Sportsmanship . . . it’s not dead.

I started this last Friday but have not had time to post this. Over the years I have been jaded by professional sports mainly by the player’s attitudes and the changes that have taken place in almost all sports . . . “For the Love of the Game” has been lost and it’s turned into “Business” for most players as they are in high school making the transition to college or onto professional sports.

Things have changed as now it is all about the money and not the way it was when I was growing up . . . in awe of Hank Aaron, Vida Blue, and Ferguson Jenkins for they truly loved the game as a game. They never made the kind of money that is out there today. They played without the scandal, without the ‘personality’ of many of todays players whether in baseball, football, hockey, or even motorsports.

Something remarkable happened in a college softball game . . . Sportsmanship.

The moment of grace came after Sara Tucholsky, a diminutive senior for Western Oregon, hit what looked like a three-run homer against Central Washington. Sara had never hit a home run in all her playing so she did not have that home run trot that I used to watch as Hank Aaron would round the bases in Atlanta with that smile and tip of his hat to the crowd.

As she rounded first base looking up as her ball sailed over the fence she missed stepping on the base. When she turned back to tag the bag her right knee gave out and down she went, crawling back towards the bag crying in pain.

Rules . . . state that her teammates could not help her or if a relief runner substituted for her it would only be a single robbing her of that first home run.

Then a moment of grace happened on that Field of Dreams . . . Mallory Holtman, the first baseman asked the umpire, “Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?”

The umpires huddled and said it would be ok so Holtman and Liz Wallace lifted Sara and carried her to second base, gently lowering her so she could tough the bag. All three now giggled through the tears as they continued the procession to third base and home to a standing ovation from everyone in the stands and on the field.

The runs scored gave the win to Western Oregon but will be remember for the selfless act of sportsmanship from an opposing player. I am reminded of the speech from the movie . . . Remember the Titans.

REMEMBER THE TITANS SPEECH

Denzel Washington who was the coach was having a hard time getting the players to work together and become a team. One goal, one team. The setting was during the 1970’s when school integration was in full swing in the Southern states.

COACH: “Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg.

This is where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg.

50,000 men died right here on this field.

Fightin’ the same fight that we’re

still fightin’ amongst ourselves today.

This green field right here, painted red, bubbling with blood of young boys.

Smoke and hot lead going right through their bodies.

Listen to their souls, men.

Killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.

You listening?

You take a lesson from the dead.

If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground . . .

we too will be destroyed. Just like they were.

I don’t care if you like each or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe, I don’t know . . . maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men.”

It was a great story and video on the news . . . we may make it yet.

Ice