Rules Are Rules -- Even Stupid Ones

The dumbest rule in sports, college basketball’s “alternate possession rule,” showed why it’s so idiotic in the Kansas-Arizona West Regional final. With Kansas up, 78-75, and nine seconds left in the game, Arizona forced what used to be a jump ball. Instead the arrow was for Kansas, so Kansas got the ball out of bounds instead of losing it on a turnover.

This makes no sense. Whenever the defense forces what used to be a jump ball, the ball should be awarded to the defensive team because it has done something right and the offense has done something wrong. It’s time to change the rule.

Tony Medley

Marina del Rey

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Regarding the NFL owners’ recent meeting to discuss rule changes, I wish someone could explain why the granddaddy of all penalties -- pass interference -- cannot be challenged by instant replay.

Officials may spend all the time they need trying to determine if a player’s toe was one millimeter out of bounds, but they cannot review a questionable interference call on a desperation pass into the end zone that gives a team a first down on the one-yard line.

That’s like giving citizens the right to appeal speeding tickets but not murder convictions.

David Macaray

Rowland Heights