Philosophy
The NFL announced the location of the 2014 Superbowl. It will be in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It will be the first time the Superbowl was played someplace that is not warm or a domed stadium. Is this a good idea? On the one hand, football is a game where teams need to play through the elements. On the other hand, if the intent is to create a game where the best team will most likely emerge, shouldn't they try to control for contingent factors like the weather? Bad weather gives an advantage to running teams over those with a passing-based offense. Was this a good or bad decision?
- Penn State Football Death Penalty?
The question in the wake of the Freeh Report on the tragedy at Penn State is whether the university should be allowed to field a football team going forward in the next few years. The argument on one side is that the lack of oversight and turning a blind...
- Little League World Series
The shorter of the short people has been fascinated for the last couple years by the coverage of the little league world series on tv and to be honest, we've gotten into it, too. Indeed, I've been to gatherings recently where everyone knows the...
- Public Ownership Of The Means Of Superbowl Production
The Green Bay Packers have won the Superbowl, bringing the trophy named for their legendary coach back to the city of 100,000 people. Titletown, USA has another title. The Packers are owned by the fans, by the community in which they play, far and away...
- What Makes Sports Fans So Nuts?
I love football. Have since I was a kid. But I made a point of not watching the Superbowl last night. I couldn?t bear to watch it. I grew up in Baltimore, a Colt fan, the child and grandchild of Colt fans. When I was two, I carried Earl Morrall?s playbook...
- How Big A Deal Is It If Nadal's Uncle Was Coaching Him?
There was a dust-up at the French Open, in which Roger Federer accused his arch-rival Rafael Nadal of cheating. The claim was that he was being coached by his Uncle Toni from the stands. If you are unfamiliar with tennis, you might wonder why this would...
Philosophy
The Superbowl, Fair Play, and Moral Luck
The NFL announced the location of the 2014 Superbowl. It will be in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It will be the first time the Superbowl was played someplace that is not warm or a domed stadium. Is this a good idea? On the one hand, football is a game where teams need to play through the elements. On the other hand, if the intent is to create a game where the best team will most likely emerge, shouldn't they try to control for contingent factors like the weather? Bad weather gives an advantage to running teams over those with a passing-based offense. Was this a good or bad decision?
- Penn State Football Death Penalty?
The question in the wake of the Freeh Report on the tragedy at Penn State is whether the university should be allowed to field a football team going forward in the next few years. The argument on one side is that the lack of oversight and turning a blind...
- Little League World Series
The shorter of the short people has been fascinated for the last couple years by the coverage of the little league world series on tv and to be honest, we've gotten into it, too. Indeed, I've been to gatherings recently where everyone knows the...
- Public Ownership Of The Means Of Superbowl Production
The Green Bay Packers have won the Superbowl, bringing the trophy named for their legendary coach back to the city of 100,000 people. Titletown, USA has another title. The Packers are owned by the fans, by the community in which they play, far and away...
- What Makes Sports Fans So Nuts?
I love football. Have since I was a kid. But I made a point of not watching the Superbowl last night. I couldn?t bear to watch it. I grew up in Baltimore, a Colt fan, the child and grandchild of Colt fans. When I was two, I carried Earl Morrall?s playbook...
- How Big A Deal Is It If Nadal's Uncle Was Coaching Him?
There was a dust-up at the French Open, in which Roger Federer accused his arch-rival Rafael Nadal of cheating. The claim was that he was being coached by his Uncle Toni from the stands. If you are unfamiliar with tennis, you might wonder why this would...