Major college sports as big business

A recent article in The Tuscaloosa News, carried the headline “SEC’s 14 schools divide millions”.  During the 2017-2018 fiscal year each of the 14 members received over $43.1 million in revenue from the league office.  The source of these funds from television contracts, bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC football championship game, the SEC men’s basketball tournament, NCAA championships and a supplemental surplus fund.  In the previous fiscal year each school received around $40.9 million.  In the last two fiscal years, each of the member schools received in excess of $84 million.  By any standards this is a lot of money, yet these same member schools continue to beg for contributions to their respective athletic programs. 

Big time college athletics have become a big business.  The motivation for success revolves around the amount of dollars that can be generated.   It is for this reason that television companies can dictate to the universities when they will play games and at what time.  There was a time when the fans that supported their team were an appropriate constituent—not anymore.  A football game that has a starting time of 8:00 or 8:30 PM will not end until close to midnight and the impact on the fan be damned.  Fans who live 3-4 hours from the university will not get home until the wee hours of the next morning.  Basketball games that begin at 8:00 PM will not end until around 10:00 PM and then these same fans will have a 3-4-hour drive home.  Television access drives when games will be played and that’s the bottom line.  If, as a fan, you do not like it, stay home; and that is what is happening around the country.  The attendance at games has been declining as more and more people are making the decision to watch the game on television rather than travel to see the game in person.  It is quite possible that this phenomenon will continue, and the numbers of fans will be on a downward slide.

I have been buying season tickets for both football and basketball at The University of Alabama for over 40 years.  The price of the tickets has continued to increase and even though both my wife and I are retired members of the faculty, we paid over $1,500 for four tickets to seven home football games for the 2018 season, and our seat location has gotten progressively worse.   Our tickets are at a discounted rate, thus the amount that someone who is not affiliated with university would pay would be about 20% more.  In addition to the cost of simply getting into the stadium, there is also the cost of parking and concessions.  A package of M&M candy costs $4, a soft drink $4 or $5, a bottle of water $3, and a hot dog $5.  Parking can cost anywhere from $20 to $50.  It is apparent that attending a sporting event at a major university is going to cost a significant amount of money.  Is it worth it?  Indeed, there is the excitement of being in attendance; however, the constant barrage of noise can be rather disconcerting.  At any lull in the game due to timeouts, media timeouts, injuries or change of possession, blaring music blasts through the sound system.  It is not the bands playing, it is music that students want to hear.  I recall at a meeting of the Basketball Tip Off Club, the head coach was asked if something could be done about the loud music being played during timeouts.  His response was that it is what “the kids want”.  Maybe this will be what it comes to.  Older folks who pay to attend these games will stop attending and “the kids” will get what they want, but the revenue coming from the season ticket-holders will not continue to support the team.  Both football and basketball are revenue-producing sports, and administrators of the university, athletic administrators, and head coaches need to work out a balance on what defines the atmosphere of a major college game.  The atmosphere includes the cost of attending, the cost of concessions, the cost and inconvenience of parking, and the incessantly produced noise.  If there is not some attention given to these issues, the decline in attendance will continue and the revenue streams from these sources will also continue to decline.

 Major sports in major universities generate a lot of money and the current climate seems to be very favorable, yet this comfortable bubble may not remain inflated.  There are no guarantees that will keep these resources coming at the rates that they are currently experiencing.  As noted, there is evidence that people are not attending games on a consistent basis.  The cost of attending is prohibitive to many of the average fans and this base may continue to decline.  The current heyday is good, but nothing lasts forever.

The absence of political sensitivity

It is not often that I would, openly, agree with action taken by President Trump; yet this past week I did find myself doing just that—agreeing with a decision he made.  Indeed, there is a great deal of adolescent name-calling and fruitless activity on both sides of the issue involving the governmental shutdown.  Up to this point there has been nothing to provide a glimmer of hope that the end of this inane presidential decision is near.  Day-by-day, the shutdown adds another day to the historical reality that never has a shutdown gone on for longer than 22 days.  We are all too familiar with story after story of federal workers selling their blood plasma, cashing in certificates that been set aside for retirement, and doing what ever they can to keep their mortgage from being foreclosed, their car being repossessed, or their health insurance being canceled for non-payment.  As we know, there are approximately 800,000 federal workers either on furlough or working for no pay.  They have missed one paycheck and if the shutdown continues until this coming Friday, it will be two that have been missed.   While the stories of survival are legion, the two sides in Washington continue to bicker with no resolution in sight. 

The Democrats argued that the president should postpone his State of the Union Address until the shutdown is over.  In what is deemed to be an act of retaliation, the president denied access to a military plane for the Speaker’s trip with her entourage to the Middle East and Brussels.  The effect of his denial was the cancellation of her trip and I applaud the president for making the decision.  What is evident, ever so often, is that politicians are out of touch with the people whom they, ostensibly represent.  Common sense would seem to suggest that with what is occurring, including the number of people who are suffering from the inaction by the politicians, such a trip would be inappropriate at this time and could be viewed as a slap in the face to those who are suffering as well as to the general public.  As decisions are made by politicians at the national, state or local level, there does seem to be a failure to recognize, or even care about the effect or impact on their constituents.  You would think that the Speaker of the House as well as those who were scheduled to travel with her would see that this is not the thing to do at this time.  Not so, and this is what is disturbing.  When the Founding Fathers were arguing over what the new government should look like, they concluded that one arm of the legislature should be close to the people they represented, hence the establishment of the two-year term.  Although this was a significant component of the founding process, the mandate has been lost.  The overwhelming majority of the politicians at the national level are, perpetually, consumed with getting reelected and being an advocate for their constituents is lost.  Often, they are simply the pawns of the special interest groups that make substantial financial contributions to their campaign.

It is difficult to fathom the insensitivity that is apparent in the decision to “take a trip”.  It is my belief, that there are too many such trips made by politicians at the taxpayer’s expense.  Commentators have identified specific politicians who seem to thrive on these boondoggles with very little pay-off to the citizens and no shame. The Pelosi junket would fall into this context of wasteful use of federal dollars.  A plus for the president  for halting the excursion.

2019-what to expect

Another year is gone, and a new year as arrived.  What will be the issues, concerns problems and challenges of 2019?  In the amount of space dedicated to this blog, it is not possible to include every potential problem or issue.  Le me note some that, perhaps, could engender some level of support.  Obviously, immigration has been raised to a crisis level by the current administration.  There are those seeking political asylum who are being denied that opportunity.  There are children who have been separated from their parents, only to be housed in detention centers that offer no emotional support for the youngest of children.  There are companies in the United States that are finding it difficult to engage in the work that they do because they do not have the laborers to perform the work.  There is the ever-present debate over border security and the “wall” to protect the southern border.  The $5 billion price tag seems excessive, especially when other more pressing needs are identified.  The United States has been open to those from other countries and cultures throughout its history.  There continues to be misrepresentation of facts by the administration—the latest being he claim that 4000 terrorists have entered the country through the Mexican/U>S> border.  When confronted this past weekend the Vice President sat with a blank stare on his face and never did provide information to support this claim.  It is interesting to note that the most recent available data found that 2554 individuals on the FBI’s terrorist list were stopped from entering the country.  The majority, 2170, were at airports, 49 were by sea and 335 were by land.  The State Department has also stated that there is no evidence of terrorists trying to enter the U.S. via Mexico.  The refusal to allow immigrants to enter the country has contributed to the ongoing divisions among the country’s citizens.  We have been a nation of immigrants and to deny entry undermines what the country has stood for from its inception.

The partial federal government shutdown perpetrated by the president on the American people is directly related to his demand for the wall and is creating hardship after hardship for the people of this country.  Farmers are not going to receive their subsidies, the food stamp program is going to run out f money in late January or early February, federal workers in prisons, airports and other entities are not receiving paychecks.  In many instances those most affected are those who are living close to the margin of existence and make it paycheck to paycheck, but this resource is no longer available.  People are bewildered about making mortgage payments, buying food, obtaining medical care for their children or, purchasing gas to travel to work.  A TSA employee was interviewed on a recent newscast and she explained that she lives 39 miles, one-way, from the airport where she works.  With no paycheck, how will she afford to get to work that she is mandated to perform.  A resolution to this crisis must occur without additional delay.

Healthcare will be another problem area that continues to beg for some resolutions.  Whether the discussion is about Medicare, pre-existing conditions, single-payer healthcare, Obamacare, drug price regulations, covering mental health problems, focusing on preventive care, the use of medical marijuana, or requiring those receiving Medicaid to be employed, there is much to be done and the challenges are forever present.  An argument can certainly be made for universal healthcare and if this did exist, many of the issues would be resolved.  The cost of healthcare for all may well be prohibitive, yet as with any decision, choices must be made.  In the preamble of the Constitution of the United States, the promotion of the general welfare of its people is one of the salient tenants.  Would healthcare for all its citizens be an illustration of promoting the general welfare?  More attention must be given to preventive care, and this would have the effect of lowering the costs associated with healthcare.

Education will continue to be a source of concern for parents, students, educational administrations, funding sources, and the general public.  Many of us are familiar with the massive student debt that students incur while seeking a degree, certificate, or diploma.  Recently, there was an article in the New York Times which carried the title, “A $21,000 Cosmetology School Debt and a $9-an-Hour Job”.  Most students graduate with some student loan debt.  It is predicted by some that the next bubble to burst in the country will be associated with the trillion-dollar total of student debt.  Forbes reported in 2018 student debt was $1.52 trillion an involved 44.2 million individuals.  The report continued by noting that New Hampshire had the highest average debt, $36,367 and Utah had the lowest, $19,975.  Further, over 12,000,000 people owed between $10,000-$25,000 and a staggering 500,000 plus owed $200,000 or more.  In the August 2016 edition of Consumer Reports, the featured story was titled, “I Kind of Ruined My Life by Going to College”.   The story was about a woman who eared a degree in nursing and was making $62,000 per year but owed over $150,000 in student debt.  A primary reason for the substantial amount of student debt can be attributed to the for-profit programs that exist throughout the country.  Many of these programs have folded, but the students are still required to pay off their student debt.  Many of those carrying significant student debt cannot start a family, save for a down payment on a house or, purchase a house.  There has to be a way to establish some controls on the amount of student debt that any one person can amass.  There are a multitude of issues that can be discussed within the educational context, including the predatory practices of the for-profit programs, and I leave this for a future posting.

What has been included are woefully inadequate predictors of what will characterize 2019.  In the months ahead, issues related to the environment will be highlighted and will include climate change, fracking, alternative energy sources, and the plastic product bans.  Issues related to the infra-structure of the country must require discussion and will include the condition of roads, bridges, and dams, the antiquated nature of sewer, water and gas pipes buried below major population centers.  Social issues such as abortion, the rights of the LGBT community, gay marriage, gender workplace diversity, and the death penalty require attention.  Domestic policy issues that will include gun control, school safety, social media regulation affirmative action, Social Security coupled with the growing number of senior citizens and whistleblower protection.  No doubt, other issues may surface throughout the year.

Abuse in the church

Recently, it was reported that in two sections of the country over 150 young people had been molested by Roman Catholic priests or religious leaders.  This number applied only to one order of the Catholic church—the Jesuits.  This is a staggering number that applies only to two areas of the country and only to the Jesuits.  The other Jesuit provinces are preparing their reports, which will be released soon.  Will the other orders make similar findings public?  The report has hastened to note that many of those on the lists are deceased or are living in supervised settings.  It is unconscionable that this number of priests and religious leaders were protected by the hierarchy of the church rather than being turned over to the local authorities.  It is a well-know fact that over the years the leaders of the church would simply move those accused to another parish rather than handle the matter as the laws dictate.  Such disregard for the impact that these actions have on the victims is unacceptable. 

The magnitude of sexual abuse within the Catholic church has become a well-known public travesty.  While thousands of young people have been molested and abused, their tormentors simply remain in their priestly conclaves.  Those in positions of authority have turned a blind eye to this horrific scandal within the religious community.  In the New York Times alone there were 181 articles relevant to the topic of abuse in the church from March 15, 2016 to December 7, 2018.  This is only one media outlet over a period of approximately two and half years.  It is questionable whether any one topic has been given this amount of attention in a comparable period.  It is not just the actions of the offending clergy, but the lack of holding them accountable by their Archbishops and Cardinals.  Following an investigation by the Justice Department it was found that over 1000 children had suffered abuse throughout Pennsylvania during the time that Archbishop Wuerl was the leader of the church in that state.  He rose to the position of Cardinal and was the Archbishop of the nation’s capital at the time of his resignation.  

In recent years individuals who were victims have come forward and have shared what they have been living with for years.  For many young people, the local priest was someone to trust, honor, and respect, and when this is violated it certainly has a profound effect on the young person.  As these individuals have lived through their tormented hell, they have often observed their molesters go unscathed about their priestly duties.  Websites exist where victims can seek the assistance of lawyers who are specializing in this area of the law.  Included in the websites are 800 numbers that can be called, and the initial consultation is free.  Over 3000 lawsuits have been filed against the church in the United States and it has been estimated the settlements of sex abuse cases from 1950 to 2007 totaled more than $2 billion.  A more recent figure puts that amount at over $3 billion.

An overview of some of the outcomes of cases filed against the church highlights the extent of the problem:  The Diocese of Dallas paid $30.9 million to 12 victims of one priest; the Archdiocese of Louisville paid $25.7 million to settle 240 lawsuits naming 34 priests and other church workers; the Archdiocese of Boston settled a case for $85 million which included 552 alleged victims; the Diocese of Orange settled nearly 90 cases for $100 million; the Archdiocese of Portland Oregon agreed to a $75 million settlement involving 177 claimants; the Archdiocese of Seattle agreed to a $48 million settlement that included 160 victims; the Archdiocese of Los Angles reached a $660 million agreement with over 500 victims; the Diocese of San Diego reached a $198.1 million agreement with 144 victims; and the Archdiocese of Denver agreed to pay $5.5 million to settle 18 claims.  The above cases are only a fraction of the cases that have been brought against the church.  Several Catholic dioceses have been forced to declare bankruptcy due to sex abuse cases.  It is a problem that has a multitude of ramifications for the individual victims, the perpetrators, the church, and society, and must continue to be addressed.

Whether one is a practicing Catholic, a nominal believer, or an observer, the extent of this problem must raise concern.  What I have included is not meant to undermine the good that has been and continues to be the hallmark of the church.  What has been included is irrefutable and steeped in facts over years of neglect to act.  It will be interesting to observe what occurs at the summit on abuse in the church the Pope has called for in February 2019. 

I had no shoes

“I wept because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet”.  The message of this ancient Chinese proverb is that we should be grateful for what we have because there is always going to be someone in worse shape.  It is ever so easy to complain about the trivial things in life; i.e., the lack of service in a restaurant, the length of time of a red light, the inordinate number of commercials on television, and on-and on.  We can also be guilty of being impatient about matters that have no meaningful impact on the moment or the future.  In the larger landscape of life, much of what we complain about and what we are impatient over pales in comparison to what others are experiencing or have experienced. 

As we reflect on the catastrophic, life-altering events of the past few months we must give pause and be grateful for being spared.  Those living in the Panhandle area of Florida continue to be without a home, a job or the basics of life.  They continue to be refugees living in other cities away from the devastation that changed their lives.  This past week I was in southern Alabama and looking for a motel/hotel room.  I stopped at five different places only to be told they were full and had no rooms.  I finally asked what was going on and was told that many of the rooms were occupied by those displaced from Hurricane Michel.  How long will their displacement be and what do they do about going back to what was once home?  Mexico Beach was obliterated from the map by the hurricane, so where do you start in the rebuilding process?  Life for these victims will never be the same.  They will be required to adjust to a much different life than they knew prior to the hurricane.

The fires in California have also obliterated complete communities such as Paradise, California.  There have been countless incidents of individuals seeking to save their property and then fleeing at the last moment.  As of this writing, 66 have lost their lives and another 600 are unaccounted for amongst the smoldering ruins of lives forever changed.  The walls of fire, which were magnified by the Santa Anna winds, made no distinction as to race, income level, gender, or age among those who perished.  It has been reported that the fires raged at speeds equivalent to a hurricane.  How does one escape such fury?  Where do you escape to?  There was the reported incident of a father driving a car with his 3-year-old daughter and convincing her that they would get through the walls of fire on either side of the car.  Yes, they did survive, but many did not.

Think of those who have walked from Central American to the border of Mexico and America hoping to gain political asylum.  Many have gotten ill and dropped out of the group escaping the brutality of gangs in their homelands.  Consider the more than 14,000 children from countries south of the American border who are living in tents and federal detention centers.  What is their fate?  How will they survive the absence of a nurturing mother?  How will their isolation impact their physical and emotional development?  Indeed, those in the caravan and those isolated children are additional examples of catastrophic occurrences in the recent past.

As we think of the significance of this week and the familial importance of Thanksgiving, do reflect on those less fortunate and be grateful for what you have.  Think of those displaced by Hurricane Michael or the California fires.  Think of those poor souls who have marched thousands of miles to seek a measure of freedom and think of those children who languish in tent cities and detention cents.  Give thanks for the life you have and remember there are always those who are in worse shape and live in worse conditions.