Dr. Joe Sulock

In opening the program, Dr. Joe Sulock, professor of economics at UNCA, said that "we typically have about 200 people" at the annual seminar, but that there appeared to be more than double that number this year.

In speculating why so many people were at the seminar, Sulock said two reasons might include the "great" reception hosted by Parsec and
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Regarding the duo, Sulock quipped, "In my opinion, they are they are to the economic profession what (Babe) Ruth and (Lou) Gehrig were to baseball...."

Despite their reputations, Sulock said, the two economists realize they "sometimes have to eat crow" for their past predictions.

On a lighter note, he said Smith has said that "he who uses a crystal ball had better get used to eating broken glass," while Berson, a baseball enthusiast, had admitted he erring in both baseball and economics.

Berson, introduced as a "Renaissance man" by Sulock, began by noting that, "A year ago, I said I thought we were probably in a recession.

Joe Sulock, chairman of the Economics Department at UNC Asheville, has studied sports and its economic impact.While he hasn't studied the Altitude's specifics, he suspects the team's marketing failed to connect the team to the community, and he suspects the relatively cavernous Civic Center didn't help create an atmosphere fans like.

"It would be like the Tourists playing in Yankee Stadium," Sulock said.

A basketball fan, Sulock said the Altitude's lack of local players or even those from the Atlantic Coast Conference, with the exception of former North Carolina standouts Joe Forte and Kris Lang, hurt local interest.
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Overall, though, Sulock doesn't see the team's departure as big news.

UNCA Professor of Economics Joseph Sulock introduced Berson, chief economist at home mortgage financier Fannie Mae, after ticking off a list of concerns some people have about the economy: oil prices, foreign trade deficits, the imbalance between government revenues and spending and so on.
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"When I think of our economy, I want to shout, ‘Attention: deficit disorders,' " Sulock said.

But there's no evidence that a good-looking cheerleading squad helps sell tickets, said Joe Sulock, a professor of sports economics at UNC Asheville.

"I have never seen a study in any sports economics journal addressing whether cheerleaders increase attendance at games," he said.Personally, Sulock added, he always has viewed cheerleaders as people who try to increase interest in the game.

"After all, fan is short for fanatic, and cheerleaders, irrespective of gender, are there to increase the fanaticism of the crowd," he said.

Dr. Joseph Sulock, UNCA Economics Professor, 828/251-6568

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Dr. Joseph Sulock , UNCA economics professor , 828/251-6586