Jeff Van Gundy suggested, over the weekend, that NBA players be allowed to "buy" an extra foul to avoid being disqualified from NBA games. The thought, whether serious or not, was that the game is better served when its best played are on the court rather that on the bench after picking up their sixth personal foul.
JVG's idea was to give players the option to pay $5000 to charity for the right to stay in the game. The concept might seem strange, but it does have some merit and I think it can be expanded to improve, not only, the foul situation and charitable donations, but also the link between modern day players and fan's,
to the history of the NBA.
Follow me here. What if:
1. NBA players were allowed to purchase one extra foul after
picking up their sixth personal?
A. The cost would be $10K paid directly by the player to an
NBA charity.
B. Teams would be prohibited from paying the tab for its
players.
C. The $10K would give the player the right to answer an NBA
history trivia question selected from a Q & A booklet that
would be provided by the NBA to every player during
training camp.
{Questions would be similar to
Q- "Where did Wilt Chamberlain have his 100 point game
A- "Hershey Pennsylvania"
Q- "What is the longest winning streak in NBA history"
A- " 33 games by the Lakers in 1971-72 season"
D. The question would be asked of the player on camera, at
center court and his image and the question would appear on
the big screen and be displayed to the arena crowd.
{Can you imagine the fan reaction if a home team
player takes the challenge?
Can you imagine the fan reaction if a VISITING
player takes the challenge?}
E. The player would have 60 seconds to respond
1. His coach would be given the same amount of time to
select a possible substitute for the disqualified player
F. If the player answers correctly, he stays in the game and is
allowed a seventh foul. He would be disqualified after
committing that seventh foul, with no option to remain in the
game.
G. If he answers incorrectly, the player is disqualified and
sidelined for the remainder of that game.
H. Whether the player's answer is right or wrong, the $10K is
paid to charity
I. Each player would be allowed five "foul purchases" during the
NBA regular season.
1. Each player would be allowed 2 "foul purchases" during each
round of the playoffs
2. The cost of "foul purchases" would increase to
$25K for round #1of the playoffs
$50K for Conference semi-finals
$100K for Conference finals
$500K for NBA Finals
--
By implementing this plan, we would find out which NBA players truly want to do "everything possible" to help their team. The NBA would also make loads of money for charity and
re-connect it's players and fans with the history of the league,
something which has been sorely lacking in recent times.
Honestly, the NBPA would probably veto this plan because it could cost its players money and put them in potentially embarrassing situations, but the solution is simple. If NBA players would do a little homework, study the trivia booklet and take some pride in the history of the game, they could help their teams and send a strong message that the league is much more than its current face and well worth the effort to explore its history.
Critics might say that this plan would favor the highly paid superstars in the game who could afford the price of
" foul purchasing".
I say "EXACTLY"!
Aren't those the players that NBA fans really want to see in the game, especially during crunch time?
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