Fanalytics With Mike Lewis Podcast

Emory Professor Mike Lewis is all in on March Madness this year as his Illini are among the teams with the best odds to win the tournament. In this episode, Mike shares why he thinks the NCAA Tournament is the best playoff system of all of sports. He and co-host Doug Battle then make predictions for the tournament as well as its ratings. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

This week, Fanalytics partnered with the Emory Marketing Analytics Center to continue our 2021 Webinar Speaker Series with Yahoo Sports Senior Writer and Earnhardt Nation author Jay Busbee. Jay joined us to discuss the art of storytelling in sports as well as the state of sports in the COVID age. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Emory MBA students join this week's podcast to ask Professor Mike Lewis questions regarding the intersection of March Madness and analytics. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

In this episode, Emory Marketing Professor Mike Lewis discusses his recently published NFL Fandom Rankings, the purpose of the upcoming NBA All Star Weekend, and how the Atlanta sports curse has continued into the pandemic. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Uniforms play a key role in fandom as the jerseys worn by players ultimately serve as packaging for the product fans consume. With every NBA franchise implementing at least one new uniform this season, a few teams/brands have generated enthusiasm among their fanbases while others have left much to be desired. Which uniforms best enhance a franchise's overall brand? Which fail to do so? What common denominators can we observe in those that work well and those that do not? These are the questions Mike and I seek to answer in this podcast. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Following Super Bowl LV's disappointing ratings, one trend signals a potential problem for the NFL. Sure, there are a number of factors contributing to poor ratings across sports this year. A lack of gatherings clearly impacts events such as the Super Bowl. America's cultural divide drives some former viewers to "cancel" teams and leagues for their stances (or lack thereof). And of course, crowd-less competition generates less excitement as pre-COVID sporting events. But even this a season of cultural turmoil and mass quarantine comes to a close, one problem promises to persist for the National Football League. In a quarterback-driven league, the biggest team brands in the biggest markets lack the biggest stars at the most important position. And whereas the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement / free agency model drives stars like LeBron James to teams like the Lakers, the NFL's infrastructure seems primed to keep a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City forever. This league structure promi

A few injuries to the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line may have robbed football fans of the Brady-Mahomes duel they envisioned going into Super Bowl LV... Especially with one starting offensive lineman out on the front line fighting COVID-19 (no, really). But nevertheless, the biggest night in American sports provided the all-around entertainment package fans have come to expect on the first Sunday of each February. Tom Brady masterfully dissected the Kansas City defense while Todd Bowles's Tampa Bay defense stifled the Chiefs' heralded passing attack. Brands like Doritos and State Farm came to play, while Mountain Dew attempted to change the game entirely. And viewers were divided not only by the teams they rooted for or the ads they preferred, but also the sociopolitical elements surrounding the Super Bowl. As we wrap up this first year of pandemic football, Professor Mike Lewis and I discuss the game that we witnessed on Sunday, the ads that stood out, and why viewers were bound to find something problema

Why are so many major brands sitting out America's greatest marketing holiday this year? And what can football fans expect from advertisers during Super Bowl LV? Super Bowl LV comes with more unknowns than any Super Bowl in history - especially off the field. Sports viewership has been down amidst a global pandemic, and there's no telling how Sunday's viewership will compare to Super Bowls of the past... Not to mention how different the experience will be for audiences watching in isolation rather than at parties. But COVID-19 is not the only 2020 storyline affecting Super Bowl LV. With advertisers planning, casting, and filming ads far in advance of Super Bowl Sunday, the year's unpredictable nature has added complexity for brands seeking to strike an agreeable tone amidst a delicate time. We saw how unpredictability can add complexity for advertisers just a year ago when Genesis altered their ad the week of its airing out of sensitivity to those mourning the then-recent loss of Kobe Bryant. In this week's p

A matchup between the faces of the NFL's past and present makes for one of the most riveting Super Bowl matchups in recent memory. As the classic pocket quarterback Tom Brady looks to further cement his status as "GOAT," the more electric and unorthodox Patrick Mahomes seeks to assert himself as the league's most feared signal-caller from this day forward. This Super Bowl matchup serves as a microcosm of a league awaiting a passing of the guard - a league with players such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, and Joe Burrow primed to overtake Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Ben Roethlisberger. But one factor differentiates this young crop of quarterbacks from their predecessors. While Brady and company played for powerhouse franchises such as the Patriots, Packers, and Steelers, each of the next generation's greatest quarterbacks plays before a fandom that ranks in the bottom half of the league. Will football fans see a fandom transformation in which

Brooklyn's "all-in" approach to acquiring James Harden has basketball fans debating whether the Nets will finally overthrow the Knicks as New York's top basketball brand. And for good reason: Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant are sure to draw in more young basketball fans than New York's starless squad. But with the Knicks dominating the Nets in terms of fan equity, road equity, and social equity after decades of inferior play, Mike and I find ourselves asking this question: what does it take for a city's "little brother" team (Nets, Clippers, White Sox, Mets, etc.) to overthrow its historic brand (Knicks, Lakers, Cubs, Yankees, etc.) in terms of fandom? In our search for an answer, we explore three sets of sibling teams - each at a different stage in the battle of their city's sports fans: Lakers/Clippers - The Clippers are far from overthrowing the Lakers. Knicks/Nets - The Nets pose a serious threat to the Knicks. Rams/Chargers - These two teams are in a dead heat in the fig

Discussion of the weekend's NFL Playoff action leads to a breakdown of the 2018 NFL QB class that featured Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. Professor Mike Lewis and his co-host Doug Battle then segway to college sports following the NCAAs postponement of Name, Image, and Likeness legislation. Mike breaks down exactly how the NCAA's eventual adoption of player compensation methods will affect teams such as Alabama, USC, and Notre Dame. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

2020 was a year of massive shocks to what was an evolving sports landscape. The economic shock was a brutal short-term blow that will have long-term ramifications. The flourishing social justice movements accelerated a shift away from legacy segments of consumers. And in the background, we have a continuing technology revolution that is changing how sports are consumed and the very nature of fandom. Sports are part of the culture, and the culture is evolving in dramatic ways. And the evolution of culture is now very much tied to politics. The likelihood that you love the Sarah Fuller story or applaud the social justice messages on the backs of jerseys is related to political philosophy and how you vote. To deny the politicization and polarization of the culture is foolish. With that said, as 2021 begins, it is an apt time to consider how the major US leagues will fare in the new environment. In order of their respective championships, some quick thoughts on the direction of each league. Send in a voice messa

While our studies typically pertain to sports, the concepts we apply to sports can also be used to analyze political fandoms, entertainment fandoms, and in this case: the Star Wars fandom. In our Christmas week episode of Fanalytics, we discuss Disney's The Mandalorian as well as the response of Star Wars fans across the globe. We then discuss the franchise's future, why we can guarantee "Baby Yoda's" (Grogu's) return to the Disney + streaming platform, and what The Mandalorian has taught us about fandom. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

Mike Lewis draws from his recent experience as an Illinois Fighting Illini fan to emphasize how hope can rejuvenate one's fandom. Following a discussion of Illinois' recent victory over Duke on the hardwood, Mike and Doug discuss what caused Lovie Smith to fail at Illinois after leading the Chicago Bears to their most recent Super Bowl appearance. The two then discuss Nick Saban, Lovie Smith, and why successful college coaches often struggle in the NFL (and vice versa). In the show's final segment, "mascot expert" Mike breaks down potential consequences of The Cleveland Indians' abandonment of their mascot / team name. This sparks a discussion on "problematic" mascots, the value mascots bring to sports organizations, and the future of mascots in sports. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fand

In this episode, Professor Mike Lewis and co-host Doug Battle talk about the week in sports and dig a little deeper into two stories: one national and one very local. The Sarah Fuller story keeps coming, but there has been a fork in the road. The major media outlets continue to laud the history-making, glass shattering event while Twitter and Youtube contain plenty of amateur commentators happy to mock Vandy’s alleged publicity stunt. Mike and Doug break down why. This sparks a conversation on authenticity in sports and leads to a conversation on Logan Paul's upcoming boxing match with Floyd Mayweather. Then, Mike and Doug take a moment to discuss Doug's personal podcast: The Savage Pads Podcast. This conversation stems from something that Doug said to Mike off-air about how the podcast feels different based on how the Georgia Bulldogs are playing. The key construct for this discussion is the theme of Hope in sports fandom. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/mess

This episode features discussion on The Legends Only League premiere featuring Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., insight on branding in the star-driven business of boxing, and multiple perspectives on media coverage of Sarah Fuller's debut as Vanderbilt's kicker. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @fanalyticsmikeYouTube: @fanalyticsmikeTikTok: @fanalyticspodcast

What differentiates all-time great NFL quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Russell Wilson from former number one picks Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck? Do Brady and Wilson just have the "it-factor" - that clutch, intangible quality that separates Michael Jordan from LeBron James in the minds of many sports fans? Are they better passers? Better teammates? Better "winners?" Or have the situations inherited by these "goats" skewed public opinion in their favor? It's not difficult to imagine players like Stafford and Luck winning Super Bowls for the Patriots in an alternate universe. It's also not difficult to imagine Joe Burrow thriving for a team like New England had he entered the Draft ahead of his breakout 2019 season. In this episode, Professor Mike Lewis introduces the NFL quarterback database he's creating to better identify what constitutes an all-time great. He also discusses his work on name, image, and likeness in regards to college athletics as well as recent happenings acr

Talking heads have provided endless debate on who will go first in the 2020 NBA Draft, who the Lakers may add via trade, and how the Nets could acquire James Harden on Draft Night. With opinion pieces and hypothetical debates saturating the media, Mike and co-host Doug Battle provide something unique for the intellectual basketball fan - a critical thinker's primer for the NBA Draft. In this podcast, Mike discusses how variance and the negativity bias will play roles in Draft Night decision making while Doug provides his analysis of some of the first round's most intriguing prospects. The duo also breaks down highly used Draft Day terms such as "3 & D" and "Draft & Stash." There's so much more to the NBA Draft than the first pick and trade rumors. Explore the 2020 NBA Draft's nuances in this episode. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top

Professor Mike Lewis and co-host Doug Battle discuss the fandom implications of this week's happenings in the worlds of college football and politics. In the show's first segment, Doug discusses the lack of fan enthusiasm for non-playoff bowl games. Mike and Doug then discuss the Notre Dame fanbase after their biggest win in the Playoff era before discussing Jim Harbaugh's situation in Ann Arbor. The show concludes with a continuation of last week's election / polling conversation. Doug describes how initial election night results caused pollsters to appear further off than they actually were. Mike then breaks down what may have gone wrong in the polling process. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on social! Instagram: @fanalyticsmikelewisTwitter: @

In an episode releasing on November 3rd, Emory Analytics Professor Mike Lewis addresses potential pitfalls in polling through an objective lens. Mike also addresses how optics surrounding polls may affect who shows up to vote in this election. But first, Mike and his co-host Doug Battle discuss an array of sports stories ranging from the Philadelphia 76ers' acquisition of Daryl Morey to the Chicago Bears' fight involving former Georgia Bulldog Javon Wims and former Florida Gator CJ Gardner-Johnson. This episode also features MIke's tips for Fantasy Football players wanting to implement analytical strategies as well as a light-hearted discussion pertaining to the return of Disney+ Star Wars tv show The Mandalorian. Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fanalyticsmike/message Fanalytics is a part of the Professors.fm podcast network - making sense of the world with top scholars. Check out more Fanalytics content at fandomanalytics.com.  And make sure to follow us on so