Instant Replay In Real Life

By Gary Ceder
Love of Sports Correspondent

Considerable debate has begun with Major League Baseball’s announcement that it might test out the use of instant replay in the Arizona Fall League later this year.

Many sportswriters, broadcasters and fans alike are questioning whether or not it’ll be good for the game.

Purists insist instant replay will slow down play of the game, leading to unusual or untimely delays that ought to be left out. They believe that part of what makes the game so great is the human element – that umpires, like the rest of us, will make errors on occasion.

Modern day fans of MLB will state that the technology is available to us and has been for quite a while. Why would you not want to take advantage of that resource if it means the difference between getting a call on the field right?

The next question on everyone’s mind inevitably is in what instances instant replay should be employed. Only on home run calls? Or on all close plays on the field?

With all of the above in mind, I thought this might be an interesting juncture to take a fun look at where else we might want to have access to instant replay in our real lives.

The following situations, for me, come to mind.

Watching a guy fight with his girlfriend

This could be said for any argument where each person is starting to get under the skin of the other and it’s about to erupt into something big. A few hurtful words are spoken. He/she wishes they could take it back. One of two scenarios then play out … either the girl breaks down and starts to cry, or she musters the courage to stand up for herself and tell him off, followed soon thereafter by slapping him in the face, kneeing him in the groin or pushing him to the ground. (Feel free to insert your own physical attack here.)

Understand, I don’t find women crying to be comical, so I don’t want any haters commenting about that. The above situation would only be funny if scenario No. 2 played out, in which the girl attacks the guy out of rage or anger.

In the office

When your co-worker tells off your boss because he feels under-appreciated, underpaid or both. Your co-worker’s officially reached his breaking point and snaps at any superior with no regard for the other’s higher title or rank.

When any colleague of yours makes a fool of himself or otherwise acts inappropriately in some way at a company party or function by getting too drunk or “friendly” with individuals of the opposite sex.

Hanging out with your buddies

At the bar when one of them gets shot down by a girl. Hitting on another patron or the bartender count equally in my book. When one of them falls and slips to the floor due to inebriation or simple carelessness.

The streaker at a sporting event

Specifically, after he’s drawn enough attention to himself and is eventually tackled by security.

Any minor physical injury caused by carelessness

The guy who trips over himself or inadvertently runs into a bunch of people while tossing around the frisbee or football in the park with friends.

Thank you for considering the use of instant replay, MLB. You’ve given me a fun, little distraction to make it through my otherwise mundane week.