Have you ever seen an image on TV that made you cringe, jump, recoil, gag, or grimace?
I certainly have! The first incident that comes to mind is from a Packers/Vikings game last year. On a kickoff return, Charles Gordon of the Vikings suffered a horrific ankle injury that left his foot pointed 90 degrees in the wrong direction as he lay motionless on the field. Typically, this would not be replayed due to the severity of the injury. But, the producers didn’t see the injury so they ran the replay to see whether he had fumbled before his knee was down for all of America to see. The unintentional replay made it possible for me to see something that left me with goose bumps.
Ten years ago, this would have been a shudder-worthy replay. Today, it was far worse thanks to high-definition TV. I’m sure any sports fan can recount an incident where they saw an injury in high definition and yelled out in pain for the player.
Between the high-def cameras, the increase in the number of cameras, and the amazing quality of new slow motion cameras, video technology has changed the way we watch sports. For example, the NFL has those amazing cameras that run remotely along wires above its fields. If you’ve been to any major sporting event lately, or event watched one on TV, the number of cameras present, and the variety of angles they can show you, is pretty unreal.
In our homes, on the right TV, blades of grass or individual floorboards are easily detectable. The parquet floor of TD Arena never looked so nice as on a 1080p, 120hz LCD TV. And, the giant screen at the Cowboy’s new digs look just as clear in my home as it does for the fans pondering its gigantic glory. It makes watching sports at home a joy, because we are now seeing the game pretty close to as if we’re literally there.
Sometimes, though, especially lately, this has been a curse too. As I mentioned, there are the injuries. Another thing I’ve noticed lately is with the high-powered zoom and high quality, we are seeing more and more players, coaches, and even fans mouthing obscenities. I saw two on Sunday alone during the NFL games. I’m sure there are parents not too happy about their kids seeing sports figures and coaches mouthing these words and phrases.
In addition, this new video age has given us a much better look into the darker side of sports. Take, for example, Legarrette Blount’s KO of a Boise State player. Ten, even five, years ago we would have never seen that footage as clear as we did this year. Without the close up, high definition view of the punch, the public reaction would have been much less. If I told you a college football player punched an opponent, you would probably dismiss it soon after. But, seeing the actual punch crystal clear is a whole different ballgame. Or, how about the now-infamous Brandon Spikes eye gouge? Again, that footage would not have been possible not too long ago.
Video technology has a definite bright side, but a bit of a dark side too. But, if you ask me whether I want the high-def, 40” living room TV on Sunday afternoon, or the 19”, tube TV in the office, I’ll fight you for the remote.
