As a Brooklyn-born data storyteller with a Columbia degree in sports media, I’ve watched Ma Lai Lai’s 12 shots on target out of 36 attempts—a statistic that screams systemic failure, not just poor skill. His pre-match footwork? Broken. His decision-making? Algorithmic. This isn’t about talent. It’s about who gets to decide: humans or machines? I’m not here to romanticize failure—I’m here to dismantle the myth that data can replace intuition on the pitch.