I don't have all the answers.

I can't calculate pi past two decimal points. I don't know why the sky is blue. I don't know what makes Coke explode into a frothy fountain of carbonation when you drop Mentos into it.

But I do know I have a fair amount of common sense, something some professional and high school sports leagues seem to lack.

So, I am going to provide them a free service.

Here's a quick guide on how to fix ...

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The NFL. There isn't much broken about the NFL. It's one of the more exciting, balanced and well-run leagues. But even it can use a little help.Like its overtime system.As it is now, it is sudden death. Any score wins the game, even a field goal by some dude who can't bench press a burrito.A field goal should never win an overtime game. Here's my fix. The first team that scores a touchdown wins instantly. If that team decides to send its puny former soccer player in pads to boot a field goal instead, their opponent gets a crack at scoring a touchdown to win.•

Major league baseball. Unlike the NFL, there is a lot to fix about America's Former Pastime. Pitchers hitting in one league and not in another. Interleague play. Bud Selig.But the biggest problem is the World Series. It is held too late in the year and too late at night, so we get games played with temperatures in the 30s and with a pitcher who has to slather his hand in pine tar to get a grip on the baseball.Since shortening the season is unrealistic, what is wrong with playing every World Series game at a neutral, warm-weather site? The Super Bowl is at a neutral site, after all.And what's wrong with starting the games earlier so they end before Conan O'Brien comes on the air? Then, maybe kids can watch it and they actually might like it.•

The NBA. Go back to the leather basketball already. And don't let Kobe Bryant change his number from 8 to 24 just to sell a few more jerseys.•

The WPIAL. Where do I start?How about the soccer playoffs. Apparently, the WPIAL doesn't live in our space-time continuum because it believes the first game of a soccer doubleheader can start at 6 p.m. and the second game at 7:30 p.m.It is impossible for a soccer match to conclude in fewer than 90 minutes. Forty-minute first half, plus 10 minute halftime, plus 40-minute second half equals 90 minutes. That doesn't account for time stoppages for goals scored, injuries, yellow cards, red cards.Schedule matches two hours apart like we do here in our universe, where the laws of space and time apply.Apparently, in the WPIAL Universe, it also is OK to play playoff soccer matches on fields that are not regulation size.Butler's playoff match against Peters Township Monday at North Hills was played on a field 10 yards too short. Freeport's first-round girls playoff match was played on a field nearly 15 yards too narrow.That's like askingMars and Kittanning to play its football playoff game Friday on a field that is 85 yards long.In the future, schedule games on fields that are regulation size. These players deserve at least that much.