just the facts

 I've started watching the Womens soccer FIFA world cup games. My wife took an interest in this sport when our grandson first began playing and later becoming a referee. Now neither of us boycotted any of that because of Rapinoe. The truth is we only watch when the United States is playing anyway. We would both like the United States to win the whole thing and that is really our only interest. The ladies fought for and received equal compensation although ticket sales haven't reflected any of that. I've talked about all that before. The bottom line is to sell tickets. Athletes, of both genders, will be compensated based on that. Quite an easy thing to understand in my opinion. 

 Anyway, we have been watching a bit and right now we are watching the United States vs Vietnam. We recorded that contest last evening. It is almost the half, and we are ahead by one. As I watch the game I can't help but notice how dramatically the players respond to every perceived infraction. They throw their arms up in the air like a taxi driver in New York city! When they fall to the ground, they grab their legs or sides and roll back and forth. I can see their mouths open as though they are screaming in agony. The referees are waving flags around, players huddle together in groups and the spectators are shouting at the top of their lungs. All in all, I think they must be Democrats! The reactions are the same.

 We reached the half and are leading by two. We did get a last-minute goal just before the half. A goal that was determined by technology! The call on the field was no goal, one player was off-side. The call was challenged and reviewed using all the technology available. The announcer explained all that. It was the technology that swayed the referee's opinion and reversed that call. It was great for us this time. I have mixed feelings about using technology in this way. I feel that the ref's or umpires are part of the game as well. Hopefully they get it right but sometimes they don't and that is part of the game. I wonder if the advances we are making in technology, especially AI, will one day replace those referees. When everything is "chipped" and the computer can determine exact locations, distances, and all of that stuff. Will we need a "faulty" human to issue their opinion? The computer says, not so fast, the person was safe as the ball reached the players glove before the runner's foot contacted the bag. Or the ball crossed the goal line nanoseconds before the keeper was able to stop it. No emotional response, just the facts. All the emotions in the world will not influence the decision.

 If that happens, and I believe it will one day, all that will be left is to challenge the technology. That appears to be where we are headed. You could say that is what happened with the last election. Lots of emotions but the technology determined the winner. Was the technology correct? That really depends upon who you ask. Did the home team supply that technology? If it did that raises questions. It certainly appeared as though all the calls went in favor of the home team. But I get it, the losing team will generally say that just like they blame the referee. That leaves just one question. Will it be the fate of mankind that A.I. becomes the ultimate authority? What I mean is all disputes will be settled in that way. The computer says. And that is it, the final decision. It's not an opinion anymore, it's a fact! For those of us that remember, "Just the facts, maam"