Posts by: League of Fans
By Ken Reed
There are a lot of political and economic issues involving the Olympics that are upsetting, but there are also several reasons I love watching the various athletic competitions.
One, learning about the many inspiring stories of athletes overcoming adversity to compete at the highest level — whether they medal or not. […]
By Ken Reed
I feel terrible for Simone Biles. But in looking at this development in the big picture, I am also excited because the world-wide focus on her mental health, after she withdrew from the team and all-around gymnastics competitions, will significantly advance mental health awareness in both SportsWorld and society at large.
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League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast
We take a lighter path in this episode. Our guest is Dan Gutman, author of the 12-book Baseball Card Adventure Series for children. The series features a boy who has the amazing ability to travel in time. Equipped with his trusty baseball cards, the boy uses his one-of-a-kind […]
By Ken Reed
Originally published by Troy Media
Here we go again.
The University of Texas and University of Oklahoma are reportedly exploring the possibility of leaving the Big 12 Conference for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in search of more money and exposure for their athletic programs.
The American college sports landscape […]
By Ken Reed
Mental health ills are very real and quite prevalent in our society.
And the pandemic has magnified the mental health challenges we all face.
Anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts have been part of the human condition from the beginning. The problem is very few people talked about their mental health […]
League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast
In this episode we talk with Dr. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, about the latest developments in the CTE field.
We focus on brain trauma in youth and high school football and other sports.
The League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast can be found […]
By Ken Reed
Youth sports are popular year-round, but especially so when kids are on summer break from school. Baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, and even summer basketball and volleyball leagues and tournaments, are all going at full speed right now.
When we talk about youth sports, we’re typically talking about organized youth sports. And […]
By Ken Reed
Okay, so Sha’Carri Richardson knew the rules regarding marijuana use and broke them in a moment of high emotional stress after learning her biological mom had died. She owned up to her decision and isn’t looking for empathy.
But please. Come on. Does smoking some pot — which is no more […]
By Ken Reed
As of July 1st, college athletes — from the lowest levels to the highest levels, and from the most obscure non-revenue sports to the highly commercialized sports of football and men’s basketball — can begin to be compensated for the use of their name, image and likeness (NIL). In short, they […]
National Football League player Carl Nassib has given the battle against homophobia in sports and society in general a huge boost
By Ken Reed
Originally published by Troy Media
Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive lineman Carl Nassib announced he was gay last week. He’s the first active National Football League player to do so.
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Sports Forum Podcast
Episode #33 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Ken Reed Announces His Retirement and Chats With League of Fans Founder Ralph Nader – Ken and Ralph talk about the history of League of Fans and the reasons it was created. They then move into a discussion of a variety of contemporary sports issues that League of Fans has been working on in recent years. Ken and Ralph end by talking about the need for sports fans, athletes, and other sports stakeholders to get involved in the sports reform movement and be activists and change agents on issues important to them, whether that be at the local, state, or national level.
Listen on Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others.
Follow on Facebook: @SportsForumPodcast
More Episodes on Apple Podcasts; Spotify and others.
Episode #32 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Prolific Author Joe Posnanski Joins the Show – Posnanski is one of America’s best sportswriters and has twice been named the best sports columnist in America by the Associated Press Sports Editors. We chat about his new book, “Why We Love Baseball,” his new Substack newsletter called Joe Blogs.
Episode #31 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Foul Ball Safety Is Still an Important Issue at Ballparks – Our guests are Jordan Skopp, founder of FoulBallSafety.com and Greg Wilkowski, a Chicago based attorney. We discuss the historical problem of foul balls injuring fans and why some teams are still hesitant to put up protective netting in some minor league and college baseball parks.
Episode #30 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: The State of College Athletics with Dr. David Ridpath: Problems and Potential Solutions – Ridpath is a sports administration professor at Ohio University and a member of The Drake Group, a college sports reform think tank.
Episode #29 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: The Honorable Tom McMillen Visits League of Fans’ Sports Forum – McMillen is a former All-American basketball player, Olympian, Rhodes Scholar and U.S. Congressman. We discuss the state of college athletics today.
Episode #28 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: A Chat With Mano Watsa, a Leading Basketball and Life Educator – Watsa is President of PGC Basketball, the largest education basketball camp in the world. We discuss problems in youth sports today.
Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- Reed Appears on Ralph Nader Radio Hour League of Fans’ sports policy director, Ken Reed, Ralph Nader and the New York Times’ Tyler Kepner discussed a variety of sports issues on Nader’s radio show as well as Reed’s updated book, How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan. Reed's book was released in paperback in February, and has a new introduction and several updated sections.
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Vanderbilt Sport & Society - On The Ball with Andrew Maraniss with guest Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director for League of Fans and author of How We Can Save Sports: A Game Plan
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
Books
