Money

A Philadelphia soul group who called themselves “The O’Jays” had a hit song back in 1974 entitled “For the Love of Money”. Although the song saw moderate success, it was only in 2004, when the television reality show “The Apprentice” hit the airwaves that the song became a household anthem of sorts. You remember, as Donald Trump gets out of his spit polished midnight black limousine with the words, “money money money money…..some people got to have it…..some people really need it…..money money money money…..

By now, I am sure you have heard about the new television deals struck between the Southeastern Conference and ESPN, which falls on the heal of the deal struck between the SEC and CBS. The landmark deal with ESPN is worth $2.25 Billion over the next 15 years. The CBS deal, another 15 year contract, is worth approximately $1 Billion. That is $3.35 BILLION dollars over the next 15 years.

Just how much is a billion dollars? Well, it is 1000 Million dollars. And a Million is 1000 thousand dollars. Any way you cut it, a Billion is 1000 x 1000 x 1000. And the SEC is getting over three of them.

The U.S. Census Bureau shows that the yearly household income in United States of America (the richest country on earth, by the way) averages $48,000 per year. This family would have to work 20.8 years to FINALLY earn, in aggregate, one thousandth of a billion dollars. For you see, one thousandth of a billion is a million. And for them to earn a billion dollars? Well, it would take 1000 families earning $48,000 per year over 20 years to earn, in aggregate, a billion dollars.

With all of white papers, webinars and academic rhetoric from university presidents about college football being secondary to education, about the student-athlete first, and having at it’s core the fundamental philosophy of amateur athletics, make no mistake. It is business. Big business. And in the Southeastern Conference, multi-billion dollar business. While one hand is on the mantle of academia, the other is in the piggy bank. And though I am thrilled that our Auburn Tigers will be on television even more than they are now, I am concerned about the direction college athletics is taking. Because in fact it is becoming LESS about the student athlete, and more about the money.

Kind of reminds me of the rest of the song by the O’Jays:
For the love of money
People will lie, Lord, they will cheat
For the love of money
People don't care who they hurt or beat
For a small piece of paper
it carries a lot of weight
Call it lean, mean, mean green
Almighty dollar.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSr

The Man

Richard Morgan Fliehre was adopted from the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in Memphis in 1953, when the young boy was four years old. His adopted parents moved him to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was raised in a modest, lower middle class home. Quite an humble beginning for the philosopher that he was to become. Not that philosophy was his chosen vocation, or that he ever considered himself very smart. Rather than an academic scholarship, he received a football scholarship to the University of Minnesota, only to drop out of school after his junior year. He began working as a bouncer at a nearby club, and met another bouncer Ken Patera, an Olympic weightlifter. Working out with Patera in the mornings, and working at the club in the evenings, he finally found his way to the career for which he would be known. Patera introduced him to Verne Gagne, who looked at Fliehre with his long flowing blond hair and dark tan and said to him, “I guess you think you’re a real nature boy, don’t you.” And the name stuck. For Richard Morgan Fliehre became “The Nature Boy Ric Flair” of professional wrestling fame. With his “Woooo!” and ornate fur lined robes, he became one of the wealthiest and most well known wrestlers of all time. Oh, and as for philosophy….well, he is the one who came up with the line, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man!” In fact, it is the title of his autobiography. In a sense, it is a book that gives a roadmap of one man’s rise from orphanage to the top in his game.

The Franklin System is supposed to do the same thing. In fact, listening to Tony Franklin, and reading his words about the Kodi Burns / Chris Todd fight to become the #1 quarterback for Auburn, one can almost hear The Nature Boy. “To be the man, you gotta beat the man!” Franklin says it is like watching a prize fight. One of them makes a play and you think he’s knocked the other one out, and then, the other one tops it. “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.”

As of this writing, neither of them has beaten the other. All indications are that both will play, and play a lot, on Saturday. Hopefully, this dual quarterback situation is good and not bad…..fruitful and not contentious. It certainly should be exciting. I can hardly wait for the weekend as the Tigers try to become the Man. But to be the man, we gotta beat the man…..one week at a time.

Woooooo!!!

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR

Get Ready!!

As you can see, I have been playing around with my blog tonight, and I added some new features. While I was doing this, I thought I'd listen to a little "get fired up" music, and then decided to share it with you. Hope it gets you ready for a season that is just about to kick off!

http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Auburn__Go_Tigers.mp3
http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Auburn__Pregame_Fanfare_and_War_Eagle.mp3
http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Auburn__Thumb_Cheer_and_War_Eagle.mp3
http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Auburn__Tiger_Rag.mp3
http://www.fightmusic.com/mp3/sec/Auburn__Glory_To_Ole_Auburn.mp3

War Eagle!
WJLaneSr

Murray Hill

Before the Revolutionary War, Robert Murray became extremely wealthy through purchasing and owning more shipping tonnage than any other New Yorker. His shipping empire included docks which were spread all along the East River of Manhattan. His vision was that if he did not concentrate all of his resources on just one dock and one shipping line, he would be more successful. “Diversify and cover the river” was his credo. He owned a mansion and farm that spread over 30 acres at what is today Park Avenue and 36th street. In fact, that area of Manhattan is called “Murray Hill”.

It is in Murray Hill that Bar 515 may be found. It is not alone, for there are many, many bars along 3rd Avenue from 33rd to 36th street. But Bar 515 is where the Manhattan Auburn Club gathers for beer, chicken wings, game watching and shouting “War Eagle!” I had the privilege of joining them last night for their “2008 Kickoff Party”. Approximately twenty –five, mostly young adult, New York Tigers laughed, debated politics (you know, who will be the next quarterback……Burns or Todd…..those important national issues), and shared stories. I found most to be transplants from Birmingham, and all were very excited about this year.

One thing I found quite ironic. Although Auburn isn’t a complete “unknown” in New York, I’m not sure the natives see the similarities between the 2008 Auburn Tigers, and the patriarch of Murray Hill. For you see, just like Robert Murray’s philosophy of business, the Franklin Spread has at its core “Spread and cover the field”. Don’t be one dimensional but spread the ball around and you’ll be more successful. Much like Robert Murray.

So maybe it is appropriate that the Kickoff for 2008 was at Murray Hill. Oh, and I almost forgot the most important ironic tidbit. Of the docks that Robert Murray owned along the East River……well……there were seven of them. Seven in a Row. And isn’t that something all Auburn people want as well?

War Eagle!
WJLaneSr

Welcome Back

Did the Sweathogs just come through here? Was that Vinnie Barbarino's hair bouncing? Didn't you hear Horshack's wheezy laugh? Or maybe it was just Gabe Kotter's Groucho Marx impersonation saying to me....and all of us..."Welcome Back".

Welcome back to my little blogosphere about Auburn Football, Religion, Faith, Life or whatever else I decide to write about. (And no, I really DON'T believe that Auburn Football, Religion, Faith and Life are all the same thing....contrary to what some may think about me. They just eminate from the same place....God gives us life, we have Faith in Him, and He blesses us with Auburn Football. See, my theology IS accurate, correct and systematic!

So welcome back for another season. A season that will be difficult, exciting, and if all gets "spread around" as it should....very successful.

War Eagle and Welcome Back!!

WJLaneSR