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Oct. 20, 2006

ADVISORY

Experts available on athletes, World Series impact

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Detroit has been home to the All-Star Game, the Super Bowl and now the World Series in14 months. What does that do for a city and a region? How do players prepare for the games? The University of Michigan has several experts, including:

Thomas George, assistant professor of practice, physical education and sport management in the Division of Kinesiology, studies the psychology and sociology of sport. George can discuss issues including: how athletes prepare mentally, what affects their performance, and whether they are affected by fans' behavior. He can be reached at (734) 647-2711 or trgeorge@umich.edu. For more on George, visit: http://www.kines.umich.edu/faculty/full-time/george.html

Scott Page, professor of complex systems and political science, can speak about the impact major cultural events like the World Series can have on a region. He has done research on the impact the World Cup and the Tournament of Roses had on Pasadena. He can be reached at: (734) 615 9141 or spage@umich.edu. For more on Page, visit: http://www.cscs.umich.edu/~spage/

Bruce Watkins, associate professor of kinesiology, directs the Media Research Laboratory and studies the relationship between sports and the mass media including the effects it has on youth. He can comment on the impact and popularity of sports. For example, he notes that the NFL "is the king" for Americans but baseball is still very popular, especially in the post season. For example, he can explain why media companies would have rather seen the Detroit Tigers play the New York Mets than the St. Louis Cardinals. He can be reached at (734) 647-2698 or bawa@umich.edu. For more on Watkins, visit: http://www.kines.umich.edu/faculty/full-time/watkins.html

Scott Kurashige, assistant professor of American Culture and history, is an expert on U.S. urban history including the city of Detroit. He recently pulled together a panel discussing the future of the Tigers' former home, Tiger Stadium. A Detroit resident, he teaches a course on "Detroit Politics and Community Organizing." He can be reached at (734) 763-1460 or kurashig@umich.edu. For more on Kurashige, visit: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/ac/ac_detail/0,2416,13694%255Fpeople%255F21303,00.html

Christopher Peterson, psychology professor, has done extensive research on the power of optimism and the psychology of sport, and the relationship between optimism and good health. He can speak on how the World Series fever is helping fuel such feelings. He can be reached at (734) 764 6567 or (734) 764-6567 or chrispet@umich.edu. For more on Peterson, visit: http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/public/experts/ExpDisplay.php?ExpID=601

Contact: Joe Serwach
Phone: (734) 647-1844