IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE impossible for both sides to win in playing sports but that appears to be what has just happened locally. Shorter University has agreed to a new three-year deal and price ($321,000) with the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority for the use of Barron Stadium for a set number of events. Most of those are football and other sporting events, of course, but with things like graduation ceremonies thrown in.

About three years ago, it “made news,” given the heavy investment of local taxpayers via a SPLOST for major improvements to the facility, that Shorter, a private entity, was paying $2,500 rent per football game there while it was costing the authority $5,000 per game to cover all associated expenses of staffing, lights, water, maintenance, cleanup and so forth. The rent was then increased to $5,000, same as what Rome High currently pays.

Now the set game fee for Shorter goes to $7,500 (with different events having other price tags) which assures the school of its top-caliber “home field” for three years and the authority of a known and strong income base for the same length of time.

Both badly needed such terra firma beneath their ambitions and plans. Both sides win. That is the way to play the game of “one hand rubs the other.”