Sports Mirror Technology

Watching the NFL playoffs this weekend, I was struck by the similarity between sports and technology.

All sports fans have favorite teams, and very rarely do those allegiances ever change. Packer fans are usually Packer fans for life, and as such they generally despise rivals such as the Vikings and the Bears.

The same rivalries can be seen in technology. For example, Linux fanatics often eschew Windows with the same vigor as Packer fans lamenting the Bears’ recent Super Bowl berth. Fans of Windows, however, view Linux as an operating system aberration in much the same manner as the Bears getting to the Super Bowl.

The impending release of Windows Vista will present another similarity between sports and technology. Windows XP, currently the most widely used personal computer operating system, will soon be derided as legacy technology and be relegated to clearance shelves and the history books.

As the New England Patriots recently found out, today’s darling can quickly become tomorrow’s goat. With new technology being developed on an almost daily basis, the world of technology is full of gadgets and gear whose gotta-have-it lifespan lasted mere weeks.

In sports and technology, dynasties are rarely built. The Packers suffered through 30 years of misery before resurrecting themselves for a ten year run of success. It’s nearly impossible for teams at the top to stay there permanently. It just doesn’t happen.

While the business world does have it’s perennial winners such as Microsoft and Intel, one only has to look as far as IBM to see that the technology world is chock full of organizations that were put out of business or gobbled up by their competitors.

If sports can be considered ultra-competitive, the cut-throat business world of technology run by uber-geeks and highly paid CEOs could make even a frightening linebacker like Brian Urlacher run for the hills with his tail between his legs.

As we watch the Super Bowl and cheer for our favorite team while jeering their opponent, just remember that before long both teams may be as popular as a Pentium 3 or an iPod-mini.