VolInNW
Trapped in PAC 12 Country
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2017
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Let me try this:
From a legal angle, it’s a contract. That said, contracts can be reformed or partially reformed by the court based on significant misunderstandings, mutual mistake of fact, force majure, etc. Is a worldwide pandemic resulting in a 75% loss of gate revenue and a 10 vice 12 game season enough? I honestly don’t know, but rest assured juries and judges will be making these factual calls thousands of times over the next year or two. So while the presumption is that these coaches have enforceable contracts, that’s not absolute.
From the ethical angle: it comes down to values. If you place your highest value on individual achievement and faith in an omniscient market to get things right, that will dictate your response. If you value equity and personal sacrifice for a greater good, that will guide your response. Whether there is a right or wrong answer is debatable, but clearly everyone’s view of the “right thing to do” here is dictated by this question.
Finally, from a pure appearance and political angle, this was a dumb as hell move. I’m not even sure that’s debatable. You’ve got a coach receiving a raise in this environment and not capable of convincing/assuring his staff to make the smart play, perhaps personally assuring them he will make it up to them. That’s what I suspect Barnes did. That is leadership. Pruitt is more of an opportunist than a leader.
Anywho. That’s my view. Flame away.
From a legal angle, it’s a contract. That said, contracts can be reformed or partially reformed by the court based on significant misunderstandings, mutual mistake of fact, force majure, etc. Is a worldwide pandemic resulting in a 75% loss of gate revenue and a 10 vice 12 game season enough? I honestly don’t know, but rest assured juries and judges will be making these factual calls thousands of times over the next year or two. So while the presumption is that these coaches have enforceable contracts, that’s not absolute.
From the ethical angle: it comes down to values. If you place your highest value on individual achievement and faith in an omniscient market to get things right, that will dictate your response. If you value equity and personal sacrifice for a greater good, that will guide your response. Whether there is a right or wrong answer is debatable, but clearly everyone’s view of the “right thing to do” here is dictated by this question.
Finally, from a pure appearance and political angle, this was a dumb as hell move. I’m not even sure that’s debatable. You’ve got a coach receiving a raise in this environment and not capable of convincing/assuring his staff to make the smart play, perhaps personally assuring them he will make it up to them. That’s what I suspect Barnes did. That is leadership. Pruitt is more of an opportunist than a leader.
Anywho. That’s my view. Flame away.