Low Tolerance Rule

October 26th marks the start of a new season, as the Los Angeles Lakers hope to recapture NBA supremacy with a third straight championship. But with another NBA season around the corner, comes another set of rules. However, the newest rules also might make the list of the dumbest. Similar to the NFL which has become known by many as the 'No Fun League' for its excessive rules, the NBA is beginning to crack down on its players. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell took some heat from his players this past season after putting a touchdown celebration rule into effect and has been touched up as recent as this year. The rules outlaw any sort of excessive celebration that comes after scoring a Touchdown as well as any other play.

Meanwhile in the NBA, commissioner David Stern is doing his best Roger Goodell impersonation by making his stamp on the game and showing his low tolerance for those who complain a foul or any other call for that matter. A new set of rules is understandable, but when something as small as raising your hands or even looking at an official a certain way can get you a technical foul or worse -- ejected, you've gotta believe the league is over doing it. Sure the fans in the stands don't pay to see grown men whining and protesting every other call, but they don't pay to see their marquee players get ejected either. These calls have only been seen in the Preseason thus far, but what everyone wants to know is if they'll make their way to the Regular season, and if so, how long will they last until they take their tole on fans.

Now coming into the equation is the Players Union which is protesting that the new strict technical foul policy is excessive and was made without consulting them. It'll be interesting to see how this thing plays out, but I do know one thing, if I was paying top dollar to watch my favorite team and or player, I'd be pissed if he were to be ejected for something as dumb as raising his arms after a ticky-tack foul. And while we're on the subject of absurd rules in today's sports, who came up with this new NFL rule that bans celebrating a tackle, when one's knee is on the ground? To me, it's starting to sound like they're nitpicking in certain areas and towards specific players. Need an example? See Vikings defensive end Jared Allen for instance who has done his same old calf roping celebration that has become as symbolic as his mullet. Unless he modifies his signature celebration, it looks like those days are dead. Unless he plans to pay a fine and cause his team a few yards every other drive...