The Carling Cup Final on Sunday between Manchester United and the Tottenham Hotspur ended in a scoreless tie. That meant the winner and new champion would be decided by a sudden death shoot out.
As the teams took a few minutes to decide who their shooters would be, Manchester United fans and the TV audience saw a curious site.
Man. U goalie Ben Foster and his goalie coach Eric Steele were on the sidelines looking at an iPod.
Huh?
Most were speculating that Foster was trying to psych himself up or listen to a tune that would help him focus.
Turns out he was not streaming "Eye of the Tiger," "Hells Bells," or the latest Metallica jam. Foster was watching footage on the iPod of Tottenham Hotspur's penalty-takers. One specific video showed Spur's player Jamie O'Hara taking penalty kicks and preferring to shoot left.
Well guess what...
...when O'hara took his kick, Foster dove left, made the save and got United the trophy.
"I had been told that if O'Hara took a kick from the spot then I should stand up and be strong and that he would probably put the ball to my left," Foster said. The evidence had been presented on video only seconds earlier and, sure enough, O'Hara put the ball exactly where Foster had been shown that he would. "Via TimesOnline
A lot has been made of this in the past few days. Some calling it cheating (ala Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots), others realizing that this technology is the next form of sports strategy. An on-field tactical aid with immediate data/video access. America Football teams do something similar to this during games, taking pictures of the opposing teams defensive formations and calling in changes to the coaches on the field.
Foster and Steele were cleared of cheating, because what they did was not against the FA rules. (Who knows if they'll outlaw it now?)
And if O'Hara had shot right or scored, this probably wouldn't be an issue. But now that it's news and it appears the iPod gave Foster leverage, I would imagine it won't be long before you see Marty Brodeur of the NJ Devils (ice hockey) skating to the bench before a shootout to review opposing shooters techniques. Or Red Sox Dustin Pedroia looking over pitches from Mariano Rivera before stepping in the batters box in the top of the 9th.
How will the iPod, iPhone and the inventions to come (technology which makes it easier to access video information) give sports teams the edge? Will rule makers allow it? And will it change sports the way we know it?
Time will tell.
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