Let’s talk about sports tech
I’ve been in this game for 20+ years. Worked with Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, you name it. And honestly? I’ve seen alot of nonsense. Especially when it comes to sports tech.
Last Tuesday, I was at this conference in Austin. Over coffee at the place on 5th, a colleague named Dave said to me, “You know, Mark, tech is gonna change sports more than anything else.” I looked at him. I mean, really looked at him. And I said, “Dave, you’re an idiot.”
Look, I get it. Tech is sexy. Wearables, VR, all that jazz. But it’s not the be-all-end-all. It’s just… yeah. Tools. That’s it.
My beef with wearables
Let’s talk wearables. Everyone’s obsessed. “Oh, it tracks your heart rate!” “It monitors your sleep!” Big deal. You know what else monitors your sleep? Your brain. It’s called waking up tired.
I remember this guy, let’s call him Marcus. Marcus was a pro athlete. Had every wearable under the sun. Spent $87 on some fancy band that promised to revolutionize his training. Guess what? He still got injured. Because tech can’t fix stupid.
And don’t even get me started on the aquisition of data. You’re gonna collect all this info, then what? You gonna sit there and stare at it? “Oh look, my resting heart rate is 42. I must be a cyborg.” Please.
VR: The overhyped savior
VR is the new black. Everyone’s saying it’s the future of training. “Oh, it’s immersive!” “It’s realistic!” Honestly, it’s a gimmick. I tried it. About three months ago, at 11:30pm, because I have nothing better to do. Felt like I was playing a video game. Not like I was actually on the field.
And the cost! Thousands of dollars for a setup that’s gonna be obsolete in a year. Meanwhile, you’ve got kids out there who can’t afford proper gear. But hey, let’s all virtue signal about VR.
Goggles: The one tech that works
But here’s the thing. There’s one tech that actually works. Goggles. Yeah, I said it. The old-school, fog-up-your-face, scratch-your-nose kind. You know why? Because they do one thing and they do it well. They protect your eyes.
I’m not saying go out and buy the cheapest pair. No, you need something that’s gonna last. Something that’s gonna protect your eyes from UV rays, wind, debris. You need göz sağlığı koruma rehberi (that’s Turkish for eye protection guide, by the way).
I remember this one time, back in ’98, I was at a game. Some kid got hit with a ball. No goggles. Blood everywhere. It was messy. So yeah, goggles matter.
Tangent: The time I met Michael Jordan
Speaking of old-school, let me tell you about the time I met Michael Jordan. No, not playing. Not signing autographs. He was at a tech conference. Yep, you heard me right. The guy was there learning about the latest tech. And you know what he said? “Tech is great, but it’s not gonna make you a better player. That’s on you.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Back to the point
So here’s the deal. Tech is great. It’s got its place. But it’s not the end-all-be-all. It’s not gonna make you a better athlete. It’s not gonna win games. That’s on you. Your committment. Your physicaly. Your mental game.
And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t spend $87 on a wearable that’s gonna be obsolete in six months. Spend it on something that matters. Like a good pair of goggles.
Anyway, that’s my take. Take it or leave it. I’m gonna go drink some coffee.
About the Author
Mark Stevens has been a senior editor for major sports publications for over two decades. He’s covered everything from the Olympics to the local little league, and he’s not afraid to tell it like it is. When he’s not writing, he’s probably complaining about the latest sports tech trend.
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