Want An Easy Job?

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports October 28, 2019 #767 Up next...Want an easy job?On the TunneySide of Sports October 21, 2019, #767 … Want An Easy Job?

After further review… For 31 seasons I was part of the National Football League officiating family as an on-field official, primarily in the position of Referee. As a crew-chief one of my responsibilities was the training of younger officials. Being a life-long educator, I accepted that challenge with eagerness. When an official in our crew made an incorrect call during a game, I took that challenge to help that official improve. Was it mechanics, that is, his position on a particular play that may have been responsible for that error? Or perhaps did he not see the entire action? In either case, we spent time reviewing that play.

The goal of every NFL game official is to work the perfect game, in concert with what every NFL player desires. Perfection, you may be thinking, is highly improbable. However, when one seeks perfection, excellence can be achieved. It is excellence that fans expect of every player and every official. After each game, coaches sit in a room with their players and review, frame-by-frame, every play pointing out how each player can improve. It’s often embarrassing for a player when his error is pointed-out with his teammates watching.

It happens to game officials as well. Not only does the Referee in the crew review and correct a crew member’s error(s), but the league supervisors do as well. Further, fans point out the error — mostly in the media. Want an easy job? It may not be working as an NFL game official.

A few years back, after I had retired from the field, I was invited to serve as a trainer/observer for current game officials, focusing especially on the Referee position. During their pre-season meetings which lasted three-days, I witnessed the dedication of all officials preparing to be at the top of their game mentally, physically and emotionally. The mental part is intensive with hundreds of play situations – both real and hypothetical – deciphering not just the rule as written, but the spirit of rule. Does every infraction merit being called? Did the official see the play and possible infraction in its entirety? If not, should only the part that the official saw be called? A given foul may last only 1-3 seconds in length; then the official must move-on.

The NFL game is a rapidly fluid activity, with 22 very large and quick players moving all at once. The seven NFL officials, somewhat older than the players, must move equally as quick to observe that every play is operated within the rules. Their concentration must not waver.

Will you comment on your observation of NFL game officials?

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If you were unable to attend the book signing at River House Book Store recently ”Yet Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports” is available there for $20 or by sending a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953 includes personalized autograph and free shipping.

This offer is available to the continental United States only.

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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 NFL, Sports | Leave a comment

Tanking

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports October 21, 2019 #766 Up next...TankingOn the TunneySide of Sports October 21, 2019, #766 … Tanking

After further review… As the National Football League approaches its half-way point in the 2019 season, let’s hope your favorite T*E*A*M is in contention in its division to make the post-season playoffs. If not, have they considered tanking! Heavens no, I’m not suggesting it! From the TunneySide point of view, it is the ethics of the whole idea. By definition tanking is playing not to win or just not giving one’s best so that your team finishes at or near the bottom of the standing thereby creating an opportunity to select better players in next year’s NFL draft.

Tanking is morally reprehensible! Perhaps Herm Edwards said it best when he was the head coach of the New York Jets nearly 20 years ago. It was about mid-season and the Jets won-loss record had higher numbers in the loss column. In his weekly press conference, a reporter asked Edwards if he had thought about his team just not giving their best effort and finishing at or near the bottom of their division. Edwards “blew the roof off” as he exploded, “You play to win the game! You don’t just go out and play! Hello, you play to win the game!”

Tanking would never be considered by owners, coaches, and players who place “doing the right thing” versus a need to win-at-any-costs. Has winning overtaken just doing the right thing? The demand to select the highest draftee available is not necessarily the answer. Every team in the NFL has one or perhaps more players who were not high draft choices and who played well.

Here’s a couple of obvious examples:

Quarterback Tom Brady was drafted 199th in the 2000 NFL draft and has led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories. Quarterback Joe Montana, so often in the same conversation with Brady, led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories playing 14 years with the Niners. Joe was a third-round pick in the 1979 draft.

Personnel knowledgeable about drafting players say that it is not necessarily how high the draft pick, but the quality of the individual drafted. Edwards in the book I authored titled “It’s the Will, Not the Skill” emphases the importance of drafting a player who embodies traits that will determine his and his team’s success: Passion! Desire! Effort!

Owners and coaches who focus on “win at any costs” do a disservice to their current players who are asked to give their all without an intent to win. The average tenure for an NFL player is three-plus years and many leave the game with injuries that cripple them later in life.

Will you log-in your comments about tanking?

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If you were unable to attend the book signing at River House Book Store recently ”Yet Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports” is available there for $20 or by sending a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953 includes personalized autograph and free shipping.

This offer is available to the continental United States only.

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

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 NFL, Sports, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Classic Baseball Story

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Lou Gehrig wipes away a tear while speaking during his retirement speech at a sold-out tribute at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939.

After further review… With the 2019 Major League Baseball playoffs in progress, I admit my life-long loyalty to the New York Yankees. Of course, being born and living in California I still like to see our five MLB teams do well. However, as a kid I would listen on the radio (yes, before television!) to the Yankees broadcasts each night as I went to bed. So, I must say “Go Yankees.”

My admiration for Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, and that T*E*A*M still stands tall in my mind. Gehrig, the Yankee’s first baseman played 17 years – his entire career – for New York. Why would he want to play elsewhere? He was nicknamed “The Iron Horse” for this strength and durability. However, what separated Gehrig may be his retirement speech as death was approaching, due to ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) – now called “Lou Gehrig Disease.”

It was 1937, Gehrig was in Chicago where the Yankees were to play the White Sox. A friend asked Lou to pay a visit to a 10-year boy, named Tim, who was in the hospital stricken with polio. Tim was refusing to try therapy. Gehrig was Tim’s hero and Tim’s parents hoped a visit would encourage Tim to go to therapy. Gehrig made that visit and said to Tim, “I want you to get well. Go to therapy and learn to walk again.” Tim said, “Lou, if you will knock a homer for me today, I will go to therapy and learn to walk again.” Lou promised.

Although Gehrig had a career 493 home runs, this request came during the last two years of his career and home runs were not as easy to come by as they are in today’s game. The pressure was mounting as Gehrig rode to the ballpark, yet he felt a deep sense of obligation along with his apprehension. Well, Lou didn’t knock one home run that day. He knocked two!

A short two years later when ALS was taking the life out of the old iron horse the Yankees held a Lou Gehrig Day on July 4, 1939. Yankee Stadium was packed with every dignitary possible. As Lou stepped to the microphone, Tim, now 12, walked out of the Yankees dugout. Dropped his crutches, and with leg braces walked toward Lou at home plate and gave him a hug.

That’s what Gehrig meant when he said those immortal words. “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

Will you step-up-to-the-plate to help a “Tim” who may need your help?

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If you were unable to attend the book signing at River House Book Store recently ”Yet Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports” is available there for $20 or by sending a check to Jim Tunney Youth Foundation (501c3) P.O Box 1440 Pebble Beach, Ca. 93953 includes personalized autograph and free shipping.

This offer is available to the continental United States only.

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

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 | 1 Comment