest when ESPN airs a 24-hour marathon devoted to the sport. Games involving Memphis, St. Mary’s and Syracuse have already aired.
Tonight’s featured game pits Kentucky against North Carolina. That contest with traditionally elite squads has lost a bit of luster after Kentucky lost its opener at home to the Virginia Military Institute. It’s hard to imagine the Wildcats can rally to defeat the number-one rated team in the nation tonight.
Those who don’t like the BCS will be pleased to know college basketball holds a 65-team tournament that will start in mid-March. Football purists may think it’s too bad the basketball regular season will be quickly discarded in favor of a “one-and-done” event.
At least there won’t be any ties. Seeing that the NFL had its first tie in six years (Cincinnati and Philadelphia, 13-13) was amusing. A lot has been made about Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb not knowing about NFL regular-season games could end in a tie after 15 minutes of scoreless overtime. It doesn’t matter. Half of the league’s players will likely be retired six years hence.
There’s no need to change the rule either. Five quarters of play is plenty for the regular season. Postseason games have unlimited overtime but enough is enough in November. Decide the game in the allotted time.
