It’s A Whole New Ball Game!

On the TunneySide of Sports December 28, 2020 #828 Up next… It’s a Whole New Ball Game!

After further review… ”Tis the season to be jolly” shout many college athletes when they heard that the NCAA has approved contact by agents who are swarming-in to sign-up those athletes. Agents can now represent college athletes for commercials, etc. Athletes who are marketable can work with an agent who can get them paid for commercials and their N.I.L. (name, image, likeness). It sure muddies the water between professional and amateur athletes.

Is an 18-19-year-old mature enough to distinguish between ethical agents and unethical ones? Kinda like drawing a line in the sand at waters-edge only to have the next wave wash it away. Those in professional sports have a constant challenge in keeping unethical agents away from the professional athletes’ doorsteps. All too frequently we hear of disbarring an agent who crosses the line by going around established guidelines.

We also know of several “friends” of the coach or athletic director who searches for a “deal” in recruiting a stellar athlete to attend said college. We’ve also seen where an outstanding athlete is recruited by a college only to have that athlete’s high school coach follow and be assigned a coaching position at said college. That situation, while legal in many cases, certainly questions the ethics of the arrangement. But that’s another topic.

Granted, not all, maybe only a handful of college athletes will draw the attention of an agent. If Lebron had gone to college, what attraction would he be to an agent? Top-flight or rated #1? And while it might not matter if, indeed, it were LeBron, but what does that say to the rest of that T*E*A*M where teamwork is so vital? If LeBron does produce, not much.

Then too, if more than one athlete is so selected by one or more agents, what animosities or hard feelings can develop if one athlete is paid more than his/her teammate? Further, who at the college will be in charge of monitoring this? Surely, what brought this about is that the colleges are making money (you can enter an amount) off of the name of said athlete. Shouldn’t that athlete reap some of those dollars?

Many feel that the “free-ride” via a scholarship, room and board and some minimal stipend for all 4-years is ample compared to what other students and their families must sacrifice.

Will you honor the student-athlete approach vs the student-agent opportunity?

Happy New Year 2021 from Jim Tunney

 

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Jim Tunney Dean of NFL Referees

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All payments are deductible if addressed to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) and mailed to P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA 93953.

See the website for products.

Thank you! Stay healthy and safe and we wish you and yours health and prosperity in the New Year.

 

 

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Civility Can Bring Respect

On the TunneySide of Sports December 21, 2020 #827 Up next… Civility Can Bring Respect

After further review… Today’s youths are being denied the privilege so many adults, had as kids. This COVID-19 pandemic has kept them at home and off the playground with the constant reminder to “shelter-in-place.” Playgrounds, like schools, are where their friends are and where youngsters want to be. I grew up on playgrounds, fields, and courts and have always felt very much at home there.

My father helped nurture my feelings of comfortableness on fields, and courts and through sports taught me a lot about people and relationships. Dad was sitting in the stands at one of my high school baseball games when I happened to talk to the opposing first baseman. I lost my focus and was picked-off. “Out!” said the umpire. “Don’t talk to your opponents during a game.” my dad scolded.

This brings me to today’s players and the “trash talk” that I have seen and heard so often on the field and courts. Not only was I taught not to talk to opponents but also not to embarrass them. “Respect your opponent” dad reminded me. I have heard, up close and personal, too much talk and abhorrent behavior that disrespected opponents. Remember, “your opponent wants to win just as much as you” dad reminded me. Parenthetically, I must give credit to so many of today’s athletes, both college and professional, that I have watched during this pandemic season and I see less trash talk and more respect for the other person.

Has the concern for the possibility of illness and, perhaps, even death alerted many to believe it could ‘happen to me’? We have seen the withdrawal of players and cancellation of games when some athletes took the position that ‘it can’t happen to me.’ For those who want to get back to normal, please remember that the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 is still rising!

At this writing, we are hearing that vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna appear to be highly effective, yet the use of face masks and social distancing still remain the hallmark of preventing the spread of COVID-19. As young people want to hit-the-ground-running, and I don’t blame them, we as adults need to be stern in helping them learn dangers still lurk.

Will you K.H.A. (Keep Hope Alive) by not rushing into what may or not be back to normal?

Wishing each and everyone Happy Holidays in whatever form you choose. This is a good time to be reminded as my dad always said, Count Your Blessings! 

I thank you for your readership!

Wishing each and everyone Happy Holidays in whatever form you choose. This is a good time to be reminded as my dad always said: Count Your Blessings!

 

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Jim Tunney Dean of NFL RefereesStories from Jim’s adventures and people he has met can be found in “On the TunneySide of Sports” books now on sale just in time for Christmas giving. See the website for products.

You can also contact Jim directly (jim@jimtunney.com) to order your books and use PayPal or send a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA 93953.

Thank you!

Jim Tunney

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Is Is Perfection We Seek?

women's volleyball

On the TunneySide of Sports December 14, 2020 #826 Up next… Is it perfection we seek?

After further review… When instant replay came into being in the 1980s, many were against it. NFL officials at that time were not permitted to give personal opinions – only to say, “it is what it is.”  I took the position that as officials we always want to get every play or call right, and if replay helped do that, so be it! As I watch sporting events today, I find replay too often seemingly gets in the way.

I am reminded of the opening Women’s Volleyball Match during the XXXI Olympiad (2016). China won the first set 24-22, the Swiss took the second set 21-18, forcing a third set. That third set recognizes the match-winner as the first T*E*A*M to reach 15 points, China was leading 14-11 when a double-net violation occurred, meaning that a player from each team touched the net. In a double net violation, the player who touches the net first is the only culpable player. China won that point on the original judgment that a Swiss player had touched the net first. China won that set 15-11.

The Swiss complained that China had also touched the net. The chair umpire appeared to make no judgment but to immediately point with both arms toward the location of the video replay booth, indicating that video replay would supply the evidence to make the call. We, the viewing audience, waited for what seemed like an eternity. The video replay crew then reported to the chair umpire that a Swiss player had touched the net first. China wins!

While the Chinese celebrated, the Swiss continued to protest – apparently to no avail. Back in the studio Bob Costas, the veteran sportscaster, and host of the NBC Olympics, continued with the scheduled program. About five minutes later, back came Costas with “We have an update from that volleyball match.” And back to that Copacabana Beach we went.

“We have a reversal of that video decision,” said Costas. The reversal apparently affirmed that a Chinese player had, indeed, touched the net first. That negated the Chinese victory and awarded that point to the Swiss making the score, with the Swiss now serving. China won that point, 15-12, and with it that set and the match!

What went on in that replay booth that caused the reversal? Do we allow some leeway, since these officials are not full time? Should that make a difference? Why didn’t the chair umpire make a decision before going to the replay booth?

Will you log-in on whether the all-seeing eye simplifies or complicates this situation?

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Jim Tunney Dean of NFL RefereesStories from Jim’s adventures and people he has met can be found in “On the TunneySide of Sports” books now on sale just in time for Christmas giving. See the website for products.

You can also contact Jim directly (jim@jimtunney.com) to order your books and use PayPal or send a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA 93953.

Thank you!

Jim Tunney

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