Most athletes, coaches and fans do not want to acknowledge the impact of luck in sporting contests but it is part of what makes sport so compelling.
Articles on Luck
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With low-scoring games and a preponderance of deflected shots, randomness is much more likely to color NHL teams’ records than those of squads in the other four major US pro sports leagues.
Holi is a symbolic celebration of spring, the harvest, new life and the triumph of good over evil.
‘Lucky girl syndrome’ focuses on using positive affirmations to achieve material benefit.
An anthropologist explains why we all have some irrational beliefs and the reason they give us comfort.
A sociologist unpacks how common superstitions like fear of 13 can gain steam.
Russia’s war in Ukraine calls for drawing a line between power and luck. Putin, who was widely considered among the most powerful people in the world, may have been simply lucky.
A study shows that a select group of NBA players really do go on hot streaks by making more shots in a row than statistics suggest they should.
Ignore business books which promise to reveal the secret formula of success – usually it’s down to luck.
The curious history of a ritual meant to ward off bad luck.
Be careful how you reward success. Was it achieved through hard-earned skill or just a lucky break?
Superstition holds that Friday 13th is the day to stay in bed and avoid taking risks. But it’s all in our heads.
There’s a surprising amount in common between ancient ways of thinking about the future and the techniques we use now.
A new report confirms how the rich become deluded about their talents, but also hints at a growing acknowledgement of inequality.
At first glance, US$1.5 billion seems like a lot of money. But that’s before taxes and a tendency for winners to spend it unwisely.
New research reveals the relationship between luck and skill in winning at poker.
Some people seem born lucky. Everything they touch turns to gold. Others are dogged by misfortune. It’s not just people who might be lucky or unlucky – it can be single acts. When the ball hits a post…
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Associate Professor of Business, Boston University
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Professor of Critical and Cultural Theory and Head of the School of the Arts, University of Hull