Damn, I love sports.  But not for the reason most people do.  Yes, great competition is exhilarating.  And it is an escape.  Ask New Orleans Saints fans after Hurricane Katrina. Or Yankee fans after 9/11.  Equally important, sports is a parable for life.  It helps us understand aspects of the world which may seem totally unrelated.

Take the discussion on ESPN’s Mike and Mike program this morning concerning the firing of Wake Forest radio announcer Tommy Elrod.  After an extensive investigation, Wake Forest determined Elrod, who had been a player and assistant coach on the university’s football team, shared or attempted to share game plans with opponents.  In response to Elrod’s firing, athlete director Ron Wellman said:

I’m deeply disappointed that he would act against Wake Forest, our football team and our fans in such a harmful manner by compromising confidential game preparation information.

Why is this story important?  It reminds us there should be consequences when individuals betray the trust others place in them.

I wondered whether the president-elect would have also fired Elrod if he were athletic director.  How does he feel about people who break the rules or betray a trust?  If his tenure as host of the Apprentice is any indication, Donald Trump does not tolerate cheating.  In November 2010, Apprentice contestant Anand Vasudev was “fired” for violating guidelines associated with a challenge.  The host seemed equally perturbed when Vasudev denied having violated the rules after being caught.

But that’s not really the issue today.  In the on-going saga of Donald Trump and his campaign team versus the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies, the president-elect is not the athletic director.  He is Tommy Elrod.  And he deserves the same due process Wake Forest afforded Elrod.  There needs to be an extensive investigation.  If there is no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian hackers, we need to know that.  The Trump presidency needs to begin without any question of illegitimacy.

To continue the analogy, Congress is the Wake Forest board of trustees and athletic department.  And if the evidence demonstrates a clear betrayal of the public trust, the co-athletic directors of Congress–Senator Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan–need to demand Trump not take the oath of office.  They need to paraphrase athletic director Wellman:

We are deeply disappointed you would act against the United States, its cherished institutions and its citizens in such a harmful manner by compromising confidential information obtained illegally by a foreign power.

Mr. President-Elect, you’re fired.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP