Number 4: Smartball™

Smartball™

For some reason when the powers that be um and ah over on how to meddle with the rules or make the game more fair they don’t consider the ball. Manufacturers think about the ball all the time apparently. Every World Cup John Motson or whoever will talk about the ball, how it’s rounder, curls more or some other technological ball advancement. More than likely the manufacturers are rubbing their hands at the thought of millions of young boys pestering their parents for said new ball. Imagine if the ball had proper technology in it, maybe even sentient. It would be great to have a black ball with maybe a Knight Rider/Cylon scanner that was “aware”. It would put to bed all those twelfth man debates, there would be an actual twelfth man (thing) who could influence the match. Imagine the giants of the game, the Beckhams, the Ronaldos’ and other Real Madrid players playing with a ball that has its own agenda. Just as Roberto Carlos is about to kick another free kick that will sail harmlessly wide, Smartball™ , perhaps feeling some contempt for said player or maybe simply processing that it would be funny, the ball would roll out of the way. Roberto Carlos et al would look foolish in the eyes of others. The ball would roll around of its own accord and the players would have to chase after it in an attempt to play football. The only problem that I can foresee is that certain players that lack work rate would not bother. One solution would be to program the ball to attack players that show no interest in playing. Everybody Wins.