This is an opinion column.

Classic chaos is what it was.

Which could lead to a Classic calamity, claimed Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales following an unusually raucous and contentious commission work session (we’re talking about work session!) Tuesday morning.

The meeting left me seasick with all the motions cascading between Scales and three of her fellow commissioners (President Jimmie Stephens was absent) over how much money the commission would commit to support the Magic City Classic, the annual contest between rivals Alabama A&M and Alabama State that has been played in Birmingham since 1940.

Scales brought a “Bible” worth of paperwork to the gathering to support her long-shot request for $750,000 for three years—along with a parade of folks who either produce the Classic, participate in the Classic, or pocket a portion of the economic bounty the Classic direct deposits into the city’s, county’s and region’s insatiable coffers every year.

Please indulge this bit of necessary context: The last agreement between the two esteemed institutions and the City of Birmingham to play the game at Legion Field expired at the end of the 2022 Classic last fall. About a month later, ASU President DR Quinton Ross and A&M President Dr. Donald Wims answered what many believed was the direst question regarding the future of the game by saying they wanted it to remain at Legion Field and not move to Protective Stadium downtown.

RELATED: Birmingham City Council approve paying $1 million to keep Magic City Classic at Legion Field

What was unstated then was that the leaders wanted—demanded, in truth—a phatter payout from the Classic, which is perennially the most lucrative fundraiser for the two historically Black colleges. Obesely phatter: A guaranteed payout of $1.5 million each. The wrangling has since settled at a minimum guarantee of $1.2 million. That’s a 65 percent boost from the nearly $800,000 record the schools received last year.

In late November, the City Council approved Mayor Randall Woodfin’s proposal to pay the schools $500,000 each annually through 2026. (The city’s 2022 payout was $375,000). Other revenue is derived from the sale of sponsorships (the private sector) and ticket sales (which can swing wildly due to mother nature).

To safely reach $1.2 million, the commission was asked to kick into the kitty. (Collectively, the body only supported the Classic in 2019, with $200,000; last year Commissioner Sheila Tyson contributed $100,000 from her discretionary fund, while Scales added $50,000 from hers.

Now, back to the emotions, uh, to the near-hour-long tsunami of motions, addendums, defeats, questions, clarifications, challenges, new motions, new addendums, new defeats, new questions…

Scales didn’t get the $750,000. Or the three years.

The commissioners at the work session instead recommended approving $500,000 for one year, with investments in subsequent years contingent upon, at the behest of Commissioner Steve Annan, the Classic providing a “good” report—on what, it was never quite clear.

This, however, was Classically clear: Scales believed the decision could cost Birmingham the Classic.

“This game will end up being up for grabs, if they choose to play here,” she said before the final motion was approved and before the meeting hit the much-needed pause button. “The schools made it clear: they are ready to get paid. You may not have to vote on the game [next year] because this game is going to walk away. There will come a day soon when you won’t have to worry about it altogether. You are leaving this game in limbo… They are willing to walk away.”

Really?

“Alabama State is committed to the Magic City Classic being played in Birmingham,” Ross told me.

“I’d like to see what happens Thursday,” said Jackie Robinson, Wims Special Assistant for Strategic Planning and Initiatives.

I’ll add this: It’s tough to walk away from a letter co-signed by both presidents and a Council-approved memorandum of understanding for four more years with the city on the table—albeit waiting for signatures.

“I’m a visionary who looks more at longevity and long-term impact versus the short term,” added Ross, a former state lawmaker. “Although very appreciative of the one-year commitment advanced by the county commission, I’m more interested in long-term commitments over multiple years. I choose longevity over instant gratification any day. The economic impact of the Classic on the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County is no secret. It exceeds $25 million. Therefore, all that benefit from it should be committed to support it long term.”

The commission meets again this morning, its regular bi-weekly board meeting. Anything may have happened since Tuesday. Even a Classic configuring of cooler heads coming to a collective commission commitment of three years (at the $500k per). Which would avoid calamity (at least for three years).

Classic clarity is what it would be.

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Roy S. Johnson is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary and winner of the Edward R. Murrow prize for podcasts: “Unjustifiable,” co-hosted with John Archibald. His column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as the Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Reach him at [email protected], follow him at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj