Compromise (it's not worth it!)
Sad for me to say this... but this Friday was one of the happier times I have had as a Indiana University alum. The drama surrounding our basketball program may not have come to an end... far from it... but the source of that drama has officially left the University. And for that matter (I hope), from coaching college basketball for good.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3259751&sportCat=ncb
The person I'm referring to is Kelvin Sampson, the now former IU basketball coach. Apparently from reading about what is going on with the program, the drama is FAR from over. Especially if DJ White is going to continue to behave disruptively, blowing off Dan Dakich's (the interim coach) workouts out of protest. Not good.
Looking back 2 years ago at Kelvin's being hired at I.U., I immediately had a bad feeling about the whole thing. Kelvin Sampson is a very talented basketball coach that could put I.U. back in the national spotlight, but he was a huge ethical liability, as we are finding out now. Kelvin's extracurricular (and illegal by the NCAA) activities at O.U. had just come out... with the Sooners program putting themselves on probation for a year and allowing recruits out of their commitments due to the violations that have been committed. The timing of his interviewing in Bloomington and escaping the consequences of his actions in Norman was a little, if not a lot, fishy. However, I.U. had just endured 3 years of a very bad product being put on the court (especially considering the amount of talent we had) with Mike Davis roaming the sidelines... so perhaps they thought that the risk was worth it. Mike Davis is a stand-up guy, a Christian who loved his players, and attended Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (which is where I attended). He was also a great recruiter... he brought DJ White to Bloomington! His flaw, he was NOT a good basketball coach.
So perhaps the Athletic Director thought that I.U. needed a little boost, and that Kelvin would change once he was at a premier program with 5 national titles. Know this... I.U. has run a clean rules-abiding program ever since Robert Montgomery Knight was hired... and had a reputation for maintaining high moral and ethical standards. That reputation, Mr. Greenspan, was ruined because you rolled the dice on a man with questionable character. And now, Mr. Greenspan, all of us Hoosier fans and alums are paying the price. Way to go :-(
My friends, compromise is never worth it. You always pay in the end. Whether it is cutting corners on a project at work, driving recklessly to make up for time, treating someone rudely to manipulate them into doing what you want, (one big temptation for Christian singles) to get involved in a relationship with someone that doesn't value Christ just because it seems easier in the short term, or not taking precautions to protect your girlfriends' purity because to take stands and setting boundaries is difficult.... each of these compromises has a consequence... and once we pay them we realize that what we paid on the back end was far more than what we "saved" in the front. Yes, we are forgiven and God accepts us just as we are, but in some way we still lose out in a way. As a health-conscious friend would tell me (about eating healthy food and paying a little more -or- getting fast food b/c it's cheap & convenient), you pay now or you pay later. Paying now really is more affordable.
In life, and in the diet. Who wants to take Zocor... really?
Or... have to explain your single life to your kids one day in the future, when you know you haven't been faithful.
Or... if you're Kelvin Sampson, to have to try to find another coaching job after 2 strikes and spoiling the reputation of one of the greatest basketball programs in history.
It's not worth it. Integrity, however, is worth it! And it pays huge long-term dividends.
chris <><
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3259751&sportCat=ncb
The person I'm referring to is Kelvin Sampson, the now former IU basketball coach. Apparently from reading about what is going on with the program, the drama is FAR from over. Especially if DJ White is going to continue to behave disruptively, blowing off Dan Dakich's (the interim coach) workouts out of protest. Not good.
Looking back 2 years ago at Kelvin's being hired at I.U., I immediately had a bad feeling about the whole thing. Kelvin Sampson is a very talented basketball coach that could put I.U. back in the national spotlight, but he was a huge ethical liability, as we are finding out now. Kelvin's extracurricular (and illegal by the NCAA) activities at O.U. had just come out... with the Sooners program putting themselves on probation for a year and allowing recruits out of their commitments due to the violations that have been committed. The timing of his interviewing in Bloomington and escaping the consequences of his actions in Norman was a little, if not a lot, fishy. However, I.U. had just endured 3 years of a very bad product being put on the court (especially considering the amount of talent we had) with Mike Davis roaming the sidelines... so perhaps they thought that the risk was worth it. Mike Davis is a stand-up guy, a Christian who loved his players, and attended Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (which is where I attended). He was also a great recruiter... he brought DJ White to Bloomington! His flaw, he was NOT a good basketball coach.
So perhaps the Athletic Director thought that I.U. needed a little boost, and that Kelvin would change once he was at a premier program with 5 national titles. Know this... I.U. has run a clean rules-abiding program ever since Robert Montgomery Knight was hired... and had a reputation for maintaining high moral and ethical standards. That reputation, Mr. Greenspan, was ruined because you rolled the dice on a man with questionable character. And now, Mr. Greenspan, all of us Hoosier fans and alums are paying the price. Way to go :-(
My friends, compromise is never worth it. You always pay in the end. Whether it is cutting corners on a project at work, driving recklessly to make up for time, treating someone rudely to manipulate them into doing what you want, (one big temptation for Christian singles) to get involved in a relationship with someone that doesn't value Christ just because it seems easier in the short term, or not taking precautions to protect your girlfriends' purity because to take stands and setting boundaries is difficult.... each of these compromises has a consequence... and once we pay them we realize that what we paid on the back end was far more than what we "saved" in the front. Yes, we are forgiven and God accepts us just as we are, but in some way we still lose out in a way. As a health-conscious friend would tell me (about eating healthy food and paying a little more -or- getting fast food b/c it's cheap & convenient), you pay now or you pay later. Paying now really is more affordable.
In life, and in the diet. Who wants to take Zocor... really?
Or... have to explain your single life to your kids one day in the future, when you know you haven't been faithful.
Or... if you're Kelvin Sampson, to have to try to find another coaching job after 2 strikes and spoiling the reputation of one of the greatest basketball programs in history.
It's not worth it. Integrity, however, is worth it! And it pays huge long-term dividends.
chris <><
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