Vol 2 Num 1 (Second Look) by Sports Spectrum

d took'' ''secon rtS fl. • spo al iSsues tn nd life. at there ... a A

FEATURES reflects the economics of the For one thing, it gives us a business page, where imporchance to learn from hightance is measured in dollars, profile athletes about the other not character. side of the money issue- the Don't get me wrong. I'm proper perspective. And I not saying that money corthink you'll enjoy reading rupts everything it touches. about the athletes featured in And God never condemns this issue of Second Look. anyone for being rich. The Scott Simpson, 1987 U.S. great danger for anyone, Open champion, resists grabwhether a pro athlete or a bing for all the endorsements spectator, comes when we tie he can, and he tells why. our self-esteem and our view Lynette Woodard explains A SECOND of success to money. Here are why finances forced her to LOOK AT three common, and dangergive up her dream of playing Scott's (U.S.) ous, misconceptions: for the Harlem Globetrotters. MONEY Open-Door Policy 1. Money gives you imporAnd Bob Boone of the CaliOpportunity knocks, tance. The "Me Generation" fornia Angels has learned a lot but Scott Simpson worth sharing in his long wish the word version of the Golden Rule states, "He who has the gold, major league career. Plus, "money" had is careful rules." But that's false. God's we'll iook at the debate over never entered By John Carvalho love is what gives us imathletes' salaries. the sports portance. The British essayist Sir vocabulary. 2. Money indicates success. the issue was Francis Bacon said that Wrong again. Accepting statistics: home runs, yards money is a good servant but a God's Jove is the standard for gained, won-lost records. With bad master. Consider which success. As Jesus said, "What the exception of a superstar side of this saying describes profit is it to a man if he gains like Babe Ruth, no one knew your life as we take a "second the whole world, and loses his what kind of salaries athletes look" at money. • own soul?" (Matthew 16:26). made, and no one seemed - Kyle Rote, Jr. 3. Money solves problems. to care. The power to overcome hurBut all that's changed. Teledles in life, things like illness vision infused a Jot more or disappointment, comes money into sports - profesfrom God, through the Holy sional and college. Then came Spirit. You can't "buy your agents and unions and strikes way out." In Tennessee, . and recruiting scandals. Now where I Jive, our former govmoney is a major thrust ernor was put in jail for sellin athletics. The Taking Her Show ing his influence. No amount Off the Road of money can restore his Lynette Woodard As reputation. co-host of --.....::· The growing emphasis on explains why she the Second Look ~..........,_ money in sports is left the Harlem television program, Kyle -~ .... not all bad. Globetrotters Rote, Jr., engages the studio ~By Paul Hoemann audience in lively interaction, while ~ ~ also offering his personal insights. Kyle ~ Photography Credits: Cover, Robert Beck; p. 2 (left) Neil Ricklin, (top is an author, TV sports commentator, and motivaright) Robert Beck, (lower left) Brian Drake/ Focus West; p. 3 (left) V.J. Love ro, (center) D. Mauapica/Focus West; (right) Rick Stewart/Focus tional speaker. A former pro soccer player and three-time West; pp. 5-6, Robert Beck; p. 7, Rick Stewart/Focus West; pp. 8·10, Brian Drake/Focus West; pp. 12-14, V.J. Lovero; pp. 16-17, Stephen Superstars competition winner, Kyle is dedicated to helping young Dunn/ Focus West; p. 18 (top left) Diane Johnson/ Focus West, (top people develop their unique abilities and God-given potential. Kyle and right) Ro bert Beck/Focus West, (lower) Foc us West; p. t9 (to p) D. Mazza pic a/Focus West, (lower) Ric k Stewart/Focus West; p. 24, J. his wife, Mary Lynne, live in Memphis, Tennessee, with their three children. Kamin-Oncea/Focus West.

DEPARTMENTS

20 The Money Pit Financial management is one of our greatest challenges By John MacArthur, Jr.

Sports Salaries: Do the Dollars Make Sense?

The Quiz Biz Test your sports trivia knowledge

Are athletes overpaid? By Sara L. Anderson

Catching On ... and On ... and On

Training Tips

Bob Boone's longplaying record is #1 By Karen Rudolph Drollinger

How Lynette Woodard prepares for competition

15 For Athletes Wes Neal says materialism affects athletic performance

Volume 2, Number 1 SECOND LOOK MAGAZINE A RADIO BIBLE CLASS PUBLICATION PUBLISHER Martin R. DeHaan II; EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ralph Drollinger; EDITOR John Carvalho; ART DIRECTOR Steve Gler; ASSISTANT EDITOR Karen R. Drollinger; EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Phil Johnson, Rick York; BUSINESS MANAGER Billie Logue; COVER PHOTO Robert Beck. Second Look Is published six times a year by Radio Bible Class. Radio Bible Class is a nondenominational Christian organization whose purpose Is to lead people of all nations to faith and maturity In Christ by teaching the Word of God. Printed In U.S.A. Copyright o 1988 by Radi o Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bible quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version o 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson., Inc., Publishers. Second Look is produced by New Focus Inc., Vanlr Tower, Ninth Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92401. Free subscri ptions are available upon request by writing to Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Ml49555路0001.

COVER STORY

SCOTT'S (U.S.) OPEN路 DOOR PO ICY

Opportunity has come knocking for Scott Simpson, but he's careful about how he responds MAGINE YOU'VE JUST WON the U.S. Open, the most coveted title in golf. Let visions of sugar plums dance in your head: Ring! What? No, tell Johnny I can't appear on his show this week, but keep trying. Ring! Sorry, you'll have to come up with at least six figures before I'll even say hello. Goodby! Ring! Yeah, honey, the schedule is Switzerland, then Australia and Japan. Yes, I know it's only a 3-day trip ... but that means you have to pack only one suitcase! Such has been Scott Simpson's life since he won the 1987 U.S. Open, right? Wrong. While Scott's

duel with Tom Watson down the back nine was one of the most exciting Open finishes ever, life since then has been comparatively calm. No phone ringing off the hook. No schmoozing with Johnny. No commercials. No whirlwind international tours. No hurry. Lest you think Scott has opted for a life of obscure poverty, opportunities have come his way. He is paid generously to play exhibitions and receives higher appearance fees from tournaments overseas. His "corporate outing fee" (in case you and the guys at the office want him to come out and hit a few) has tripled. His equipment contract with Yamaha

BY JOHN CARVALHO

SECOND LOOK

><:

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expired at the end of 1987, and he expects a sizable raise on the new contract. Beyond that, he's patient. On tour, Scott has a reputation for hitting the ball a little shorter than the free swingers, but straight. His philosophy in life is the same: If you go for broke and swing away, you might end up in the trees. As long as you keep the. ball in the fairway, you can always make the green. That philosophy has carried Scott through 10 successful years on the men's tour. "He's a solid individual," his manager, Rocky Hambric, says. For example, Scott is one of the tour's Christian believers, but his decision came only after 3 years of working through his own questions and considering the arguments in favor of Christianity. With his faith, as with business, he didn't sign on the dotted line until he had read the contract carefully. Thus, he can talk about endorsements without the nervous determination that betrays fear of the future. "We're taking it as it comes," Scott says, relaxing in the living room of his San Diego home. "There are a lot more opportunities. Winning the Open means a lot of money. Everyone would like to have the U.S. Open champion endorse their product." But rather than strike while the iron is hot, Scott and Rocky are practicing fiscal conservatism. "We don't want Scott to overcommit himself," Rocky says. " We want to do these things without affecting his game. I'd feel bad if I pushed Scott into things he didn't want to do and burned him out." They can learn from other players' mistakes. Take Bill Rogers. In 1981 , Rogers won the World Series of Golf and the British Open and was named PGA Player of the Year. But a packed schedule of foreign tournaments, exhibitions, and appearances caught up with him. After winning $315,411 in 1981, his big year, Bill hasn't broken the $100,000 mark for the past four seasons. One factor in Scott's reluctance to take on too much is his family. He'd rather enjoy them at home than spend weeks on the road in search of greater financial security for them. According to his wife, Cheryl, he makes it a rule not to be away from her or their daughter, Brea, and son, Sean, for more than 2 weeks at a time. In 1986, he even took 11 weeks off to help Cheryl through the final stages of her pregnancy with Sean. For a pro golfer, no play means no pay. But Scott and Cheryl didn't worry. "Scott needed the rest," she says. "I figured, 'Whatever happens, happens.' We cut back on some things. But Scott didn't put pressure on himself to go out and make money."

HE BREAK actually helped his game. Scott's first tournament after Sean's birth was the Tucson Match Play Championship. In truth, it was a safe financial transaction: Even if Scott lost in the first round, he was assured $2,500. That may have been as much as he expected; he told Cheryl he'd be home the evening after his first-round match. Instead, he won it - and the second, and the third, and on into the finals, where he lost to Jim 6

SECOND LOOK

t--------""'u. FAITH: A CRUTCH FOR THE WEAK?

According to some skeptics, people become interested in the Christian faith only when they're weak or in need. Scott Simpson used to agree. "Christianity seemed like a psychological crutch for people who couldn't handle their problems," he says. "I believed in self-reliance: Life is what you make it, good or bad." So one would suppose It took a crisis for Scott to change his mind. That's not the way it happened. "I was playing well, and I had a happy family life," Scott recalls. " Intellectually, Christianity made sense to me, so I took the step of faith and made a commitment to follow Christ."

people who have an open mind for the truth," Scott says now. "It will stand the questions and the criticisms." Think about that as you read this issue of Second Look.

Thorpe. The second prize of $90,000 put Scott over the $200,000 mark for the second time in his career. The momentum carried over into I 987. Besides the U.S. Open, Scott won the Greater Greensboro Open. His earnings of $621,032, good for fourth place on the money list, ranks among the 10 best single seasons in tour history. The season "exceeded any expectations I could have had," he says. Thus, looking ahead to 1988, Scott could relax, even while pursuing a career that encourages tension. Golfers aren't like athletes in the major sports - they don't enjoy guaranteed contracts. Scott, and every other player on 'tour, begins each season at ground zero. His livelihood depends on his performance. "The important thing is how Scott does on the golf course," Rocky says. "He will always have the title 'former U.S. Open champion' attached to his name, but people will soon forget." " I try not to think about it," Scott says of the uncertainty. "I've been a consistent money winner, and that's made it a lot easier financially." He can rest on a steady career that's approaching the $2 million mark in earnings, though he's still in his early thirties. He's won more than $100,000 every year this decade, making him one of only nine pro golfers who can make that claim. Scott admits that it's easier to worry about money now that he has a lot of it to worry about. "Money can never be your security, because you can never have enough," he says. "Something can happen to take it all away. I could find myself thinking, 'What if the world banking system collapses? What if all my investments go bad?'" Little wonder that Cheryl descriheo; him as "laidback and patient." On-course tantrums are rare. There was the time he disgustedly threw his putter toward his golf bag, and it accidentally bounced up and hit his friend, fellow pro Larry Nelson, on the leg. But that was an isolated incident, and they laugh about it now. Worries and all, Scott still enjoys the money he makes as a pro golfer. To paraphrase a popular saying, he's had tour success and he's had tour failure; success is better. "Early in my career, I had to work my tail off to make enough to get through the year and save a little for next year. There's no doubt that it's better to be in fourth place on the money list. "I think having money is great," he continues. "I have a beautiful house now and a nice car. But I try not to get too caught up with it. I feel fortunate that I can give quite a bit of it away." Hambric has noticed how generous Scott and his other clients such as 1987 Masters champion Larry Mize and 1987 PGA champion Nelson are. "You wouldn't believe how easy it is to become spoiled, given the treatment they receive," Rocky says. "But these guys are as generous as any you'll ever find." Ten years from now, Scott will probably have a few more titles under his belt and maybe own a nicer house and car. But he cautions, "I'm not going to buy a Corvette or a giant estate in the country." He'll stay in the slow lane. As everyone knows, that's how you get better mileage. â&#x20AC;˘

13.

Which brand of basketball shoes is James Worthy paid $1.2 million to endorse?

Baseball arbitrators resolve salary disputes between players and teams. How much money do the arbitrators earn per day?

2. Which brand of basket-

7•

ball shoes is Ralph Sampson paid $500,000 to endorse?

How much money did Michael Jordan earn for winning the 1987 NBA Slam Dunk Contest? A. $5,000 B. $10,000 c. $12,500 D. $15,000

$275 $375 $475 $575

14.

Who earned $492,021 in 1986 to lead all women golfers? A. B. C. D.

What was New York Met Keith Hernandez seen doing on national television that caused him to be fined $100 in 1986?

Pat Bradley Amy Alcott Betsy King Jane Geddes

15.

Who earned $653,296 in 1986 to lead the men's TPC Tour? A. B. C. D.

How much was Jim McMahon fined in 1986 for wearing his illegal headband promoting a sports equipment company?

BobTway Greg Norman Andy Bean Bernhard Langer

16.

Match the sport with the minimum salary.

A. $100 B. $1,000 c. $5,000 D. $10,000

a. Baseball b. Basketball c. Football

l. $50,000 2. $62,500 3. $75,000

17.

6. How

What was Dennis Conner's salary from the San Diego Yacht Club as skipper of the America's Cup winner Stars & Stripes?

much money did Marvin Hagler receive for knocking out John Mugabi in 1986? A. B. C. D.

A. B. C. D.

$500,000 $1 million $1.5 million $2.5 million

18.

Who is the NFL's highest-paid head coach?

7. What was George Foster's •.!,

guaranteed annual salary when the Mets waived him in 1986?

How much did Michael Jordan's aerial abilities earn him at the NBA slam dunk competition? .

A. B. C. D.

9. Who

$ 1 million $ 1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million

How much money did Pat Cash earn for winning the 1987 Wimbledon men's singles championship? A. $132,079 B. $176,105 c. $220,13 1 D. $264,157

won the NBA's Long Distance Shootout (and $ 12,500) in 1987?

10.

Which boxer earned $4 million for defeating Larry Holmes and Stefan Tangstad?

11.

Who is the highest-paid player in hockey?

12.

Who was the NFL's highest-paid player during the 1986-87 season?

BY RICK YORK

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SECOND LOOK

FEATURE ARRY BIRD deposits chunks of his $1.8 million salary in the bank almost as quickly as he deposits three-pointers. Michael Jordan has been known to smile all the way to the bank . .. er, basket. And there's no wizardry in Magic Johnson's $1 million-a-year, lifetime contract. Such is life for three of the best male basketball players in the world. But the best woman player in the world, Lynette Woodard, doesn't enjoy a millionaire's life. As of last fall, she didn't even have a team to play for. A four-time All-America selection at Kansas, Woodard scored 3,649 points in her career, a National Collegiate Athletic Association record for women. She averaged 26.3 points a game in her career, and led the nation in scoring as a sophomore with 31.9 points per game. After her senior season, Lynette received the Wade Trophy as the nation's best female collegiate player. In 1984, she captained and starred for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team. Perhaps her most amazing achievement came in 1985, when Lynette became the first female member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Impressive credentials-as good or better than most of the world's best male players. But you won't find Woodard listed with Bird and Jordan among the 100 highest-paid athletes in pro sports. According to Sport magazine's annual survey, she would have made $80,000 in her third season with the Trotters. But that was before Lynette left the team in the fall of 1987 over a contract dispute. For Lynette, it meant the end of a childhood dream come true. "As a kid I said, with a pure heart, that someday I was going to play for the Trotters, but you just don't know," Lynette says. "In the past, whenever it looked like I wasn't going to be able to play anymore, it seemed like one door after another would open for me." But the Globetrotters' locker room door was labeled "Men," and nothing would open it. For 60 years, the clown princes of basketball had thrilled audiences worldwide with their spectacular dribbling, passing, and shooting, as well as their humorous antics. But they had never had a woman on the roster. Lynette dete.rmined to do all she could to bang down that door. But even her cousin (and close friend) Hubert "Geese" Ausbie, a 24-year veteran with the team, was pessimistic. "I just don't think this is the right time," he told her. Disappointed but not defeated, Lynette kept talking about the idea ... to God. "I had been reading a book on prayer. It taught me to pray retail instead of wholesale-to let God know exactly what I want. So I told Him, 'Lord, this looks like it may be the end of my career, but I'd really like to play for the Globetrotters.'"

BY PAUL HOEMANN 8

SECOND LOOK

'It

wasn't a matter of money. It was a matter of principle.'

Six weeks passed. Not a word from Ausbie or the team. Then Lynette read a newspaper article about the team's plans to go coed for the 1985-86 season. "I was scared," she says. "I didn't say a word." Lynette showed the article to Kansas women's head basketball coach Marian Washington, who responded, "This is the chance you've been waiting for." Lynette grabbed the opportunity like a loose rebound. In preparation for the tryout, she trained furiously. When bodies and basketballs settled, Lynette, to the surprise of few, was selected over 21 other contenders to be the frrst female Globetrotter. Why, then, would Lynette quit a job she acknowledges was her dream come true? It wasn't lack of money, she says; it was the lack of opportunity to make money. Originally, she had signed a 4-year contract with the team. But during her rookie year, she found that the contract was restrictive. With the fanfare of being the first female Globetrotter came opportunities such as endorsements and speaking engagements. Her contract gave Lynette only one option: to say "no." She played without complaint for 2 years. Then she aired her feelings to the Trotters management. "I told them, 'Don't cut me off from other opportunities. If you want me to work only for you, compensate me.'" But her request fell on deaf ears, leaving her only one alternative: quit the team. "It wasn't a matter of money," she says. "It was a matter of principle." The principle Lynette stood on was freedom the freedom to cash in on her considerable marketability and build financial security. "A Jot of opportunities passed me by," she says of her 2 years with the Globetrotters. "I couldn't do some things I wanted to do, and I think the right to do those things is a very basic one." Because she had reached her goal of playing for the Trotters, Lynette found it a little easier to leave the team. She says she wasn't going to play beyond 10

S EC0 N D L0 0 K

Training Tip

NmiN8 GREAT RESULTS SWOOSH! The sound of a basketball touching net is music to any player's ears. It's definitely a familiar tune to Lynette Woodard. Lynette playing basketball is like an accomplished musician playing a difficult piece. The talent flows naturally, but it still takes hours of training to hit the notes perfectly. That's why Lynette, though a gifted athlete, trains so hard. "I loveÂˇstaying in shape," she says. "My body and athletic skills are things I've been blessed with, and I want to take good care of them." A typical daily workout for Lynette includes: Aerobic fitness. Jogging 3-4 miles, running stairs, jumping rope, or swimming. Weight training. A program designed by a coach or professional fitness expert. Basketball. Playing for 1-2 hours. Whatever your goals, Lynette recommends meeting with your coach to find out what he or she demands of you. "Gear your workouts to what you're going to do in practice," she says. "Then, strive to conquer your body. For instance, if you don't like doing a particular running drill, and you know you have to do three repetitions at practice, discipline your body to do five or 10 repetitions. Make your body your slave." - P.H. her 4-year contract. When it was up, she planned to start her own business. What happened to Lynette in the days following her decision to leave the Trotters still boggles her mind. Calls for endorsements, appearances, and speaking engagements flooded in. Within a month, Lynette had opened a sporting goods store in downtown Lawrence, Kansas. She'll soon release a book and a video on basketball fundamentals. The way . she sees it, God launched her business career a little earlier than she had planned. "I'm very grateful for how this has all worked out," she says. "The blessings that have rolled in are unbelievable. In human terms, it looked like I was at the bottom. But God lifted me up. I may have lost my job, but I didn't lose my faith." Though Lynette won't be entertaining large crowds, she says she'll never stop playing basketball. "I'm going to keep playing, no matter if it's in the backyard or around the corner at the playground. I have as much joy there as playing in front of a packed house." â&#x20AC;˘

Paul Hoemann is a freelance writer in Columbia, MissourL His most recent contribution to Second Look was a feature on Olympic swimmers Jenna Johnson and Suzie Rapp. Editor's NoteÂˇ Lynette played for a women's basketba/1/eague in Italy during the 1987-88 season.

For more information on The Master's College, please check the reader information card box, "Master's College." Indicate your area of special interest.

-Biology __ English History __ Music Business _

_ Biblical Studies _Teacher Education __ Liberal Studies _ Pre/Post-NUI'$ing _ Psychology __ One-Year Master's - - Natural &lienee Institute Bible Program - - Physical Education

FEATURE HOUGH BOB BOONE'S year-to-year baseball statistics are remarkably even, his career has had more ups and downs than the stock market. Indeed, he's had more ups and downs than any catcher in baseball. On September 16, 1987, in Kansas City, the 39-year-old Boone set the all-time record for most major league games caught (1,919), surpassing AI Lopez and adding to his record as the season progressed. "The most significant thing wasn't the number of games caught, but the people I passed on the all-time list, people like Yogi Berra, Johnny Bench, Mickey Cochrane, Gabby Hartnett," says Bob, an enthusiastic student of the game. "They were not only outstanding catchers but an exciting part of the history of the game. That's what makes it special." But the number is significant, for never in baseball's history has a catcher approaching 40 continued to work as Boone has. Out of a possible 139 games (he missed 23 in April), Bob caught 128, including the last 65 in a row. Prior to the 1987 season, he led the league in games caught for 5 straight years, averaging 142 games a season. Knees being knees, with overuse turning cartilage to string cheese, catchers his age are backups, if they're still playing at all. Boone's blazing new trails, but not in a coonskin cap. In the spring of 1987, however, Bob faced uncertainty over his playing career. Along with other free

BY KAREN RUDOLPH D ROLLINGER agents such as Tim Raines, Boone faced alleged collusion among major league owners not to sign other teams' free agents. Only four out of 62 free-agent players changed teams, and those four had not received offers from their own teams. Bob sought what he considered his fair market value, went unsigned, missed spring training, and didn't sign and play with the Angels until May 1. What did he do until then? "I didn't know what the results of not having spring training with the team would be," Bob says, "so that was an inspiration to work harder." He trained with his personal strength and conditioning expert, Dr. Bill Puett, continuing the rugged program Bob has followed during the past few off-seasons. Puett, a vision specialist and former college professor, emphasizes developing power and speed through conditioning with lighter weights, along with increasing endurance through food supplements and proper nutrition. In other words, don't go to Bob's house and expect to do some powerlifting, followed by a Coke and a Snickers. Puett believes that if more baseball players followed his conditioning program, they could keep playing into their forties and early fifties.

CATCHING ON ... AND ON ... AND ON Bob Boone's long-playing record made #1, even as the durable catcher was about to top 40

Bob's extra work In the training room has translated Into extra work behind the plate. SEC0 N D

L 0 0 K

"With my conditioning program, I can't really tell any difference in my performance over the last 10 years," Bob claims. "At some point I expect to 'hit the wall' and have my game fall apart, but when, I don't have a guess. I do know that at 39 I'm kind of a freak to be able to catch in the major leagues. Until the last few years that was never heard of." Bob recognizes that added strength may not help him play better, but he will be able to play longer. Plus, it gives him a mental edge because of the added confidence that he's in top shape. Strengthening the quadriceps (the large muscle at the front of the thigh) has reduced stress to his knees, which have been operated on four times. Dr. Puett says, "Before he started my conditioning and supplements program, Bob was on ice 4 hours a day during the season. We were able to reverse his knee problems and thereby extend his career. Now he doesn't need the ice anymore!" Better conditioning and the opportunity for extraordinary salaries have encouraged today's athletes to play longer. "With the advent of more money, the ballplayers don't have to get jobs in the off-season. They know that their job is to maintain their conditioning. Most athletes come into training camp in shape and use the camp to sharpen their skill levels," Boone says. "Years ago, in my father's era, athletes weren't paid tremendous amounts of money. When a player got older, going out into the real world was a simpler decision, because financially he could make as much money as he did playing baseball." Bob's dad, former major leaguer Ray Boone, played in Cleveland, Detroit, and three other stops in the 1950s before finishing his career in Boston in 1960. So Bob grew up in major league clubhouses, learning the game while tracing his dad's footsteps. Though Ray Boone signed right out of high school (Hoover High in San Diego, Ted Williams' alma mater), Bob took an athletic scholarship to Stanford after graduating from San Diego's Crawford High School in 1965. Bob led Stanford to a third-place finish in the College World Series his sophomore year and later was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Phillies. An added blessing of Bob's Do-It-Yourself Home Spring Training Course was the chance to see sons Bret (an infielder at the University of Southern California), Aaron (a high schooler), and Matthew (a Little Leaguer) play ball. "I was able to see games that I never could before," says Bob. "I took [being out until May] with a good attitude. I enjoyed spending time with the boys, worked hard, and hoped that my skills were up to par when I could go back and play." Regarding the contract controversy, Bob says that he wanted to be paid what the market said he deserved. "When you get up to what I'm making, the dollars are irrelevant. Those are big numbers, but they're not going to change the way Sue [his wife] and I live. I'm competitive, and if I'm negotiating something, I'm doing it as hard as I can." Pocketing more than 15 years of major league 14

SEC0 N D L0 0 K

salaries has increased the Boones' material possessions. But Bob recognizes that such things don't necessarily bring happiness. He and his family live in a beautifully restored Villa Park hillside home built in 1908. The house is comfortable but not excessive. The lights of Anaheim Stadium are visible in the distance, and it's just a short commute to work down Katella Boulevard for Bob. His car of choice is not a Mercedes or BMW, but a '67 Chevy that he picked up when he returned to California from Philadelphia. He acknowledges that possessions can be a pitfall. ...__.......,..__._..._..__..... "One of the things that gave me the most relief in becoming a Christian was handing over the reins of my life and my possessions to the Lord," he recalls. "I said, 'Here, You guide my life, Lord. I'm tired of trying to manage this and invest that, and I recognize these things as being gifts from You.'" Bob adds that his priorities have been rearranged since he committed his life to Christ while a member of the Phillies in the late 1970s.

'lÂˇn until they

play

take the uniform away.'

UCH PRIORITIES must meet stiff challenges. The 1987 season ended on Sunday, October 5, for the Angels, mired in last place in the American League West. California set a record of sorts for being the first AL team to go from first to worst in successive seasons. Bob's conditioning program started the next day. Did the added disappointment of the Angels' last-place finish affect his attitude toward preparing for 1988? "It may be a motivating factor, but it doesn't change my preparation. I've been through the highs and lows, and I know what it takes to prepare. It's a team sport, but you prepare yourself as much as you can individually. During the off-season I can control only myself in getting ready for the next season." And the next. And the next. Until he reaches that point of facing the reality of retirement. What then? "It's hard to know what you want to do until you're out of baseball. If I could wave a wand, I'd like to manage at the major league level," says Bob, who enjoys figuring out the nuances of baseball, "but that takes a lot of cooperation from a lot of different people." Of course, Bob realizes, baseball diamonds aren't forever. "For most people who have played, at some point either they've had to quit the game or the game has quit them," Bob says. "That will happen to my kids, so I've tried to instill in them to just enjoy what they're doing. We'll work so they can learn the best way to swing a bat or catch a baseball and hone those talents. If they're good enough [to play professionally], that's great. If not, that's great too." Obviously the game of baseball hasn't quit Bob quite yet. Even though he's frequently asked about retirement, he's not setting a date. Tongue-in-cheek, he says he plans to play until he's 55. "I'll play until they take the uniform away. I enjoy it that much," Bob says. "Somebody's going to have to tell me, 'You don't have the ability anymore. Not only that, but we're not going to let you play."' Until then, don't purchase the rocking chair. Bob prefers the crouch. â&#x20AC;˘

FOR ATHLETES

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED The most rewarding aspect ofsports isn't always the end result BYWESNEAL

Wes Neal is a respected writer with a unique perspective on sports competition. Currently living in Branson, Missouri, Wes is the author of The Handbook on Athletic Perfection. A regular contributor to Second Look magazine, Wes looks in this column at the issue of how materialism affects workouts.

NYONE who has ever tried to Jose weight knows how frustrating it is to step on a scale o'nly to find discouraging results. In most healthy weight-loss programs the end result happens slowly. And that can get discouraging. The same is true in athletic conditioning. It seems to take so long to get into better shape. What causes our frustration? Impatience? No. Materialism! "You gotta be kidding!" I can almost hear you say. "Materialism means money, clothes, cars, houses, stocks.

How can that have anything to do with becoming frustrated about getting into better shape?" Good question; let me explain what I mean. Materialism tells us that the good things in life are the tangible things, like a nice house, a new car, a high-paying job, and secure investments. There isn't anything wrong with enjoying such things. But according to materialism, these things are what give meaning and purpose to life. Materialism is a philosophy that empha-Âˇ sizes the tangible end result of our work, rather than the work itself. Likewise, conditioning programs emphasize the tangible end result- the body beautiful- rather than the discipline and workouts. We have come to believe that the finished product is what makes the discipline of exercise worth it. Let's make a switch. Instead of your tangible result being a certain standard of physical

condition, make it something that can happen every day like completing every detail of your workout. For example, if your workout includes bench presses to make you a better football player, your tangible result can be the discipline of giving your best during that day's bench press workout. The Bible instructs us, "Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:7,8). The idea is to put our emphasis on developing godly qualities, results that last, like self-discipline and dedication, rather than on life's temporary things, like being in a certain physical condition. This applies to the occupational setting, too. If we focus on the rewards of work, we won't be as effective on the job. But if we learn to empha-

size the work itself - to enjoy what we do - then those rewards will come as a natural result. Discus thrower AI Oerter won the gold medal in four different Olympics (1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968). Then, after failing to make the 1984 team - which would have been a feat in itself - he said, "I'm not unhappy. For me, it's the road to the Olympics that makes it all worthwhile, not the Olympics itself1" AI Oerter discovered that the real satisfaction in life is in traveling the road, not in completing the journey. Try this more fulfilling approach. You'll still get in better shape, but that "arrival" will be simply a byproduct of your tangible result of developing more self-discipline and giving a better effort. It's satisfying to be in shape, but the real reward is in traveling the road each workout, not just in arriving! â&#x20AC;˘ SEC0 N D

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FEATURE

SPORTS SALARIES: DO THE DOLLARS IKE SENSE?

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E SITS IN THE STANDS, beer can in hand, shaking his head as the aging superstar, on pine patrol as the designated hitter, faces an 0-2 count. "They sign the bum to a 3-year contract at a mil per year," the fan complains. "He's 37, strikes out half the time, and when he does hit one out, you can hear his knees squeak as he runs around the bases!" At a track meet, one of the top draws unexpectedly drops out of his second event, fearing injury. A livid fan stuffs her camera into its case. "I paid $15 to see him perform. He owes it to us to do his best, even if it means crawling across the finish line. That's the athletic spirit," she fumes. A newspaper is slapped down so quickly it startles the waitress about to fill her patron's coffee cup. "Did you see what they signed that running back for?" His tone is incredulous. "The president of the United States makes only $200,000 a year. What makes a football player think he's worth so much more than the guy who's got the power to drop the bomb?" What is an athlete worth? That question has been

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bounced around since sports went pro and spectators began paying for the privilege of watching. But how can we measure an athlete's value? Performance? Popularity? Loyalty? Longevity? And who should determine that worth? Management? Agents? Players? Fans? TV networks? Then there are the questions about the nature of sports: Is it entertainment or business? And which dynamic is at work here - the spirit of athleticism or the spirit of free enterprise? Publicity fuels the fire surrounding athletes' salaries; the media don't make front-page news out of an interior decorator's income. That publicity leads to comparisons. Everyone - from steelworker to corporate executive - rates his or her salary against Brian Bosworth's or Patrick Ewing's, and the athlete seldom winds up on the short end. Take a brief survey of the sports-money scene. The average annual paycheck in the National Football League is around $200,000. Tennis tyrant John McEnroe's U.S. Open outbursts drew a $17,500 fine - more than the salaries of most small-town sportswriters. Atlanta reliever Bruce Sutter made $1.7 million

plus in 1987, even though he spent the entire season out with an injury. Eddie Murray drew $2.46 million (highest in the major leagues) from the beleaguered Baltimore Orioles and finished the year hitting .277 with 30 home runs and 91 RBI. Compare that with Chicago Cubs right fielder Andre Dawson. He batted 10 points higher (.287), hit 19 more homers (49), and 46 more RBI (137) .. .. and earned 1/5 the salary ($500,000), with a $150,000 bonus for staying off the disabled list. Curtis Strange, the leading money winner on the men's golf tour, won three tournaments and $925,941. His counterpart in the Ladies Professional Golf Association, Ayako Okamoto, won three tournaments and topped the money list with $466,034. Even Seniors tour leader Chi Chi Rodriguez beat Ayako, drawing more than $500,000 and winning seven titles. Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard took home $13.5 million and $12 million, respectively, for merely agreeing to show up and fight. Even Oliver South, a mallard, "earned" $2,000 for winning this year's Great American Duck Race in Deming, New Mexico. Of course Ollie's

which dynamic is at work here -the spirit of athleticism or of free enterprise?

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Ayako Okamoto and Curtis Strange each won three titles In 1987, but Curtis won almost twice as much money.

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Would you fight Marvin Hagler if someone paid you $12 million? Sugar Ray Leonard did. (And Hagler got $13.5 million.)

owner pocketed the money, which just goes to show that life can be a real downer - even for the highly paid athlete. According to Runner~f World, track star Carl Lewis earns from $15,000 to $36,000 per meet in appearance fees, not to mention big money from endorsements. But Carl is not amused by sarcasm directed at his earnings. As he told Inside Sports, "It's bizarre to me that Steve Young can sign a $40 million [USFL] contract, and if it's reported that Carl Lewis gets $5,000 a meet, I'm a bandit!" An athlete's worth often depends on his sport's popularity and TV coverage. Baseball, football, and basketball players can negotiate long-term contracts more readily, and thus take home paychecks whether they're playing well, slumping, or sitting on the disabled list. Guaranteed contracts raise some hackles, especially when tile player isn't performing well. And highly paid players who don't try hard really gripe Curt Flood, the man whose challenge of baseball's reserve clause helped open the floodgates of free agency. "I can sympathize with players who are real craftsmen, as they should be," he told a reporter. "But I also see players who just quit on you out there, even though they're making big money. That just makes me sick." The public seems even more reluctant to sympathize during salary negotiations when the player lives an opulent lifestyle or abuses drugs. A few years ago when a Pittsburgh grand jury handed down indictments involving drug sales to pro ballplayers, one fan sarcastically remarked, "It doesn't surprise me. 18

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With the salaries they make, they have to spend it on something." According to Flood, young athletes and money management aren't well-acquainted. "The accounting department for the [Oakland] A's has to keep prodding their players just to cash their checks," he said while working for the team. "These kids are 21, 22, and they're making so much money they just toss their checks into a drawer or into their locker. It drives the accounting department crazy because they don't know if the checks were lost or what." Everyone can point to an athlete for whom fame and fortune brought drug abuse, such as Cleveland Browns safety Don Rogers or Boston Celtics rookie Len Bias, who died of cocaine overdoses within 2 weeks of each other in 1986. Or there's the example of former heavyweight champion George Foreman, who earned and squandered millions. (He now devotes his time to helping charities.)

UT, AS IN EVERY STORY, there's another side. Agent Rocky Hambric, whose clientele includes 1987 U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson (see page 4), sympathizes more with star athletes than does the average fan. He points to the players' lack of privacy and abundance of public scrutiny, their injuries, and the possibility of being traded frequently as good reasons for higher salaries. "It's a bit unfair for society to compare [athletes' salaries] with what the guy in the office makes," Hambric says. "Most people aren't owned by anybody. If I don't like my job, I can quit. A professional athlete can't quit and go to work for another team. There's a feeling of helplessness, of being totally at someone else's mercy." Injury, especially one that could threaten a pro's career, is a major argument for higher pay and guaranteed contracts. Witness the examples. New England Patriot Darrell Stingley was paralyzed from the neck down after a savage hit by Jack Tatum of the Raiders. Once-promising Houston Astros shortstop . Dickie Thon, hit in the head by a Mike Torrez pitch in 1984, retired in 1987 at age 29 after recurring vision problems prevented him from staging a successful comeback. Arguably, these athletes know the risks they're taking. But few people are ever ready, emotionally or financially, for career-ending injuries or premature retirement. Athletes retiring as less than superstars sometimes find themselves unskilled for any work whose salary can compare with what they make in sports. The athlete who thinks his "adoring public" will take care of him is in for a sad awakening. Ex-athletes are forgotten, until an old-timers game comes around. How can athletes allow themselves to face the future so unprepared? A young player making big bucks may not grasp the reality that the money will stop rolling in one day. Pius, Hambric says, "A 22year-old has little or no understanding of the business world. I've had to teach young men how to write a check and reconcile a bank statement."

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Hambric advises athletes to learn to live on a budget, to invest for post-sports days, and to prepare for a second career. Landing endorsement deals doesn't hurt, either. One big-dollar athlete with a conservative attitude toward spending is Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe. His 5-year contract, which runs through 1989, is worth $1.8 million per year. After signing on the dotted line, the Sutcliffes didn't head for the nearest yacht dealer. "A lot of players take the money and go out and do extravagant things," he says. "We didn't want to do that. We have everything we need, but we don't have everything we want." Rick's agent, Barry Axelrod, has made a number of safe investments for his client. Chicago Bears wide receiver Willie Gault began thinking about a second career (a third, actually; he gave up amateur track to play football) during his rookie year. "I realized I can't be in sports all my life," he says. "One day my body won't be as quick or as agile. I've got to be able to do something else. I've read about [athletes who squander money] all my life, and I don't want to be a part of that group." So Willie and his wife, Dainnese, are diversifying. They're dabbling in a cellular telephone franchise. Dainnese models, and Willie is trying to break into acting. A proper perspective on finances helps. "Money is not my ruler. God is #1," he says. Another side to the big-money issue is the athletes' generosity with their higher salaries. Many give back

Eddie Murray was baseball's highestpaid player in 1987, though his stats were less than pure gold.

Carl Lewis' appearance fees may make some people jumpy, but, he points out, they're down-toearth compared to those of other athletes.

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to their team's cities through working with community organizations or fund raising. For the last 5 years Cubs slugger Leon Durham has helped Chicago schools buy athletic equipment. Every time Leon hits a home run at Wrigley Field, he donates $750 to the cause. (Totals for 1987 were 14 and $10,500.) Isiah Thomas gives part of his Pistons paycheck to a Detroit home for handicapped adults. That's added up to more than $50,000 over the years. High salaries' effects aren't limited to team owners and players. One reader, commenting on Sport magazine's annual list of the 100 most highly paid athletes, noted that the report "overlooked one thing: those who pick up the tab. How about the loyal fans? It would be interesting to compile a list of the take at the gate, and compare that with the escalating salaries the top 100 take in." Speaking of ticket-buyers, do paying customers make sports a business or entertainment? The fan who heads out to root for the home team is obviously going to be entertained, even though he may not see the connection between Yankee Stadium and Radio City Music Hall. But TV executives, team management, agents, and players look at the business side; they make their livings that way. To a certain extent, management must consider what the market will tolerate - how to run a team profitably without pricing tickets beyond the average fan's ability to pay. How much do the fans fork out? It depends. In many major league ballparks, including Yankee Stadium and Anaheim Stadium, general admission seats cost $3. You can get in for around a buck more at most other places. That's less than the cost of a movie ticket, but you'd better bring your binoculars. The best seat in Boston's Fenway Park will cost you $14. Leave the spyglasses home. Pro basketball tickets are the cheapest in Detroit, where you can get a seat in the top ro-o-o-o-w for $4. The most expensive seats in San Antonio's HemisFair Arena can be yours for a mere $30 each, while Jack Nicholson and his fellow Laker fans pay twice as much. Comparing the two teams' records, it's debatable which ticket price is the rip-off. It could be that salaries will stabilize or drop only when people quit taking their families out to the old ball game. This doesn't excuse greedy athletes, nor does it mean that management should bow to excessive salary demands. However, fan complaints are the same as those directed toward television people may fuss, but they keep on watching. "They feel they're getting value for their ticket prices," Hambric says of spectators. He adds, "I don't see the public crying out over what Tom Selleck is paid." "Magnum" reportedly earns in excess of $2 million a year. That's more than Kirk Gibson makes, and all Tom has to do is wear the cap. â&#x20AC;˘

Sara L. Anderson is associate editor of Good News magazine, former assistant editor of SportsFocus magazine, and a frequent contributor to Second Look. SEC0 N D

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PERSPECTIVE OU MIGHT FEEL that getting money and possessions is your #1 concern, but it really isn't. If you already have a lot of money, you're concerned with investing it and using it wisely. If you have little money, you're trying to stretch it to meet your needs. Either way, your biggest problem is not how to get things, but what to do with what you have. It may surprise you to learn that the Bible says a lot about money. Of the 38 parables Jesus told, 16 concern handling money. In the Gospels, which tell J esus' life story and give His teachings, 288 versesnearly one out of 10 - talk about money or possessions. There are about 500 references in the Bible to prayer, fewer than 500 references to faith, but more than 2,000 references to money and material goods. Why does the Bible have so much to say about money? Because how you manage your money is the most accurate barometer of your love for God. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). If you want to know where a person's heart is, look at what he does with his money. Much of what God's Word has to say about money is in the form of warnings to those who misuse it. God condemns the rich who mistreat the poor (James 5:1 -6). And He condemns the poor who dishonor His name by stealing (Proverbs 30:8, 9). The guidelines in the Bible are intensely practical. The warnings God gave thousands of years ago sound as if they were written for today. Here are three of them.

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DON'TWORRY ABOUT MONEY J ESUS SAID, "Do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.... Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:25,32,33). No message could be more appropriate for our materialistic culture. Our society burns with a passion to acquire things. This is the age of the baby boomer, and the chief preoccupation is money. But materialism is a frustrating indulgence. Its only product is tormenting anxiety. We have more wealth and a higher standard of living than any large nation in history, yet we worry about money more than anything else. A friend of mine came to me one day with a "spiritual problem." He said, "I have 500 shares of stock in an oil company, and it's ruining my spiritual life. It's like an idol to me. I want to give the stock to you."

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"I don't want your spiritual problems," I told him. "I have my own." But he insisted. "I want to watch how you handle it. I think it will be a good test of your spirituality." How did I handle it? The same way my friend had. I became obsessed with that stock. I constantly watched it go up and down, and worried about how it was performing. Finally, I saw what the stock was doing to me, and I sold it for 50¢ a share. Letting that stock go brought me a tremendous sense of freedom. Not long afterward I learned its

DOES MONEY STAND BETWEEN YOU AND BOD? THERE ONCE WAS A SLAVE who was a tremendous Christian and greatly impressed his master. One day his master said, "Whatever you've got, I want it. You have such peace, joy, and contentment. How can I get it?" The slave said, "Go to the house, put on your white suit, and come and work in the mud with us slaves. Then you can have it." The master said, "What are you talking about? I could never do that. I'm the master and you're the slave. It's beneath my dignity." And he walked off in a huff. Finally, after weeks of contemplation, in desperation, he came back and said, "I don't care what it takes; I'll do anything." The slave said, "Go put on your white suit, and come down here with us. Will you do that?" The master said, "Yes." The slave replied, "You don't have to." Do you see the point? The slave knew what was standing between his master and Christ: pride. Luke 16:13 says, "No [one] can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money]." Until a person is detached from his money and the status it brings, he will be separated from God, because he can't serve both. Is money the master of your life? By a decision of your will, you can turn from its strong hold and give Jesus Christ control of your life. Forgiveness and new life are available because of Christ's death on the cross for our sins. Pray a simple prayer like the following: "Lord Jesus, come into my life. Take control of my life and make me into the person You created me to be. I realize that I have sinned by considering money and material possessions more important than You. I want to turn away from a materialistic lifestyle. Give me a new set of priorities - one that's centered on You rather than on objects. Thank You for dying on the cross as payment for my sins, and for c£'ming into my life as You promised Amen. " As always, the staff of Second Look is here to help you. Please write to: Second Look, Grand Rapids, MI 49555. • 22

SECOND LOOK

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value had increased to $10 a share. I don't care. I'm glad I don't have it to worry about. Worry is the opposite of faith; it's a barrier to contentment. It's not just a trivial sin. Worry means that you're controlled by circumstances rather than by God's truth. It says to God, "I can't trust You." It denies the truth of His Word. It attacks God's character. It calls Him a liar. Anxiety about money focuses our attention on things that won't last. Worry turns us away from more important, eternal values such as righteousness, forgiveness, and eternal life. God challenges people. who worry more about money than about their spiritual lives. There's no need to worry. If we seek righteousness, God will take care of the rest. He doesn't promise to make us millionaires, but He does promise to meet all our needs - "according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). The spiritual riches God pours out to those who seek His righteousness are far more lasting than any material wealth, and far more satisfying. Money is nothing compared to the blessing of eternity in the kingdom of God.

DON'T HOARD MONEY A SECOND WARNING about money appears in Matthew 6:19,20. There Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But Jay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Jesus wasn't condemning the use of money for everyday needs. He wasn't denouncing owning things like houses and cars. He wasn't criticizing people who invest their money. He was attacking the practice of stashing up things merely because it makes us feel good. It's all right to provide for our families; it's all right to prepare for the future; it's all right to make good investments. But it's wrong to be greedy and miserly. The issue is motive. It's not wrong to have wealth, if God blesses you with material things. But it is wrong to hoard things. Modern man is a maniac when it comes to wanting things. Egged on by the media, he believes he can be happy only when he gets all the possessions he can. He heaps up assets, but it's never enough. Ads on television, radio, and billboards shout at him that he needs more things to be truly happy. The result is appalling selfishness and greed. Piling up material possessions because it feels good is sin. God gives us wealth so that we can invest it wisely, that it may bear eternal dividends. If you enjoy material blessings, you also have a responsibility to support your church, to help feed the poor, and to be a blessing to others. You do not have a right to hoard things so you feel secure.

DON'T LOVE MONEY YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT said that money is the root of all evil. But that's not what the Bible says. The accurate quote is, "The love of money is the root of all evil" ( 1 Timothy 6:10, KJV).

This warning is not limited to rich people only. You can have no money and still love it madly. For the love of money, people steal, murder, betray friends, cheat, lie, and do all kinds of evil things. Judas sold the Son of God for a pittance, and lost his soul. Acts 5:1-7 tells of Ananias and Sapphira, early church members whose greed caused them to lie. God struck them dead in front of their fellow Christians because of their sin. The recent scandals involving TV evangelists have resulted from the love of money. The Bible warns that many who claim to speak for God are actually false prophets consumed with greed (2 Peter 2:1-3). Their love of luxury, self-indulgence, money, and power leads them into all kinds of sordid behavior. These false prophets' gross sins should not surprise us. The Bible clearly warns us about them. (See Jude 4, 11.) They are not God's representatives, but are wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Love of money reveals itself in many ways. I recently saw a man wearing aT-shirt with this saying: "Next to sex, I like Harley Davidsons best." That's how he viewed life. To him the most important things were the right motorcycle and the right girl. There's nothing funny about such a shallow perspective. People who live just for a fancy car, a new house, or expensive clothes find that those things can never bring true happiness. It's a very sad commentary. Their love is misplaced. Material things are blessings from God. He is the only valid object of our love; possessions are not. God wants us to manage our money wisely, but to reserve our love for Him. As the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), He promises to meet our needs. But He also demands that we love Him more than we treasure what He gives us. Anything else is idolatry (Exodus 20:3,4). What is your attitude toward money? Is it something you worry about, something you are overly attached to? Has it become more of a burden to you than a blessing? God didn't intend it to be that way. See your money for what it is - a gift from God to be used for His glory - and make your relationship with God your most valued treasure. You'll find a wealth that can't be expressed in dollars and cents. â&#x20AC;˘

John MacArthur, Jr., off ers Second Look viewers and readers straightforward answers from God's Word. An author and Bible teacher, John is the pastor of Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California. He is heard daily on his nationally syndicated radio program "Grace to You," and is president of The Master's College and The Master's Seminary in Newhall, California. More than 6 million of his audio cassette tapes have been distributed worldwide. Editor's Note: Except where indicated, Bible verses are quoted from the New American Standard version. Words that appear in italics within a Bible quotation have been italicized at our discretion to point out significant themes.

I BIBLE STUDY I ASECOND LOOK AT MONEY What is your attitude toward money? The book of Proverbs, found in the Old Testamen~ contains many insights on finances. Let's look at three areas related to money: why we may lack it, how we can gain i~ and how to keep finances in a biblical perspective.

LACKING MONEY Listed below are seven reasons we lack money. Look up each Bible verse and state in your own words what the verse says, and how each attitude causes us to lack money.

1. Stinginess. Proverbs 11:24 2. Loving money. Proverbs 11:28 3. Stubbornness. Proverbs 13:8 4. Laziness. Proverbs 20:13 5. Impulsiveness. Proverbs 21:5 6. Self-indulgence. Proverbs 23:21 7. Scheming. Proverbs 28:19

GAINING MONEY There's nothing wrong with making money, as long as you do it God's way. Look up each reference and state in your own words what it says about the various means of increasing wealth.

1. Working. Proverbs 6:6-8 Proverbs 14:23 Proverbs 20:4

2. Saving. Proverbs 21:20 3. Giving. Proverbs 22:9 4. Management. Proverbs 27:23 5. Planning. Proverbs 24:3,4 6. Loaning. Proverbs 17:18 7. Borrowing._Proverbs 22:7

THINKING ABOUT MONEY According to the following two passages, what is a balanced perspective on money?

1. Proverbs 23:4,5 2. Proverbs 30:8,9 What changes in your attitude toward money would have to occur for you to have this balanced perspective? How can you go about making those changes?

SECON D

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Doesn't avarvona "Want a batter contract? Pro athletes go on strike, demand trades, and become free agents. Likewise, we change jobs, demand raises, and go on strike. The idea is the same: We want more money, regardless of how much we already have. As the saying goes, you can never have too much money. But is it really worth all that effort for us to increase our wealth? Second Look Television and Magazine address a variety of issues like materialism with a fresh approach to life's tough questions.

TAKE ASECOND LOOK AT THE REAL ISSUES IN SPORTS •.. AND LIFE.

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