Changing a Culture

Posted on July 27, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Washington Football sexual harassment charges

On the TunneySide of Sports July 27, 2020 #806 Up next… Changing a Culture

After further review… Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. America, our subject is Washington D.C.!

Now, don’t get ahead of me –this is not about the Democrats vs Republicans conflicts –  I will let politicians better than I tackle that one. This is about the Washington Football Team that is having other issues different from changing its mascots’ name. I’ll let their fans decide that!

This concern is about the recent sexual harassment claims reportedly by 15 female employees of that Washington Football T*E*A*M. I am not close enough in distance or  personal contact with the accusers or the defendants. Further, what I do know – from my 20 years as a school administrator is how to change a culture. These allegations have gotten the attention of Washington Football Team owner Dan Snyder to the point that he wants a culture change.

I have faced that challenge several times in my school administrative career and feel comfortable addressing such a delicate issue. First and foremost, I believe in change. It can be healthy for everyone in the organization, if everyone is involved in the process and, perhaps more importantly trusts the leadership. Keyword: trust!

To that end let me mention a couple of people on that Washington Football Team that I know personally. One is the recent hire of their head football coach, Ron Rivera. Rivera is a Monterey, California product who attended Seaside High School and Cal Berkley before playing for the Chicago Bears (in Super Bowl XX) and then head coach of Carolina Panthers. His recent hire as Washington Football Team head football coach has arrived at the right time. He inherits a massive challenge in Washington with the team name change (imminent) as well as the harassment charges. I can unequivocally state to everyone that they can put their trust in Rivera. He will always do the right thing.

The other person is Doug Williams, Senior Vice President of Player Personnel. My knowledge of Williams is when he was the starting quarterback for Tampa Bay for four years and I refereed those games. I have always found Williams to be forthright. He is a trustworthy human being.

Finally, my work in administration has dealt with issues of this nature and through the cooperation of all, we were able to resolve each situation with progress toward a better environment. But it takes continuous effort.

Will you believe the situation facing the Washington Football Team can be resolved?

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

Jim’s Bobblehead and books are available at Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3).

Contact Jim at P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA. 93953.

See the above website for details.

Thank You!

Jim Tunney Store

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More to Follow?

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Buster Posey Opt-Out 2020

On the TunneySide of Sports July 20, 2020 #805 Up next… More to follow?

After further review… “After much discussion with my wife and doctors, and a decision I wrestled with, I have decided to opt-out of the 2020 Major League Baseball season”, said Buster Posey.

With the recent adoption of twin girls, Posey – three-time World Series champion and 2012 National League MVP of the San Francisco Giants – firmly took the well-being of his family first and foremost. Posey has been a mainstay for the Giants since he joined them in September 2009. His leadership behind the plate, as well as playing first base from time to time, has been paramount to the Giants success.

Posey’s decision came about the same time as the opt-out announcement from pitcher David Price of the Los Angeles Dodgers with whom the Giants are scheduled to open this shortened 2020 season in Chavez Ravine this week. Along with those two is Ryan Zimmerman, first baseman of the 2019 World Champions Washington Nationals, who was their first pick in 2005 when the team moved to Washington D.C.  Will there be more players to opt-out this season?

You can bet your sweet bippy! Further, what happens before, during, or at playoff time if a player is confirmed with COVID-19 and has to be hospitalized? Did he infect other T*E*A*M players? What will the MLB do if an entire team is infected and can’t play? How do they conduct playoffs, e.g., league and World Series without the opportunity for all teams?

While MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL progress toward playing – all without fans – and as protected that they think is possible, college fall athletics are opting to do it differently. For example, some NCAA schools are moving their fall sports to the spring. Others are canceling some of their fall sports altogether. The Pac-12 has canceled all non-conference football games and their schools will only play conference games. Some schools may only play 5-6 football games.

Will students be allowed in the stands? In most colleges, football games are the lifeblood of the student body. While schools have indicated that athletic scholarships will remain in place, how will they adjust four years of eligibility?

What will the inter-scholastic, i.e., high school, games look like? With no fall sports available many schools will lack the enthusiasm that fall sports bring to a student body. The CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) meets today to discuss and plan their sports’ future.

Will you log-in on whether schools should attempt to play or just cancel all 2020 fall sports?

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

Jim’s Bobblehead and books are available at Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3).

Contact Jim at P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA. 93953.

See the above website for details.

Thank You!

Jim Tunney Store

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

We’re Back

Posted on July 13, 2020 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

We're Back! MLB

On the TunneySide of Sports July 13, 2020 #804 Up next… “We’re Back!”

After further review… The recent announcement from Major League Baseball (MLB) after it was shut down in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 is “We’re Back!” However, America’s game may not be the same game that you and I admired as kids. Baseball has always been steeped in tradition, perhaps more than any other sport. But don’t kid yourself, this 2020 season will be different than ever before.

Because it will not be the normal-length season, baseball will be able to experiment with many changes — some of which may be retained when the season again becomes normal. This 2020 season is planned for 60 games – Stay tuned!

Here are a few of the suggested changes:

First off, it will be a season played without fans and maybe at neutral locations. The first games are scheduled to start on July 23rd and July 24th. During this season, at some sites, there may be a doubleheader, certainly not new to baseball, but played more often than the usual scheduling in order to get in as many games as possible.

All pitchers, both starting and relief, must face at least three batters before being taken out or at least until the inning is over. No more “Loogy” (left-handed one-out guys).

Some of the other suggestions, and at this writing still to be agreed upon by both the MLB management and the players union, are to eliminate or at least curtail visits to the mound with social distancing in mind.

Both the National and American leagues will use the DH (designated hitter) which was previously used only by the American League. This move eliminates the pitcher as a batter thus providing more offensive power. Pitchers have been notoriously poor hitters.

Challenge time (the time a manager has in order to challenge an on-field ruling) reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.

The “26th man” has now been changed to the “27th man” since rosters have been increased.

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and since the virus is more likely to be spread from coughing, sneezing, or spitting, it is recommended that there will be none of that in the dugout. Further, it is suggested that players in the dugout may not eat and spit-out sunflower seeds. This is likely to change the lifestyle of many players. Many, too many, chew tobacco and must spit out the juices. This could be a major lifestyle change. (Editorial note – And for the good of all!)

Will you watch “America’s Game” in this pandemic season?

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

Jim’s Bobblehead and books are available at Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3).

Contact Jim at P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA. 93953.

See the above website for details.

Thank You!

Jim Tunney Store

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