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