Observations From the Cheap Seats

A different kind of sports blog. Not a fan blog for the local heroes, or breaking news. Rather, subtle questions about why things are the way they are.

Author: James

  • Blog Series 1: Rules Episode 5 – Golf

    Blog Series 1: Rules Episode 5 – Golf

    Time to switch to a more personal sports experience: golf.   This is a sport I have personally played for many years.  Though not for everyone, it’s extremely popular. According to the National Golf Foundation, 25.1 million Americans played golf on a course in 2021, and a total of 36.9 million Americans played golf either on a… Read more

  • Blog Series 1: Rules Episode 4 – Baseball

    Blog Series 1: Rules Episode 4 – Baseball

    Did you know that in the official rules of Major League Baseball, the “swing” is not defined?  That’s right, one of the basic tenants of the game is basically left unexplained.  I’ll borrow a 2019 quote from Matt Snyder of CBS sports: “Now, for decades and decades, fans, players, media, umpires alike have come to… Read more

  • Blog Series 1: Rules Episode 3 – Soccer

    Blog Series 1: Rules Episode 3 – Soccer

    One of the world’s oldest organized team sports, and perhaps the world’s most popular, is soccer, or football, or futbol as it is called elsewhere.  To Americans, it does have one rather odd rule, regarding how the games are timed.  I refer specially to “Added Time”. “Added Time” or “Injury Time” or “Stoppage Time” – … Read more

  • Blog series 1: Rules Episode 2 – Football

    Blog series 1: Rules Episode 2 – Football

    An admission: I love football.  It is undoubtably my favorite.  My Dad played Div 1 college football, and we watched and were taught the game when we were very young.   I remember being mesmerized, watching whole games start to finish, when I was 5. It is also a very complex sport, with many rules and… Read more

  • Blog series 1: Rules Episode 1 – Basketball

    Blog series 1: Rules Episode 1 – Basketball

    Fresh off watching the excellent basketball at the Paris Olympics, it was interesting to see some of the rule changes in international basketball from the NBA and NCAA.  No goal tending after the ball touches the rim, the lack of the defensive 3 second rule, different game lengths, foul limits, ball size, and 3 point… Read more