When The Price Ain't Right
Well, I wrote about Football last week. And the Superbowl is next week. So I guess I’ll just stick with this pony. LOL.
Earlier this week Brian Flores filed a class action lawsuit against the National Football League (NFL). Until recently, the 40 year old Mr. Flores was the Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins. His lawsuit alleges widespread racism in the executive suite of the NFL, and contends that he was denied proper consideration for coaching positions with other teams. In a league where 70% of the players are African American, it is lamentable that there is only ONE African American head coach (Mike Thomlin of the Pittsburg Steelers).
Please join me in praying for the brother. Filing this lawsuit is only the beginning of what promises to be a very challenging and costly battle. As one former player pointed out, there is high probability that Mr. Flores will never work again in the NFL. Personally, I am praying that the case finds its way to the Supreme Court, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman expected to be named as a Judge on the highest court of the land, writes the winning opinion for his case. Now that would be poetic justice—and not the first time that a black woman helped a black man out of dicey situation. To cite one of my favorite poets, tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Mr. Flores’ lawsuit is that he alleges that the owner of the Dolphins offered him money to lose games. Specifically, Flores says that he was offered $100,00 for each game he lost. The perverse logic of losing games is that the worst teams get the highest draft picks. Although there is no correlation between having high draft picks and winning Superbowls (Tom Brady was picked 166th, and won more Superbowl’s than anybody! Yall knew I was going to get some love for Tom in there some kinda way lol) the idea persists that it is easier to assemble a winning team than to develop a losing one. But Flores refused, and actually led the Dolphins to a winning season.
As this saga continues to unfold, I’ve been thinking a lot about the television show the Price Is Right. I grew up watching this show, hosted by Bob Barber. The show has a simple premise. Contestants are asked to bid on various objects, and whoever comes closest to the “actual retail price” without exceeding it gets a chance to win a brand new car or a trip to some exotic locale. I have dreamed of hearing those words: “Joseph Robinson, come on down! You’re the next contestant on the price is right!”
The Price Is Right is the longest running game show on American Television. And I think that one reason for its popularity and longevity is the fact that in many ways it resembles life. We all must decide what things cost. Neither people nor situations come with price tags attached, so we must constantly estimate what something or someone is worth.
Moreover, the price tag we put on something or someone also reveals the price tag that we put on ourselves. Viewed from that perspective, I’ve been thinking about the offer that Mr. Flores was made. $100,000 for each game? Had he purposely lost all 18 games this past season, that would amount to $1.8 million, which would have been more than half of his salary for the entire season! However, Flores refused. He said he loves winning too much to purposely lose.
But I can’t help but wonder if there was a number that Mr. Flores could have been offered that would have made him say yes. Maybe the offer wasn’t high enough. Is there a number that would have caused him to accept the proposal? I’ve been asking myself what would I have done? How about you?
Now please don’t get sanctimonious on me and pretend as if you have never or would never sell out. All of us have a price, whether we know it or not. My question for you today is, What’s your price? What could someone offer you to lower your standards? Your ideals? Your integrity
When the enemies of Jesus discovered that he had risen from the dead, they summoned the soldiers who had been assigned to guard his tomb. According to Matthew 28: 12-15, a meeting was held, and this is what happened:
A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say.
How many people from how many centuries are gully of that indictment? How frequently have we all been bribed from being our best selves? Sometimes the bribe isn’t money. It can be comfort. Or safety. Or pleasure. Or status. Or acceptance. Or companionship. What bribe have you taken that bought your silence? Your complicity?
Well, Flores said no because the price to betray your deepest and truest self is never right. The truth is some benefits are simply not worth the cost. I’d rather be fired than lose on purpose.
In the very near future, some enemy is going to offer you a similar deal. And I fondly hope and fervently pray that you don’t take it either.