[Back In The Saddle]

Back when I worked in a grocery store, we had a huge sign over the checkstands that outlined our check policy. It was there for one reason and one reason only...to allow us to refuse a check when we needed to. To enforce it strictly would have driven away loyal, honest customers.

It seems to me that we're haggling over a similar situation. We've got a rule that is there to help the official curb substitution abuses. Do we really want to force the issue and penalize a coach whose genuine intent is to keep within the rules? Would forcing the coach to burn a time out or accept a T improve the game? Would it punish an unsporting act or correct an unfairly gained advantage? Would it empower the players to determine the outcome of the game? Or would it merely distract from the game with anal-retentive administrivia?