This proposed rule change will have ZERO, non, nada positive effect on the popularity
of the sport and may be to the detriment if anyone is paying attention. There is a
difference between a rule of conduct and a rule of sport. A rule of conduct such as
striking an official or opposing athlete or arguing too vehemently with an official
should result in dq of an athlete in any sport. The breaking of a rule in a sport
should not result in a dq.
I understand the frustration of fans watching sprints with numerous false starts. In
other sports there are always rule violations which affect the game. You don’t
see an Offensive Tackle kicked out of an NFL game for committing a holding violation
on a play which resulted in a touchdown for his team. How about throwing a pitcher out
of a baseball game for numerous walks or too many 3 and 2 counts? How about the
Hack-a-Shaq defense in the NBA? All of these situations slow down their respective
sports and no one complains about them, for the most part.
I find the sport is heading backwards. The two jump rule is even stupider. Both
rules seemed to be an attempt to get the athletes off the track or field. Makes
absolutely no sense to me.
Steve S.
