Temple University Sports Analytics Competition

 

On Thursday evening,I was honored to judge the 2nd Annual Sports Analytics Competition at Temple University.The even lasted for approximately 2 and a half hours and had two divisions.There was an undergrate and graduate section.

Each group was given a subset of NFL data from 1980 - 2023.The information consisted of the winners and losers of each game,the total points scored and how the information translated to the outcomes against the spread.The contestants were given the task of scraping the data and looking for trends that would be appealing to an investment firm.

The groups cited,temperature,wind,home field advantage as important variables.They went further and examine the ATS by divisions and individual months during the season. Temple University is one of the few schools in the country that has several courses of studies that address Sports Gaming. While UNLV is the leader in offering gaming and sports related classes,Temple has carve out a niche that introduces the sports betting industry to this region. 

If you are interested in sports gaming and how it relates to business, analytics,tourism and hospitality,please contact Yang Yang or George Diemer ,two professors at Temple University School of Hospiality and Tourism.

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#Temple University #sports #Analytics #SportsBetting #Casinos #Gaming 

Dawn Staley:Philly Girls Rock!

As we continue to celebrate Womens History Month, I have to pay tribute to Philadelphia's own, Dawn Staley. Dawn is legendary in the city of brotherly love. Her legendary journey started back in high school as she led Dobbins to 3 Public League Championships. She was named the National High School Player of the year by the USA Today.

She went on to the University of Virginia where she led them to 3 consecutive Final Fours. She went on to play professionally in the ABL and the WNBA. In 2004, she was given the honor of carry the torch in the Olympics. In 2011, Staley was named one of the top 15 best players in WNBA History.

Staley began coaching while still playing in the WNBA. She started coaching at Temple University in 2000. She turned them into a top ranked program that went to 6 NCAA tournament and won 4 conference tournament titles. The success at Temple made other teams take notice. The University of South Carolina pursued her, and she became their head coach in 2001. Staley rebuilt the program. The Gamecocks improved every year and won the National Championship 2017. Staley was named the coach of the 2020 Olympic team that won the gold medal. 

Dawn is the only person to ever win the Naismith Award as a player and as a coach. She had a foundation that helps middle school children in the areas of academics and mentorship. So, with all these accolades to her credit, Staley is a real genuine person and is proud of her Philadelphia upbringing.

My favorite Dawn Staley moment is personal.  My daughters were attending her basketball camps at Temple University, Staley was going to play in the WNBA All Star Game in Washington DC. I made a request to her to have some of the players sign a basketball as a memento of my family attending the game.  I met her mother coincidentally after the game and she contacted Dawn. Dawn came out and got multiple players to sign the ball. That why I chose Dawn Staley to honor on my website & blog during Womens History Month. Because Philly Girls Rock!

Check out this video of the top women's teams heading into the 2021-2022 NCAA tournament.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for March Madness. #MarchMadness with Mims.

5 Takeaways from the SBC Digital North America Conference

 

These are some of the takeaways of the SBC Digital North America, an online event that was held June 9^th and 10^th.
I Gaming and Sports Betting are moving the needle in the Gaming and Casino Industry. While there will always be a need for a land base casino hotel, there is a need for the convenience factor that playing online gives to a player. The mobile apps that replicate the brick-and-mortar facilities will resonate with the existing customer.
The use of Social Media is a great opportunity to engage with your clientele and attract new patrons. Using push notifications and tweets that give information are ways that have the public interested in your promotions, if sent at the right time as well as to the right customer.
Innovation will separate successful operators from the masses.
I participated in two panels at the SBC. The 1^st was From the Gaming Floor to Online Slots: Harnessing the Omnichannel Opportunity. I was able to share my expertise in casino operations and how important the loyalty program is. I suggested that the digital wallet program and the brick & mortar should work together. This will keep the player with your organization longer because you are working collaboratively to fulfill their needs. This type of marketing will ultimately increase the lifetime value of the player to your organization.
The second panel address the careers in gaming and sports betting. I was on this panel with George Diemer, associate professor at Temple University. George and I concurred about internships, regulation, and responsible gaming. The industry could be doing more to increase our labor pool and alleviate employment concerns. An increase in flexibility regarding shifts and hours should be a consideration. 

I plan to do my part to help in a recruitment endeavor. I will be going to colleges and universities this fall to advocate what gaming has to offer. I will also have at least one video per month that highlights a job that a college student or job applicant with an aptitude for learning could fulfill. I will not limit my scope to jobs just in one region because of the size and growth of the gaming industry. If there are any casinos that are having recruitment and retention challenges, reach out to me and I will highlight the position that you are trying to fill.  

Follow me on Twitter where I discuss #sportsbetting and #gaming entertainment.  Check out my articles in Bettors Insider and in the January edition of Igaming player. 

Tribute to 3 Trail Blazers:

The month of January saw 3 iconic Black trail blazers transition from this earth. In the spirit of Black History Month, I want to acknowledge each of them. 

John Chaney was the legendary coach of Cheyney State and Temple University. Coach Chaney gave opportunities to inner city youthsto play Division One Basketball. He was one of the few coaches that would recruit  prop 48 players that were declared ineligible as freshmen. This rule was later changed because it was found to be discriminatory against black students because of the use of standardize testing that had cultural bias against minorities. Coach Chaney was a father figure to many of his players. He was instrumental in making the Atlantic Ten one of the top conferences in the country. 

Hank Aaron was the home run king of Major League  Baseball. He was able to surpass Babe Ruth record that has stood for decades. As he approved 714 home runs, he was besieged with hate mail and death threats. He kept the mail but never allow it to deter his pursuit of the record. He was playing in the deep South where discrimination was prevalent and a norm. Aaron was named to the MLB Hall of Fame and is still considered one of the best baseball players of all time.

Cicely Tyson was an actress and fashion model. She was known for her portrayal of strong black characters. Tyson refused to play stereotypical roles that demeaned people of color. Her stance cost her money and acting opportunities. Tyson felt it was more important to be a credit to her race and give an example of setting a standard that others could follow. She was nominated for an Oscar, won Emmys and NAACP Image Awards thru out her career that spanned 7 decades. 

If you think you are going threw it, think about the real struggles that these trailblazers went thru. Each of them raise their voices so you could be heard.