Five Unwritten Rules of Sports
Rules were made to be broken, except on the field.
If you didn’t know, then now you know.
1. Don’t walk across the green. Have you ever seen golfers squat behind the ball before they putt? They’re lining up their shot - imagine an actual line from the ball to the hole. That’s why you NEVER EVER walk across the green. If you walk across the green and end up walking through another golfer’s line, their ball could rollover your footprint and possibly change direction. While walking through someone’s line is disrespectful and annoying, it’s best to stay off the green as much as possible. Better to be safe than sorry!
2. Kick the ball out of bounds if an opposing player is hurt. This is one of the more sincere and compassionate unwritten rules of sports. In soccer, when a player gets hurt, the referee usually blows the whistle to stop play. However, the ref doesn’t always see it, therefore it is customary to kick the ball out of bounds. (This is assuming the player who hurt is actually down and not faking one of those Academy Award-winning performances we sometimes associate with soccer). Most of the time, the team that kicked the ball out will get it back, but even if your team doesn’t, it’s the right thing to do and you can pat yourself on the back for being a respectful opponent.
3. Don’t bunt during a no-hitter. It’s no secret that being on the opposite side of a no-hitter in baseball sucks. It’s pretty dang embarrassing for the other team. But for the pitcher, it’s a feat unlike any other. The first thought for the team up against the pitcher would be to bunt -just an easy little tap and then an all-out sprint to first base. Simple, right? Just one hit, and the frustration ends? No. Nope. Can’t do it. Why? Well, even though there’s no written rule for it, it’s a respect thing, so don’t do it.
4. Don’t shoot a last-second basket when your team is up. This one might seem like a no-brainer when your basketball team is up by a lot, and the other team is dragging a bit because they know they’re not going to win. It would be super easy to run the length of the court and hit the most impressive slam dunk of all time. Don’t do it. There’s no reason to do it except to embarrass yourself and the losing team. It’s disrespectful and adds nothing to the game itself. Although nobody can technically stop you, an earful from your coach and some snide remarks from opposing players will be sure to follow.
5. Don’t even think about an onside kick if you’re demolishing the other team. This unwritten rule in football is similar to not shooting a last-second basket when you’re up by a lot. An onside kick is a kickoff strategy that involves the kicking team kicking the ball more laterally and a shorter distance so their team can more easily retrieve the ball. When you’re up by a lot in football, an onside kick is flashy, obnoxious, and there’s really no reason for your team to need the ball back when they’re not receiving. Not onside kicking when you’re up by a lot is just a respect thing. Just like running up the score a bunch just because you can is disrespectful, so is this. Be a good sport.
Do I Know You From Somewhere?
No Tinder dates in the NBA bubble, why LeBron and the Dodgers are teaming up and college championships are cancelled.
There’s something so satisfying about being the one who knows just what to say to get the weekend conversation started.
Did you hear the story about….
The Last Night’s Game Team
College Sports
With a handful of conferences cancelling their fall sports, the NCAA (the governing body for college sports) had no choice but to cancel fall championships. This includes championships for men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s field hockey and women’s volleyball. The Board of Governors has a requirement that states that 50% of schools need to play to hold the postseason. There’s hope to revisit the championships in the spring. UNPREDICTABLE
Overtime
We all know that leagues have implemented the “bubble” scenario to keep players and staff safe. While the NFL (National Football League) doesn’t have an official bubble, some teams are putting their players and staff up in a hotel to create one. Enter in Seattle Seahawks rookie Kemah Siverand, who was cut from the team after he snuck a woman into the team hotel. She was dressed in Seahawks gear in an attempt to look like a member of the team. (Aren’t you curious to know if she was wearing a helmet, jersey and shoulder pads? Us too). The NFL season is scheduled start on time on September 10. TIME TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB
Sideline stat
The biggest story out of the NBA (National Basketball Association) bubble isn’t the fact that the San Antonio Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time in 22 years or the play-in games happening this weekend for the final two spots in the playoffs. It’s that family will be able to join players in the bubble after the first round of the playoffs. The NBA made the rules very clear on who can enter the bubble. Yes – up to four family/longstanding friends (exceptions made on this number for children). No – Your Tinder date (rules specifically state it can’t be someone you’re meeting for the first time), massage therapist, personal chef or tattoo artist. Regardless, everyone new will need to quarantine for approximately seven days before entering the bubble. FAMILY FRIENDLY
Coaches’ corner
They may compete in different sports but the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB - Major League Baseball) and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (NBA) will play together in November. The two teamed up, along with James’ organization “More Than A Vote,” to use Dodgers stadium as a polling location. It will be the first time a Major League Baseball team has offered its facility as a voting center. REGISTER TO VOTE
What to watch
The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) haven’t played a game since July 29 due to positive COVID tests amongst the team. Fingers crossed; they should return to the field on Saturday. They won’t be able to make up all the games they’ve missed because there are only 45 days left of the regular season. FULL ON FALL
Major League Baseball 101
“Strike” up a conversation
ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT BASEBALL? WE HAVE THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF YOUR MLB (MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL) QUERIES.
PLEASE GIVE ME THE BASICS SO I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON WHEN I WATCH A GAME.
There are three outs per inning in a nine-inning game. Should the game be tied at the end of nine innings, the game will go into extra innings.
The visiting team is always listed first on the scoreboard and they also hit first. (Think: letting your guests go first).
Four balls equal a walk and three strikes equal a strikeout. The number of balls a batter has is always listed first on the scoreboard with strikes second. (Balls-strikes)
HOW LONG IS THE MLB BASEBALL SEASON?
Normally the MLB season is the longest regular season in professional sports with 162 games. Baseball is only major professional sport to start and finish the season in the same calendar year. Due to COVID, the 2020 season will only be 60 games.
What are some changes for the 2020 season?
A universal designated hitter (DH). Previously only the American League had a DH and the National League did not. Now both leagues will use a DH. A DH is a player who hits in place for another player, typically the pitcher. Pitchers spend so much time honing their craft that they don’t spend as much time practicing hitting the ball as other players, hence the DH. This change is only temporary.
This is an off-season rule change for 2020 that will remain. Relievers (pitchers) who enter the game must face at least three batters or finish an inning before being removed (with exceptions for injury or illness). Before, pitchers could come in for one batter and then leave the game. That took a really long time. Enter in this new rule.
Another rule they’re trying on for size this season is for extra innings. Instead of starting from scratch each time a team comes up to bat in extra innings, the inning will begin with a runner on second base.
Here are more details if you need them.
WHAT ARE THE AMERICAN AND NATIONAL LEAGUE?
MLB is divided into two leagues – NL (National League) and AL (American League). What’s the difference? With the exception of this year, in the NL pitchers bat for themselves. In the AL, pitchers don’t hit. They have a designated hitter (a player who only hits, doesn’t play a field position) to hit for them.
WHAT DOES THE PHRASE "CAN OF CORN" MEAN?
Can of corn is a phrase used to describe a high pop up ball that's easy to catch. It doesn't require a lot of effort from the defensive player. Now why is it called that? The story says it's because in the grocery stores corn was on the top shelf (thanks to alphabetizing the veggies). Therefore when someone needed a can of corn the grocer would knock it down and catch it with ease.
WHY DO THE BROADCASTERS REFER TO NUMBERS WHEN TALKING ABOUT A DEFENSIVE PLAY?
There are nine players on defense (out in the field). Each position has a name but is also referred to as number, 1-9. While watching baseball, you may here of a 4-6-3 defensive play. That means the ball went to the second baseman, to the shortstop to the first baseman for a double play. Here's a deeper dive into the name and number breakdown.
WHERE IS THE 2020 ALL-STAR GAME?
Due to the shortened 2020 season, there will be no all-star game.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT LETTER “K’S” I SEE ON THE BROADCAST AND WHY ARE SOME OF THEM BACKWARDS?
Strikeouts are measured by “K’s” on the game broadcast and throughout stadium. A forward-facing K means the player struck out swinging (and missed). A backwards K means strikeout looking (i.e. they didn’t swing and were called out by the umpire). Photo.
HOW DOES THE LEAGUE KEEP TEAMS COMPETITIVE AND THE SEASON INTERESTING YEAR AFTER YEAR?
MLB does not have a salary cap like other professional leagues. Instead MLB has a Competitive Balance Tax or “luxury tax.” Once a team’s annual player payroll hits a certain number (this year it’s $208 million), they are taxed. The tax was put in place so big market teams (think: New York Yankees) wouldn’t sign all of the best players, leaving the small market teams at a competitive disadvantage. Where does the tax money go? Find out more here.
WHAT IS A GRAND SLAM?
Yes, a grand slam is a meal at Denny’s but in baseball it’s when there are runners on all three bases (first, second and third) and the batter hits a home run which equals four runs scored.
BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE CALLED THE BOYS OF SUMMER, BUT WHY?
Baseball is the only sport that spans the entire summer.
WHAT’S AN INTENTIONAL WALK?
An intentional walk is when a pitcher intentionally throws four balls outside the strike zone to walk a hitter. (It’s a strategy thing). To help speed up games a new rule was implemented that allows teams to signal for the walk and not waste time on throwing the four the pitches.
WHAT IS INTERLEAGUE PLAY?
Interleague Play refers to special occasion where the American League and National League play each other. Normally the teams only play within their respective league. The league of the home team determines whether a designated hitter is used or not.
THIS IS ALL GREAT BUT I’M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW TO DIVE INTO THE BASEBALL CONVERSATION.
Don’t worry, we have you covered. Check out our Office Guide to Baseball Small Talk.