Read other letters about this article

• Monday, March 20, 2006 10:59 AM

  Madness

  I agree with King's ideas about center court. There are many instances when defenses get "penalized" for playing good defense. If I can tip the ball out of your hands back across half court, where you're not allowed to take the ball yourself, I should get the ball, because you failed to keep possession. I also wish they would have jump balls instead of the possession arrow, but at least that's a pretty fair way to save time and keep the game moving.

  The time outs being called during legitimate action is getting out of hand. During some of these games, especially at the end of close games, there were times when I simply said, "What the hell is going on?" Players are in the middle of taking shots, diving on the floor, etc. The jumping-out-of-bounds-grabbing-the-ball-calling-time-out-in-one-motion thing gets awarded more than I'd like to see also. I agree 100% that you can't call TO during the action. Coaches shouldn't be allowed to call timeout at all. Only the player with the ball should be allowed to call TO, and only if he's unguarded. Good defense should be rewarded, especially in college basketball where the players aren't as good at shooting.

  Finally, just about CBS' coverage: there was one thing they did that was unconventional that I liked. A few times, if the action was staying on one end of the court, CBS would show a shot of the court from the very corner of the baseline the offense was attacking. The camera looked like it was about 10 rows back, so it was only slightly above floor level and stayed that way until possession changed when it went back to the standard side view. It was a new, but not completely alien angle to show, and it offered an interesting way to see how the plays developed including seeing lanes for cutting to the basket you can't always see as easily with the side view. No big deal, just a neat angle to offer that actually added to my ability to see the game unfold, which is the exact opposite of what most gimmicky camera angles give you in sports.

  —Fresho-Electro Read Fresho-Electro's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel