COMMENTARY – THE PRESS BOX VIEW

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)

It’s not breaking news that we’re in interesting times. We’ve known that for quite awhile.

But if you just open your mind up to new possibilities and what’s out there, you’ll get a flood of them.

I’m talking about the latest technological advancements.

For instance, the other night in the press box at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, an NHL-type had his Ipad out and was gushing about the latest analytics being offered by NHL Network analytics expert Mike Kelly.

For one low fee per month, you can get all the stats and figures that nobody else out there provides. The look on this guy’s face as he swiped his finger back and forth was just like a kid on Christmas morning.

What kind of stats? Like … did you know the Vancouver Canucks (Florida’s opponent that night) dump the puck in 68% of the time, which leads the NHL? Or that the Florida Panthers lead the NHL in offensive zone time on the powerplay, even though they’re in the bottom half of the league in power play goals?

He gushed, “This tells us that the Panthers are doing all the right things on the powerplay, but just don’t have any puck luck right now.”

Numbers aren’t my thing – words are – but I was fascinated about this for a few minutes. And for those who don’t know what the term “analytics” are in sports, these are them.

But I said to the guy … “We’ve been tracking this for years. If not on paper, then in our minds. I guess now you don’t need to pre-scout an opponent; it’s all on a spreadsheet.”

He gushed, “Exactly!”

So this is where times have changed. Apparently we don’t need pro and advance scouts anymore.

I guess progress isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Imagine where’d we’d be without the TV remote control? Now with Alexa and Siri, we don’t need to get up off the couch at all! EVER! It’s one shortcut after another in today’s world.

But back to hockey. Before these analytics, we’d simply pick the phone up and call the team that played our opponent last.

While on the call, maybe we’d get an update on the guy’s life (or these days, that gal’s life). What are his kids up to these days? Did he get home at all this summer? How’s your dad?

But why make a phone call when all you have to do is hit a button on your Ipad?

That makes me just a bit fearful for the future. Don’t blame government for dividing us as people.

We’re doing just fine on our own.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)