Loyalty, Money, and Tiger

I hear this AM on the way to the office that Lane Kiffin left Tennessee after one season to coach the USC Trojans. As the guest on the Dan Patrick Show says, 'He's the highest paid coach who never accomplished anything in history'. It seems that we hear more and more things from sports that aren't exactly high brow material any longer. Whatever happened to sports? What about character? What about loyalty? It really makes me appreciate Coach Frerentz of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

When I was in my 20's I couldn't stay put more than a few years at a job. I'd race through the learning curve, learn my craft, and want more challenge. Now I see how that could have caused my past employers some pain and cost. What do we think it costs organizations like the Tennessee Volunteers and the PGA Tour, or Nike when their representatives are in the news for all things ugly in sports?

I've read blogs on sites too numerous to mention regarding the title subject of this post. What I don't get is why people say things to the effect of not caring what an athlete or coach does so long as he/she wins. What we are hearing Athletic Departments say is the same thing. All in the name of money. TV and ratings rule the roost. Do we want our children and our society to give a pass continually so long as we're entertained? Am I simply too old for the world these days where I take it too seriously? Are my values old-fashioned to the point of being considered out of touch.

All I can say is I really don't care. Better I be all of these things than accept things as they are and they won't change. If I had to trade my ability to look myself in the mirror and face my family or peers for a seven figure bank account I'd rather be broke.