How Would AI Fix the Most Boring Parts of Sports?

Of course, we love sport for its high-tempo action, the on- and off-field drama, and the utter elation of witnessing a last-second winner. Yet, we’re sure you’ll agree that incessant fouling, blatant time-wasting, and endless bullpen shuffling can suck the life out of any game, so why do fans put up with it?

As a result, we got to thinking: if Apple Siri AI upgrade can enhance the fan experience off the pitch, why not give it a shot at trying to augment the sporting action itself? So we tasked ChatGPT with solving five of sport’s most persistent frustrations - and the surprising answers it came back with threw up some intriguing ideas.

Baseball: Too Many Late Innings Pitchers and Not Enough Action

No doubt, the technical depth of a baseball team’s roster is an integral part of the appeal, but given the MLB has spent years optimizing every possible aspect of the game, why are managers still allowed to disrupt its flow and deflate the sporting tension with endless pitcher swaps mid-inning.

ChatGPT’s Fix:

With the exception of an injury to a player, in future, pitching changes should be limited to just one per inning throughout a game, meaning both managers will only get one chance to replace a pitcher mid-inning. That way, it will still create the nail-biting matchups that keep the fans entertained, but it will curb the constant stoppages as managers shuffle through their bullpen selections.

Bodog Conclusion: 

It’s fair to say AI came out of the blocks swinging here, as even though the purists might want to watch the perfect matchup every time, for the vast majority of fans in the stands and those watching at home, fewer interruptions can only mean more engaging baseball action.

Soccer: Stop the Clock, Stop the Time-Wasting

No doubt, if there is one universal complaint about soccer, it’s that players and managers always seemingly get away with time-wasting, particularly when they go a goal up in a game. Whether it’s a goalkeeper taking forever to take a goal kick, the theatrical levels of players feigning an injury, or just the lengthy managerial substitutions purposely designed to kill time.

ChatGPT’s Fix:

It sounds simple, but AI suggests that the ref automatically stops the clock during every break in play, be that for substitutions, VAR reviews checking smart ball data, or when players go to ground deliberate time-wasting during the game. As a result, each half will automatically finish when the clock hits 45 minutes, with no added time.

Bodog Conclusion:

Again, another good shout from ChatGPT, as this will inevitably cut down the amount of time-wasting taking place if players know their efforts to do so would be futile. However, while this proposal would accelerate the fluidity of the game, it would call an end to the alluring spectacle of witnessing a late, late winning goal that always keeps fans on the edge of their seats right to the end.

Basketball: Two Minutes of Drama, Not Twenty Minutes of Delays

As any fan of the NBA will tell you, you can be treated to a scintillating first 46 minutes of action, followed by 20 minutes of fouls, free throws, reviews, and timeouts. In theory, the last 2 minutes of a close basketball game should always be exciting, but more often than not, it typically ends up being lackluster and thoroughly underwhelming.

ChatGPT’s Fix:

In the final two minutes of a game, any intentional off-ball fouls not only offer the opposition one free throw, but they also then get the next possession. While the rules regarding normal basketball fouls remain, this alteration to proceedings should eradicate players grabbing one another just to stop the clock at what should always be the sharp end of the game.

Bodog Conclusion: 

While this rule change won’t prevent momentum-sapping timeouts from being taken, this suggestion is certainly one that is hard to hate. After all, by making deliberate fouls strategically pointless, it removes the incentive of doing so, freeing up the action to continue rather than turning the last few moments of an exciting game into a time-consuming, laborious slog.

Football: Hello Playmakers, So Long Kickers

As a firm fan favorite and one of the easiest sports to learn how to bet on, the NFL is watched by millions all over the globe, yet given the fact that kickers can now regularly kick 60+ yard field goals, teams only need to march halfway up the field to score. Hiring a kicker with a monster leg is one thing, but fans come to watch games to see touchdowns… not field goals. 

ChatGPT’s Fix:

Here, AI’s suggested solution would see the NFL decreasing the value of a field goal to just two points, principally forcing teams to always go for the touchdown, rather than relying on kicking three points. Requiring four field goals to overturn a touchdown deficit, this rule change will force teams to kick less and gamble more to reach the end zone on every drive.

Bodog Conclusion: 

Easily the best AI suggestion yet, as there isn’t an NFL fanatic who wouldn’t agree that every game should be decided by the team who dominates the line of scrimmage, not who can kick the ball the furthest. 

Tennis: Ditch the Five-Hour Slugfests With Punchier Make-or-Break Tie-Breakers

There is no doubt, some of the greatest tennis matches ever have been five-set thrillers, with momentum ebbing and flowing on each service game. Nevertheless, for everyone other than diehard tennis traditionalists, early Grand Slam matchups can turn into arduous five-hour marathons, which for casual fans and tennis bettors can feel like a lifetime waiting for a result. 

ChatGPT’s Fix:

AI’s concept here involves shortening each set and introducing a first-to-four-point mini-break when a set score tally reaches 5-5. Not only will this increase the intensity of each set, but it means tight sets are resolved far quicker than the traditional unlimited 6-6 game tie-breaker used today.

Bodog Conclusion:

Now, while this proposal would certainly speed up matches, as one of the only head-to-head sporting contests that truly pits one player against another, endurance has always been an integral factor in deciding Grand Slam winners. Limit its influence, and you undermine what it means to be crowned champion, but in a world of shrinking attention spans, it’s not the worst suggestion ever.

The Bottom Line

Overall, it’s hard to argue with the majority of ChatGPT’s recommended format changes - after all, each one is attempting to tackle the most boring elements of each of these hugely popular sports. One could argue it would mean changing century-old rules and regulations in most cases, but as we’ve seen with the inclusion of AI in sports training, broadcasting, and officiating, perhaps the machines also know how to enjoy watching sports better than we do.