By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
July 18, 2014

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have a national, government-sponsored (at least to a degree) sports commission, sports ministry, or some other entity that plays a significant role in the development of the country’s sports […]

By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
June 10, 2014

This baseball season marks the 75th anniversary of New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig’s retirement from baseball.

On May 2, 1939, Gehrig voluntarily pulled himself out of the Yankees’ lineup after 2,130 consecutive games. At the time, he was suffering from unexplained […]

This provocative guest submission by Thomas Babson, et al, deserves widespread dissemination and consideration. There has been an awful lot written (including here), about the issue of brain injuries in contact sports, primarily football and hockey. However, this is the first piece that persuasively focuses on the important role of the game referees in preventing […]

By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
May 7, 2014

I can still vividly remember the joy and excitement I felt after hearing my gym teacher say, “We’re playing dodgeball today.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but for many of my classmates, hearing those same words elicited dread and terror.

[…]

By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
April 21, 2014

Joe Maddon doesn’t believe in a long list of draconian rules. In fact, he has only two rules for his players: 1) Run hard to first base (play hard); and 2) Have fun.

“Rules can’t take the place of character,” says Maddon, […]

4/15/14

Mark Emmert, President
NCAA
700 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206

(An Open Letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert About That Pesky Northwestern Union Thing)

Dear Dr. Emmert:

Since National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional director Peter Sung Ohr recently ruled that Northwestern University football players meet […]

By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
March 31, 2014

The national media has focused on “pay-for-play” for college athletes after the recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling allowing Northwestern University football players to unionize.

The concept of universities cutting paychecks to college athletes is a complex one, one that could […]

By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
March 14, 2014

From a profit-at-all-costs perspective, I understand all the adulation that went David Stern’s way when he recently retired from his post as NBA commissioner. The NBA has never been in better financial shape than it is today. Give him credit for that.

However, […]

By Ken Reed
The Huffington Post
March 3, 2014

Les Miles, the head football coach at LSU, recently picked up a commitment from quarterback Zadock Dinkelmann. Zack’s an 8th grader from Texas.

That’s not a misprint; Dinkelmann is indeed an 8th grader. Recruiting middle school kids is increasingly common at the highest […]

February 19, 2014

Roger Goodell
Commissioner of the National Football League
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154

Dear Mr. Goodell:

The New York Times reports that your compensation package in 2012 was $44.2 million or nearly $25,000 an hour, day after day, week after week! That is an astonishingly avaricious […]