TunneySide of Sports

On the TunneySide of Sports November 22, 2021 #875 Up next… On Trash Talking

I grew up on playgrounds, fields, and streets and have always felt very much at home there. I was lucky. There were no video games, no cell phones where you could actually see the person to whom you were speaking. “Log-in?” Huh? You had to go next door and ask his mom if Billy could “come out and play?” We didn’t talk much on the phone but created games to play – in the streets.

My dad helped nurture my feelings of comfort through sports and taught me a lot about people and relationships. As an example, Dad was in the stands at one of my high school baseball games when I was on first base and happened to say a word to my opponent who had been a long-time pal but was now on the opposing team. I got “picked off” – “Out!’ said the umpire. I learned a lesson.

There are two sides to most issues as well as this one. One is the talk that comes from long-time friendships with former players. The other is “trash talk” that may be intended to rile up an opponent. The latter has no place in sports. Yet, I see it in some of the most competitive athletes – pro golfers are one example. This sport is such that seldom do fisticuffs result from that. The pro golfing spat between Brooks Koepka – Bryson DeChambeau in 2021 could have been settled without its publicity.

As an NFL referee for 31 years, I heard trash talk all too often. In this 2021 season the NFL instituted a rule: if players are taunting an opponent, which usually starts with trash-talking or other insulting remarks, it calls for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty (15 yards). Further unsportsmanlike actions call for disqualification. It was always my intention on the field to shut off talking but keep the player in the game. Sometimes it is beyond that limit and the player(s) must be disqualified. Do you go to games to see/hear players trash talk/fight/or be kicked out?

Most dictionaries define the word “trash” as junk, or litter, or severely criticize. What value does that add to any game? Further, what example does it send to younger players who see their “heroes”(?) take that approach? I guess you’ve heard me say that before!

Will you encourage others to treat players (people) with decency?

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Jim’s books include many messages about rules and regulations (remember he was a referee). His bobblehead on your desk or shelf will be a treasure in your office or home.

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.

On the TunneySide of Sports November 8, 2021 #873 Up next… Not Giving Up On A Dream

Congratulations to the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball as the 2021 World Champions! The Braves of the National League defeated the Houston Astros 7-0 in the sixth game of the best-of-seven World Series. The Braves had a 3-2 game lead as they headed to Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros. The excitement was at least a 12 on a scale of 1-10. Astros manager Dusty Baker was going to start pitcher Luis Garcia, a rookie on only three days’ rest. That superstitious right-hander with his funny little “dance step” in his wind-up, was Baker’s best choice.

Braves Manager Brian Snitker was giving his pitcher, Max Fried (“Freed”), a loser in game 3, a second chance. Fried as a Little Leaguer had a dream of pitching in the major leagues. Most kids do. How do I know, you ask? Well, it just so happens that my grandson, Nash Oldach, played on that same Little League team in Encino with Fried. In fact, they both shared the same mound at one time! While they went to different schools, they all gathered at that Little League park run by Reggie Smith. Yes, that Reggie Smith, who played for the Dodgers under Tommy Lasorda.

The sign still hangs at that Encino Little League Park with Max Fried and Nash Oldach as teammates along with dad’s Jonathan Fried and John Oldach. Moreover, my wife Linda and I often sat in those bleachers to watch Jake Oldach, Nash’s older brother, play superb baseball there, as only a proud granddad would say! Nash and Max’s Little League team went on to win their division and finished just short of going to Williamsport. Both Max and Nash were selected to the All-Star team!

Fried was picked out of Harvard-Westlake High School seventh overall in the first round of the 2012 draft by the San Diego Padres, although he had a scholarship offer from UCLA. The Padres sent Fried to the Arizona Padres, their minor league team. Back in 2014,  Fried had Tommy John surgery on his (left) throwing arm. Sitting out a year, in 2015, one begins to wonder if he’ll ever get back to the majors. Never give up!

It’s easy to doubt one’s abilities. Fried didn’t. In 2019 he won 17 games. In 2020, during MLB’s slowdown due to the pandemic, he was 7-0 and won the Golden Glove Award. Although he did well, it was the 2021 World Series sixth game where he shined as he struck out six, allowing only four hits in six innings as the Braves shut out the Astros 7-0 to become world champs! Well done “Maximus!” – his nickname.

Will you never give up should setbacks come your way?

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Jim’s books include many messages about rules and regulations (remember he was a referee). His bobblehead on your desk or shelf will be a treasure in your office or home.

Shop here.

To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com  or email jim@jimtunney.com.