Games and Game Theory

My understanding of game theory is limited at best, mostly coming from ecology class in college and some independent reading. I do find it interesting, though. So here's a Slate article on the "weak-bidder" theory as it may apply to how men get chosen by women as they get older.

LSU's women's basketball team made the Final Four for the fifth year in a row, only the second team to accomplish the feat. That is outstanding. The team also lost in the national semifinals for the fifth year in a row. With the exception of last year, when they got blitzed and run out of the building by Rutgers, each loss has come as a result of not being able to throw it in the ocean from farther out than ten feet. It was a problem in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. You'd think that somewhere along the way, someone would have thought about recruiting a player with shooting skill. Just one, that's all I ask.

This makes me think of something Jim Calhoun said in an interview with Charlie Rose. Rose asked him the difference in the recruiting strategies between Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski. Calhoun replied that Williams goes for athleticism, and Krzyzewski goes for skill. Williams would like skill, and Krzyzewski would like athletes, but given the choice between the two, they differ. LSU's women's team has apparently chosen athleticism, and his has paid off in a very big way. But one skilled player would have been nice.

Now that baseball has started again, be sure to check out the FJM blog, which does an entertaining job of ripping apart bad sportswriting.