Sacrifice, Values and Sports

SACRIFICE

What do you think of when you put the word 'sacrifice' into the context of sports?  Bunts? Fly-balls? How about salaries?  Now, move the word 'sacrifice' into the context of your life.  Do you see a difference? A discrepency?

Recently, I enjoyed a spirited 'blog-versation' with an old friend on the use of the word 'sacrifice' in the context of the James Harden trade (you know...the 'bearded one') from our beloved OKC Thunder to the Houston Rockets.  In short, his point was that Mr. Harden was being asked to "sacrifice" more than the Thunder organization was willing to "sacrifice" in their negotiations to keep Harden in OKC, so the trade was a good career decision for him and a "value" for Houston because he is "worth" the 80 or so million dollars they offered him.

Now, I like sports very much, and I'm not going to argue (nor do I disagree) with The Bearded One's decision, but I do take exception to the appropriateness of using the word 'sacrifice' when speaking of the give-and-take of contract talks, ESPECIALLY those of professional sports.  My friend's argument is that sacrifice is relative and that it is an appropriate use because the athlete (or organization) is having to give up something of value.

Fair enough, sacrifice is indeed relative; subject to the cost to the one making it. I would still argue however, that sacrifice is NOT occurring in this context. True, in comparison to the Thunder organization, Mr. Hardin seems to have been the one who was willing to give up the most but, there is (or should be) a distinction between ‘sacrifice’ and merely giving up a portion of one’s wealth, while still remaining wealthy. (What’s a million or ten between friends…LOL!)

Likewise, when one makes a real sacrifice, they receive nothing tangible in return and the cost is significant, commensurate to the wealth and/or ability (or lack thereof) of the one making it (consider The Widows Mite, Luke 21:1-4).  An athlete giving up a couple million dollars out of a salary of many tens of millions is NOT making a sacrifice; it’s a carefully calculated business and personal decision that does not significantly alter either their fiscal status or lifestyle.  Granted, they might have to settle for the Citation instead of the Gulfstream, but then, times are tough all over. (Why isn't there an emoticon for sarcasm?)

When it comes to sports, some say that athletes “sacrifice” their bodies "for the game". Again, I disagree. This is not a sacrifice, it is a sale.  The athlete knowingly pursues and enters into an agreement whereby they sell their skills, their personality and often their health to the highest bidder, after having considered the cost and finding it agreeable. They are well paid for what will likely be a lifetime of pain; but, a sale is NOT a sacrifice. If one is paid for what they give, it is not a gift.

SACRIFICE IS the family that spends their hard earned vacation time and money on a mission trip instead of the cruise they’ve dreamed of for years.

SACRIFICE IS the struggling single mom who skips lunch each day for a month so she can buy cleats for her kid that wants to play ball more than anything else.

SACRIFICE IS the successful career person who leaves a comfortable, stable, well-paying job to follow God’s calling into a ministry for a fraction of the pay.

SACRIFICE IS…

2 Samuel 24:24 (PerryPhrased) David speaking; "I refuse to offer to my God, a sacrifice that cost me nothing."
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VALUES

Value and worth on the other hand, are terms at least as relative and subjective as sacrifice.

An athlete that brings millions of dollars in revenue to an organization is obviously ‘valuable’ to that organization and may well be ‘worth’ their salary to those paying it because of that revenue. But, in the reality of the world around us and the society in which we live, how ‘valuable’ are they? Are they really ‘worth’ 50-60-80 million dollars (multiplied several times, over multiple contract periods)?

Why is an athlete ‘worth’ more than a firefighter, or police officer, or soldier? Why do we, as a society, count our athletes more ‘valuable’ than our teachers? Are these ‘values’ based on what the individual contributes to society? If so, then the athletes should be the least paid of those groups mentioned.

An athlete merely provides entertainment for a period of maybe 10 or 15 years. A responsible and good-hearted athlete gives from their wealth and time to improve their community and the lives of those who live there. This is admirable to say the least, but does that increase their ‘value’?

In contrast, a teacher gives their heart, mind and strength to improving not only the daily lives of their students, but improving their students chances for a lifetime of success,  often changing whole generations and their progeny for the better. Yet, we pay our teachers pittance, compared to what they give, often sacrificing (yes, really sacrificing) from their own pockets to supply their students needs!

Firefighters, police and our military willingly place themselves in harm’s way for OUR benefit, often suffering physical injuries rivaling ANYTHING a professional athlete will face and suffering a lifetime of pain and disability. But, do we ever consider them ‘worth’ tens of millions of dollars because they “sacrifice their bodies”?

Why then do we so easily excuse and justify the excessive salaries and demands of our athletes and their organizations, when all they really give us is a few years of entertainment?

Value and worth are important; but what is it that we are considering valuable and worthwhile, and why?

AND SPORTS

As I said; I really do enjoy sports, but it seems evident to me that this unhealthy, unbalanced obsession our culture has with sports and athletes has contributed in no small way to the up-ending of our values as a people…or is it the other way around?

Just sayin'
PDS