I have never thought of myself being resistant to change. However, I must consider it given my reaction to the current view I have to the games of March Madness, 2013.

As they have done before in other sports, the media has changed the face of collegiate basketball. And, not for the better. It is no longer a game that flows. it is now a game of “stop-start.” So much so, that teams have a difficult time creating any flow.

During “March Madness,” the premiere sporting event on the planet, timeouts are even longer than usual and the rule changes have the officials spending “coffee-break-length” timeouts at the scorer’s table.

You cannot reduce the risk that life is. You don’t change the game in an effort to cover all possibilities.

The flagrant foul is the basic conversation that has the officials’ concern. But, there is a difference between an elbow thrown to hurt, or an elbow that makes contact because the player is in an effort to maintain possession of the basketball. The rule has always been to protect the player/shooter/passer/dribbler who has the ball. Now the 6’ 10” player can’t even turn out of a double-team for fear of hitting someone in the head for a “flagrant” foul. Officials, get those defenders off of him. They have bumped him five times already. He needs room to pivot.

Teams talk about running the fast break. They can’t get any momentum now because they are in a timeout (mandatory) or are standing around waiting for three guys trying to figure out how they can make the decision to call a flagrant foul and still “look good” in the process.

The fast break, the game flow, and, yes the action are the movements in any basketball ballet. Like the double play in baseball or the 98 yd. kick return in football, it is the art form of the game. The media has us painting by the numbers.