Meh-taverse - does sports need it?

This is a reprint of Sports Geek News - you can sign up here .

I hope all is well and you enjoy an Easter break (if you get one).

You can check out my podcast chat with Loretta Johns in your podcast feed , as hard as it was to relive my Pies loss to Swans it was great to discuss content, marketing and more with Loretta.

Congrats to good friend Shane Harmon stepping down at Sky Stadium after ten years .

Do you want to assess how you can use AI? Let’s chat, just reply to this message I am enjoying diving into and learning an exciting space.

Cheers

Sean

What Sports Geek reads

Disney, Microsoft Say Meh to the Metaverse - WSJ

This is the first time I've seen the term "Meh-taverse," and it couldn't be more apt. I've witnessed numerous technology trends over the past 30 years, but few have been as overhyped and underdelivered as Web3, across multiple verticals, not just sports. Instead of focusing on digital collectible products or other use cases that don't require Web3, sports should concentrate on the basics: cleaner databases, smarter user journeys, and timely emails. These improvements will provide more benefits for sports than attempting to execute Web3.

The impossible job: inside the world of Premier League referees - The Guardian

Referring (and umpiring) is a tough job across multiple sports and with increased technology (on pitch and online) it isn’t getting easier. Sports administrators need to protect referees and ensure there is a pipeline of new talent coming through. All sport suffers when referee standards drop.

The content marketer’s guide to AI and content maturity - Writer

I liked this article as it provided some guidelines on how you might integrate AI tools in your content workflow. AI tools won’t replace dedicated staff but staff willing to learn to use the tools will see a jump in output, creativity and productivity with the right tools and process.

Do you want to see how AI can help your content team? Send me a DM

Wired tells readers what it will use generative AI for — and what’s off-limits - Nieman Journalism Lab

Setting a policy and being clear with your fans on how you use AI in content creation will be important as AI tools become more pervasive. This policy from Wired is a good starting point if you’re considering applying AI to your content process.

How a hand gesture dominated a NCAA title game and revealed a double standard - NPR

Unfortunately, the discussion around Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark using John Cena’s wrestling catchphrase overlooked what a great tournament was. This article breaks down the reaction. I know anger and outrage generates clicks, but let’s celebrate the sport and the players involved. Agree with Amir Zonozi’s take on Twitter “ I think it's terrific that people are talking about trash talk in women's sports - this is just part of the process of making it more and more mainstream.”

An earthquake shaped Jun Endo's path to the NWSL, World Cup - ESPN

If you have click rage from the above article, hopefully this article will balance that out. Learn more about the fascinating back story of Angel City FC’s Jun Endo. You can see why Jun fits in at Angle City FC if you listen to the podcast with Jess Smith .

New Podcast - Loretta Johns - Sydney Swans

If you haven't seen the absolute chaos around Lance Franklin kicking his 1000th AFL goal I highly recommend?clicking through to watch and then listening to the podcast chat with Loretta Johns .

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