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Flip Flop Waffle Cakes
By Jeff | November 12, 2007
Did you hear about this story? Troy Williamson, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, was gone for about a week from practice and missed last Sunday’s game to attend and assist with the planning of a funeral for his grandmother. His grandmother, according to reports, was actually more like a mother because she was the one who did most of the raising for Williamson. He also apparently took some time to visit his brother who is in a coma.
Well, apparently the Minnesota Vikings leadership didn’t like that very much and decided to not pay Williamson for his absenteeism. What?!?! Talk about kicking someone while they are down. Regardless, the negative public relations from the media that followed changed some minds and caused a faster flip flopping than seen in waffle houses as it was announced on Saturday that Williamson will indeed get his check and that the Vikings leadership had made a mistake.
Well, duh!!
I’m a proponent of capitalism just like the next guy, but with a background in the customer service industry, I also know that just because you can legally do something doesn’t mean you have the moral obligation to do it. There’s no question in my mind that this should have been a non-issue. Are you telling me that the Vikings organization is strapped for cash? Would the $25,000 paycheck make a dent in the pocketbook of the organization’s leadership? H to the double L to the No it wouldn’t. This was a case of leadership trying to show that they were in charge. This wasn’t about the money. This was more about working class slavery (racial issue not intended.)
This was ownership saying that I’m the man and you need to do what I pay you to do. In most cases, I would not have a problem with that mentality. You sign the checks; you make the rules. However, to be a successful business, you must know when to do what you are legally just in doing and when to just do the right thing. Ultimately, the Minnesota Vikings did the right thing. And you know what, Williamson still trumped them as he stated he plans on using the paycheck to give to a charity in honor of his deceased grandmother. Williamson didn’t care about the money anyway. Like most of us, family is a higher priority.
Troy Williamson may not be a very valuable player on the Vikings roster, but he has certainly proved that he is a more valuable person than the leadership of the Vikings. Kudos to you, Mr. Williamson, and we at Static ThinkBox offer our condolences to you and your family.
Topics: minnesota vikings, troy williamson |
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