NBA RULE CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS -- MORE OFFENSE, PLEASE

     The NBA competition committee voted yesterday to shorten the
distance of the three pointer.  The change will become final with
a 2/3 from the NBA Board of Governors in October (Richard
Justice, WASHINGTON POST, 9/14).  Other suggestions are aimed at
curbing game fights and improving scoring opportunities.  Raptors
GM Isiah Thomas said new foul rules give "the freedom and
creativity to play basketball" (Frank Lawlor, PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 9/14). Bryan Burwell notes the players' role in
bringing the game "back to its jazzy, aesthetic roots":
"Basketball is not supposed to be about rage" (USA TODAY, 9/14).
ESPN's Bob Ley:  "The rule of baseball seems to be tradition.
But this game seems ready to implode, as the NFL and the NBA
change the rules of their game to maximize their fan appeal."
ESPN's Chris Mortenson noted the positive effect the NFL is
experiencing thus far this season after off-season ruile changes:
"They juiced up the offense, and there is no question it has had
an impact in the first couple of weeks" ("SportsCenter," 9/13).