THE TWO-MINUTE WARNING … what a great idea (Shutterstock).

There have been a lot of changes in big-time sports since the first caveman invented the Cover 2 defense or the alternate possession rule, but one innovation stands out above them all

The two-minute warning.

Oh, that divine stoppage of time for the final 120 seconds of action  (football time usually multiplied by factor of five, depending and how many passes are dropped) that creates excruciating tension and hope for fans and coaches, and truckloads of advertising revenue for league and teams.

Although it may seem like a relatively-new innovation, the two-minute warning dates back to 1942 in the NFL. Back then, game time was kept on a stopwatch in an official’s pocket and he would use it to pause action with two minutes to go in the second and fourth quarters.

That was in order to let teams know how much time was left to play, certainly a useful bit of data in a close game.  

The two-minute warning  became crucial in the Sixties when the game clock became the stadium clock, so all could anticipate the impending arrival of the final gun and adjust their strategy and sense of urgency.

From an athletic standpoint, it was a boon because it offered a chance to catch your breath without burning a time-out as well as to concoct your last gasp attack or defense. Fans loved it, because they could order one more beer or – in my case – offer pithy advice to the teams on how to proceed.

It also offered a chance for advertisers to jam in more commercials, making the two-minute “pause” stretch like Pinocchio’s nose.

Brilliant. And can you imagine the possible personal uses? Wouldn’t it be great to get a two-minute warning/pause in a geography exam? How about getting that interval on a date, to plan further amorous strategy at a key moment?

It’s not that absurd. Women going in a group to the washroom at a restaurant are surely planning something. Men (or women) on a date in that same restaurant could use the time to decide what to order based on diet or financial resources.

I need a witty conclusion here … Can I have two minutes?