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After kidding around, I think this deserves a serious answer. Of course, this will only be speculation -- a "if I were in their shoes" kind of answer.




As always, a very well-reasoned speculation, and also a well-thought-out business model. Again, I'm pretty much just playing devil's advocate; I'm not involved in the situation except through peripheral relationships, and I don't have any firsthand view of the meeting or knowledge of the details of the proposed business relationship between SSC and CESA. There are too many variables there that I'm not knowledgeable about to make any kind of judgement about what was "proper" or "improper" from a business arrangement perspective, because I don't know the exact nature of the proposed business arrangement.

There's also been a lot of speculation about culture, though, and it seems that may have played a bigger role. That's the thing even a logically sound business model often doesn't take into account...the respect for the cultural identity of the stakeholders on both sides of a potential arrangement.

Shibumi, from your recently-adopted moniker, I think it's safe to say you're somewhat familiar with Eastern cultures, in particular, the very strong sense of honor that is such a deeply-rooted part of every aspect of life and is often very hard for a Western mind to understand. Offer a Japanese businessman the most profitable deal, but in a manner that compromises his honor--even in a slight and completely unintentional way--and you will usually be left wondering why he politely but very firmly turned it down; in fact, he would cut off his own hand before accepting. Learn how to make arrangements for accomplishing the same goals while still respecting and accomodating his sense of honor, though, and you may find yourself with a deal.

Japan isn't the only culture that has a strong, and often incomprehensible to outsiders, sense of honor. Here, we're more likely to call it pride, but it means about the same thing. Anyone wishing to have dealings with folks of this culture need to understand this, and understand that sometimes it's not what you offer; it's how you offer it. A "straightforward, no-nonsense" approach, no matter how honest and valid, isn't always what works...and if it doesn't work, it doesn't matter how honest and valid the arguments are. Perception is reality; it doesn't matter whether someone is talking down to you or not. What matters is whether they are perceived as talking down to you.

As has already been mentioned, this is a culture of men and women who were willing to fight a war against an entity they saw as an outside entity that sought to exert unwelcome control, with the focal flashpoint being an antiquated agricultural model that would have been obsolete within a few years anyway...simply because they didn't want to be forced by outsiders to do even what was inevitable anyway. They lost that war, and suffered for it...knew that was the likelihood going in...but you'd be hard pressed to find any of their descendents who would say they regret that they stood up and fought it. They'd rather lose on their own two feet than (in their eyes) let someone else pull the strings, and the best thing they feel they can do for their children is to instill the same sense of pride.

Now, there are plenty of people who don't "get" this, any more than Jim Rome "gets" soccer...but the important thing is not to understand it; the important thing is to understand that it exists, and to understand that to some, these things are important, no matter now much your own values may differ. To some folks, pride in your colors means more than money in the bank or the level of license held by a coach...and while that may not be logical, I'm not so sure it's a bad thing. One thing is for sure; no amount of bad-mouthing or saying that way of thinking is wrong will do anything to change it; if anything, it will only make folks dig in harder. So, once you accept that something is a part of the situation, it is much easier to find ways to work WITH it.

So...perhaps the BEST leadership for a club like SSC would be a person, or a group, that knows and understands the culture and the pride involved--Oldskoolpinewood has elaborated on this fairly well--and also understands the necessary steps and practices to increase the quality of experience for the players; someone who can move the club toward its goals while still allowing the stakeholders to keep a sense of identity and personal pride. Maybe even someone who understands that if it's that important to them to wear the blue they've grown up with, then small concessions can help gain support for big improvements, and make more overall progress than all-or-nothing, "my way or the highway" approaches. If I were in their shoes, that's what I would go for. Whether such a person exists, or whether SSC is passing up what many see as a good thing for a perfect thing that will never materialize...well, I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Just my own speculation, which should in no way be construed as an expert opinion, or anyone else's opinion, for that matter.

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