Every-Thing Sports
Jermaine Every fixes the overtime problem for several sports
Oct 2, 2018, 6:34 am
Let's get the kickers more involved. Texas official Twitter account
Overtimes in every sport have been have been put in place to determine a winner. When that period/s is/are over, the game normally ends in a tie. Unless there’s a playoff game being played, then they keep going until a winner is determined. Different sports have different rules for their overtimes. In lieu of the NFL having new overtime rules and having two ties and a couple near ties, I have proposals for all major sports to adjust their overtimes. These suggestions will help determine winners, as well as making them more palatable for hardcore and casual fans of the sports:
NFL
Existing Rule: One 10 minute quarter played; each team gets a possession unless opening possession ends in touchdown, then it’s over; after each team has a possession, first score wins; two timeouts for each team; challenges come from the booth only.
Jermaine’s Adjustment: Each team gets a possession starting at their 35 yard line; no punting; best score wins (example: team A kicks a field goal, team B scores a touchdown, team B wins); if teams are tied after opening possessions, field goal contest starting at 45 yard distance and go back 5 yards until someone misses (teams are allowed to attempt blocking them). *Plot Twist: if first three attempts are successful by each team, non-kickers/punters must start attempting kicks from 25 yards away.
College Football
Existing Rule: Teams exchange possessions starting on opposing teams’ 25 yard line; best score wins; if tied after each team possesses the ball, we go to another overtime; starting with third overtime, teams must go for two-point conversion if they score a touchdown, unless it’s the winning score.
Jermaine’s Adjustment: (See NFL adjustment, but start from 35 yard field goal attempts. *Plot Twist starts from 20 yards away.)
NBA/NCAA Basketball
Existing Rule: A five minute quarter with regular rules; begins with tipoff like a regular game; fouls carry over from regulation; two timeouts per team; if tied, another five minute quarter is played until a winner is determined.
Jermaine’s Adjustment: A six minute quarter; possession determined by teams picking opposing team’s shooter and having a free throw contest best out of 5; no timeouts; fouls don’t carry over, unless you’ve already fouled out in regulation; intentional fouls will result in two free throws and possession; if tied, next period will be four minutes, then two minutes; if tied after the first three overtime periods, another best of 5 free throw contest with same shooters that determined overtime possession and continues until a winner is determined.
MLB
Existing Rule: Extra innings with same rules as first nine innings until a winner is determined; players who’ve played and have been taken out of the game are no longer eligible.
Jermaine’s Adjustments: Non-pitchers must pitch; all previously used players are eligible to play again; teams can reset lineups and who comes to bat each inning; after the 12th inning, homerun derby rules until winner is determined (winning batter is credited with a walkoff solo homerun).
Soccer
Existing Rule: Two 15 minute halves are played regardless of scores in those halves; if still tied, there is a penalty shootout, but only for games in which a winner is necessary, like playoffs, tournament knockout stages, or championship games; regular season games or group play tournament games that don’t require a winner, end in a tie.
Jermaine’s Adjustment: Screw extra halves and go straight to the penalty shootout until a winner is determined for ALL games.
If you have any ideas, agreements, disagreements, or suggestions, hit me on Twitter. I’d really like to get your feedback.
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A new challenge awaits, and the Astros know what’s at stake
Jun 27, 2025, 2:05 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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