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Every once in a while, players and coaches find a way to let the rules work for them.
That was the case last weekend in the World Cup quarter-final game between Ghana and Uruguay. In case you didn't see it, Uruguay defender Luis Suarez intentionally used his hands to stop a sure goal by Ghana in the final minute of a tie game, resulting in a red card and a penalty kick for Ghana. But Ghana hit the crossbar and Uruguay would go on to prevail in penalty kicks, advancing to the World Cup semis.
Some have argued since that such a play should result in an automatic goal in the future, but Suarez was smart to take advantage of the rules as they are.
It got me thinking of other instances in sports where players and coaches have used their heads to get ahead. Here are the Top 5 that I could think of.
Roger Neilson
The NHL was forced to rewrite its rulebook on several occasions after the longtime coach took advantage of its loopholes. Once, he told his goalie to leave his stick in the crease when he was pulled for an extra attacker. The other team’s shot towards the empty net deflected off the stick and went wide, saving a goal. Another time, Neilson used a defenceman in goal on a penalty shot so that the defenceman could rush out at the attacker.
Dan Marino
The Hall of Fame pivot will always be remembered for the fake spike he pulled on the New York Jets in 1994. Marino pretended to spike the ball and stop the clock in the final minute of the game, then threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Mark Ingram as the New York defence let down on the play.
Dave Bresnahan
While catching for the Williamsport Bills in 1987, Bresnahan changed gloves in the middle of an inning and put on a glove that had a shaved-down potato in it. The next pitch, with a runner on third, Bresnahan threw the potato down the left-field line, fooling the runner into heading home. Bresnahan then tagged the runner out with the ball at the plate. The ploy didn’t pay off for Bresnahan, however. The runner was ruled safe and Bresnahan was banned from the Eastern League for life.
Jason Kidd
NBA coaches would be best advised not to step onto the court when Kidd is around. Last season, with the Mavericks trailing late in the game, Kidd noticed Mike Woodson on the court and intentionally bumped into the Hawks coach in the middle of play. The refs were forced to assess Woodson with a technical foul, Dallas hit the free throw to help force overtime, and the Mavericks won in the extra session.
Brian Westbrook
Westbrook didn't break any rules a few years ago when the Eagles running back took a knee at the Dallas one-yard line instead of scoring a touchdown with a couple minutes left, but it was some real smart thinking. Westbrook intentionally didn’t score so that the Eagles, leading by four points at the time, would be able to run out the clock instead of having to kick the ball back to the Cowboys.
Maurice Jones-Drew did something similar a couple years later against the Jets, although his play came in a tie game. Jones-Drew ran down near the goal line, then fell down, and Jacksonville eventually kicked the game-winning field goal on the last play of regulation.
What other players and coaches come to mind for some smart and creative thinking?
That was the case last weekend in the World Cup quarter-final game between Ghana and Uruguay. In case you didn't see it, Uruguay defender Luis Suarez intentionally used his hands to stop a sure goal by Ghana in the final minute of a tie game, resulting in a red card and a penalty kick for Ghana. But Ghana hit the crossbar and Uruguay would go on to prevail in penalty kicks, advancing to the World Cup semis.
Some have argued since that such a play should result in an automatic goal in the future, but Suarez was smart to take advantage of the rules as they are.
It got me thinking of other instances in sports where players and coaches have used their heads to get ahead. Here are the Top 5 that I could think of.
Roger Neilson
The NHL was forced to rewrite its rulebook on several occasions after the longtime coach took advantage of its loopholes. Once, he told his goalie to leave his stick in the crease when he was pulled for an extra attacker. The other team’s shot towards the empty net deflected off the stick and went wide, saving a goal. Another time, Neilson used a defenceman in goal on a penalty shot so that the defenceman could rush out at the attacker.
Dan Marino
The Hall of Fame pivot will always be remembered for the fake spike he pulled on the New York Jets in 1994. Marino pretended to spike the ball and stop the clock in the final minute of the game, then threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Mark Ingram as the New York defence let down on the play.
Dave Bresnahan
While catching for the Williamsport Bills in 1987, Bresnahan changed gloves in the middle of an inning and put on a glove that had a shaved-down potato in it. The next pitch, with a runner on third, Bresnahan threw the potato down the left-field line, fooling the runner into heading home. Bresnahan then tagged the runner out with the ball at the plate. The ploy didn’t pay off for Bresnahan, however. The runner was ruled safe and Bresnahan was banned from the Eastern League for life.
Jason Kidd
NBA coaches would be best advised not to step onto the court when Kidd is around. Last season, with the Mavericks trailing late in the game, Kidd noticed Mike Woodson on the court and intentionally bumped into the Hawks coach in the middle of play. The refs were forced to assess Woodson with a technical foul, Dallas hit the free throw to help force overtime, and the Mavericks won in the extra session.
Brian Westbrook
Westbrook didn't break any rules a few years ago when the Eagles running back took a knee at the Dallas one-yard line instead of scoring a touchdown with a couple minutes left, but it was some real smart thinking. Westbrook intentionally didn’t score so that the Eagles, leading by four points at the time, would be able to run out the clock instead of having to kick the ball back to the Cowboys.
Maurice Jones-Drew did something similar a couple years later against the Jets, although his play came in a tie game. Jones-Drew ran down near the goal line, then fell down, and Jacksonville eventually kicked the game-winning field goal on the last play of regulation.
What other players and coaches come to mind for some smart and creative thinking?
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