WHAT'S BROKE & NEEDS FIXING. In my opinion, here's what's broke and needs fixing in three of the four major professional sports leagues in North America. That would be the fact that the rules change noticeably from the regular season to the playoffs as it applies to extra innings or overtime and let me elaborate.

Let's start with Major League Baseball. During the regular season, if a 10th inning or longer is necessary to determine a winner, each team starts their at bat with the individual who made the last out as a courtesy runner on second base. This has a definite effect on what teams make the postseason and that doesn't carry over into October baseball. No gifts in the playoffs so why should that be the case during the 162 games that determines who continues playing. That so wrong in my book.

Now we go to the National Hockey League. Overtime becomes three-on-three and after five minutes the outcome is decided by a shootout between skater and goaltender. None of this occurs with bonus hockey in the playoffs. You play 5 on 5 until someone scores and I've seen two that have gone 5 OTs before a victor. I'm not old enough to say I witnessed the two 6 OT Stanley Cup tilts in the 1930's. Sorry to disappoint you.

On to the National Football League. The scoring in the regular season is drastically different in the NFL Second Season in overtime. During the regular season if a team with its first possession in extra time scores a touchdown it's game over. Not so in the playoffs. If that same scenario occurs in the race for the Lombardi Trophy the opposition has a chance to match that with a TD of their own. After that, it's true sudden death. I ask you why is this not the case for 17 games before the postseason?

Finally, congrats to the National Basketball Association. What you see in the 82 game regular season is what you get in the playoffs. If the score is tied after 48 minutes of play it's a 5 minute overtime until the outcome is decided. No bells and whistles like four on four in the first overtime then free throws after the second extra period.

Just good old fashioned hoops. That make's a purist like me extremely happy.

Book it Dano!