On of the most exciting part of sports is sudden death overtime.  In the NHL, some games have gone on for six periods of end to end heart stopping action until a winner has been determined.  In the NFL, the "greatest game ever played" involved overtime between the then Baltimore Colts and New York Giants.

Sunday, the Vikings and Saints went to overtime, with the Saints winning the toss, driving the ball and kicking the game winning field goal. It was an exciting ending to an exciting game. Now, some want to change the NFL overtime rules.

I am old school enough to believe that the outcome of the game should be settled in the manner that the game was played.  I hate the shoot out rule in hockey.  It's like baseball going to home run derby if the outcome isn't settled in ten innings. 

I despise the college football overtime rule.  After sixty minutes of hard, grind it out play, they line the ball up at the 25 yard line and try to score. Each team gets equal chances to win the game.  That's no way to determine an outcome.  And there are some that want to bring that kind of weak s*%^ into the NFL. 

The thing these candy asses forget is that a sixty minute game is a culmination of opportunities.  If you don't take advantage of what opportunities you are given in regulation, you face the consequences.  The best way to keep that form happening is win the game in regulation and not throw an ill advised pass in the waning seconds as your team is driving for a winning field goal attempt.  To say that the overtime rule and the simple toss of a coin was the sole reason for the Vikings playoff exit is ridiculous.

Fans like sudden death because it is like life.  You get so many opportunities.  You either make the most of them and achieve your goals or you fail.  There is little in between.  Yet some want to water this down and make it like Obmacare where everyone is provided for.  This is not reality and it certainly takes all of the suspense and thrills out of watching overtime games.  Some think sudden death is unfair.  But, as in life, who promised you fair?

There have to be winners and there have to be losers.  Someone will maximize what they are given and be successful.  Someone else will fumble an opportunity and suffer.  That's life. That's real.  That's overtime.