ATLANTA, GA. — Deion Sanders was probably the last celebrity guest expected to show up at Microsoft’s Ignite technology conference, where thousands of IT geeks are in Atlanta this week learning about everything from Azure cloud infrastructure to containerized apps. But it was “Prime Time” who walked on stage during the keynote presentation on Monday afternoon to help Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella show off an unreleased fantasy football advice bot. During his hour-long keynote that described Microsoft’s vision for how artificial intelligence can shape the future of computing, Nadella brought Sanders on stage in Atlanta, the city where the two-sport freak athlete not only starred… Read More
Take him out of the ballgame? That would seem to the logical conclusion when it comes to home plate umpires if the decision is based on accuracy in calling balls and strikes. But in a game built on tradition, there’s more at play than being 100 percent correct. In the latest look at how technology could potentially alter yet another sport, HBO gets in on the ongoing debate over whether it’s time for baseball’s lovably blind yet nostalgically perfect umpires to give way to computer pitch trackers. A new episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” airs Tuesday night, and former player… Read More
ATLANTA, GA. — Most NFL followers are likely now familiar with the Microsoft Surface, given that the device has become a mainstay on sidelines as a training tool that players and coaches use to review past plays during games. It’s part of the $400 million deal Microsoft signed with the NFL back in 2013. But now the device is making its way into another sport: professional golf. In November of last year, Microsoft announced a three-year deal with the PGA Tour, and we’re starting to see partnership come to fruition on the golf course. GeekWire is in Atlanta, Ga., at East Lake Golf… Read More
ATLANTA, GA. — In terms of broadcasting, golf is a unique. Unlike football, basketball, baseball, and most other sports, there is not one field or one ball. Up to 156 players tee off at a typical four-day tournament over the course of several hours. They each have their own ball and play a variety of shots at 18 different holes; at any time, there are hundreds of balls moving around on the course. That’s partly why the PGA Tour launched its first over-the-top streaming subscription service called PGA Tour Live last year in July. The paid service, $5.99 per month or $39.99 per year, allows golf fans… Read More
ATLANTA, GA. — Dustin Johnson is looking to cap off his best season yet on the PGA Tour with a victory this week at the Tour Championship and a FedEx Cup title. He is also the leading contender for the 2016 Player of the Year award. So how’d Johnson go from one of the top professional golfers to arguably the best? Analyzing data has played a key role for the 2016 U.S. Open champ, specifically to help improve one part of his game that was lacking: wedge play. Tom Alter, vice president of communications at the PGA Tour and a bonafide golf geek, sat… Read More
