Would YOU Hire A-Rod?
Friday, June 1, 2007 at 11:57AM 
Just in case you've been living under a rock - or have a limited interest in baseball - here's the 10-second version of the controversy surrounding baseball this week.
New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez was running the bases. There was a pop fly. As he passed the player who was waiting to catch the ball, he yelled, "Ahhhh!" The player dropped the ball. The Toronto Blue Jays were mad. Screaming mad.
Some players have called it "Bush league" - saying it was a play out of an eight-year-old little league game. Others have said that A-Rod was desperate for a Yankee win and was doing anything he could to help.
Now I pose this question to everyone: Would you want a "screamer" on your team? Someone, who isn't necessarily cheating, but is willing to do what it takes to get your team "a win."
In the business world, people are desperate to meet quotas, make sales and hit targets. And sometimes, you have to reach deep into your bag of tricks to stay afloat. Now, I don't care if it's on the baseball field or in the car manufacturing plant, the question is simple - how far do you want your employees to go to ensure success?
I'm always amazed at the number of people who write me bashing the Yankees. Save your breath - I could care less. This is not about hating the Yankees, despising A-Rod or judging a simple baseball play - let's view it on a larger scale in a different context.
I look forward to your thoughts.
My take: I am NOT a big A-Rod fan. I would not play the game the way he does. However, as a Yankee fan, I do appreciate the fact that he brings something to the table other than stock answers and quiet at bats. When you're a fan - you want your team to win. It's a game. And yes, it's THAT simple.
No business wants an employee to tarnish their good name - but secretly, they love a victory - at almost any cost.
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Reader Comments (2)
There is an interesting question of interpretation here. If no one's ever done it before, does that inherently make it against the unwritten rules? Is it being called a bush league move just because no one else thought of it first and now they're all pissed off?
Look at "Ender's Game", the scifi classic. There comes a moment in the story where Ender, already #1 in the standings, continues to win battles by re-interpreting the rules in ways no one had ever thought of. The losing teams can always scream that he cheated, and he can simply say no he didn't, he just did whatever it took to win. At some point it is strategy, not desperation. But where is the line drawn, and who draws it?
A-Rods actions are clearly more about desperation. Likewise, on the opposite end of the spectrum, you have somebody like a Microsoft who has a long history of doing borderline legal things to crush their opponents, even though they've long held a monopoly in most of their markets. Even still, some people might look at that and call it sound business strategy.
Personally I try not to be the "win at all costs" type, but then again, I don't own my own business so I can't walk in those shoes.