Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots August 24th Edition

By Hartley Miller

Let’s imagine that you are a head coach of a football team. Your team scores a touchdown on the final play of overtime and the score is 45-44 for the opposition. As a coach you are now faced with a choice- do you kick a regular convert, and earn a tie, or do you gamble, and try a two point convert from the opponent’s five yard line? If you choose the safe route, the one point convert, the final result will be a draw.  However, if you go for the win, on one passing, or running play, and you don’t score, then you lose the game. What choice would you make?

This was the scenario that faced the Calgary Stampeders in their last CFL game against the BC Lions. Stamps coach Tom Higgins did not hesitate and decided to kick the convert and the game ended in a 45-45 draw.  It was a thrilling match to watch, with seven lead changes, but in the end, fans of both teams seemed to have an empty feeling.

Higgins made the conservative call, one that most coaches would have made. It’s hard to argue against taking the sure thing, even though the Stamps were left with half a pie.

From a spectator’s viewpoint, gambling for the victory is more exciting. However, repercussions for this decision would have been extreme. If triumphant, the decision would have been highly praised for being gutsy and confident. On the contrary, if unsuccessful, the critics would surface, and voice their uncomplimentary reviews. Too many wrong calls for a head coach and a pink slip will likely follow.

As a coach, I agreed with Higgins’ choice, but as a fan I wanted more. In this season, the CFL has recorded two ties (the other 39-39 between Edmonton and Winnipeg).  These two games were
arguably the two most exciting contests of the year.

The league needs to re-evaluate the overtime rule. Currently, each team is given two possessions from the opponents’ 35 yard line (although there won’t be a second chance if one team scores more points than the other on the first try). One possible change could include an unlimited amount of offensive opportunities until a winner is declared. However, these are tired, beat up football players and not machines. Realistically, the CFL could double the amount of possessions from two to four. This would increase chances of a winning team, and it wouldn’t be overly demanding on the participants.

I like the NFL’s overtime rule, with one exception. South of the border, the teams play one quarter with the club scoring first, (either safety, field goal or a touchdown) winning. However, I do feel each team should get a minimum of one possession. In other words, if your team loses the coin toss, it may end up losing the game without having your offense touch the football. This puts far too much credence on who gets first possession. Stats confirm that the team winning the coin toss, thus getting the ball first, ends up winning the game a far greater percentage of the time.

Regardless of whether it’s the CFL, or the NFL, and whatever overtime rules they use, football has it right as no points are awarded for overtime losses. Now, if only the NHL and WHL could take note and follow suit.

From the quote rack:

“Things just got worse. Mattel has recalled the Dodgers' bats because they have lead in them." Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg, after the LA Dodgers lost 11 of 14 games in one stretch.

“So (Patriots quarterback) Tom Brady may ask for paternity leave for the birth of his child? What's next, teammate Vinny Testaverde, 43, asking for leave for the birth of his grandchild?” Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California

“$250 million? That kick was anything but free.” Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California, after David Beckham scored his first goal for the L.A. Galaxy on a free kick.

“She looked like she could still go out and lose in the first round.” Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, on former tennis player Anna Kournikova in Toronto.

“If the court has any compassion, it will consider playing with the Maple Leafs as time served."  Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary  (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/), on Toronto forward Mark Bell being sentenced to six months in a California prison for drunk driving.

And in case you missed it:

--The New York Times has reported that 15 percent of participants in fantasy sports are female, up
from 12 per cent seven years ago.

And how was your week?

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us