It Must Be The Shoes

(Air Jordan 11 Retro Bred)

Michael Jordan retired nine years ago. His last championship with the Bulls came in 1998. He is 50 years old and unfortunately, he owns the Charlotte Bobcats. Yikes.

The Sports Complex: The Insane Trends in March Madness

Amongst the madness of March each year (as fellow contributor Kevin Murray discussed yesterday), it’s easy for the big business of the Big Dance to go unnoticed. High-level sponsors and multibillion dollar broadcast deals make the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament one of the biggest draws in sport. Here are some trends that affect the future of the Big Dance:

The Closer: The Tournament Effect...

The "madness" has struck, and man, has it been wild.

Everyone knows how much money is earned by the conferences that compete in the NCAA tournament, but what is rarely spoken about is the other things it can bring to the schools and conferences that succeed.

Fun Friday: Drexel Sport Management Group in Ireland!

The Drexel SMTSU team would like to wish the group of Drexel Sport Management students currently in Ireland an amazing trip as they immerse themselves in Irish Sport Culture. A special "shoutout" goes to our President, Kevin Giordano, and our Vice President, Kevin Rossi. Also, our blog contributors, Matthew Puzio and Josh Brackett!

 

Have fun and Éirinn go Brach!

Water Cooler Talk: March Madness Money

Today is one of the best days of the year, the first day of the NCAA Tournament.  This has become a huge stable for the month of March.  Millions of people will fill out brackets including the Barak Obama.  All of this leads to so much money for many different people.  The people that benefit the most are the NCAA, the teams and the conference the team is from, and bookmakers.

Thursday SMTSU Member Spotlight: Robbie Hicks

Robbie Hicks is a freshman sport management major at Drexel University.  From Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Robbie’s sports industry interests lie in sports law where he hopes to one day reach his dream job of becoming a sports agent. 

The Closer: Big 10 could be the newest Division-III "powerhouse" conference

Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, it is what Big 10 Commissioner, Jim Delany, is saying may happen if the ongoing Ed O'Bannon vs. NCAA case ends in favor of the plaintiff(s). Ed O'Bannon, former UCLA basketball player, along with many other former college basketball and football players, are suing the NCAA seeking the right for athletes to share in the television revenues.

Two New Rules Passed That Could Have an Impact on the NFL

The NFL has already made two new rule changes for the upcoming year at the NFL Annual Meeting. While four proposals have yet to be voted on, two others did not take long to get passed. Of course with every decision there are two reactions. Some fans believe that these changes are taking away from the game and will eventually lead to the game basically being “flag football.” Others believe that this is great for the sport because player safety is a huge thing and it should be the number one priority. 

       

Above the Rim: What could have been

The 2012-2013 season was loaded with possibilities for the Philadelphia 76ers. After defeating the #1 seeded Derrick Rose-less Bulls in the first round of the playoffs last year, they brought the Celtics to seven games before being knocked out. As a team without a conventional “star,” the Sixers surprised fans by performing well with a solid nucleus of players who were great defensively. They could only get better from here, right?

Leaving Your Mark: Career Development Bracket

With Selection Sunday capping off the upcoming weekend and the NCAA tournament right around the corner, here is a career development bracket to get you thinking.  What's most important to you?  Do you need to do more?

SMTSU Member Spotlight: Travis Sheehan

Travis Sheehan is a pre-junior sport management student at Drexel University destined to make a name for himself in the sports industry.  From Bordentown, NJ, Travis’ industry interests lie in sports law and more specifically in baseball which is also his favorite sport. 

The Man Advantage: Our First Look at March Madness

Lately I’ve been hearing a sound. It’s been quiet, but there’s no question what it is. It’s about that time of year again. Have you heard it too?

What am I talking about, you ask?

One Shining Moment.

NFL Free Agency: It's Not Personal, It's Business

It's almost time for NFL Free Agency to begin and to most fans that means the excitement of their favorite team getting a shot at some of the top talent in the NFL, but for the business side of the NFL it means millions of dollars will be tossed around in an auction like fashion. Coveted players such as the Pittsburgh Steeler's Mike Wallace could see contracts with numbers like 5 years with $60 million and $30 million guaranteed. That is a lot of money, and if you are the general manager that is going to pay him that kind of money you better be sure he is worth it.

The Closer: NCAA Infractions Roulette: Saint Mary's College Edition

The scene: Member schools of the NCAA are represented by a person with their sacrificial apple (Saint Mary's College) balanced a top their head. The NCAA infractions committee stands 100 feet away, with a bow and arrow, set to deliver their punishing blow. How close will they come to the core of the apple? Will they just hit the apple or will they damage the entity it is rested on? So many questions...

Head Injuries: Risks That Athletes Should Be Aware Of

One of the biggest issues facing sports, if not the biggest, is the multitude of concussions and brain damage that has been caused for many athletes who play football, rugby, and hockey. For years now, former players have sued leagues and now they instill fines to players who make helmet-to-helmet contact.  However, there is no real way to instill such rules, because these players already make millions of dollars and they would rather make a nice hit, because that is the way the game is supposed to be played in their minds. And they are right. 

SMTSU General Body Meeting: Personal Branding

Drexel SMTSU Announces 'The Sports Biz Report' Podcast

For Team USA, it’s do or die at the World Baseball Classic

Now in its third event, this year’s World Baseball Classic has been publicized more for its criticism than its glory. At least that seems the case here in America. When the WBC was instated several years back, the tournament was meant to model the World Cup in that it should inspire global competition and unification through sport. However, it seems as though the WBC hasn’t been able to quite capture the attention of Americans as it was designed.

Full Court Press: Big East Makin' Big Moves

The update on the Big East Conference situation stands as follows:

Water Cooler Talk: NFL Team in Los Angeles Continues to be Delayed

AEG’s plan to bring a stadium to downtown Los Angeles is dead according to Yahoo Sports author Jason Cole.  One of the biggest problems with the deal is the economics behind it.  The cost would be at least 1.8 billion.  This amount causes a problem for both AEG and whichever team ends up relocating to Los Angeles.  Another problem with this plan is that NFL told the owners that no team would be moving to Los Angeles for the 2013 season.  

Global Scope: FC Barcelona's Corporate Sponsorship

If there is one thing every team in all the sports leagues around the world have in common is the need to get money to build a competitive team. Even though they are regarded by many fans as the greatest football club in the world, they are no different from everyone else in their quest for the most lucrative deal out there. One could argue that they had been somewhat different, because during the club's 113 year existence they kept a tradition of avoiding corporate sponsors on their jerseys. Times have changed. 

Under Further Review: Fox to Launch Sports Network

Today Fox will make a major announcement regarding its network: Fox Sports 1,a new 24/7 sports channel, will launch in August.  The sports network will compete directly with ESPN just as NBC Sports Network has attempted to do over the past year-plus.  The Speed channel will be rebranded as Fox's sports network.

An NFL Stadium for Racing

Nascar is about to have some huge renovations in their main racetrack. Joie Chitwood III recently said, “If you’re going to claim to be the ‘World Center of Racing’ or the Super Bowl of the sport, there’s an expectation that comes with that – big, grand, the best.” This is exactly what Joie has in mind to do and he recently has gotten the approval to renovate the ancient track. These renovations would make the track look more like an NFL Stadium and less like a racetrack.