Civility Can Bring Respect

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

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!

 

—————

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

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged | Leave a comment

Is Is Perfection We Seek?

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

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?

—————

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

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sacrifices – Too Much to Ask?

Posted on December 7, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports December 7, 2020 #825 Up next… Sacrifices –  too much to ask?

After further review… Seventy-nine (79) years ago today, December 7, 1941, I was an altar-boy serving the 11:00 am mass at St. Therese Catholic Church in Alhambra, California. At one point during that mass, Father Patrick walked to the microphone and announced, “The Japanese have just bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.” It was, of course, a total shock to those parishioners attending mass.

While some U.S. citizens knew of a “possible” Japanese attack on America, most were surprised at the “sneak attack” (as some called it) although U.S. troops were in Europe fighting the attacks that Nazi’s Adolf Hitler had launched there. Our life changed dramatically that day.

Our family home was in San Gabriel, just some 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean where we were told Japanese boats and airplanes may be located to attack California. We were not allowed out at night and even had to cover our windows so no light could be seen. Our gasoline was rationed and our family car – we only had one – was issued a sticker for the amount of gasoline we could purchase. We had an “A” sticker since dad was a schoolteacher.

Food was rationed and dutifully cared for. “Duty” was a keyword since we had to conserve and cut-back on our normal lifestyle. Housewives were called out-of-the-kitchen to replace the men eligible for military service. Thus, “Rosie-the-Riveter” became an often-used phrase. Some of the collateral damage was that all people of Japanese ancestry were interned in “camps” with our government believing them to be of a threat. We were mistaken.

The usual January 1st, 1942 Rose Bowl game scheduled to be played in Pasadena, California (some 25 miles from the coastline) had to be moved. Since Oregon State was scheduled to play Duke, the game was relocated to Durham, North Carolina, home of the Duke Blue Devils. Their stadium seating capacity was only 35,000 so bleachers were brought-in from nearby sources. The Oregon State Beavers squad of 31 left Corvallis by train on December 16th with the 32nd T*E*A*M member, Chiaki “Jack” Yoshihara, waiving from the platform since, being of Japanese descent, he was not permitted to travel with the team.  Oregon State won 20-16.

As we deal with our current “war” of COVID-19, we, too, must endure sports schedule changes and non-attendance. Fortunately, more than adequate TV, internet streaming, not in existence in 1941, keeps us informed about our sports teams and players. In WWII 291,000 (approx.) U.S. military were killed in the years of that war. As of today, 245,000 have died of the virus in less than one year in the U.S. Is it too much to ask to follow the CDCs suggested guidelines?

Will you make every effort to wear a mask and maintain social distancing when required?

—————

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

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged | Leave a comment