13 Things That Need Changed in Sports...NOW!

Sports are always changing, from the rules to the strategies, and from the fans to the venues.  Sports can anger one to the brink of drink, or can put a person on cloud nine.  

While some aspects of sports remain steady for centuries, other aspects need changing immediately. Here is a list of the top 13 things in sports that need changing...NOW!

Eliminate the Pro Bowl

While it's always fun to watch our favorite athletes have a bit of harmless fun, is there really such a thing as non-competitive football?  

Regardless of when the event is held, it is always put on the back burner.  Really, who wants to watch 300-pound football players giggling trying to tackle each other?

Evenly Compensate All NCAA Athletes

With high-profile athletes such as Reggie Bush and Cam Newton's father already caught in NCAA compensation scandals, no one can really know how many others receive under the table compensation every day.  

It's time for this multi-billion dollar agency to compensate those who make the organization successful and finally begin to even the field of play.  

Punish NFL Players Fairly for Illegal Hits

While some players only receive a slap on the hand for illegal hits, others receive multi-game suspensions for hits that are only questionably illegal.... if illegal at all.

Though the NFL will inevitably continue to punish players for the hits that we all love to see, it is more important for the League to establish fair guidelines for suspensions.   

Televise Soccer Games More Frequently in the United States

Let's face it.  The United States is decades behind the rest of the world when it comes to "football."

Perhaps if more Americans see the crazed and often violent atmosphere that encompasses international soccer, more Americans will catch on to the beautiful sport.  

Raise Awareness for Other Diseases

With the continued success of Breast Cancer Awareness month thanks largely to professional and collegiate leagues around the country donning pink equipment and gear, why not expand that support to the research of other diseases, such as Alzheimer's, heart disease or other forms of cancer?

Fairly Test for Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Major League Baseball

Hear me out on this one.  Instead of prohibiting all PED's in baseball, try this:  Establish a list of steroids that players CAN use, and test for drugs that aren't on this list.  

More importantly, instruct the players on how to properly use the steroids.  This way, baseball will hopefully be a bit more fair AND safe for all involved.

Implement Instant Replay for the FIFA World Cup

Perhaps one of the biggest no-calls in sports history, Frank Lampard's "goal that never happened" in the 2010 FIFA World Cup just proved how influential a missed call can affect a game.

A missed call like this can't happen again, and going to the monitor to check would only take a matter of a few moments to get the correct call.   

Create a Playoff System for College Football

Though there are many possible formats for a college football championship, none can be as ineffective and controversial as the current BCS format... can they?  

The NCAA needs to create a more fair playing field for all teams, and should start by telling us how they determine the current setup in the first place.  

Eliminate Repeat Participants in the Winter Classic

The Winter Classic has been enormously successful in bringing a big stage to the NHL, but the league needs to continue to expand its demographics to other cities.  

By allowing other teams to participate in the Classic, such as West Coast or Southern teams, the NHL has a much greater chance of expanding its fanbase.  

Allow the Super Bowl to Be Held in More Cold-Weather Climates

Regardless of where the Super Bowl is held, America's biggest game will be a sold-out event.  I see no reason why an outdoor, winter game should be held in the same 12 cities every year.  

Hopefully a winter game outdoors in New York in 2014 will help the league realize that it can indeed be held in a winter setting.    

Establish a Designated Hitter in Both Leagues

A pitcher who can hit in baseball is about as common as a Cubs World Series victory.  One of the most puzzling aspects of baseball is the designated hitter.  

The league needs to establish the designated hitter in the National League in order to establish a more fair playing field.  

Eliminate Aluminum Bats in College Baseball

With all of the hype about player safety in the NHL and NFL, one of the biggest dangers in sports is the use of aluminum bats in NCAA baseball.

The NCAA needs to mandate the use of wooden bats in college baseball.  

Determine Home-Field Advantage in the World Series by Records

Personally, this is the most puzzling aspect in all of sports.  Why the MLB feels that a fan-determined, middle of July popularity contest should determine home-field advantage in the October Classic baffles me.  

Home-field advantage in the 2011 World Series SHOULD have gone to the 96-66 Rangers, but instead went to the 90-72 Cardinals.