MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

Mr. Curmudgeon Sports

The 14th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference will be held in Boston, MA on March 6-7, 2020. I have never been more excited to attend a gathering of like minded people. This is the first out-of-town conference I will attending. Moreover, I’m attending as a representative of Velomatrix LLC.

The intersection of sports, data, and analysis is this geek’s dream. This reminds me of the Steve Jobs quote:

… technology alone is not enough—it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing.

Mrs. Principled Curmudgeon asked why I’m attending this conference. I can’t imagine not attending was my reply.

    Table Tennis Elbow

    Mr. Curmudgeon Sports

    It turns out that you can develop tennis elbow from playing too much table tennis. Start by swinging a 200g racket violently with poor form for 2-3 hours per day. Repeat month after month and voilà—(table) tennis elbow. While the prescribed remedy is rest, I can’t fathom not playing.

    Instead, I take performance-enhancing ibuprofen beforehand to dull the pain and apply ice afterward to minimize the swelling. Until platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections become affordable (currently $500-$2,000 per treatment), this parsimonious quadragenarian will stick with the more cost-effective solution.

    Falcon Warriors

    Mr. Curmudgeon Sports

    Three valiant warriors descended upon the North American Teams Championship. Hailing from Austin, TX and Tucson, AZ and sporting custom designed shirts, they demonstrated that mental toughness and guile can often overcome the advantages of excellent technique, formal training, and youth.

    The trio finished second in their division, leaving a trail of tears in their wake. While none of these guys was caught crying immediately after a loss, tears may have been shed later on.