The only thing more shameful than the Pentagon paying the NFL millions of dollars to put on patriotic events at football games is the NFL accepting the money. This is so shameful that it is hard to know where to begin. Did the owners know this? Did they really need the money? Why was this all kept a secret? More than anything that we can think of this story represents a complete loss of any value other than money. The Code for Living says, “I will conduct myself with caring and honorable behavior…” Ask your team to discuss this issue and to list their thoughts. For what positive reasons would the Pentagon have wanted to pay for these patriotic events? Does this change your opinion?
FIFA, it now turns out, paid seven million dollars to the Irish soccer federation so they would not contest a bad call in a World Cup qualifying game. Again, is there any value other than money? Fearfully, this is probably only the beginning of the stories we will hear from FIFA.
It is tragic that the good, generous, caring and honorable lives led by the overwhelming majority of athletes and others involved in sports are so easily overshadowed by the actions of a few. These stories, however, point to the insidious evil of greed which has so overtaken our society, and of the need of those in positions of leadership to develop the character of those in their trust – as well as their own.
