Just A Little Bit More

American industrialist and philanthropist, John D. Rockefellar, was once asked the question, “How much is enough?” The multimillionaire’s response was simple and to the point: “Just a little bit more.”

If the late multimillionaire were alive today he would be in good company with many of the top-name professional athletes that grace our television screens. The recent announcement by Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins, awarding a huge contract to Giancarlo Stanton, is a case in point. The 25-year-old right fielder will make $325 million over the next 13 years. If that salary seems ridiculous and paranormal to you, it’s because it is! It is pure speculation on the part of the Miami Marlins’ organization that this young man will continue to produce at a level that justifies his outrageous compensation package. Even if he did put up monster numbers, does that deem him worthy of such a payout?

This past Fathers’ Day my 5 children announced that they wanted to take me to a Cleveland Indian’s baseball game in Cleveland. As it turned out, we were not able to find a date that would work for everyone so we reached a compromise. We headed to Detroit to see the Tribe play against the Detroit Tigers. I was given 2 free tickets by a lady in my church, so I thought the night out would not cost us very much. My children split the cost of the 5 remaining tickets while I covered gas, border toll, and food purchases. Let me tell you, it was an expensive night! Oh, we enjoyed the game and all the experience that goes with the atmosphere of a live baseball game, but it will be quite some while before we do this again. I left the ball park that night wondering if in some small way my family had contributed to the gross national product of one of the high-priced players on the field that night.

The issue of greed has really come to the forefront of professional sports. In fact, it has even infiltrated the ranks of amateur sports as a lure to woo potential franchise players to select teams. When former Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman award winner Johnny Manziel (or ‘Johnny Football’ as he is called) was drafted by the Cleveland Browns this past offseason, he quickly flashed his trademark “show me the money” gesture. The media have been on the kid’s backside ever since. To me it showed where this young man’s true focus was aimed. Where did he get this greedy attitude, anyway? We can jump all over him about this, but there has been plenty of reinforcement from zealous fans and money-grubbing agents that have helped pave the way.

The Bible gives a clear warning against a wrong attitude towards riches. In 1 Timothy 6:10 it says this: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Please note that it is not money itself that is the problem. No, it is the love of money. Simply put, one can have much of the world’s goods and stay clean with God, as long as the Lord is first. There are some ion the professional sports world who have been able to maintain this perspective. On the other hand, one could be penniless and poor and be guilty of this malady. When money is the carrot being dangled in front of the likes of the Giancarlo Stantons and Johnny Manziels of this world, instead of the love of the game and the integrity of the sport, you can bet your bottom dollar (and it may be just that after paying to see these guys!) that the sport is headed for a long walk off a short plank. Let’s get back to the love of the game and the integrity of the sport, and show the next generation there’s something to play for!