Editor’s note: Business Reform Magazine provides real biblical answers for real business issues. To visit us, click here.
“At the end of the day, President Shalala is going to have to look at the issues we’ve talked about, have to look at financial obligations, have to look at integrity issues, and then she’s going to have to factor in the irreparable harm that’s going to be caused to members of my league. Aside from that, and this will sound self-serving, this will be the most disastrous blow to intercollegiate athletics in my lifetime. It’s wrong.” Thus pleaded Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese earlier this week.
The issue, of course, is the recruitment of the University of Miami by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Former Clinton cabinet member, Donna Shalala is now president of the University and will make the final decision on whether the Hurricanes will jump out of the Big East and into the ACC, taking two other schools (Syracuse and Boston College) with them.
The issue for us today, is how we should view this through our Christian businessperson’s lens.
Let me start with a disclaimer. I’m an alum, and big football fan of one of the schools being left behind. I’m irrationally worried about the fate of “my” team if Miami leaves (and they almost certainly will). I keep wanting to be as mad as Tranghese. But then I remember how, just a week ago, I was hoping that my team would be picked by the ACC to jump ship with Miami. It’s hard to have a vengeful heart in the burning light of your own sin…
Let’s start with the facts. Miami entered into a legal business agreement in which they joined into a business alliance with other similar businesses. That agreement called for certain commitments by all parties. As far as I can tell, all parties have lived up to their contractual commitments reasonably well. The agreement also provided certain conditions under which Miami could terminate the relationship. The university appears to be carefully following those terms and appears willing to follow-through on all aspects of their commitments if they choose to leave the Big East for the ACC.
Bottom line, Miami is doing everything right by the letter of the law. They simply have an offer from a competitor of the Big East to enter into a business alliance, which appears to be able to provide better financial performance for the university. What businessperson can’t appreciate that?
The hard fact is that Miami’s current business partners will be damaged by their business decision. The other universities in the conference will likely lose millions of dollars in revenue. The Big East conference may even completely disappear. Mike Tranghese might be out of a job. No wonder he’s so passionate about this issue.
As passionate as we can be about college football, this scenario forces us to see it for what it is – it is big business. And, as much as the kids on the field may be playing for pride and love of the game, the big kids in the front office are playing for big bucks and are charged with maximizing revenue and profits for their universities.
A football conference is not a marriage. It is not ordained by God. It isn’t covered by our Lord’s directive that “what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:6) In fact, Ecclesiastes tells us, “There is an appointed time for everything… A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,7)
Assuming that Miami leaves, it will be interesting to see what the Big East conference does next. The obvious move is for them to do to some other conference exactly what the ACC has done to them. Will Tranghese accept his own condemnation that such a move is “wrong”?
In reality, the Big East has been a flawed partnership ever since it recruited Miami. It lacks focus. It lacks common goals. The partners in the alliance don’t share the same vision and don’t value the same attributes. Some of the partners are all about basketball and could care less about football. Some are just the opposite. This is merely a partnership formed out of desperation and greed.
These are the real issues that must be solved for the conference to continue, with or without Miami. Thankfully, the ACC’s aggressiveness has shone the spotlight on these flaws. The first question is whether the Big East can fix them quick enough to keep Miami. The second question is, if Miami leaves, will the conference follow through on the needed changes, or fall back into it’s unsustainable state.
How do you approach your business partnerships? Amos 3:3 asks “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” And Proverbs 29:24 warns “He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life.” While 2 Corinthians 6:14 commands “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
Choose your partners carefully. Do they share your values, your priorities, your vision? Will you truly be working together towards a common good, or will you be at odds with each other, constantly trying to unfairly gain at each other’s expense?
As easy as it can be to criticize the ethics of President Shahala and the Miami football team, this is a case where they may be acting as innocent as doves and as wise as serpents. Perhaps we can all learn from them.
Click here to contact Noah.
