Multiple Olympic gold medalist and sportscaster John Naber entertained and challenged an auditorium of students and community leaders during the March 22 Edwin Dodd Distinguished Lecture Series in Business Ethics. The event was sponsored by Dana Incorporated and Owens-Illinois, Inc. and co-hosted by The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation, College of Law and the Jesup Scott Honors College.
In 1976, John Naber became the most highly decorated member of the U.S. Olympic Team, winning four gold medals and one silver and setting four world records in the sport of swimming. He became the first swimmer in Olympic history to win two individual medals on the same day. In 1977, he was named the recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete.
“Sport is a good metaphor for work,” Naber said during his presentation. “Sport helps men and women how to follow the rules, work hard, and sport tries to teach character. The Olympic charter seeks to create a way of life with respect for universal, ethical principles. We were not paid to swim, we did it for the thrill of the competition. I would rather win the title than make the money.”
“But the standards are slipping,” Naber observed. “Lance Armstrong. Oscar Pistorius. Doctor Nassar. A badmitton scandal! What happened to the system designed to make better people? People used to say ‘I was tempted to do something,’ but now say ‘We are pressured to produce results.’ Today nothing matters but winning, and society encourages that. Competition only matters if we all play by the same rules.”
Naber provided several examples of Olympic athletes doing things to help competitors, from replacing a broken ski pole to providing a bolt to repair a brochure sled to a German Nazi helping Olympic Champion Jesse Owens find his starting point mark during a long jump event, all because it was the right thing to do, even if it meant that their own finishes/results were lowered.
Naber stated, “Sportsmanship is the desire to win on an opponent’s best day, but the opposite of sportsmanship is gamesmanship, a willingness to do anything to win. “
Naber also explained that this applies to the corporate world as well. “Winning the contract is not the same thing as earning the business.
He observed that there are forms of rationalization, and they need to be cured. “Myopia is the thought that if nobody is watching, nobody knows. People will behave differently at work than they would want their children to behave at home. But you will know! Be accountable to yourself. How would you act if you knew your actions would be in the news tomorrow?”
“There is the pitfall of ethical relativity, the thought that everybody does it. But what would happen if everybody really did it, if everyone cheated on their taxes, or if everyone drove 95 miles an hour….there would be more accidents and death? Don’t justify what you do, the solution is to change the rules.”
Naber said, “What are the rewards for good character today? They are respect, friends and reputation.”
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