Global Sport Matters

Guest producer, Karen Given explores the debate of public vs. private funding of sports venues. In part 1 we heard about the way Indianapolis obtained the NFL Colts team and over the decades became known as a 'sports town' built with taxpayer dollars. Now in part 2, Karen widens the scope of the debate to discuss more broadly stadium deals to discern what works, what doesn't work, and how we can improve economic outcomes by applying urban planning principles and better integrating into existing communities. In this roundtable, Karen is joined by Brad Humphreys, Professor of Economics at West Virginia University, Judith Grant Long, Associate Professor of Sport Management and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, and David Malmuth of David Malmuth Development, LLC.

Guest producer, Karen Given explores the debate of public vs. private funding of sports venues by digging into Indianapolis, a city that famously got its NFL team forty years ago when the Colts left Baltimore. Find part two out next week.

Guest host and producer Karen Given talks with award-winning sports writer Shalise Manza Young and Scott Brooks, Sociologist and Director of Research at Global Sport Institute, about the 'glass cliff' phenomenon across sports leagues and teams. The three look at the various ways the 'glass cliff' plays out in recent stories from David Culley to Mike Tomlin to Brian Flores and why the career pipeline for coaches of color to advance to leadership remains slim.

Guest host and producer Karen Given tells the story of Fitz Hill, former head football coach at San Jose State University, and the phenomenon of the 'glass cliff' in sports. Starting from his personal experience, Fitz Hill along with George Cunningham of Texas A&M uncover the pattern of bias that hinders many coaches of color from gaining leadership positions, or even second chances.

The 'glass cliff' refers to the tendency of organizations to place women or other marginalized individuals into leadership positions at periods of downturn or crisis, putting them at a higher risk of failure.

On the episode, Global Sport Institute CEO Kenneth L. Shropshire and award-winning journalist William C. Rhoden of The Undefeated are joined by Global Sport Institute Research Director Scott N. Brooks to discuss the imprisonment of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia and how it's being handled (or not) by the U.S. government. Why was she arrested, what does it symbolize for Russia and the U.S. amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and is the right level of attention being paid to it by those in the government, in the WNBA and its players' union, and by her team, the Phoenix Mercury?

This is part 2 of Revisiting "In Black and White: Race and Sports in America" 25 Years Later.

On this episode, Kenneth L. Shropshire is joined by Scott Brooks from Global Sport Institute and Piara Powar, Executive Director of Fare Network, an organization fighting inequality in football. Piara gives insight into the view of American sports from a European lens, the power dynamic in European sports and ownership, as well as how the death of George Floyd has prompted a massive increase in athlete activism to challenge racism in sport that has led to government legislation across European countries.

On a special episode of Sport Matters, host and CEO of Global Sport Institute Kenneth L. Shropshire is joined by Scott N. Brooks, Director of Research at Global Sport Institute as well as Ilhaam Groenewald, Chief Director of Maties Sports at Stellenbosch University, S. Africa to revisit Ken's book, In Black and White: Race and Sports in America, since it was first published 25 years ago.

The three discuss the similarities and differences of what racial equity in sports leadership looks like in South Africa versus the United States today, the lessons learned over the past 25 years, and Ken's thoughts on whether mandating change through the legal system is still the path forward for progress.

On a special episode of Sport Matters, CEO of the Global Sport Institute Kenneth L. Shropshire and award-winning journalist William C. Rhoden of The Undefeated are joined by author and sports law professor N. Jeremi Duru of American University to discuss the breaking news of Brian Flores' lawsuit against the National Football League. The three break down the details from a legal perspective, examining where the case goes from here, and the precedent this could set for racial discrimination in the league and sports.

On the show, professors Kenneth L. Shropshire and Scott Rosner discuss the new NCAA constitution, the power shift to bigger conferences, and the role of athletics in higher education.

On the episode, CEO of the Global Sport Institute Kenneth L. Shropshire and award-winning journalist William C. Rhoden of The Undefeated run the gamut on topics from sports to cinema. The two discuss the complexity of race and culture overlaying the firing of Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, the turn of events with Antonio Brown and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Novak Djokovic's COVID-19 debacle with the Australian Open, as well as two big pieces of news in cinema: the passing of Sidney Poitier and the release of King Richard with Will Smith.