House of Strauss

House of Strauss is a Substack exploring intersections between sports, business, politics, and culture. It delves into the evolving sports media environment, the impact of political and social issues on sports, coaching strategies, the influence of influencers in sports, and critiques of media handling of sports stories. It aims to provide insights into the dynamics shaping modern sports and culture.

Sports Media Evolution Politics and Social Issues in Sports Coaching Strategies and Personalities Influencer Impact in Sports Media Critique and Analysis Sports and Culture Intersection Business Aspects of Sports

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

How Phil Jackson Was Great While Being "Bad"

64 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Coaching Media Success Culture Analysis
  1. The media can sensationalize and distort complex stories into soundbites for quick, angry reactions.
  2. Successful coaching often involves individualized management strategies and balancing structure with freedom.
  3. Phil Jackson's coaching success was rooted in understanding and connecting with players as individuals, even amidst societal and personal contradictions.

Looking Back on the Cavinder Controversy

63 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Media Influencer Journalism Controversy Interview
  1. The author reflects on a controversial article they wrote about the Cavinder twins, TikTok stars turned influencers.
  2. Despite facing backlash, the author stands by the intent and content of their article, emphasizing the journalistic process and context.
  3. The article aimed to delve into the modern journey and business aspects of the Cavinder twins but faced criticism from the subject for not aligning with their desired narrative.

Michael Jordan is the GOAT and We're Not Done With the 90's

53 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎾 Sports Basketball Legacy
  1. The debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the GOAT is ongoing, with arguments highlighting different aspects like championships and career longevity.
  2. Social media trends like 'We're done with the 90's' provoke discussions about basketball legends and the evolution of the game over time.
  3. Michael Jordan's impact and legacy as an iconic sports figure remain strong, transcending nostalgia and time, as seen through his enduring influence in popular culture.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Bomani Jones has more broadcasting juice than you think

53 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
  1. Bomani Jones is more popular and influential than perceived in broadcasting circles.
  2. Bomani Jones generates high subscription rates when appearing on podcasts, indicating strong public interest.
  3. Criticism of Bomani Jones from certain media outlets may be ideologically motivated and overlook his talent and success.

End of Football Season Reflections

51 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Sports Family Emotions Memories
  1. Losing can be more interesting than winning because there's more to consider and manage.
  2. As a parent, it's important to maintain a calm and composed demeanor even during disappointing moments like sports losses.
  3. Family and responsibility take precedence over sports outcomes, teaching the value of emotional management and stoicism.

Bill Simmons is Right About Pat McAfee

50 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Media Content Gambling Entertainment
  1. Pat McAfee criticized Bill Simmons over Super Bowl parlay bets, not content or integrity.
  2. The conflict between McAfee and Simmons is about competing visions for sports media and the role of sports gambling.
  3. Some speculate that the criticism stems from McAfee giving a platform to Aaron Rodgers to criticize Simmons' friend, Jimmy Kimmel.

Nick Saban Rejects the Gerontocracy

45 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Coaching Retirement Aging Leadership Success
  1. Nick Saban's retirement as a top coach at age 72 was a rare and thoughtful decision in sports.
  2. The concept of gerontocracy, where older individuals persist in power, is notable in both sports and politics.
  3. Recognizing one's limitations with age and gracefully passing responsibilities to the next generation is a wise and necessary practice.

NBA All Star Weekend Buzz and Flubs

41 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Basketball NBA Sports Media
  1. The NBA All Star Game was heavily criticized and considered uncompetitive, with even the commissioner showing concern.
  2. There is speculation that NBA commissioner Adam Silver's recent focus on the product's quality is driven more by business interests than personal enthusiasm.
  3. The NBA is in a critical phase of securing its financial future, but the current players seem disinterested in putting on an engaging performance.

It's Interesting That NFL Teams Risked Their Seasons Rather Than Sign Matt Araiza

37 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎾 Sports NFL Media Impact Team performance
  1. NFL teams prioritized public relations over on-field advantage by not signing Matt Araiza, which ultimately impacted their seasons.
  2. Media hysteria played a significant role in influencing teams' decisions on player signings, revealing the impact of irrationality in sports media.
  3. The avoidance of signing Araiza by Super Bowl contenders due to media pressures ended up hurting these teams during the season.

General Managers and Coaches Think the NBA Changed Its Rules Midseason

37 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🎾 Sports NBA Public Opinion
  1. General managers and coaches in the NBA believe the league changed its rules midseason, causing scoring trends to shift abruptly.
  2. Statements from league executives prior to the scoring drop are now seen as ironic, given the sudden shift in average points per game by teams.
  3. There is a widespread belief within the NBA that the league's rules were secretly altered due to outside pressure, sparking speculation and questions among those involved.

ESPN's Pat McAfee Problem

36 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Media Television Personality Entertainment
  1. Television and platforms like Youtube have different requirements and not all content works on both.
  2. The success of a media personality on one platform doesn't guarantee success on another.
  3. Hiring decisions in media can be risky and may have implications for a company's reputation and internal dynamics.

Mailbag Monday: Yes, Bluey is Really Good

34 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
  1. The TV show Bluey is enjoyable and emotionally impactful for both kids and adults.
  2. Bluey's success lies in its focus on parenting, appealing to children as they are curious about boundaries and rules.
  3. Bluey stands out as a rare gem of quality entertainment that can be shared across generations, bridging the gap between childhood and parenthood.

Gilbert Arenas Shows Success is Built on Boring

33 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🎾 Sports Athletes Training Success NBA
  1. Success often comes from mastering the basics and being consistent rather than seeking flashy shortcuts.
  2. Persistence and commitment to tedious tasks can lead to significant growth and improvement over time.
  3. Embracing boredom and putting in the repetitive work can be a key factor in achieving long-term success in various aspects of life.

Keep Uniforms Uniform

31 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Uniforms
  1. Professional sports should stick to familiar uniforms that fans love.
  2. Sometimes uniform changes work if a team lacks a strong brand image, but unnecessary changes can frustrate fans.
  3. Visual consistency and nostalgia hold significant value in sports uniforms, connecting them to history and fan memories.

All Hail the Homer

28 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Analysis Fandom Predictions
  1. Being a "homer" can lead to more accurate predictions about your favorite team
  2. Assess opinions based on substance, not on perceived bias or motives
  3. Interest in an outcome can enhance understanding and knowledge, outweighing potential bias

Why Political Leaders Lean On Journalists and Sports Coaches Do Not

28 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Leadership Influence Media Sports Ideas
  1. Politicians often rely on writers and intellectuals for ideas, while sports coaches do not look to the media for advice.
  2. Political leaders delegate the ideas portion of their projects to others, like writers, as they seek power for its own sake.
  3. In contrast to politics, sports coaches consider the media intellectually useless and mainly rely on internal expertise within their team for strategic decisions.

Mail Monday: Fear of Peacockification

26 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Media Industry
  1. The sports TV industry is experiencing a major transformation due to Peacockification.
  2. Peacock Game on NBCUniversal is influencing how ESPN and other sports rights holders operate.
  3. Fans are skeptical but the industry is evolving with potential watershed moments.

The NBA's Most Popular Scandal

25 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🎾 Sports NBA Scandal Scoring Gambling
  1. Younger referees in the NBA tend to call fewer fouls, possibly affecting game outcomes like total points scored.
  2. There has been a significant drop in the average total points scored in NBA games, contrary to the league's initial explanation of a "statistical anomaly."
  3. The NBA's handling of the decreased scoring and evasion in addressing the issue has left fans questioning the league's transparency and motivations.

Are the Denver Nuggets a Public Team?

24 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🎾 Sports NBA Games
  1. The Denver Nuggets surprisingly had four games reaching a viewership of 2 million this season on cable, which is a rare achievement in today's media landscape.
  2. Viewership for NBA games on ESPN and TNT can be challenging to reach the 2 million threshold, but the Nuggets achieved it multiple times.
  3. Reaching 2 million viewers on cable for NBA games is not common, making the Denver Nuggets stand out for their significant viewership numbers.

Why Did Peter King Outlast His Haters?

23 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🎾 Sports NFL Retirement
  1. Peter King outlasted his haters in the NFL world, proving his longevity and success.
  2. The write-up by Peter King in his final Football Morning in America focused on the late NFL reporter Chris Mortensen, showcasing the old-school style of journalism.
  3. To access the full content, readers need to be paid subscribers on the House of Strauss platform.

I'll Defend My Guy Nick Wright Against My Guy Freddie deBoer

23 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Television Entertainment Narrative Comedy
  1. The show 'First Things First' is highly praised and successful in captivating its audience through storytelling.
  2. Successful sports talk involves taking the audience on a journey through engaging narratives rather than just shouting or acting crazy.
  3. The success of 'First Things First' is attributed to its mix of entertainment, accountability for past opinions, and the show's ability to anchor viewers in the present moment.

Matthew Stafford Reminds me of Hakeem Olajuwon

19 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Athletes
  1. Matthew Stafford and Hakeem Olajuwon both saw their legacies defined after age 30.
  2. Both athletes received more attention and validation after certain career events.
  3. Late career success can significantly impact an athlete's legacy and recognition.

Mail Monday: Why is the NFL Market Proof?

17 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Sports
  1. NFL does not rely on massive TV markets like the NBA does
  2. NFL viewership isn't significantly impacted by the size of TV markets
  3. Questioning why markets are essential in some sports but not in others

Old Warriors, Victory Machine Trailer

7 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🎾 Sports
  1. Producer Anthony Mayes suggested putting up a trailer for Ethan Strauss' book about Kevin Durant's final season with the Warriors.
  2. The trailer is described as a good watch now that the Warriors core seems to be changing.
  3. Ethan Strauss might be inspired to visit the team this week after watching the trailer.