I’ve been wrong before
Look, I’m gonna admit it right now. I’ve been wrong about sports before. Like, really wrong. Remember when I told my buddy Marcus (let’s call him Marcus because he’d kill me if I used his real name) that the Chicago Cubs were gonna win the World Series in 2016? He laughed in my face. And then they went and did it. So, yeah, I’ve eaten crow. But that’s the thing about sports—it keeps you humble.
I’ve been editing sports features for, what, 22 years now? Started back in ’98 at a tiny rag in Seattle. Remember when sports journalism was just box scores and game recaps? Yeah, me neither. It’s all analytics and hot takes now. But that’s not what I wanna talk about today.
The elephant in the room
Everyone’s talking about how sports are gonna look in 10 years. VR, AR, AI—blah, blah, blah. But honestly, I think we’re all missing the point. It’s not about the tech. It’s about the heart. The grit. The sheer, unadulterated love of the game.
I was at a conference in Austin last year, and this guy—let’s call him Dave—stood up and said, “The future of sports is data.” And I’m like, “Dave, buddy, sit down. You’re scaring the kids.” I mean, don’t get me wrong, data’s important. But it’s not the be-all and end-all.
Take my niece, Lily. She’s 12. Loves soccer. Doesn’t care about stats or analytics. She just wants to play. And that’s what sports are all about. The joy. The camaraderie. The feeling of kicking a ball and having it go exactly where you want it to. (Which, by the way, never happens to me. I’m physicallyy challenged.)
But wait, there’s more
Now, I’m not saying tech doesn’t have a place. It does. It’s just… yeah. It’s not the whole story. I mean, have you seen the new action cameras? They’re insane. You can get the best action cameras for sports and capture every moment in 4K. It’s like being right there on the field. But even that’s not enough.
I was talking to a colleague named Sarah the other day. She’s a big deal in the sports tech world. “You know what’s gonna change sports?” she said. “The fans.” I asked her what she meant. “They’re not just spectators anymore. They’re part of the game. They’re creating content, they’re engaging, they’re making it their own.” And I’m like, “Yeah, but what about the players?” She just smiled and said, “They’re part of it too.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
Let me tell you about this one time
So, back in 2008, I covered the Beijing Olympics. Incredible experience. But there was this one moment—it was during the men’s 400m final. I was sitting in the stands, and this guy next to me, let’s call him Greg, starts yelling at the runners. “Come on, you can do it!” he’s screaming. And I’m like, “Greg, buddy, they can’t hear you.” But he didn’t care. He was living it. That’s what sports do to you. They make you feel alive.
And that’s the thing we’re all forgetting. All this talk about the future, about tech, about data—it’s all well and good. But it’s not why we love sports. We love them because they make us feel something. They connect us. They remind us what it means to be human.
But what about the current affairs analysis update?
Look, I’m not saying we should ignore the world around us. Sports are a reflection of society, after all. And if you want to stay informed, you gotta check out the current affairs analysis update. It’s a game-changer, honestly. But even that’s not the point.
I mean, have you seen the way politics has seeped into sports? It’s everywhere. And it’s not always a bad thing. It’s just… complicated. I was talking to my friend Lisa about this the other day. She’s a huge sports fan, but she’s also really into politics. “It’s not about the politics,” she said. “It’s about the message. Sports have a platform, and they should use it.” And I’m like, “Yeah, but what about the committment to the game?” She just laughed and said, “It’s both. It’s always been both.”
And she’s right. It’s both. It’s everything. It’s messy and complicated and beautiful and flawed. Just like us.
So, what’s the point?
I don’t know. Maybe there isn’t one. Maybe I’m just rambling. But that’s the thing about sports. They make you feel. They make you think. They make you argue with strangers in bars and cheer for underdogs and cry when your team loses. And that’s okay. That’s what makes it all worth it.
So, let’s not get too caught up in the future. Let’s not forget what sports are really about. They’re about the love of the game. The thrill of the competition. The joy of playing. And that’s something no amount of tech or data or analytics can ever change.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go watch some soccer. Lily’s got a game tonight, and I promised I’d be there. And I’m not gonna miss it for the world.
About the Author: John Carter has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years, covering everything from the Olympics to local little league games. When he’s not writing, he’s probably watching sports, talking about sports, or arguing about sports. He lives in Seattle with his dog, Buster, and his niece, Lily, who he claims is the best soccer player he’s ever seen.