An Economist's Quick Thoughts on the LeBron James Decision
LeBron James is catching a torrent of criticism over his decision to leave his "hometown team", the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the Miami Heat. As an economist, and a sports fan, I ...Not a Good Performance Evaluation
The AP headline is: "US soccer pres: We failed to meet expectations." There's not much else in the story, apart from a statement that Sunil Gulati "will likely meet with ...Wake Me Up When We Play Algeria
2-2 vs. Slovenia, and whew! That was the most thrilling tie in American history. We're still alive!! As for the commentary, Ian Darke's performance in the booth validated ESPN's decision to ...Quick Notes & Links
The NHL is thumping its chest over an excellent season for business. Says Commissioner Gary Bettman, ""By whatever method of measurement you want to use -- be it ratings, revenues, ...Sports Palaces and Municipal Debt
Sports facilities play a prominent role in Steven Malanga's article in today's WSJ, "America's Municipal Debt Racket." Neither Malanga nor I make the claim that spending on sports facilities is ...Sports and the Economy Watch
How is the sports business faring in the Great Recession? Here are two contrasting stories out today. First, a study sponsored by the Los Angeles Sports Council reports significant declines ...World Cup Notes
I think hosting the World Cup in South Africa may be too large a burden for a smallish developing country: population 49 million, with per capita income $10,000. With $6 billion invested ...More News From Dallas
The Dallas Morning News is examining the gap between the estimated economic impact of the NBA All Star Game and the actual revenues reported by hotels, restaurants, and rental car ...Imperfection, and Grace
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will apparently not reverse the blown call which cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game last Wednesday. This is an interesting decision, and as with any controversy, ...Dallas TV Reporter Examines the Numbers on Economic Impact
Economists can write papers which illustrate the lack of economic impact from major sports until we're blue in the face. As long as there is a paid consultant who can ...