Writing Assignment

Leadership and Sports Ethics

MSA 624 Unit # 6

Ethical Considerations of Race in Sports and the Ethical Duties of Agents in Sports

Format for Unit sessions

• Introduction of the Unit

• Unit Topics

• Christian worldview applications

• Major points for the week’s learning

2

Introduction to Unit

• This week, we look at ethical considerations of race in sports.

• We will also look at Biblical principles of diversity.

• Finally, we will examine the ethical duties of agents in sports.

3

Topics we’ll cover

• Ethical considerations of race in sports

• Biblical principles of diversity

• The ethical duties of sports agents

4

Unit Objectives

• Consider principles of diversity from the Bible

• Discern sports ethics issue of race in sports

• Clarify ethical obligations of sports agents

• Solve sports ethics cases

5

Questions for Reflection & Study

• What are 3-5 ethical leadership principles from the New Testament?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions for race in sports?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions for sports agents?

6

Biblical Foundation

• Galatians 3:26-29 We are ALL equal in status

▫ God does not make distinctions regarding race or sex or socioeconomic position

▫ We are all the same in that we are made in God’s image (see Genesis 1:26)

▫ So NO ONE is inherently “better” than anyone else

7

Biblical Foundation (cont.)

• Genesis 32:22-32 We all wrestle with God in different ways

▫ Sports is assumed as a normal part of life

▫ We are all the same in that all of us must respond to God and His principles

▫ Each one of us is accountable individually before God

▫ We cannot blame race, sex or social status as a reason for avoiding Him

8

Racial Issues in Historical Context

• In the first part of the 20th century, there was diversity in sports in that athletes represented a number of different ethnic groups, but all were white

• The NFL was integrated in its early years (1920- 1934) but not after that

• African American student-athletes were not able to participate in major sports until after World War II

9

Racial Issues in Historical Context

(cont.)

• Jackie Robinson faced challenges in the 1940s during spring training due to segregation laws and as the first black MLB player

• Curt Flood (St. Louis Cardinals) who challenged MLB’s reserve clause in the early 1970s wrote about the racial prejudice he witnessed as a minor league ball player in the 1950s due in large part due to the unwillingness of primarily Democratic-elected state officials to overturn segregation laws

10

Racial Issues in Historical Context

(cont.)

• Hank Aaron (Atlanta Braves) faced hate mail and death threats in his quest (and eventual success) in breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record in the early 1970s

• There was little integration in the coaching ranks through the 1960s

11

Inspiring Examples

• Despite the many examples, there were inspiring examples of African Americans overcoming and succeeding

• Jesse Owens of The Ohio State University in the 1936 Olympics by winning four gold medals

• Jackie Robinson’s outstanding play and winsome attitude broke down barriers and opened the door for many others

12

Inspiring Examples (cont.)

• Underdog Texas Western (now the University of Texas – El Paso) stunned the basketball world by fielding an all African American starting five and overcoming racial challenges in defeating all white University of Kentucky in the 1966 NCAA basketball championship (see movie Glory Road)

13

Inspiring Examples (cont.)

• The then fledgling American Football League (1960) turned to black athletes who did not have opportunities in the NFL to make the league viable and triumphant with the Jets winning the 1969 Super Bowl

• Sports played a large role in helping break down racial barriers in the 1960s

14

Race and Professional Sports

• MLB allowed exhibition games with Negro League ball players

• Because African American players were not afforded the opportunity to play, legal steps have been taken by MLB to provide benefits

• Twenty-one African American football players refused to play in the 1965 AFL all star game in New Orleans because of race-related threats and discrimination so the game was moved to Houston

15

Race and Professional Sports (cont.)

• NFL’s Rooney Rule – Teams are required to interview at least one African American for a head coaching job which has led to an increase in African American head coaches culminating in two African American coaches leading their teams in the 2007 Super Bowl

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which was finally implemented in the 1970s during the Nixon administration) prohibited racial discrimination in employment

16

Biblical Perspectives on Diversity

• Romans 12:3-8

▫ We should not think of ourselves as better than others

▫ We should each measure ourselves according to our own, individual abilities and how well we use the abilities we have been given

▫ We are accountable to God for what we do with what we have been given (see also Luke 19:11-27)

▫ Our diversity comes from our individual differences (talents)

17

Biblical Perspectives on Diversity

(cont.)

• Colossians 3:1-14

▫ Focus is on individual character , not what racial group we belong to

▫ However, there is a place for looking after the interests of others (Philippians 2:4) in making sure that justice is served

18

Sports Agents - Background

• John Montgomery Ward was driving force behind early MLB union (The Brotherhood) in the late 1890 resulting in the Players League run only by players

▫ Lasted only for that season, but future model

▫ Ward also helped players legally

• Charles C. “Cash and Carry” Pyle represented professional athletes in the early 1900s including football star Harold “Red” Grange

19

Sports Agents – Background (cont.)

• Agents began to garner more attention in the 1960s and 1970s

• Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally MLB arbitration cases of 1975

▫ Granted all MLB players free agency

▫ Many players hired agents to help with negotiations

• Salaries skyrocketed in the 1980s creating an ongoing market for sports agents

20

Ethical Duties for Sports Agents

• Perform their duties in good faith, keeping the client’s best interests in mind

• Avoiding all conflicts of interest

• A duty of confidentiality

• A glaring issue is the advantage a non-attorney has because he or she is not bound by solicitation restrictions

21

Duties of Sports Agents

• Negotiating a players contract with a team

• Negotiating endorsement contracts

• Performing legal work

• Arranging for financial counseling

22

Competition Among Agents

• Can be a dirty business

• A “business is business” type of “ethic”

• Common for an agent to try to steal a client from another agent

• Fee structures help drive competition

▫ Can be determined by the League (NFL)

▫ Or left to the marketplace (MLB)

• Players unions along with other entities can regulate the conduct of sports agents

23

State Law Regulates Agents

• By requiring registration and a fee payment

• By endorsing agents for the recruits

• By publishing eligible sports agents to universities

24

Review

• Considered principles of diversity from the Bible

• Discerned sports ethics issue of race in sports

• Clarified ethical obligations of sports agents

• Solved sports ethics cases

25

Questions for Reflection & Study

• What are 3-5 ethical leadership principles from the New Testament?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions for race in sports?

• What are sports ethics issues and solutions for sports agents?

26

Recap of Unit

• We looked at ethical considerations of race in sports.

• We also studies the Biblical principles of diversity.

• Finally, we examined the ethical duties of agents in sports.

27

References

• Thornton, P.; Champion, W. and Ruddell, L. (2011). Sports Ethics for Sports Management Professionals. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

28

What next?

• Take the Unit Quiz

• Complete your detailed reading

• Answer the discussion questions

• Complete the writing assignments

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This concludes Unit 6