"Rick and Norm are among the top analysts in the sports business, and I always look forward to their column in SBJ. This compilation of their work will be a handy and welcome resource for anyone looking for shrewd insights about the issues of the day in the sports world."—Val Ackerman,Commissioner, Big East Conference
"I look forward to the monthly columns by Rick and Norm, as they always provide thought-provoking commentary surrounding topics we all face in this business. Having a collection of their work in a single book makes this a must-have for any reader."—John Swofford, Commissioner, ACC
"We live at a fascinating time in sports history. At the professional level, virtually every game has become a multi-faceted event that features an assortment of fan engagement opportunities. Broad-casts provide a wider range of content and access than ever. Social media reaches corners of the sports world that were unimaginable a few years ago. Analysis of the industry has grown more sophisticated than ever. Sports Business Unplugged would be a solid addition to the library of anyone eager to follow and process the warp-speed developments of this constantly evolving universe."—Gary Bettman, Commissioner, National Hockey League
"These columns are great, straight forward, evocative, and informational!"—Bruce Pratt, Sports Lit 101 on Downtown with Rich Kimball
"For more than seven years, the incisive commentary of Rick Burton and Norm O'Reilly has graced the pages of Sports Business Journal, the industry's leading trade journal. Now in Sports Business Unplugged: Leadership Challenges from the World of Sports, fifty of their most recent columns are collected in one volume, providing thoughtful and deeply knowledgeable insight into many of the sport industry's most contentious issues."—Midwest Book Review
"Sports Business Unplugged: Leadership Challenges from the World of Sports provided thoughtful insight to prevalent issues in the sport industry. Through their 50 separate columns, Burton and O’Reilly not only illustrated concepts such as marketing and sponsorship, the Olympics, the global industry of sport, and the future of sport, but they also provided the readers with knowledgeable commentary. As challenges continue to impact the world of sports, analyses such as those written by Burton and O’Reilly will be vital to the ever-changing landscape of the sport world."—Journal of Amateur Sport
"Rick and Norm are among the top analysts in the sports business, and I always look forward to their column in SBJ. This compilation of their work will be a handy and welcome resource for anyone looking for shrewd insights about the issues of the day in the sports world."—Val Ackerman, Commissioner, Big East Conference
Description
For more than seven years, the incisive commentary of Burton and O’Reilly has graced the pages of Sports Business Journal, the industry’s leading trade journal. Now, fifty of their most recent columns are collected in one volume, providing thoughtful and deeply knowledgeable insight into many of the industry’s most contentious issues. Covering an era in sports that has experienced rapid change, the authors discuss such topics as gender equity, corporate sponsorship, collegiate athletics, diversity, and the future of sports. As two of the leading scholars in the business of sports, Burton and O’Reilly also draw upon years of experience to give both students and industry professionals a dual perspective on the role sports play in a healthy, thriving society.
About the Author
Rick Burton is the David B. Falk Professor of Sport Management at Syracuse University. From 2003 to 2007, Burton was commissioner of the Australian National Basketball League. He also served as the chief marketing officer for the US Olympic Committee for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Ad Age, among other journals.
Norm O’Reilly is the Richard P. and Joan S. Fox Professor of Business and is chair of the Department of Sports Administration at Ohio University. O’Reilly has written seven books and more than ninety journal articles. Active in industry, he is partner consultant with T1. O’Reilly has been a member of the mission staff for the Canadian Team at three Olympic Games and is deputy chef for the 2016 Canadian Paralympic Team.
6 x 9, 232 pages, 10 color illustrations
August 2016