A Tribute to Andrew Luck

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports September 23, 2019 #762 Up Next...A Tribute to Andrew LuckOn the TunneySide of Sports September 23, 2019, #762 A Tribute to Andrew Luck

After further review… Andrew Luck, formerly #12 of the Indianapolis Colts made a surprise announcement at a preseason game on  August 24, 2019. He decided to retire from his job as the Colts’ quarterback immediately. I fully understood his decision.

In 2015 the Jim Tunney Youth Foundation held a Sportsnight on the Monterey Peninsula to raise funds for youth programs on this peninsula that develop leadership, work skills, wellness, and self-esteem in our young. The foundation was founded in 1993 and regularly held Sportnights that featured sports celebrities who gave of their time and talents to speak to the attendees and sign autographs — all without compensation. Former 49ers Quarterback Joe Montana was the first; followed by Herm Edwards, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young and in 2015 Andrew Luck.

It was a simple phone call to his dad, Oliver Luck, a former Houston Oilers quarterback (1982-86) that connected us to Andrew’s agent which put him in front of an audience of 400-plus, mostly young people. With appropriate introductions, an auction of Colts helmets, #12 Colts jerseys and NFL footballs, our M/C began a Q & A with Andrew. Then Andrew asked is he could walk among the audience and answer questions – only from kids.

Andrew mentioned he had just visited his (Stanford) college professor in architectural design (his college major) to learn nuances in that field. “You see, Andrew said to those young people, I’m 23, I have played three years in the NFL and have no idea how long I can play. So, education for my future is important.” Not only did that point hit-home with the youth, but the adult audience also took note as well. This is the Andrew Luck that I know and that you saw when he announced his retirement. Only the player himself can decide how long he should play.

Those few selfish fans, who were booing his decision, cared more about winning than about  Luck’s health. Many who have commented about that retirement-decision didn’t understand. Knowing him personally, I appreciated his decision. He didn’t start a trend, he joined one.

Will you comment on the decision by Andrew Luck?

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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, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Leave a comment

Talent overrides Character!

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

Antonio BrownOn the TunneySide of Sports September 16, 2019, #761 Talent overrides Character!

After further review… If you have been following the antics of National Football League wide receiver #84 Antonio Brown in his journey from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders to the New England Patriots, you may be as disgusted as many NFL fans have expressed. In a recent sports media panel one well-known panelist said, well, talent overrides character. As my late friend, Dr. Dick Enberg would have said, “Oh, my!”

Is that what has become of the league with whom I have been a part for 60 years? There is no question that superior talent is important for play and to sustain while playing in the NFL, but where does the character of a player, coach or T*E*A*M come in? Many erstwhile NFL fans have written to the TunneySide expressing that disdain for Brown’s actions.

More than one media source, television as well as print, suggested that this was a maneuver that Brown planned and executed himself. The comment was that Brown, who had a dispute with Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, which became the final blow with the T*E*A*M, never did want to go to the Raiders, but was maneuvering the trade system to get to where he is now – the Patriots. Just saying…

The concern here is: does talent override character for players and coaches? If so, what does that relay to our younger athletes who look up to them? In a T*E*A*M sport how important is character in the locker room and in the huddle? Moreover, should the character of a player or coach be a concern for the National Football League?

It is obvious that younger players – Little League to high school to college – want to “be like their professional big brothers.” When the NFL decided it would avoid the criticism of being called the “not-for-fun” league and allow player celebrations, the young took up that challenge and emulated their big brothers. At the high school and college level, it got so out-of-hand that rules now have been put in place to penalize spiking-the-ball and choreographed celebrations. The NFL still allows those acts without penalty.

It is the opinion here that player, coach, and T*E*A*M character is important. Should individual acts that deride character go without consequences? How important is that in our daily lives?

Will you log-in your thoughts about the importance of character in the sports world?

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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 | 1 Comment

What do I do now?

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

On the TunneySide of Sports September 9, 2019 #760 Up next...What do I do now?On the TunneySide of Sports September 9, 2019, #760 What Do I Do Now?

After further review…Let’s hope your past week was a good one. It wasn’t for some 1200 National Football League players. You see, September 1st was “cut-down” day for all 32 NFL teams. When the 2019 NFL regular season started Thursday, September 5th, each team’s roster was limited to 53 players. In addition, a practice squad of 10 players is allowed. During training camp and preseason, teams will have 80-100 players trying-out for those 53 jobs.

“Telling a player that we had to “cut” (release) him, for me, was the most difficult part of being an NFL head coach,” Herm Edwards once told me. Of course, following his 8 years as the head coach of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, Edwards is now in his second year as Head Coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona. He still has similar types of decisions to make for the Sun Devils roster. But in the NFL, it’s the livelihood of those men. While it may be a great disappointment for a college athlete, he’s in school to prepare himself for a career. If he’s an undergraduate, he can try out again next season.

Have you ever been cut or fired from a job? If not, you are missing out on one of life’s most personal challenges. One of the first things that comes to mind when that “grim reaper” appears is: “What do I do now?” Friends and loved ones will tell you: “When one door closes, another one will open?” Yeah, but when your world collapses, you struggle to keep positive. However, begin to look for that next door to open – and it will! It may not open when you want it to, but, as has often been said: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

Hopefully, the person making the decision to fire you is someone who will look you straight in the eye, explain the decision and point out other opportunities – in and out of whatever your current job happens to be. You hope that person making that decision will wish you well and leave the door open for you to call if they can help further. It’s never easy. If, however, you are the one in-charge, be sure you express those feelings to those you are releasing. After all, you did hire/employ that individual and felt at the time it was a good decision. Unless the firing is for egregious behavior, you still are releasing an individual with whom you had confidence.

Will you treat people with dignity no matter what the situation might be?

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If you were unable to attend the book signing at River House Book Store yesterday (Sunday), ”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, Tunney Side of Sports Columns | Tagged | Leave a comment