Computers and SportsFan Perspective

By Robert Driver& Robert Shoemake

Television Coverage

• ScoreboardLets the fans see the score, time remaining, quarter or innings

• TickerDisplays scores from all sports. Also gives stats and up to the minute scores.

Ticker

Football

• Instant ReplayGives referees a view of all angles to give the right call on controversial plays.

• Digital vs. AnalogDigital allows video to be transferred faster.

Football

• First Down MakerStarted in 1998,

Computerized line of where the next first down will be

Uses 8 computers in conjunction with the television to produce the image

Baseball

• Instant Replay Needed to

determine whether a ball is a home run or foul ball.

Baseball• Pitching Radar

Calculates pitch speed and displays it on the television

• Strike zoneGives viewers a

digitally created graphic of a strike zone and where the ball went

Tennis

• Foul line• Serve Speed• Animated Replay

Minor League Sports

• Sometimes these minor league sports such as baseball, hockey, women’s and men’s soccer, and others are not covered; however the Internet as well as the computer enables fans to follow sports not usually televised. Although these computers do not entice new fans of minor league sports, it strengthens the loyal fans and helps them to follow their team’s action.

Fantasy Sports

• Every major sports provider has fantasy leagues– ESPN, CBS, ABC, FOX– Yahoo, Sports Illustrated

• Most professional sports– Football, Basketball, Hockey, Golf, NASCARFantasy Sports

Gambling

• Gambling ranges from betting on teams, professional and collegiate, horses, and even card games such as poker and other casino games. The computer allows many people to establish bets with online book keepers such as sports.com

Online Poker• People from all over the world are able to play

poker in a fake world of poker chips and poker tables. With ESPN’s coverage of poker in telecasts of “The World Series of Poker,” more fans want to learn and play poker and the computer is able to satisfy their desires to gamble. – Online poker

In ConclusionOverall, the addition of computers during our leisure time,

especially along the fan-based side of sports, has created a more appealing and better side of sports. The accessibility of sports information and overall appeal to the viewer has allowed sports to grow which allows everyone to enjoy all aspects of sports. These computers make things more appealing, quicker to access, and easier to use so as to improve sports has a whole.