If you clicked on this post for a religious discussion, you won’t find it here! (Unless you consider soccer/football a religious endeavor) The question is about the influence of technology within the game. If VAR had existed in 1986, the “Hand of God” goal would have been disallowed. While on its face, this could be seen as a positive, especially for English fans. The correct call is made after some deliberation and “justice is done.” Maradona possibly gets a card for deliberately handling the ball. The result of the game is another stepping stone but nothing that endures through the ages.
As we progress into a world where technology is ever more pervasive, the question needs to be asked whether we’re gaining or losing. Some of this, I’m sure, is marked by my own nostalgia. Having grown up without the internet and many of our modern advances, I long for a world of imperfection. I’d rather a player and their fans be able to celebrate a goal in the moment rather than waiting for verification. “Getting it right” requires precision and the razor’s edge that is the difference between a goal or not can be maddening. It’s almost inhuman.
While my nostalgia for days long past may be strong, it does not have the strength to put the technological genie back into the bottle. Since we’re probably not going back, it might be worth it to notice with more fervor, the times when we’re truly being human. Our imperfections on full display. The joy of the moment without the pressure of perfection.
As you go through this and every day, there are innumerable opportunities for us to seize a moment that will stay with us forever. It probably won’t be planned in an app or edited by Chatgpt. Your abilities will be met with opportunity and magic will happen. It won’t be perfect but it will be worth remembering!
Golazo!
Pete
Huryk Unlimited 