NFL Players and Fans: Six Degrees of Separation

There is a concept in mathematics called "Six Degrees of Separation." I am going to apply it in this article because I used NFL data to inspire college math students. To my surprise, one of them had a chance to go to a 2009 draft party at Michael Strahan's home in Houston.

So, according to the math I am only two degrees removed from Michael Strahan.

Amazing! I never thought a two-year college student would have any type of access to a well-known retired NFL player who happened to also be affiliated with Texas Southern University.

I started the sports and mathematics research at TSU, and many of the students said Michael Strahan is the greatest NFL player TSU has produced. I debated with them. I said that the NFL stars from my era (1960-1970) were the greatest.

I challenged them to look at the data and tapes of performance. One of them works at PLEX in Sugarland, Texas, an organization who trains guys for pro football. 

Another example of a degree of separation that gave the young man access to help do the research.

There was another incident in the summer of 2008. A former NFL player had been hospitalized in a small Texas town. I mentioned the NFL player after class. Then, a young man who said he was from the town told me that his mother is a registered nurse and that she helped treat the NFL player in November 2007.

This means that I was less than six degrees separated from a person who actually helped give medical care to a college friend. 

Well, there are mathematicians like Paul Erdos who did research on this combinatorial concept.  While I am writing this article another mathematician added that he met the famous Paul Erdos near an elevator at the University of Houston.

Some say it is a small world.

I also did research on a former NFL player who I believe should be seriously considered for the NFL Hall of Fame. 

The next amazing thing is that my daughter lives in Cleveland and she is going to drive me to Canton, Ohio so that I can see the museum. I will be there the week of May 28, 2009.

It's a dream come true.  I envisioned going there to do research. Now, I will actually experience it. I will take pictures, do research, and enjoy the visit. You can be certain that I will write a few articles for B/R to share what I learned at the Hall of Fame.

I admit that when my daughter moved to Cleveland I had no idea it would make it convenient for me to visit the Hall of Fame.

Is it destiny?  Is it a coincidence?  Or, is it a mathematical probability?