"Did you see the non-catch?"

That was the first question my mom asked after the Cardinals/Cubs game last night. Even though the Cards won, and Franklin closed the game effortlessly, the big talking point was Reed Johnson playing off a short-hop as a catch, ending the inning, and ending my chances at getting quarter drinks at Mobil.

Why did he do that? Well, everyone does. Players are taught to always act as if they caught the ball, touched the base, etc. And they can get away with it because there is no instant replay in baseball (except for homerun calls).

But it's not just baseball that could use instant replay. It seems to me that the more instant replay is implemented in sports that need it, the more honest the game becomes, leading to an overall better game.

Some sports don't need replays because the structure of competition leaves no room for cheating (like golf--the ball is in the hole or it's not) or because other methods keep it honest (like swimming--touch pads and weight-sensing starting blocks prevent disputed finishes and false starts).

One of the best examples of how replay or the ability to challenge a call has improved the honesty/sportsmanship is in tennis. When John McEnroe played, every call was a battle, as neither he nor the chair umpire would yield. But how could they? There was no way to prove who was right. But with ShotSpot, or Hawk-eye, it could easily be made clear whether a ball was in or out. And with players allotted a number of challenges, the tantrums seemed to have gone away.

In football, the big arguments seem to arise after the challenges have run out, or when a coach refuses to accept the official decision after a replay. But how often do you see a bench-clearing brawl in football? Not as often as baseball.

What might also help to end the dishonesty in sports during the game (I'm not even going to start with steroids...) is changing the way it is taught.

From an early level, players are taught how to over-exaggerate fouls & sometimes taught to argue for the beneficial call even when they know they are incorrect. In soccer and lacrosse, I was taught to fall dramatically if an opposing player brushed past me, or sometimes even if I was losing control of the ball. In waterpolo, I was shown how to make it look as if an opposing player pushed me underwater (which is not allowed).

What if coaches taught that honesty is the best policy? That it is better to play aggressively when the other team gets a little rough, instead giving an Oscar-worthy injury performance? That playing the game as it was intended to be played is better than winning?

So no more non-catches. If you drop the ball, own up to it.