Can I Get a Ruling Please?   So we were watching the NBA finals and after the first two games, we noticed that the rules seemed to change.  Shaq was allowed to basically do whatever he wanted in the paint and Dwayne Wade only had to make a head fake toward the lane in order to get a foul called on whichever Maverick was guarding him.  So we started thinking about some of the rules and our thoughts on what should be changed in sports.   Adam - AJS Contributing Writer   NBA - Allow hand checking again. I don't know how this happened, but for some reason the NBA has become a "no touch" league. Basketball is a contact sport, let them hit each other a little bit and stop with the quick whistles every time Wade drives to the hoop. I'm still scratching my head over how the finals panned out.   NCAA Football - This one is easy. Let's see some kind of playoff format instituted at the end of the season. The "polls" are too grey in many cases, and it all seems too money driven (IE: Notre Dame). I like how it is in NCAA basketball where any team in the top 65 has a chance to win it all (some more than others obviously... Go Illinois State Redbirds!)   Baseball - The all star game having any bearing on the World Series home field advantage is straight up baloney! Nothing more to say about that.    NASCAR - O.K. I couldn't begin to tell you one rule in this sport, because A: I don't watch it, and B: I didn't realize it was a sport, but... Once a year lets see these guys trade paint in Honda Civics. Just once lets see them race with REAL cars. That would make the whole thing a little more accessable to me. I for one would be rooting for the Saturn four door coupe with the busted transmission.   NFL - This one is difficult because I do think the NFL is probably the best officiated sport already, but on a pure level of spectacle I offer the following... Instead of adding to the plethora of already banned substances (amphetamines) they should allow the players to do any and all the performance enhancing drugs they want. Let's see the biggest guys on the planet get a little bit bigger! Plus, how awesome would it be to watch Ray Lewis "roid rage" and tear down the goal post after a missed tackle? I'm dead serious about this by the way.   Soccer - Somebody needs to start cracking down on players taking dives or flops when they are barely touched. I'm talking instant red cards. I'm not sure how you do this without messing with the already insanely slow pace of the game, but something needs to be done.     Joe - AJS College Football Editor   Baseball -  If you want to walk the batter, say "walk"  to the umpire.  No more making us watch four pitches that I use to teach my 3 year old to hit with.   College Football -  Bring back the halo.  C'mon.  How about a punt return now and again.  Oh, and go to an NFL overtime, but with both teams guaranteed at least one possession.   NFL - See above regarding overtime.   NBA - Install a new 2-point line 10 feet out.  Any shots taken inside of that line are worth only 1 point.  I'm tired centers dunking and driving for lay-ups.  How about a shooting game again?   Golf -five words....all scrambles, all the time.   NASCAR - You must drive a real Chevy Monte Carlo, or whatever car there is.  The car must be actually stock.  No that’s stupid.  How about the figure 8 track of death that Hot Wheels make, where the cars cross over and slam into each other?  That’s the only reason most of us watch NASCAR anyway is waiting for that moment when someone wrecks.   Soccer - No ties.  Ever.  Play until someone wins for goodness sake.     Ron - AJS Pro Football & Baseball Editor   Baseball - Lose the DH. Return the entire game to one set of rules. If you can't play the field, you shouldn't be ON the field.   College Football - Pay them ABOVE the table. Don't get me started on playoffs, there's not enough space on the page.   NFL - three replay challenges per half and allow challenges for ridiculous interference calls, etc. Also, lose the "ground can't cause a fumble" BS. If today's players are supposed to be better and stronger, they should be able to hold onto the ball when they hit the ground.   NBA - No changes, just enforce the damn rules....like traveling, palming/carrying. Also, if you get 3 points for distance, you should only get one for a dunk.   Golf - Tiger has to play left-handed, the opposite for Mickelson   NASCAR - Lose the ()*&%^*%^$&^%$*&^% restrictor plates!!! Or put them all in identical Toyota Corollas, same difference.   Soccer - shrink the field, expand the net. I LOVED indoor soccer....it was fast and exciting. I will watch the World Cup if I can't get to sleep.   NHL - Allow the home team to weaken the ice in one spot, a la the loose boards at the old Boston Gahden.   Boxing - Require thumbless gloves. Yes, they're supposed to beat the hell out of each other, but they don't have to go blind doing it     Travis - AJS Contributing Writer   Baseball – Designated hitter – pitchers need to hit and old fat hitters need to retire or loose weight and play first base.   College Football – The two dumbest rules in college football are the arbitrary celebration rule (referees are making enough judgment calls as it is they should not have to decide whether or not some guy is over celebrating) although I think celebrations are way over done in football I mean some of these guys act like they’ve never made a play before. Second I think they need to change the number of feet required to be ruled inbounds to two to match the NFL.   NFL – They protect the quarterback way to much, let them get hit a little bit, I mean really they are football players, aren’t they. And the head slap rule needs to go, who didn’t love to see Deacon Jones slappin’ his way to the QB and driving him to the ground (side note – I was a defensive end in high school).   NBA – Uhh, call the game by the rules already in place and call them the same for everybody and then we can talk about changes.   Golf – Let the crowds make a little noise, I heard they are considering banning farting because it disturbs the players. I mean really you cannot carry cell phones if you are in the gallery and cameras are not allowed either because the clicking is to loud.   NASCAR – I think they should seat all the wives and girlfriends together, that would make for some good TV right there let me tell ya, redneck heaven seeing chicks fight over whether somebody’s boyfriend or husband crashed someone else’s. Sweet.   Soccer – What are the rules in soccer?     Dan – AJS Contributing Writer   College Football – Excessive Celebration – I wouldn’t change the rule per se, but its interpretation.  To me “excessive” is anything that really crosses the line.  For example, malicious taunting of fans/players, gestures not suitable for family TV, etc.  Spiking the ball in the end zone.  OK.  Spiking the ball in the opposing mascot’s face.  Not OK.    NFL – Overtime – Maybe it’s the Democrat in me, but shouldn’t both teams have a chance to score? “Friendly” Golf – More than one mulligan per nine.  But only because I really need it.     Don - AJS Editor-in-chief   NCAA Football – I like the current format for overtime with one exception, start the ball at the 40 yard line instead of the 25.  So at least a team will have more than a chip shot of a field goal to either tie or win a game if they don’t get any yards.   NFL – Stealing one from the CFL here – after a punt goes 20 yards, make it a live ball.  The receiving team can still call for a fair catch and have first rights to make a play on the ball, but no more just letting the ball roll down dead.    Baseball – Get rid of the designated hitter.  I have to concur with Travis here.   NBA – They instituted a no charge zone right under the basket so an offensive player can’t be called for a charge – modify this to a “No foul” zone.  If you have the ball in this area, there are no fouls . . .period.  If you want to get physical under the boards, let’s get physical for cryin’ out loud.   Soccer – Make the net a bit larger so more scoring can occur and on penalty kicks, bring out a barrier to make the goal a bit smaller to actually give the goalie a fighting chance.   NASCAR – More road races.  Too many of the races are just two hours of left turns.   Golf – More beer on the course.  Oh . . .wait, that’s for MY game of golf.  Okay, how about heckling being allowed from the gallery. 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