Nick Merrill

Nick Merrill is a content editor at MultiBriefs specializing in the sports and recreation industries.

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Articles by Nick Merrill

• Drone dread: Line must be drawn between hobby toys and military machines

  Friday, May 09, 2014

  Recently, two national parks made headlines when they banned the use of drones inside their parks. This was a strong move — and a first among parks — but only the latest in a string of bans on unmanned aerial vehicles in public.

• The youth bias in professional sports

  Friday, April 25, 2014

  The days of development years, farm teams and "Put me in, coach!" seem to be fading fast. Every year, more and more rookies in professional sports are thrown right into the mix at the start of the season. And even more popular are student-athletes entering professional drafts as college juniors and even sophomores. Why the new trend in younger players? Maybe because it's working.

• Male birth control: Will the future ever arrive?

  Tuesday, March 18, 2014

  Flying cars are the perennial example of a technology from the future that we may never see come to light. Seemingly just as impossible of a pipe dream is male birth control. How is that possible? Here is a look at some of the most promising methods of male birth control, the amazing science behind them and where they are in development.

• Be your own PR expert: What you can learn from pro athletes

  Friday, March 07, 2014

  The world gasped when Muhammad Ali publicly spoke out against the Vietnam War in 1967 and refused to join the military. More than 40 years later, athletes are still committing the same mistakes with their public image.

• Be your own PR representative: What you can learn from pro athletes

  Monday, February 24, 2014

  We can learn a lot from the wide world of sports, from leadership to bravery, success to failure. But sports can also teach us a great deal about living in the public eye, though it seems we learn more about what not to do when there are cameras around.

• Planning pitfalls: How to avoid hosting a dud

  Friday, January 31, 2014

  Planning an event, and not sure if it will be well attended? Let's face it, we've all been there. You can throw the greatest party in history — and it amounts to nothing if no one attends. To help avoid this event planner's worst nightmare, here is a list of common mistakes and pitfalls that can arise when planning your next big event.

• Early exit: Assessing when players are ready to make the leap

  Monday, January 20, 2014

  "I think I’m ready for the next level." Every coach has heard this at some point. It's a phrase signaling that your time instructing that player is coming to an end. You want the best for your players, but are they ready?

• Practical applications for 3-D printing

  Monday, November 11, 2013

  Recently, NASA announced a plan to install a 3-D printer on the International Space Station. This will be a huge boon for astronauts, who would no longer have to wait for a resupply shuttle to bring critical replacement parts. While this is certainly a high-profile use for 3-D printing in remote areas, there are many remote locations on Earth where having an on-site printer could prove invaluable.

• Promotional items: What not to buy

  Monday, October 21, 2013

  After a lot of time spent in large-market radio promotions, I've seen a wide variety of promotional items, from the traditional to the extravagant to the bizarre. And you’d be surprised what the most effective promotional or “giveaway” items are. Sometimes, more money spent does not equal greater brand impact. Here are a few tips to help you achieve the maximum bang for your promotions buck.

• Fantasy football: The future of scouting

  Tuesday, October 01, 2013

  Sundays used to hold a mystique for much of the country as pro football teams met on the gridiron. Upsets were stunning, everyone had a favorite team, and if your team lost, the defeat felt personal. For an ever-growing number of fans, the dynamic has changed with the advent of fantasy football. Your team is comprised of players from across the league, so loyalty and fandom is focused on individual players, and each loss is personal. So how will fantasy football further change the future of watching football?

• Stadium renovations: Is it time?

  Friday, September 13, 2013

  From getting electric-car charging stations to completely modernizing their food vendors, stadiums across the country (and across the world) are making improvements and renovating in order to justify the price of admission. But where to start? Here are a few improvements that venues big and small have recently made.