12 Innovations in Sports That Everyone Said Would Ruin the Game

Ah, the history of sports. It’s a fascinating story of innovation, controversy, and progress... and sometimes, of endless complaining about objectively pretty unremarkable stuff. From the invention of the forward pass in American Football to the introduction of Hawk-Eye technology in tennis, sports have evolved dramatically over the years. We’ve seen rules changes, debates, and even the occasional glove-shaming (yeah, just read on for that one).

In this list, we’ll take a look at some of the most important and controversial moments in sports history... that ultimately gave us things that are widely accepted today. From the invention of the life-saving hat with earflaps to the introduction of the designated hitter rule, these moments have shaped the way we watch and play sports today -- even though they were enormously controversial at first, and some people complained endlessly about them. So, let’s dive in and explore the stories behind these revolutionary moments in sports.