Fantasy Sports: The New American Pasttime January 17, 2008
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After months of work, I’ve finally posted my research and writings about fantasy sports. I spent hours delving into this subject, including scholarly sources, interviews, and the application of communication theories to this hobby. And the results of this work are linked below (or found above in the Fantasy Sports tab). I hope you enjoy reading, and possibly learning more, about fantasy sports; by the time you’re done, it’s likely more than you even were interested in knowing. Your comments are always welcome.
Fantasy Sports Presentation November 27, 2007
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Powerpoint presentation…
Some fantasy website links…
Playoff Baseball and Business Want You… October 3, 2007
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Baseball playoffs will brighten a dreary fall day. Once the post-season hits, though, the attention (and tension) exceeds that of the regular season. This is interesting because it’s not as if the strategy behind winning games suddenly becomes a priority in the playoffs… in reality, it’s in play every single game during the 162-game slog. Yet society’s embrace of “winning is everything” is more greatly magnified when teams have made it to a bigger stage.
Of course, this focus on championships contributes directly to the coffers of those who benefit from the super-sized business that sports has become. Scheduling and media coverage of playoff games is tied to maximizing advertising dollars, brand awareness, and sponsorship opportunities.
I will always revel in playoff baseball; few things are as exciting. The 1995 Mariner playoff win over the Yankees will forever be recognized in our city as the moment Seattle became a true baseball town. But the degree to which baseball has become merely a red-stitched ball in the game of inflated profits is a detriment to its founding. More later, including assessments of the teams vying for the 2007 World Series.
