Anthropometric measurements of large populations show that systematic differences exist among blacks, whites and Asians. The published evidence is massive: blacks have longer limbs than whites, and because blacks have longer legs and smaller circumferences (e.g. calves and arms), their center of mass is higher than that in other individuals of the same height. Asians and whites have longer torsos, therefore their centers of mass are lower.

I’m generally suspicious of “inherent genetic advantage” arguments, but at least I know I’m not alone.

More potentially-related posts:

1. That’s great, it starts with an earthquake.
2. Of course.
3. Suburban ghettoes.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Linkwad.
2. Linkwad and an update.
3. Linkwad.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Some men just want to watch the world burn.
2. Five for Friday, February 12.
3. Linkwad.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Linkwad.
2. Linkwad.
3. Linkwad (updated).

[Chris] Henry, 26, had already developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the progressive brain disease whose recent discovery in some retired N.F.L. players has raised questions of football’s long-term safety risks.

…Like many of the other players found to have had C.T.E. after their deaths, Henry had behavioral problems in his final years that might have been at least partly a result of the disease, which is linked to depression, poor decision-making and substance abuse.

ESPN and PFT have more on. For background on CTE, check out the excellent GQ article “Game Brain” (which also documents the NFL’s concerted attempts to deny the condition, though the league seems to have come around on the issue) and this article of Gladwell’s, which is solid, despite a too-clever attempt to conflate football with dogfighting. CTE is also a possible explanation for the behavior of Chris Benoit, a former WWE wrestler who killed his wife and son before hanging himself.

If you’re too lazy to read any of those articles: CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head (not necessarily concussions), which produces a buildup of tau proteins in the brain. These proteins can cause dementia, paranoia, depression, suicidal behavior, memory loss, and volatility.

CTE is obviously a major concern for any sport where you have large athletes running into each other, and has the potential to destroy the game of football, the rare sport where contact is a necessity on every play. To see the condition in a twenty-six year old, especially one whose position involves the least contact on the team, is even more troubling. I really don’t see an easy solution to this problem.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Gameplanning.
2. Five for Friday, Sept. 4.
3. Week 14 NFL picks.

Proofreading is important:

More potentially-related posts:

1. Linkwad.
2. Linkwad.
3. Linkwad.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Linkwad.
2. Linkwad.
3. Linkwad.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Linkwad.
2. Linkwad (updated).
3. Linkwad.

More potentially-related posts:

1. Linkwad.
2. Linkwad (updated).
3. Linkwad.

“Online scouting tracks all of your play calling and what you like to do in different situations,” producer Donny Moore says. “We’re tracking every online game that you play: online ranked, unranked and ‘Madden Ultimate Team’ head-to-head.”

And according to Moore, there are 10 situations the game is tracking: first down, second down and long, second down and medium, second down and short, third down and long, third down and medium, third down and short, fourth down, goal line, and red zone.

“On defense, the first thing you’re going to unlock is the run/pass percentage of your opponent. The next thing you’re going to unlock is the field location,” Moore says.

…The final thing gamers unlock on defense is the player-specific target: Who does your opponent like to throw to or hand the ball off to in these certain situations.

“On offense, you’re going to be scouting the percentages on how often your opponent likes to play man or zone versus the blitz in certain situations,” Moore says. “The other thing you’re able to unlock on offense is to view your own tendencies.”

I support anything that combines data and football, and unlike a lot of EA’s other cash grabs, you don’t have to pay for these–you’ll earn “coins” as you play games online.

(Via Marginal Revolution)

More potentially-related posts:

1. Sometimes I hate football.
2. 2009 NFL picks, week 15.
3. 2009 NFL picks, Week 10.