Those who know me well understand that I am indeed a sports junkie. Some might even call me a sports geek. After all, I am the one who would listen to a looped sports talk show (one that is simply repeated every half-hour or hour, etc.) or watch a game that happened earlier, even if I've already seen it. Shoot, I'm the guy who would go to the game, have it recorded while I'm there, and then watch it when I get home!
Some of the sports pundits the last few days have been jawing back and forth about play-off bound teams resting their star players during the last few regular season games. They are understanably excusing those with minor, nagging injuries; in effort to have them as close to 100% ready for playoff action. The controversy comes about in resting players that are healthy and ready for action. The debate is lively on both sides of the coin, and I suppose there are convincing arguments either way.
While sitting in a restaurant recently, I posed the question to my 17-year old daughter from the business standpoint. The fan pays $100 for a ticket and wants to watch the team, including the star player, play. The star sits, and the fan feels slighted. Right or wrong, fair or foul, good or bad?
Her first reaction is, "It's just a game. I'm not going to pay $100 to sit there and watch grown men play a game, anyway." I see her point, but taking that human interest factor out of the equation, the fact remains, that the consumer is paying a chunk of change to watch a competitive game.
Consider this. The team has secured a spot in the playoffs. The coach does not want to risk unnecessary injury to a key player, and maybe the long season is taking its toll on the human body. Resting the player(s) can prove damaging to the routine of the athletes. Just ask the Indianapolis Colts. The athletes need to stay sharp and focused on the job at hand.
Put the starting players on the court (or field, as the case may be), let him get his statistical average, then let him sit. This accomplishes many goals: the athlete stays sharp and focused in his energies, the team does not lose the needed rhythm entering the postseason, the fans are able to see the stars AND the reserves who need the playing time. Everyone wins.
The injury factor is there in any sport. No one wants to get hurt, much less in a 'meaningless' game. But I submit, any game has meaning ~ to someone. Don't take away the competitive edge for any team. Make the game fair in every aspect. Start the same team you'd start if it were in the middle of the season. Its just the right thing to do.
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