Have Athletes Grown Over Time?
    Have Athletes Grown Over Time?
       
        1920s - NFL - 5’11 and 198 lbs. 
         1920s - NFL - 5’11 and 198 lbs. 
       
        1990s - NFL - 6’3 and 302 lbs. 
         1990s - NFL - 6’3 and 302 lbs. 
       
        1930s - Average NBA Player - 6’3 
         1930s - Average NBA Player - 6’3 
       
        2000 - Average NBA Player - 6’7
         2000 - Average NBA Player - 6’7
       
        1930s - Tallest NBA Players - 6’7
         1930s - Tallest NBA Players - 6’7
       
        2000 - Tallest NBA Players - 7’6
         2000 - Tallest NBA Players - 7’6
       
        7’+ in the NBA from 1940-1960 = 2%
         7’+ in the NBA from 1940-1960 = 2%
       
        7’ +  Footers in the NBA since 1990 = 10-12%
         7’ +  Footers in the NBA since 1990 = 10-12%
     NBA Player Growth
     NBA Player Growth
       NFL Players’ Size 
       Versus Population
        Does Size Matter?
        Does Size Matter?
   
    Level of play - 
    Level of play - 
    
     MLB Draft - 1 of first 7 pitchers selected was 
     MLB Draft - 1 of first 7 pitchers selected was 
     under 6’2 
     under 6’2 
    
     NFL - bigger linemen start more
     NFL - bigger linemen start more
   
    Length of career
    Length of career
    
     NBA - every 73 lb. or 9.1 inches = extra year
     NBA - every 73 lb. or 9.1 inches = extra year
    
     NFL - every 112 lbs. or 6.7 inches = extra year
     NFL - every 112 lbs. or 6.7 inches = extra year
       Artificial Selection
       Artificial Selection
   
    Yao Ming - 7’6 Basketball player
    Yao Ming - 7’6 Basketball player
    
     Father - 6’10” Yao Zhiyuan
     Father - 6’10” Yao Zhiyuan
    
     Mother - 6’2” Fang Fengdi 
     Mother - 6’2” Fang Fengdi 
    
     "We had been looking forward to the arrival of 
     "We had been looking forward to the arrival of 
     Yao Ming for three generations.” - retired 
     Yao Ming for three generations.” - retired 
     Chinese basketball coach 
     Chinese basketball coach