Sports Fans in the Playground!

[Kyrell1978]

Yeah, I'm gonna need sources on that. College sports are famously unprofitable for the vast majority of schools.

ETA: Just thought it might be considered gauche if I didn't hold myself to that same standard, so literally the second hit under the Google search, "does college football make money: : short answer, no. Second hit because it seemed like a much more reputable source; fun fact, the first hit also said no.

https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/09/new...nue/index.html

47 Million in profit in 2016 to boil down the article. That's self reporting, also your source is talking about the entirety of the athletics program not a specific program. They use the profitable ones (like football) to cover the expenses of the non profitable ones.

[Peelee]

https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/09/new...nue/index.html

47 Million in profit in 2016 to boil down the article. That's self reporting also.

Just because Warren Buffet lives in America doesn't mean the average American isn't in debt. That article I linked explicitly said that in the four year span it looked at, only 7 public colleges broke even or greater. How many college football teams are there?

[Kyrell1978]

Just because Warren Buffet lives in America doesn't mean the average American isn't in debt. That article I linked explicitly said that in the four year span it looked at, only 7 public colleges broke even or greater. How many college football teams are there?

And the original quote was that "Alabama Football makes money" you asked for a source, I provided one. They self report making a 47 million dollar profit in 2016. Your linked source was not about the original topic, it was about college athletic programs as a whole, not football programs. Even your source states that high level college football programs make a profit that is used to fund the other non profitable sports. I don't really care one way or another, but the fact is the Alabama Football Program is a profitable program and that is what was originally in debate.

[Peelee]

And the original quote was that "Alabama Football makes money"

Unsurprisingly, this whole thing is a case of me not being a smart man. I read that as "American football," not "Alabama football." That's totally on me. Sorry!

[Kyrell1978]

Unsurprisingly, this whole thing is a case of me not being a smart man. I read that as "American football," not "Alabama football." That's totally on me. Sorry!

You're good. We still love you.

[Iruka]

Everyone loves Pele!


I recently read this piece on the declining popularity of high-school football where it was claimed that this also can bring with it monetary issues for the schools. I assume this is very much a case-by-case thing ...

For the schools, too, the loss of games came at a cost, given that ticket sales can help fund athletics and other school programs. In Bunker Hill, for example, a typical home game would bring in $1,500 for the school, the principal, Matthew Smith, told me, with concession sales netting an additional $1,500.

I watched some of the current skiing events in the last days, which led to some musing about the external factors in sports. We often talk about people in individual sports disciplines in abstract terms of being best or fastest but very often results are influenced by other things. Especially those where you go through a course in a group (like most cross-country skiing or long-distance running events) your ability to move fast is only one of the things "measured". You also need to navigate to a good position in the group and react quickly to things like others stumbling.
In winter sports the technological prowess of the team and the usual degradation of track conditions over the course of the event seem to be major influencing factors.

[Peelee]

Everyone loves Pele!

Peele is also pretty popular.

[Iruka]

Peele is also pretty popular.

What about Pelee?

[Peelee]

What about Pelee?

Never been.

[Scarlet Knight]

Yes, there are a handful of college sports programs that are profitable. My Alma Mater wants to be one. They are asking me for donations for the weight room now instead of for the science programs like they did in the past.

My fear is that colleges like Clemson that eventually become profitable are like sirens to other colleges; similar to garage bands that think they can make it big because the Ramones did. It's possible but for every one that does there are 50 that don't. I just hope the decision makers at Rutgers ask the heads of the economic & mathematic departments for input and not just marketing.

[Knaight]

Yeah, I'm gonna need sources on that. College sports are famously unprofitable for the vast majority of schools.

Alabama being an exception has already been covered, but it's worth noting that college sports also have a tendency to disappear certain expenses in their accounting. For instance CSU put a handful of classrooms in their stadium, which made it an "academic building", which lets them not count certain expenses in construction and maintenance. Granted, this is the same college working on the economic reasoning of "a better stadium will attract better players which will mean we get vastly more money from the student base", which didn't happen. Similarly "this won't raise tuitions" translated to "because we consider 'student fees' a different category, and oh look, they went up".

[Scarlet Knight]

Oh the irony!

We are so used to college coaches giving money to kids who are great athletes to pretend to be students that it's a shock that the latest scandal has parents giving money to college coaches for kids to be students by pretending to be athletes!

[Peelee]

Oh the irony!

We are so used to college coaches giving money to kids who are great athletes to pretend to be students that it's a shock that the latest scandal has parents giving money to college coaches for kids to be students by pretending to be athletes!

If there's one thing Yale is known for, it's their football team.

[The Aboleth]

I'm in Denver this week to watch the Blackhawks beat the Avalanche. Chicago has an outside shot to make the final Wild Card spot, but we need a lot of help and NEED to beat Colorado and Arizona to have any hope.

Also, Denver is amazing so even if my favorite NHL team loses I can still drink great craft beer and hike up in the mountains. If I were rich I might move here permanently.

[Knaight]

Also, Denver is amazing so even if my favorite NHL team loses I can still drink great craft beer and hike up in the mountains. If I were rich I might move here permanently.

There's some significantly cheaper towns near Denver that still have great craft beer and good mountain access. The latter is often better than Denver, even.

[The Aboleth]

There's some significantly cheaper towns near Denver that still have great craft beer and good mountain access. The latter is often better than Denver, even.

Do you have any specific recommendations? A few years ago I went up to Blackhawk casino and the surrounding mountains, and it was amazing (despite losing $100 at the casino, but them's the breaks).

Also, the Blackhawks (NHL team, not the casino) lost to the Flyers last night. Pretty much need to win out now to have any shot at the Wild Card. Oh well, there's always next year!

[Knaight]

Longmont is an option. There's always Loveland, for all the crap I give that city. There's Windsor, though it has much the same issues as Loveland. Then there's somewhat more expensive but not Denver expensive areas, e.g. Fort Collins, Thornton, Arvada. Just don't go too far into the mountains, or you start running into places like Vail which make Denver look cheap by comparison.

[The Aboleth]

Longmont is an option. There's always Loveland, for all the crap I give that city. There's Windsor, though it has much the same issues as Loveland. Then there's somewhat more expensive but not Denver expensive areas, e.g. Fort Collins, Thornton, Arvada. Just don't go too far into the mountains, or you start running into places like Vail which make Denver look cheap by comparison.

Thank you!

Also, the Blackhawks lost again. Boooo!

[Scarlet Knight]

Plaaaaay baaaaaaaaaaaall!

[Kyrell1978]

Annnnnnnd the Royals are officially 1st in the AL central. Might be the last time I can say that this year.

[woodwalker]

Annnnnnnd the Royals are officially 1st in the AL central. Might be the last time I can say that this year.

Hey man, I'm a Sabres fan. We were first in the league in November. Its all up hill from here!









please don't look at the NHL standings right now thank you.

[Delta]

There's some significantly cheaper towns near Denver that still have great craft beer and good mountain access. The latter is often better than Denver, even.

Come to Southern Germany, we have great beer (craft and non-craft) and either the Black Forest or the Alps are pretty much around the corner! The city I live in (Freiburg) even has a hockey and american football team! ;)

[Scarlet Knight]

I went to the Devils - Blues game last night. It was a well paced,competitive, horribly played game.

Best example: Devils goalie throws the puck from behind the net in front to a wide open, undefended Blue...who promptly misses the entire net.

It went into overtime...and the Devils lost with 3 seconds to go.

Thank the powers for baseball.

[jwhouk]

Can someone ask Durkon if I can borrow Thor's Hammer against Tom Dundon?

[Resileaf]

The Tampa Bay Lightning, after having a historical season, completely collapsed in the playoffs and got sweeped by the Colombus Blue Jackets. That's probably the biggest choke I've ever seen in a playoff series.

[MikelaC1]

The Tampa Bay Lightning, after having a historical season, completely collapsed in the playoffs and got sweeped by the Colombus Blue Jackets. That's probably the biggest choke I've ever seen in a playoff series.

Ha, ha, ha...still think you were so smart not to push all your chips into the table and make the deal for Karlsson?

[Resileaf]

Ha, ha, ha...still think you were so smart not to push all your chips into the table and make the deal for Karlsson?

I assume that's a 'Lightning' you and not a 'me' you. Because otherwise that's a really weird thing to say to me. XD

[Scarlet Knight]

I'm watching the Yankees-Royals game, and right there behind home plate, is Marlins Man. I detest that guy. I actually have to change my focus to avoid seeing him in order to enjoy the game.

Does anyone else have similar feelings or am I making a mountain out of a mole hole? Does anyone else even know who I'm talking about?

[Peelee]

I'm watching the Yankees-Royals game, and right there behind home plate, is Marlins Man. I detest that guy. I actually have to change my focus to avoid seeing him in order to enjoy the game.

Does anyone else have similar feelings or am I making a mountain out of a mole hole? Does anyone else even know who I'm talking about?

I have no idea who you're talking about, but I do know what your taking about, and I absolutely understand and commiserate.

[Wizard_Lizard]

Well I like chess... ...does that count?