COURSEWORK»SYLLABUS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

Class Attendance and Other Class Policies
Class attendance is not required, but you are responsible for everything that occurs in every class.
Your problems are due at 7:10 p.m. on the day indicated and will not be accepted after that time. If you believe you have a legitimate reason why you cannot hand in your problem on time, contact me prior to the class (use e-mail when in doubt) and I’ll listen. But, don’t assume you can hand a problem after the deadline.

Don’t miss an examination! You’ll need the proverbial death notice to support your case if you do.
Respect your classmates, your faculty member, guest speakers, and yourself by coming to class on time.

Research and Citations
You commit a serious violation of Old Dominion University’s academic policies and the University’s Honor Code if you plagiarize information or sources (i.e., do not provide appropriate citation for the work of others that you have used). When you write for me, I will assume your thoughts are your own. If not, then you must cite your sources---which is an excellent idea in any case if you want to buttress you case. The Internet is a wonderful tool; however, if you quote from it or any outside source, then you must provide me with a searchable citation that shows the source of your material. Failure to do so will result in your receiving an F for the course. Take this obligation seriously.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices
Please turn off all cell phones (and other communications devices) when you enter the classroom. Active cell phones disrupt the class and exhibit disrespect both for other students and for the professor. You are subject to dismissal from the class if you violate this rule.

CAN WE TREAT SPORTING TEAMS AND LEAGUES AS BUSINESSES?

• Read: Fort, Chapter 1

DEMAND, SUPPLY AND TEAM REVENUES

• Read: Fort, Chapter 2

BROADCAST RIGHTS AND REVENUES

• Read: Fort, Chapter 3

FRANCHISE VALUES AND FRANCHISE PROFITS

• Read: Fort, Chapter 4
• Burke, “Like Father, Unlike Son,” Forbes (15 September 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• Badenhausen and Kump, “Coupon Clippers,” Forbes (17 February 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• “Ultimate Standings,” ESPN Magazine. Date Unknown. This will be distributed to the class.
• Isidore, “Too Many Teams for Sale,” cnnmoney.com (9 April 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• “Hockey Team Values,” Forbes (8 December 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• “Inside the Huddle,” Forbes (2 September 2002). Find this on the class web site.

ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON PERFORMANCE

• Read : Fort, Chapter 5
• Pennington, “Rich Get Richer and Poor Are Undecided, New York Times (5 August 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• Wieberg, “Final Four in Reach of Few,” USA Today (3 April 2003). This will be distributed to the class.
• Exam One will occur here.

PLAYER PAY AND PLAYER VALUES

• Read : Fort, Chapters 6 and 7
• “The Bottom Line on the Gridiron,” USA Today (17 June 2003). This will be distributed to the class.
• “Major League Baseball Salaries,” USA Today (10 April 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• “NFL Franchise and Transition Players,” USA Today (19 February 2003). Find this on the class web site.

THE ECONOMICS OF LEAGUES

• Read : Koch, “Oligopoly Theory and Sports,” in The Economics of Professional Sports. Find this on the class web site.
• Lowry, “The NFL Machine,” Business Week (27 January 2003). Find this on the class web site.

ECONOMIC DISCRIMINATION IN SPORTS

• Read : Koch and Vander Hill, “Is There Discrimination in the ‘Black Man’s Game’?” Social Science Quarterly (March 1988). Find this on the class web site.

ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES

• Read : Koch, “Major League Sports Teams,” in The State of the Region, Hampton Roads, 2001. Find this at: www.odu.edu/bpa/forecasting/index.shtml by clicking on the 2001 report and then on the stadium chapter.

LABOR RELATIONS

• Read : Fort, Chapter 8
• Exam Two will occur here.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN SPORTS, INCLUDING STADIUM SUBSIDIES

• Read : Fort, Chapters 9, 10 and 1
• Read State of the Region: 2001 chapter on stadiums; find this at www.odu.edu/bpa/forecasting/index.shtml and then click on the year 2001 and then on the stadium chapter.
• Pearlstein, “Baseball Is Not a Business Model D.C. Can Afford,” Washington Post (7 March 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• Isidore, “Monopoly As a Major League Sport,” cnnmoney.com (15 March 2002). Find this on the class web site.

COLLEGE SPORTS: A DISTINCTIVE VARIANT

• Read: Fort, Chapter 12
• Koch, “A Troubled Cartel: the NCAA,” Law and Contemporary Problems (Winter 1973). Find this on the class web site.
• Suggs, “In Football, the Have-Nots Clash with the Haves,” Chronicle of Higher Education (5 September 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• Suggs, “Increased Spending…,” Chronicle of Higher Education (15 August 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• Wieberg, “Big Spending…,” USA Today (14 August 2003). Find this on the class web site.
• Sokolove, “Football Is a Sucker’s Game,” NY Times (22 December 2002). Find this on the class web site.
• Isidore, “Econ 101 and the NCAA,” CNN Money (13 November 2001). Find this on the class web site.
• “Academic Flunkies…,” ESPN.com (4 April 2003). Find this on the class web site.

GUEST APPEARANCES BY SPORTS BUSINESS FIGURES

• January 28: Frank Bowers, Cox Cable Hampton Roads
• February 18: Jack Ankerson (Radio and Media)
• March 24: Dr. Jim Jarrett, Athletic Director, Old Dominion University
• April 14: Jim Miller, Athletic Director, University of Richmond
• April 21: Tom Yaeger, Commissioner, Colonial Athletic Association and Chair of the NCAA Infractions Committee