Time to go Bowl—ing!

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports December 16, 2019 #774 Up next…Time to go Bowl—ing!

After further review… At this writing, there are over 50 NCAA bowl games beginning last weekend and running through January 2020. Are all those necessary? Yes, if you consider three elements: Pride in their school, recruiting the best high school stars, and, of course, financial reward, which may be number one! There are seven bowl games where at least one of the teams had only six victories! My old-school thinking remembers when there were only five bowl games with Orange, Sugar, and Rose played on January 1st, all with winning records.

However, if your college team has been selected to play in a bowl game, you have bragging rights over your rivals and hopefully plan to attend. In some cases, each competing school is required to purchase a given number of tickets in order to swell the attendance. In that scenario, the profit for the school is not as large. No matter what the costs or encumbrances may be, pride comes into play for alumni as well as students.

Disruptions of classes and travel across the country takes a backseat to the value (?) of a bowl game. Members of a schools marching band, in some schools that number can be as many as 200 musicians, all carrying and playing as they march and perform in pregame and half-time formations. If you think playing defensive end or offensive tackle is challenging, try carrying a tuba or a bass drum while marching. Those band members, BTW,  started practice in August before the fall semester at the same time as practice for the football players. It’s a long season.

Incidentally, with regards to students at the games, have you noticed they ALL stand during the game. Yes, they do have seats, but standing is the current style of Gen Z. Adults such as Baby Boomers and others are advised to sit apart, not only for the rowdiness but for a chance to watch the play-of-the-game for which they came. The loudness and constant playing of your teams’ sound percussion marching band drums may also be a consideration.

If you are in San Diego, California for the Holiday Bowl to watch Iowa and U.S.C. play on December 27, 2019, at the Qualcomm Stadium (formerly home of the San Diego Chargers) you can be assured of the incessant playing of the Trojans “Fight On” song accompanied with the “Victory” sign pointing skyward by everyone, including the elderly.

If you happened to be in Bobcat Stadium watching Montana State University play Austin Peay University who traveled from Clarksville, TN to Bozeman for that playoff game last Friday, you could hear the Austin Peay (named after their 1927 governor) fans encouraging their team on by chanting (the Y is silent); “Let’s Go Peay!” – “Let’s Go Peay.” Strange, but full of enthusiasm.

Will you comment on whether the number of college bowl games is excessive?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

To contact Jim, go to JimTunney.com or email Jim@JimTunney.com. Jim’s books are full of inspiration and interesting stories. Please visit his online store to learn more.

Jim’s bobblehead ($30.) and new book “Yet Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports” ($20.) make great Christmas gifts, Send check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c) P.O. Box 1440 Pebble Beach, CA, 93953 includes autograph and free S & H, Have a blessed holiday season.

Jim is available for speaking engagements on leadership and T*E*A*M Building. His books are available for $20 which includes shipping and tax. The Tunney Bobblehead is available for $30. Please visit JimTunney.com. Thank you!

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

America’s Game

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

camera aided sign stealingOn the TunneySide of Sports December 9, 2019 #773 Up next…America’s Game

After further review… Major League Baseball, under the leadership of Commissioner Rob Manfred, is investigating whether the Houston Astros for the past three seasons have been cheating by electronically stealing signs. It is reported that some teams may be using Band-Aid-like stickers on their wrists where batters would receive one-buzz for a fastball or other signals for an off-speed pitch that bench managers picked-up from the opposition. We certainly have entered the 21st century electronic age.

Having played baseball from my youth through college, I can certainly attest that teams have persistently attempted to steal signs from the opponents for types of pitches, base stealing and the like. I mean, it’s part of our national game, isn’t it? We have all watched the bench coaches touch their nose, followed by touching their cap, ear, chest, rubbing their arms, etc., etc., etc., thereby relaying signals to their players of what to expect. Those gyrations are also used to inform players what actions to take, e.g., when to bunt, steal a base, etc.

Further, on-base players try to steal catcher’s signals about what pitch he wants, e.g., fastball, curveball, slider, etc. An opposing player standing on second base attempts to “steal” that sign and relay it to his batter at the plate as a heads-up. Is that illegal? Many will say that’s just part of baseball. Manfred accepts the stealing of signs by those on the field, but not those using electronic devices.

However, we now are deep-seated into electronics, and baseball is changing as we move forward. As a simple example, it used to be when a pitcher wanted to walk-the-batter, he had to throw four pitches outside, where the plate umpire would normally call a ball, the umpire then would signal the batter to “take your base.” In today’s game, the manager or designated bench coach can just signal the umpire to grant that walk without those pitches.

With electronics now in vogue should we allow their use even further? As an example, why not allow the catcher to simply electronically signal his pitcher through a buzzer what pitch he wants? The pitcher can electronically respond with his approval or disapproval. In college and in the NFL on-field officials use an O2O (official to official) voice system to the others in the crew what type of foul was called. It’s meant to speed up the foul-calling procedures.

Should stealing signs in baseball be allowed and if so, what restrictions should be enforced?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports

To contact Jim, go to JimTunney.com or email Jim@JimTunney.com. Jim’s books are full of inspiration and interesting stories. Please visit his online store to learn more. Be sure to get Jim’s book ‘Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports’ by clicking this link or using the email above to contact Jim directly. These TunneySides take issues from real-life situations and relate them as inspiration for the betterment of others. Jim is available for speaking engagements on leadership and T*E*A*M Building. His books are available for $20 which includes shipping and tax. The Tunney Bobblehead is available for $30. Please visit JimTunney.com. Thank you!

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

Job Application

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports December 2, 2019 #772 Up next… Job Application

After further review… This blog/column has taken-up the Colin Kaepernick issue – some may term it a saga–in earlier writings. As you may recall, Kaep was the San Francisco 49ers second-round draftee in 2011 having had a successful college career at the University of Nevada, where he was twice player-of-the-year in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

After being the backup quarterback to Alex Smith in the 2013 season, Kaep became the starter when Smith got hurt. Kaep took that 2013 49ers team to Super Bowl XLVII losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31. Over the next three years, Kaep lost his starting job. In the third pre-season game in the 2016 season, Kaep decided to kneel while the pre-game National Anthem was being played. It was his way of protesting social injustice and systematic oppression in the United States. After three years of continuing his kneeling protest and not being a starter, he opted-out of his 49ers contract and became a free agent in 2017.

Kaepernick, as of this writing, is still a free agent as 32 NFL teams seem unwilling to employ him. As a free agent looking for a “job,” it appears he is not going about seeking employment as most unemployed people do. Granted Kaep’s unemployment may be out of the ordinary. He’s not applying for a job at In and Out Burger – “you want fries with that?” This is the NFL.

Some teams feel that, given Kaep’s protest history, he may be more of a distraction and liability than a productive teammate. Some fans and ticket holders have voiced a dislike for his disrespect of the flag and the tradition of standing during the anthem. Does Kaep have a freedom-of-expression right? Of course, he does. However, since he is doing it on company-time, do teams have a right to insist that he follow reasonable team procedures?

The issue for the TunneySide is not a racial issue or right of expression, but simply one of behavior. Kaep’s recent insistence that whoever was interested in employing him attend the scheduled workout that he set up. It was not an employers’ idea or procedures to establish the workout/interview. Kaep set the time and place for this job interview. Some 25 NFL teams indicated they would attend. At the last minute Kaep changed location and conditions, which didn’t sit well with interested NFL teams. Only eight teams sent representatives.

Will you log-in your thoughts about Kaep’s approach to a job application?

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports

To contact Jim, go to JimTunney.com or email Jim@JimTunney.com. Jim’s books are full of inspiration and interesting stories. Please visit his online store to learn more. Be sure to get Jim’s book ‘Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports’ by clicking this link or using the email above to contact Jim directly. These TunneySides take issues from real-life situations and relate them as inspiration for the betterment of others. Jim is available for speaking engagements on leadership and T*E*A*M Building. His books are available for $20 which includes shipping and tax. The Tunney Bobblehead is available for $30. Please visit JimTunney.com. Thank you!

Posted in Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | 4 Comments