Equal Opportunity in Sports

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Kim Ng in the dugout at Marlins Ballpark in Miami on Feb. 9, 2021.

On the TunneySide of Sports April 5, 2021 #842 Up next… Equal Opportunity in Sports

After further review… With the men’s NCAA basketball March Madness being completed tonight (April 5th) and the NCAA women’s finals now settled, the furor raised by women in terms of equal treatment again became prominent.  One item being discussed: Should the NCAA women’s final four also be termed “March Madness.” The response here is “Why not?” Both men’s and women’s NCAA final fours are played during the month of March, although they both seemingly finish the first week in April. Is this a Title lX issue?

“Title lX of the Education Amendments Law of 1972 (yes, it is now one-half century old) is a federal law that states ‘No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” While the law is certainly one of justice, its interpretation has lawyers and courts working overtime. Is an organization or T*E*A*M the same as a person? Is lack of funds available for a sport, discrimination?

Much has been discussed lately that the women’s weight room facilities are not in equal terms with the men’s. Should they be equal in every aspect? It is certainly only fair that every attempt be made to supply the women’s training program with every means possible to assist them in their competitions. Fair, yes, but equal? I have long believed: “There is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of un-equals.” That doesn’t mean men should get more than women. It means that the women’s program should receive all that is necessary to provide the best possible results for those athletes.

In terms of equal opportunity, it is interesting to note that as of April 1st, the Miami Marlins baseball club under the direction of CEO and part-owner Derek Jeter, hired its first woman as general manager, Kim Ng. She is of Asian-American heritage, but born in Indiana and raised in New York, where she had been trained as Yankees assistant general manager with Jeter, their star shortstop. Jeter has known Ng for 22 years. Joe Torre was general manager. The Yankees won three World Series during that time.

When Ng got the call from Jeter, she called Torre who told Ng, “This isn’t a token call (some certainly are), if he’s (Jeter) asking, you know it’s serious.”

Will you give others, without discrimination, an opportunity to succeed?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

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March Madness Musings

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

March Madness 2021On the TunneySide of Sports March 29, 2021 #841 Up next… March Madness Musings

After further review… About this time last year (2020) the NCAA basketball selection committee decided to cancel its March Madness basketball tournament due to the wild spike of COVID-19. However, they were bound and determined to hold this event in 2021, which they have done. At this writing, we are in the “Sweet Sixteen” week of this tournament.

However, much consideration had to be given to keeping the players, team personnel, game officials, and staff sequestered in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The NBA had set a pattern for that in 2020 by taking all of the same personnel to Orlando, Florida.

The NCAA selected Indianapolis, Indiana as their site for their 2021 March Madness, since the NCAA headquarters is located there with the city and surroundings having four stadiums and others close by as well and ample hotel space to house all that personnel. They held their breath hoping all would go OK.

Well, almost! The Virginia Commonwealth University Rams had multiple players affected by this virus and had to fly those players home while the rest of the team was sent home via bus, thus declaring their first game in March Madness “no contest.” At this writing, the committee is still holding its breath that no other team follows that path. That “no contest” advanced #7 seed Oregon on to play and defeat #2 seed Iona in the West division.

Perhaps one of the surprises in that 16 is that 25% (four of 16) are all from the Pac-12. This is an unusual number since the Pac-12 is often left with only one or two teams at this level with the Big 10 or SEC or ACC usually having three or four at that level. Upsets occur i.e., lower rankings often beating higher since the ranking system is somewhat subjective. Simply because one’s conference record is successful doesn’t mean such a team can succeed throughout. The committee does its best to consider all aspects in the ranking of teams.

More importantly, is that fans must consider that March Madness is “just another game.” Consider the fans who sent vile and threatening messages to Ohio State sophomore forward E.J. Liddell whose Buckeyes (ranked No. 2 in the South Division) lost 75-72 in OT) in the first round to No. 15 Oral Roberts University. These vile and threatening messages (one to the point of physically attacking E.J.) are just another hate message being rampant in America today. We must do all we can to overturn hatred.

Will you practice civility (helping others as well) in overcoming this despicable attitude?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

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Thinking About Inclusion

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Jim Tunney - Thinking About InclusionOn the TunneySide of Sports March 22, 2021 #840 Up next… Thinking About Inclusion

After further review… In the 16 years I have been writing these “On the TunneySide of Sports” weekly columns, I have often used the word T*E*A*M, meaning “Together Everyone Accomplishes More.”

I learned that as a youth growing-up (do you always grow “up” not “down”?) with parents who helped me develop and practice that philosophy. I was lucky to be born with that heritage – a father who was a teacher as well as a coach and a mother who practiced at home what my father was teaching/coaching at school.

While others may not have been as fortunate, that philosophy encouraged me to select my life’s goal – at 12 years of age – to become a coach. That early-on decision has served me well, but with challenges at each level of progress. As I moved through those “gates,” to utilize that philosophy, I was intent upon including everyone as part of the T*E*A*M thus, inclusion was first and foremost in my mind.

I can certainly sympathize with President Joe Biden who has accepted the challenge of bringing a severely divided country into one United States of America. I will leave that issue with those much more capable than I. However, I must add a comment that of those two challenges — political and ethnic — I faced the latter in my coaching. Again, my father gave me a head start since the star player on his football team was an African American named Kenny Washington, who not only led Lincoln High School (Los Angeles) to that school’s only football Los Angeles City Championship but was the first African-American to be drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1947 when they moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles.

As a teacher, coach, school principal, and district superintendent it was similar to my basketball coaching experience that if the player could shoot, pass, dribble, and work with the team better than any other he played. I was never concerned with the color of his skin – only his qualities, i.e., his character, personality, and capabilities being first and foremost.

The other characteristic I learned at home and carried forward was the avoidance of derogatory language in bringing people together. One has to be careful in kidding/teasing others. Treating others with respect can carry you forward in a significant way.

Will you include others by focusing on their character, personality, and capabilities?

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Jim’s books “On the TunneySide of Sports” as well as “Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul” are full of baseball stories. Each sells for $20. However, as a 2021-year special if two are bought, a third is included free of charge. All autographed with no tax and free shipping. Mail to: Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953  Be well!

See the website for all products.

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