I grew up a block away from the 7 train in New York, where I’d take a short ride from the 90th Street station to the Willets Point — Shea Stadium station to watch my favorite team, the New York Mets.

Sitting in the stands as a young child, I quickly learned there are a number of ways to obtain and interpret information. I could watch the umpire and immediately know whether Al Leiter threw a strike or a ball. I could watch the scoreboard and, with some delay, know whether Derek Bell safely stole second base. I could listen to the cheers (or jeers) of the rowdy, biased people around me and know whether Mike Piazza hit another home run.