Fanalytics with Mike Lewis

In this episode, we talk about the measurement of brand equity in the world of sports. Over the previous 7 classes, we have talked about the nature of fandom, the importance of narratives, player analytics, and decision making. These are the ingredients to running a successful team (on the field and at the turnstile). As a capstone to this series of topics, this class is about measuring the organization’s ultimate success in developing a loyal following of valuable customers.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

In this podcast episode, Professor Mike Lewis assesses the inevitable Tom Brady - Cam Newton comparisons as well as Bill Belichick's willingness to run Cam Newton into the mouth of an NFL defense. As is always the case in Fanalytics, Mike approaches these topics from a unique analytics-focused angle that helps sports fans to understand how sports analysts make in-game decisions.

Then, Mike and co-host Doug Battle discuss the common in-game decision that played an integral role in determining outcomes of the Rams-Cowboys, Seahawks-Falcons, and Chiefs-Texans games this week.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Analytics and advanced statistics(whatever that means)are used in front offices and in the media. However, while these new statistics are frequently mentioned, it is rare that anyone explains how these metrics are developed, what they really mean and what their shortcomings might be.

As a starting point for considering advanced basketball analytics, we investigate a variety of basketball efficiency statistics. We start with the NBA Efficiency Stat, then we discuss the Player Impact Estimate (PIE) and we finish with John Hollinger’s Player Efficiency Rating (PER).

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

COVID-induced chaos has seemingly awakened NBA and college football players to the power they possess.

In a two-day NBA players strike that threatened to end the 2020 Playoffs, LeBron James and his fellow player representatives pushed team owners to retool their arenas as polling sites for the upcoming election. This occurred after players had already secured $300 million in donations to black communities from team owners as well as league-sponsored ads promoting social justice. While the players' boycott did not last long, it set a precedent that will likely change professional sports forever. Players hold the power in professional sports, and they're harnessing it toward their goals for society whether fans like it or not.

The power structure varies in a college sports system where student-athletes drive profits for their schools, athletic departments, and coaches… at least traditionally. But now that LSU star Ja'Marr Chase has opted out of his junior season with the reigning National Champions, NFL-ready underclassmen have a model for minimizing risk once solidifying their draft stock. While players like Ja'Marr Chase have little to gain from returning for additional seasons, this kind of loss can cost a school like LSU and a conference like the SEC a Playoff appearance or even a National Championship. Schools are no longer indispensable to players like Chase, but players of his caliber hold more value than ever before in the eyes of Athletic Directors and coaches. If the NCAA doesn't better incentivize these players to play at least three years, we may see more risk-averse college football players opt out of future seasons, a more mercenary-like approach from those players, and ultimately an inferior college football product. After PAC-12 players threatened an NBA-like strike earlier this offseason, I would not be surprised to see players of Chase's caliber leverage their value toward driving player compensation in coming seasons… and perhaps toward social reform as well.

In this podcast episode, Professor Mike Lewis and I further discuss the rise of player power in college football and the NBA. We also discuss how a theater-less future would impact the film industry in a rare non-sports segment at the end of the episode.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

MIke Lewis opens the podcast with a discussion of WWE and how scripted sports can serve as a case study in sports marketing. Then conversation between Mike and co-host Doug Battle turns to this week's NBA headlines. Mike and Doug observe Luka Doncic's place among the NBA's elite amidst his historic playoff debut before predicting what's next for the recently eliminated Philadelphia 76ers.

In a brief segment toward the end of the episode, Mike and Doug discuss how a saturated sports season has limited hype for the NFL's rapidly approaching season before briefly previewing the upcoming Fanalytics Speaker Series.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

In today’s class we focus on the realities of decision making. In Classes 4 and 5 we discussed advanced statistics for player evaluation and decision support for choices of in-game tactics. But, sports decisions are made by executives rather than computer programs. Today we discuss the relationship between statistical models and human decision makers.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

In this episode, Professor Mike Lewis and co-host Doug Battle discuss how a lack of community has impacted viewership for professional sports this Summer.

Then, the two discuss Justin Fields's petition to play, the Big 10's stance, and concerns surrounding college football as camps begin.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Following a rumor-filled weekend in the college football world and a resilient stand by high profile athletes, Mike Lewis and Doug Battle discuss all sides of the rumored college football shut down.

Then, the two break down how various potential outcomes could affect college football, college basketball, the NFL, and the NBA G League.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Can we use statistics to make better in-game decisions?

In class 5 of Fanalytics University, Professor Mike Lewis breaks down how analytics can impact situational decision making for 2 point conversions in football, subbing players in basketball, and bunting in baseball.

This class features teaching on the Markov Decision Process (MDP)and dynamic optimization models.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Professor Mike Lewis and co-host Doug Battle discuss broadcasts of fanless NBA/MLB games and how they affect fandom.

Then, Mike breaks down why recent Pac 12 player demands have major implications for the future of college athletics.

In the show's final segment, Doug updates listeners on conference schedule adjustments for the upcoming college football season. Mike discusses the importance of rivalry in sports and which rivalries will suffer the consequences of exclusively inner-conference play.

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message

Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars.

Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com and fanalytics.substack.com. 

And make sure to follow us on social! 

Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewis

Twitter: @fanalyticsmike

YouTube: @fanalyticsmike

TikTok: @fanalyticspodcast