Rules Changes ------------- From: parinell@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (James C Parinella) Subject: Re: Rules - other sports Date: 25 Jul 1994 02:58:05 GMT In article , jhulvr@cayley.uwaterloo.ca () writes: |> |> |> Why do people want to make Ultimate like other sports? If I |> wanted to play soccer or hockey, I would play soccer or |> hockey, and not try to change Ultimate so it LOOKS like |> that sport. I enjoy the game for what it is and see no |> reason for any major changes. Ah, I see your point. So the NHL should go back to its golden age when forward passes were illegal (it's true, check your history books) and goalies didn't wear helmets. The NBA should go back to the time when there were no 24 second clocks, no 3 pt line, and so scores were sometimes in the tens and twenties and no one ever took a risky shot. Man, those were the days. When men were men and everyone feared change. Sports evolve. And, no the evolution doesn't always just 'happen' naturally. Often it is because of changes in the rules of the game. (see above) Jim "Screw the Status Quo" Parinella From: parinell@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (James C Parinella) Subject: Re: Rules - other sports Date: 25 Jul 1994 14:40:59 GMT In article ferguson@cs.rochester.edu (George Ferguson) writes: >>>>>> "JCP" == James C Parinella writes: > >JCP> Sports evolve. And, no the evolution doesn't always just 'happen' >JCP> naturally. Often it is because >JCP> of changes in the rules of the game. (see above) > >Far be it from me to challenge the master of Big Ego Ultimate, but the >changes in rules noted above are brought about by exactly one thing in >professional sports: the owners' greed. The rules don't spontaneously >mutate and then the sport adapts Darwin-like. Professional sports are >controlled by the owners; ultimate is controlled by the players. > Most rules changes try to address a perceived problem with the game, either by making it more exciting or by making it more fair. The rules of lacrosse changed because Jim Brown was too good, so it was unfair to the mere mortals who couldn't stop him. Many of the NFL's changes were to add offense to the game. I suppose this is owner greed, since it increased fan attendance and also owner profits. If a similar change occurred in Ultimate (say, any contact between marker and thrower is a foul on the marker), people would consider it to be in the best interests of the game. Cuervo's two-point line and short timed games would have found more support, I think, were it not presumed to be "forced down our throats by Corporate America". As the Down Under hockey guy said, most of the significant rules changes improve the game. Those that don't are discarded (remember "After further review, the play stands as called?"). My point is that changes happen to improve the game, and if we worry less about who suggests them and more about their impact, we'll all be better off. >I'm not sure who DOG is controlled by... Is it true that their rosters >are signed in blood? > I control it...he controls it... we all control it... anyone with Internet access controls it. You're a computer science guy, George. You could probably figure out how to post from my account and then you could be our leader. Stranger things have happened. >George Jim "It's Time for Some Blood-Letting" Parinella