Tool Name

Close

tool goes here

A crazy idea – that might just lead to a wonderful moment

What if the Panthers used Julius Peppers' salary to save teachers?

Posted: Friday, Mar. 06, 2009

Park Road Baptist Pastor Russ Dean (and Board President of Mecklenburg Ministries) sent this letter to Carolinas Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney this week (edited for length):

Dear Marty,

I don't know why I'm writing, honestly. I got this crazy idea in my mind. I'm sure it belongs in “File 13,” but I can't get it out of my head, so I thought I'd pass it along. (You can file it!) So, if you're still reading, here's the idea …

I'm not much of a ranting preacher, but occasionally I have to make room for a little tirade. (You football coaches can probably relate.) Two weeks ago in some introductory remarks to my message, I spoke of the unfortunate shortcomings of American capitalism. I found myself making this comment, inspired by articles I had read in the prior week's news: “The Carolina Panthers have just announced their willingness to pay one man $17 million to assault any other man trying to pass his way holding an oblong, leather ball. This, in the same season that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will put over 350 teachers of tomorrow's future out of work. I know why it happens this way. But …. ”

As I said, Marty, I know this is crazy, but I also believe some of the world's greatest moments have come at the hand of someone willing to pursue an idea that makes no sense whatsoever – at least according to conventional wisdom.

So I went home wondering just what would happen if the Panthers' management actually decided to let #90 go his merry way (as he seems itching to do), and used his single-season salary to keep 350 teachers in their positions. 350 salaries at $50,000 each come pretty close to $17 million. (Since many CMS teachers don't make that much, you might even get to keep some of the $17 million!)

One thing that seems missing from our public life in the last few years is any call for the people to respond to and participate in the troubles of this nation, by working harder or giving more or making some sacrifice for the common good. In prior days in this country, this was not so, and I think today's wars and economic woes would much sooner be ended, and might even serve as valuable learning lessons for us all, if we were actually participating in their solutions.

So … What would it say to the Charlotte community if one of the nation's elite NFL franchises were willing to set such an example – potentially sacrificing its own future for the good of the community and the future of the nation? How might the nation respond to such selflessness? How might such an example influence other professional owners and managers?

How might such a decision inspire one up-and-coming defensive end, who suddenly found himself in a starting line-up because of such a bold decision? (My guess is that someone would respond to that opportunity – and the team would find it had hardly sacrificed anything.) How might some of your other athletes, or corporate execs around the nation, respond to such a daring example? And how would the future of Charlotte, or the United States, or even the world, be changed because of the education that even one of those 350 teachers might provide to Just One Child?

It's a crazy idea. I know it belongs in the round file in the corner of the room, but I honestly believe our world only moves forward, makes true progress, on the wings of crazy ideas. I'd love to see how the nation would respond if this one took flight.

Thanks for listening, Marty.

Here's to crazy ideas in difficult times.

For The Record offers commentaries from various sources. The views are the writer's, and not necessarily those of the Observer editorial board.