A couple of sporting notes this week, in an effort to steer the conversation away from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for a change.
No question .. Super Bowl LI was definitely Super. Everyone loves a comeback, even when it’s done by the guys who were the odds on favourite going in. So no football now until the three down variety returns in this country in June.
The Canadian Football League seems to throwing in the towel when it comes to competing head to head with the Tom Bradys down south. Fewer Canadian games are being played on Sunday, not that it really matters because the last thing we should be doing is watching sports in real time anyway.
Canada is one of 16 countries competing in the World Baseball Classic next month, with games in Mexico, South Korea, Japan and the U.S. The greatest difference between football and the great ‘American’ past-time is the use of the clock. It doesn’t exist in baseball. In theory, a ball game could last indefinitely if the score is tied, but organizers of the World Classic are determined to put a limit on things.
If any games go beyond 10 innings, the 11th inning will begin with runners on first and second. What?? Is this baseball’s answer to the three on three format that seems to be growing in hockey? The owners of several major league clubs are keen to try this out as well, in the interests of avoiding games that might last four hours or more.
They’re also keen to trim the season from 162 games, back to 154 , the way it was prior to 1961. That might take a few more years to implement though.
Things move slowly on the diamond. After all, pitchers are required to come to the plate with a bat in one league, and not the other. That difference has been around for 45 years, and you just can’t rush into these things.
I’m Roger Currie
