Fields of Dreams!

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports
October 10, 2022 #921
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After further review… “They will come, daddy,” said Karen Kinsella in the movie “Field of Dreams” to her father, Ray Kinsella, played by Kevin Costner. “Who will come”? Her father questioned. “The people will come to see the baseball game,” said Karen. This was a moment in the movie when some could see players on the field, e.g., Shoeless Joe Jackson, Mel Ott, but others could not see those players. Ray had plowed under his cornfield in Iowa to build this field. He was facing the likelihood of bankruptcy on his farm.

“Bezbawl“, as Terrance Mann, played superbly by James Earl Jones, pronounced it, “is America’s game. People will come to this field, Ray, and ask if they could look around. And you (speaking to Kinsella) would say sure it’s only $20, and they don’t even know why they came.” Field of dreams was built and two major teams played a real major league game there in 2021 and 2022 with the stands fully packed.

Speaking of major league teams – last week the wild card teams and their players had their 2022 MLB season become their fields of dreams as they began to play in MLB playoffs. Isn’t that what every baseball player envisions all season? To play in the playoffs with a chance to play in and win the World Series? Yes, you play to win the game, it has often been said. Nobody remembers who finishes second.

As a kid, my dream was to play major league baseball so, in my youth I played all sports but always kept in mind preparing for baseball. My dad had played in college and was good enough (in the 1920s) to sign a contract with the Oakland Oaks and he did play one year with them — my inspiration was there.

So when Kinsella realized it was his dad on that field, he asked him “Could we have a catch”? It reminded me of when I would say to my dad, “Can we play catch?” (that’s the terminology we used), and dad never turned me down. Our front yard was just about 60 feet and with my old-timer’s wind-up, I would bear down and throw as hard as I could with my best fastball. Dad would catch it bare-handed! It was a solid clue I wasn’t ready for MLB!

Will you deal with setting your dreams, even if they might not come true?

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

Jim’s Bobblehead is available for $30. and includes ONE book FREE from his website & free shipping.

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Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge. 

Shop here.

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

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Violence In Sports

Posted on October 3, 2022 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports
October 3, 2022 #920
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After further review… “Ya gotta knock somebody down.” I could hear Head Coach Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers yell from the sidelines as I refereed games during my 31-year career as an NFL referee when I officiated games in Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lombardi, one of ‘The Seven Blocks of Granite’ of Fordham University’s 1930s football team, was shouting to encourage his players that they must block and tackle during the game if they want to win. Lombardi’s method of blocking and tackling was solely with their shoulders and body – never with their helmets or head. Of course, in those days players helmets were of made of leather.

Today’s NFL players are using Riddell helmets made of plastic as are college and high school players. That often gives the players a false sense of safety which they believe allows them protection from injury. Blocking and tackling with the crown of the helmet is an unsportsmanlike conduct foul (15-yard penalty) and can often be called “targeting” leading to disqualification. Further, and more importantly, that type of contact can lead to cervical and spinal injuries with life-threatening results. The use of the helmet for tackling and blocking is highly discouraged at all levels of football.

Football is not the only sport that lends itself to aggressive play. Soccer, which is more frequently called football elsewhere, is a popular sport in the U.S. as well and is considered a contact sport.

These players are not wearing football-type uniforms yet make physical-type contact while the ball is in play. Further, soccer players often use their heads as use of their hands while the ball is in-play is illegal. The ball is often traveling some 30 plus MPH when contacting a player’s head. No foul is called for use of the head.

Basketball must be labelled a contact sport as well. I heard a former NBA and now Hall-of-Fame player who is a current NBA announcer say on television, “Ya gotta knock somebody down.” No, it was not Coach Lombardi. But he was sincere in his commentary. Do fans want to see that type of play in basketball? Evidently, they do as the NBA style is fast-growing and adopted by colleges and high schools.

Violent events are displayed by television programs that fill a large majority of our days. Do we want to accept this as normal or acceptable behavior?

Will you do all you can to avoid and even prevent violence in your world?

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

Jim’s Bobblehead is available for $30. and includes ONE book FREE from his website & free shipping.

—————

Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge. 

Shop here.

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

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Don’t Widen The Plate

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports
September 26, 2022 #919
Up next…

After further review…

You may have heard the story about Coach John Scolinos before, but as we move into the MLB playoffs, I’m reminded of it as rule changes are contemplated.

Some 4,000 baseball coaches were in attendance at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee for their annual convention when one name, John Scolinos, kept resurfacing.

“Oh man,” said one, “I look forward to hearing him.” Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and had been retired from college after coaching for more than 40 years. As he shuffled onto the stage, he wore a string from which a full-sized, stark-white home plate hung around his neck. After speaking for about 20 minutes, the crowd began snickering about that home plate and thought Scolinos had perhaps forgotten he had it still hanging there.

Finally, he said, “You’re probably wondering why I’m wearing this home plate?” He didn’t wait for their answer, but continued, “I stand before you about what I’ve learned in my 78 years about home plate.”

Scolinos then asked, “How many Little League coaches are in the room?” Many hands went up.

“And how wide is the home plate in Little League?” Someone shouted, “17 inches.”

“That’s right!” And then he said, “How many Babe Ruth coaches are here? How wide is that home plate?”

“17 inches” was shouted.

“How many high school coaches and how wide is that home plate?”

“17 inches,” came the answer.

“And those of you who coach in college?”

A prominent college coach said, “17.”

“And in our major leagues, it is 17 inches,” coach Scolinos shouted back.

“And what do they do with a big-league pitcher who can’t throw the ball over 17 inches? They send him to Pocatello! What they don’t say is ‘Ah, that’s OK, Jimmy. If you can’t hit 17 inches we’ll just widen the plate to 18 or 19 or 20 inches. Just let us know what you need.

“What do we do when our best player shows up late to practice? Or he gets caught drinking?  Do we hold him accountable? Or do we change the rules to fit him? Do we widen the plate?”

The coaches were astounded to have come to a convention, perhaps to learn about curveballs and bunting and how to hold better practices, but learned something far more valuable – from an old man with a home plate strung around his neck. They were all learning something about themselves, and about their responsibilities as a leader.

Will you hold yourself accountable to those 17 inches in all that you do?

To see a video of coach John Scolinos’ presentation visit YouTube.

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Jim’s Bobblehead is still available for $30. He has added one of his books (your choice – you pick one from his website www.jimtunney.com) at no extra charge. 

Shop here.

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

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