Ryan Smith knows what it’s like to sweat: As a veteran of four Ironman competitions—an endurance triathlon that includes a 3.86-km swim, a 180.25-km bike ride, and a full 42.40-km marathon—Smith has experienced first-hand the urgent need to replenish his body’s lost fluid and electrolytes. Now, with two small children at home in Alexandria, Va., […]
Soccer Will Soon Be America’s Third-Favorite Spectator Sport
I’m sure you’ve heard that old, dismissive insult from hardline cynics: “Soccer is the sport of the future in America … and always will be.” Except that now, finally, fans of the beautiful game have numeric proof of its growing popularity. A Gallup poll released last week found that 7% of Americans named soccer as […]
How and why economics is taking over sports
If you look closely at your favourite sport nowadays, it’s hard to miss the influence of economics. It’s evident from the way players are drafted or how much they are paid, through to individual coaching decisions, and even strategic shifts across entire leagues. This has been particularly driven by the rise of game theory in economics. Game theory uses mathematical models […]