Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won

As in life, much of what goes on in sports can be explained by incentives, fears, and a desire for approval. You just have to know where to look … and it helps if you have data to prove it.

“People overfocus on errors of commission. Companies overemphasize how expensive failure’s going to be. Failure’s not that expensive.… The big cost that most companies incur is much harder to notice, and those are errors of omission.”

That which is recognizable or apparent is often given too much credit, whereas the real answer often lies concealed. Incentives are powerful motivators and predictors of how athletes, coaches, owners, and fans behave—sometimes with undesirable consequences. Human biases and behavior play a pivotal role in almost every aspect of life, and sports are