#41 - Take me out to the Ball Game

The effects of technology on sports is more subtle then in other areas of life. Sure there are huge LCD screens in every sports arena. You can now pay big bucks to go to a stadium and watch the sport on a big TV. I'm missing something here. Isn't the purpose of going to a game, to watch the game live? I like seeing statistics and some instant replay, but watch the game on the screen? Boy those must be lousy seats you have.

Speaking of instant replay, the NFL announced today that they will have instant replay review as a permanent part of all games. Now that should make fans happy. We want perfection in our games so badly that we will stop the games to see if the call is correct. Well maybe not correct, but not overturnable.

Technology has really impacted the preparation phases of sport. From learning opposition tendencies to breaking down your team or players weaknesses to improving technique via slow motion video, its all being done. Remember this is big time sports so cost is no object. My beloved Virginia Tech Hokies basketball team bought a Free Throw improvement system that included a video analyzer and practice feedback system. Results were slightly improved free throwing, but we still lost 3 games due to missing free throws.

Golf has really gone high tech. New materials and designs pump hope into the hearts of every 20+ handicap golfer. Even the pros chase new technology in hopes of grabbing the brass ring. If you haven't had a lesson from a pro lately, then you are in for a shock. Your swing is recorded on digital video and can be broken down for all your swing foibles. They can even impose Tiger Woods swing on top of yours to make you truly feel inferior.

Even the grand old game of baseball has all kinds of high tech wizardry. Every pitch is on digital video with its speed accurately recorded. There are new training devices for batting, fielding and throwing. Lets not even talk about performance enhancing drugs. Thank goodness the 7th inning stretch is still celebrated!