Friday List. The Crew and a data-driven reading list.
The MLS Cup takes place this weekend in Columbus. With Buckeye Nation absorbed with the outcome of the conference championship games, there might be room for the Crew this weekend. Which is interesting in such a football-heavy locale. Columbus has…
On challenging conventional wisdom
Why are people so afraid to challenge conventional wisdom? This question bothers me daily. Mainly because my line of work requires a challenging of basic assumptions on a regular basis, but also because I’m naturally curious and always think “there…
Getting Essential and Taking Control
I have a confession to make. I’m easily distracted. I’m also capable. But man do I piss away time when I give myself the chance. And worse, its almost always on innocent stuff like reading the latest on analytics (digital…
A Numbers Game Look at Aston Villa
Aston Villa may just be charting a new path to success in the English Premier League. Lost in the noise of the frustrating seasons under Gerard Houllier and Alex McLeish has been the way in which Villa have changed its…
Leadership requires us to embrace paradoxes
Most of us fall into the trap of having unhelpful standards. Whenever we try to prove something, we end up doing the opposite. Once we know something important is at stake, the cognitive load can be overbearing and we crumble…
Blue Jackets playing some outstanding hockey
On March 1 the Columbus Blue Jackets were languishing in last place in the Western Conference with 13 points from 20 games. From that date through April 16, the Blue Jackets have earned the most points in the Western Conference,…
Technology in Sports Raises Issues of Fairness
It seems like just yesterday sports resisted every attempt to introduce technology into their games. Traditionalists decry the removal of the human element. Modernists present technology as a matter of fairness – in that we could finally correct unjust wrong…
Pleased the Browns failed in Arizona
I’m pleased the Browns failed in Arizona. Not in a I hope Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner fail in their efforts to steer the Browns onto a winning path, but in a “there is more than one way to skin…
A Post-All Star Look at the Tribe
Cleveland’s front office talks quite a bit about contention. Ask most Indians fans what contention means to them and they’ll likely talk about playing baseball into October. Ask the Indians front office and you’ll likely get a discussion of the…
Lambert right man for Villa
To borrow a phrase from the club, Aston Villa stand ready to embark on a vibrant new era and Paul Lambert is the right man for the job. For some, Lambert may feel like second or third choice. After a…