COLUMN: How tech can fool you (me)

HOME STRETCH COLUMN
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

   A funny thing happened while my sons and I were sitting at the United Center in Chicago, watching the Bulls take on a pair of opponents on back-to-back nights a couple of weeks ago.

   A play was developing, and there was a wide-open shooter in the corner. Just before the ball got to him, my younger son Ian said, “I just got a notification; he makes this shot.”

   Sure enough, the ball swished through. For just a second, I was slightly annoyed at Ian for “spoiling” the play.

   Then the three of us started laughing, and I realized I had been taken. We were watching the game live, in person. No phone could tell us a shot was going to be made before we actually saw it. (And if it could, my sports betting results would improve dramatically.)

   It goes to show just how deep an impact technology can have.

   Our weekend Chicago trip, by the way, was terrific. We got the idea when we looked at the Bulls’ schedule early this NBA season. On back-to-back nights, the Bulls, my older son Levi’s favorite team, played host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (my favorite) and then the Miami Heat (Ian’s favorite). Talk about stars aligning; we had to make this work.

   The Bulls won both games, so Levi came out happiest. The Friday game against the T-Wolves went to double overtime. I was just proud of driving from our hotel in Schaumburg, Ill. to the United Center two nights in a row without incident.

   Diane was with us as well but didn’t go to the games. The four of us did have some daytime fun, though; going to Top Golf on a chilly but tolerable afternoon; trying an escape room (and failing, but just barely), and having lunch at Hooters.

Caitlin Clark

   I thought this a couple of weeks ago, and it rings even truer now that the Iowa women’s basketball team has made it to the Final Four:

   Caitlin Clark has single-handedly elevated her sport, while changing the sports viewing habits of an entire state.

 

 

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