Tag Archives: sports

White Paper: The History and Approach of African Martial Arts: A Comparative, Cultural, and Functional Survey

Posted on December 16, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary African martial arts represent one of the world’s oldest and most diverse bodies of combat knowledge. Rather than forming a single codified “martial arts tradition” in the modern East Asian sense, African systems developed organically across ecological zones, … Continue reading →

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White Paper: The Competitive Advantage of Multi-Tool Athletes: A Structural Analysis of Positionless Development in Football and Other Team Sports: A Case Study of Bixby High School (Oklahoma) and the Broader Evolution of Athletic Versatility

Posted on December 10, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Elite athletic programs increasingly rely on positionless skill development, producing players who can run, pass, catch, block, tackle, diagnose plays, and shift roles without losing strategic coherence. Among high school programs, Bixby High School in Oklahoma represents a … Continue reading →

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Policy Brief: Aligning Academic Scheduling and Athletic Program Commitments to Prevent Cross-Purpose Conflicts

Posted on December 2, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Universities increasingly recognize that student-athletes face dual commitments—to academic progress and to athletic participation. However, institutional scheduling practices can unintentionally force coaches, athletes, and academic units into conflict: course times may overlap with mandatory practices; travel schedules may … Continue reading →

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White Paper: Like Father, Unlike Son? A Comparative Analysis of Monte and Lane Kiffin’s Careers and Public Reflections on Their Relationship

Posted on December 1, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Monte Kiffin and his son Lane Kiffin represent two very different archetypes in modern football coaching. Monte became a legendary defensive coordinator, defined by stability, tactical innovation (the “Tampa 2”), and a largely controversy-free public image. Lane has … Continue reading →

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White Paper: The Negative Effects of Media-Driven “Favorite Book Team” Narratives on Resistant Fan Bases

Posted on November 28, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Sports leagues, broadcast networks, and marketing partners frequently elevate specific teams as “favorites,” “marquee brands,” or “flagship franchises.” This promotional strategy is intended to maximize viewership, advertising revenue, merchandise sales, and cultural visibility. However, while such narratives may … Continue reading →

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White Paper: The Connection Between Sports, Gambling, and Organized Crime—and Its Impact on the Legitimacy of Sport

Posted on October 28, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary Sports deliver civic rituals of fairness and merit. Gambling delivers liquidity, attention, and revenue. Organized crime exploits the seam between them—where information asymmetries, weak controls, and cross-border payments create opportunities to fix contests, launder money, and intimidate participants. … Continue reading →

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The Sherman Antitrust Act and the Structure of American Sports

Posted on October 21, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 was intended to prevent monopolization and promote competitive markets across the U.S. economy. Yet in the world of sports, the Act’s influence has been paradoxical—sometimes shaping leagues into more equitable and competitive … Continue reading →

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White Paper: Coaching Carousels: The Hard Math of Winning and the Nature of Expectations for Success in Competitive Sport

Posted on October 16, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary This white paper examines the recurring phenomenon of “coaching carousels” — the rapid turnover of head coaches across professional and collegiate sports. It analyzes the mathematical, psychological, and institutional dynamics that drive the cycle of hiring, firing, and … Continue reading →

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White paper: The costs borne by USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington in leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten—and why they went anyway

Posted on September 19, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive summary Between June 2022 and August 2023, four flagship Pac-12 members—USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington—accepted invitations to the Big Ten, with competition beginning in the 2024–25 academic year. All four schools incurred tangible new costs (travel, athlete-welfare spending, governance-imposed … Continue reading →

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White Paper: The Moral Hazards of Sports Institutions Dependent on Betting Revenues: Risks of Game Fixing by Players and Referees

Posted on August 3, 2025 by nathanalbright

Executive Summary The growing financial integration of sports institutions with sports betting revenues has created a moral hazard that threatens the integrity of competitive athletics. As betting becomes a major income stream for leagues, teams, and broadcasters, the incentives for … Continue reading →

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