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Morning everyone! Let’s face it, we’re getting to that point in the week where we’re all starting to feel just that bit more tired and in need of some inspiration… With that, we thought we would treat you guys to a classic Sports Road AI Special 😅 Enjoy!
Here's what we got for ya today:
Fantasy Football is BACK!
Times Are Changing…
Tennis’ CRAZY AI
Football: The Metaverse
Most Valuable Sports Teams:
Let's get into it!
It’s Time For Bragging Rights!
It’s that time of the year again, ladies and gentlemen!
Ah, Fantasy Football – the weird intersection where life meets sport in a way only possible through true competition. Where legends are made, friendships are built and broken, and most importantly, bragging rights stand tall, there is little that can compare.
Alright, alright. While we may have been a bit dramatic, the magnitude at which the industry is currently operating cannot be understated.
Worth an estimated $18.6 billion, the market for Fantasy Football is HUGE. And as we’ve all learnt over the last couple of months, when there’s a pull that strong, technological innovation usually follows suit.
I think you know where this is heading…
AI, welcome to Fantasy Football!
That’s right. Acting as your very own quarterback, Gridiron’s AI is here to ease the pressure of weekly team changes!
Building predictive models through advanced forms of AI, the tech firm has managed to build a form of power rankings.
Specifically tailored to translate real-life data into metrics which are appropriate to the game, the technology has also been able to allow players a far more digestible way to consume stats and could actually help grow American Football into an even bigger spectacle than it already is!
With the AI also offering to collect information from unstructured data, the rankings delve far deeper than you may think…
Looking into elements such as injury analysis, the models – which already outperform a large majority of rankings available across the internet – are BOUND to help improve your game!
“When you get into the site, we have what we call 'value' and basically it provides insight into what does the average player at that position score and how much does this projection deviate from the average player… So, when you are thinking about who should I start, who should I draft or who should I play in daily fantasy, you can use that information to try and find added value.”
Andy Troiano, Data Scientist and Co-Founder of Gridiron AI
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Expect Some Big Changes…
So from one game, let’s head right into the next!
FIFA – the game we all grew up on and love (Well, sometimes 🤣) – is changing forever! But, let’s be honest. That’s no secret.
With EA and FIFA deciding to go their separate ways, a hole was created in the Football gaming scene.
Sending shockwaves throughout the entire community, the two companies each stated one thing: both would continue to create their own Football games.
And FIFA weren’t going down without a fight. In fact, FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised that “the only authentic, real game that has the FIFA name will be the best one available for gamers and football fans.”
Fighting words 😅
Despite that, announcing the release of their newest game, EAFC 24, EA Sports seem to be pulling ahead…
Being one of the most important Football games released over the last couple of years, some big changes were expected… And that is EXACTLY what was delivered.
Primarily coming in the form of the games newest player capture technology, EA Sports are looking to replicate the beautiful game more accurately than ever before.
How, you ask? Using AI, of course.
Labelling their new volumetric capturing technology HyperMotion V, the opportunities are limitless…
Unlike previous iterations of the game, HyperMotion V uses AI in allowing developers the option to automatically transfer data captured through thousands of in-stadium cameras to mimic unique body movements.
The catch? This will quite literally give the company the opportunity to jump from a few dozen unique run styles to way over one thousand!
Significantly improving the depth of gameplay, this is definitely one to keep an eye on!
See The Game Like Never Before…
Yet again, we find ourselves talking about Tennis.
Now strap in. This one is absolutely mental 🤯 And no, this isn't about Djokovic and Alcarez’s belter a couple days ago!
Speaking of the greats, when talking about what makes a Tennis player – and athlete in a broader sense – world class, conversations tend to focus on a few criterias.
Mostly physical, we commonly associate things such as physical fitness, strength, agility, nutrition, and more in determining a player's skill.
With that though, we fail to consider something that may be more crucial than them all… Vision.
I mean, just think about it! Dealing with balls coming to them at paces on average of 160 km/h, the importance of visual cues is HUGE!
When you add on the fact that over 80% of input in sport is visual, you have a recipe to create the next best thing…
And what is that? OcuRay’s FalconFrames.
Acting as a vision-based training wearable, the gadget comes equipped with a built-in gaze tracking system that analyses eye movement. Using the data collected, the glasses-like system uses a retina-tracking guide light to give users visual cues pointing where to look in real time.
Having the ability to connect to smartphones, the device can also be used to compare performance, set goals, track progress, and more. Interestingly, these outcomes heavily use AI in order to help users bring their performances to the next level.
Being in the news this week for their groundbreaking deal with The John McEnroe Tennis Academy, the next generation of Tennis stars could be the best yet!
We Need to Talk About: The Metaverse
It’s been a while since we last spoke about the Metaverse here on The Sports Road, and there’s no better time to bring it back up than now!
Offering different teams and leagues across the world knowledge of fans’ behaviour, preferences, and more, the concept holds some serious benefits in the sports world.
Allowing teams to create personalised contents which can appeal to global fan bases, its application seems like a no brainer.
This week, we were reminded of exactly that.
Announcing the creation of a strategic partnership with Crypto Blockchain Industries (CBI), Chiliz has agreed to launch a Football-themed Metaverse onto their ‘Chiliz Chain’.
Acting as an AI-Powered 3D interactive platform, the world will give fans the opportunity to interact with their favourite teams like never before.
Named Football at Alphaverse (FAV), fans will be able to enter using the $FAV token that will be minted on Chiliz Chain. With this, they will be able to access virtual events, and be eligible for benefits and other Football related content.
“Partnering with Chiliz Labs and integrating Chiliz Chain in the Alphaverse are logical steps for us given the footprint of Chiliz on the blockchain in general, and in the world of football in particular.”
Frédéric Chesnais, CBI Founder and Chief Executive
Having already agreed deals with Real Betis, Cardiff City, and Sao Paulo FC, the world will aim to include as many teams as possible.
Being the case, in many ways, the initiative can be seen as the creation of an online hub for Football fans all across the world!
In fact, the experience will include digital recreations of stadiums, training grounds, and other important memorabilia of the clubs involved.
Quick Bites
F1: The Future
Rugby: DRAMA!!!
The Women’s World Cup: The Stage is Set!
Meme of the day
Imagine sitting in row Z in your own living room
— Who Is Gręgg🇿🇼? (@greggislocallfc)
Aug 21, 2023
Quote of the day
“I don’t know. That’s something they have to do. It’s going to be very difficult for us I guarantee you. We’ll have to play with 10, or maybe with nine or with eight!”
Mikel Arteta on new rules
Picture of the day
Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic.
One of the best sets you'll EVER see.Enjoy...
#CincyTennis
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV)
Aug 21, 2023
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Chat to ya on Friday! ☮️
