For more than 25 years, I have been daily studying American free time with a primary emphasis on Sports through "The Sports Poll." Over 500,000 respondents, over 6,000 variables, interviewing nearly 10,000 days. But I couldn't have done any of it had ESPN and Chilton said no.

THANK YOU: ESPN, Chilton, and Disney for saying yes 25 years ago when NOBODY was studying sports on a national level.

THANK YOU: Melissa Herrmann, President of SSRS, new owner of Luker on Trends and the Sports Poll, and 20+ year research partner. SSRS has always provided the highest quality research, and is at the front edge of what we are calling "Relational Research." …more to come on that.

THANK YOU: Chad Menefee, formerly my partner at Luker on Trends, now leading the sports and free time business at SSRS (SSRS.COM). A recent #SBJ40u40, Chad will lead our understanding of how time online is forever changing free time in America.

THANK YOU: Client/friends I have had over all these years. I realize I can work to live, or live to work - either way I have to work. Having genuinely caring clients, work has been a wonderful life for me.

Now what? As "Founder Emeritus," I get to sharply focus on what means most to me in my work: supporting the LOVE of what people enjoy most in their free time. And I will do that through the new SSRS/LoT relationship.

What Makes Someone a Fan? nyti.ms/34Tx03D

Anyone interested in beta testing a Podcast I am building on the future of social and market research called "Research and Other Heresies." Just finished the first of three podcasts on CHANGE covering paradigm shifts. Any takers? Let me know.

I had a great conversation with Charlie Clifford on how the sports landscape is changing: wishtv.com/podcast-episod…

Harder. More detail to come, but simple illustration: 100 people saw this tweet, 7 voted.

Good things are coming from the Aspen Institute Project Play. We are honored to be a small part at the meetings in DC next week. x.com/AspenInstitute…

I WILL make the SFIA Keynote tomorrow! Came to Chicago a day early to be sure. One of only a handful of flights that made it.

Thanks for concern about our St. Pete house #Irma. Didn't enjoy the watch party, but no real damage. Will apply it to #SFIA @thesfia Keynote

The #smartphone has become life's "remote control." #UpNext column in sbjsbd on Sept 25. Not just online, smartphones connect us to life.

There are people who love their favorite teams so much that they have tattoos of the team logo. That love is at risk. The chart at the top of our Twitter page (and below) gives you a glimpse of the future. We may have no more than 8 years to preserve that love.

This is still the early stages of the age of data. But I'd say this is the period of data chaos. Instead of soundbites, we are being flooded with databites - small pieces of information with little consideration of why it is important, or insight on how to use it.

#MarchMadness is here so @LukerOnTrends and SSRS put together an inside look on Tournament Trends over the past two decades #sportsresearch #mrx #newmr #polling #survey #data #analytics ssrs.com/tournament-tre…

We have probably been tracking the interplay between time online, free time in general, and time spent on sports for more than 15 years. Nothing motivates us more than the clear opportunities we see to be more engaged with fans. x.com/chadmenefeeLOT…

According to Chiefmartec.com there were only 150 tech tool companies in 2011. Now, there are over 7,000, up 27% from 2017. It's not about the tools. It's about the substance, the content, the experience, the life...