On the TunneySide of Sports
November 21, 2022
#927 Up next…
After further review… It has always seemed to me that the celebration of America’s holiday of Thanksgiving ought to be giving thanks every day, not just the fourth Thursday in November.
The words of my father ring true: “Always count your blessings.” I was raised during a long period of economic depression. Although now we are dealing with war tensions, higher gas prices and food prices, many people are still able to satisfy their needs based on the money they earn. Unfortunately, there are some who struggle financially and occasionally require additional assistance.
It was Nido Qubein, president of High Point University in North Carolina, who I first heard say “We should give without remembering. And receive without forgetting.” That philosophy has served me well through many years as an educator, sports official and author. As a teacher and high school principal, I had decades of opportunities to be part of thousands of young people’s lives. Hopefully, I was able to transmit to our youth the importance of giving.
Being involved in sports all my life, I learned many things. Number one, it’s not about me. It’s about the T*E*A*M (Together Everyone Accomplishes More). That same philosophy served me well as an NFL official. That philosophy as a crew chief, with a crew of seven that became a family on the field, was to serve the game of football better. My question after every one of my more than 500 NFL games was: Did I leave the game today better than I found it?
What I hear from some of today’s sports stars is: “I told y’all, I’m not putting any more on my back” meaning I am avoiding responsibility to help my team any further. This betrays the philosophy of giving and helping others. We need more of those who go out of their way to help others.
Will you remember to give without remembering and receive without forgetting?
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Holiday Gifts For The Sports Fan
Jim’s famous Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge.
Shop here.
To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
