The NBA – a loooong season!

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

Warriors complaining too muchOn the TunneySide of Sports April 29, 2019 #741 The NBA – a loooong season!!

After further review… The National Basketball Association is in the midst of its 2019 playoffs to determine which T*E*A*M will be crowned its 73rd champion. Perhaps you’ve noticed that tempers flare-up! In fact, tempers of players, coaches, and even game officials have been out of control for a month or so. The NBA season started in October 2018 – more than one-half-year –with those mentioned above having been contained in a 50’ x 94 ’ area.

While my interest in basketball started as a youth, it centered mostly on high school and college. I was fortunate to have played and officiated at both levels. Professional basketball was not in my southern California roots in my early years. When the NBA marched toward So. Cal., I took an interest in the Los Angeles Lakers – the Clippers had not yet been created.

My current interest is the Golden State Warriors with their games being televised in my area.  I have been a fan of head coach Steve Kerr, not only because I met him years ago and followed his playing career, but primarily because I admire his coaching style. His success certainly rivals those of Hall of Fame careers.

I am dismayed – albeit disgusted – and have been for much of this season, as well as in previous years, at the constant complaining to game officials. The Warriors are currently a very successful franchise. They are seeking their third consecutive NBA championship. However, if you didn’t know their record of championships, you’d think they had a losing record. Has a target been placed on their backs?

The NBA fined Draymond Green ($35,000), Steph Curry ($25,000) and Kevin Durant ($15,000) for openly criticizing officiating in the Warriors loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves (March 31). These are three of the Warriors best players and respected by opponents and fans throughout the league. Sure, maybe several calls went against the Warriors, but they know that will happen. They need to understand that is part of today’s NBA game.

When you are a losing team, your tempers get short and complaints are somewhat understandable. However, when you win as often as the Warriors do, it is important to maintain poise and confidence no matter how many officials’ calls don’t go in your favor.

Further, and most importantly here, as a winning team, you attract the attention of younger players. The youth admire that you have a high percentage of 3-point shots; how unselfish your teamwork is; how ball movement determines your success; and how much fun you have in playing. Those same admirers also observe your on-court behavior.

Will you comment about how professional players’ attitude and behavior influence youth?

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 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. Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports 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!

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Up Next… Pandora!

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports April 22, 2019 #740 Up Next... Pandora!On the TunneySide of Sports April 22, 2019 #740 Up next… Pandora!

After further review… Pandora’s box is an artifact in Greek mythology taken from the myth in Pandora’s creation of Hesiod’s Works and Days. The “box” was actually a jar given to Pandora and when she opened it all the evils flew out, leaving only hope inside. The meaning of Pandora’s name, a mixture of variant early myths, is either “all-gifted’ or “all-giving”,

Either definition may apply to “Muffet” McGraw (actually Ann O’Brien McGraw) currently the successful head coach of Notre Dame University women’s basketball T*E*A*M, where she has compiled a 905-272 (.769) record during her 32-year tenure. She has achieved just about every award and recognition possible in the world of women’s collegiate basketball.

The curious want to know, how the name “Muffet” has been attributed to her. It has been claimed that it comes from the nursery rhyme written by Dr. Thomas Muffet, a noted entomologist writing about one of his patients. You take it from there. Anyway…

Muffet was not shy about opening Pandora’s jar. In a news conference prior to the recent NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four held in Tampa, Florida. McGraw was asked about equal pay for women, whereby she spoke with vitriol about women not having equal power as men. “Men run the world. Men have all the power”, said McGraw. She didn’t stop there and followed with “I would never hire a male assistant.” The conference room went silent.

McGraw continued, “We need our young women to look up to other women as role models and there are not enough women in government or in positions of power for that to happen.” In light of equal opportunity in our country, does McGraw have that right? The opinion here is that she does. In men’s NCAA basketball, the vast majority of men’s head coaches hire male assistants. In some men’s sports female are pressuring for positions on all-male staffs.

Does the McGraw tirade get an “Atta Girl” rating? Or does the equal opportunity law apply here? I learned a long time ago that “there is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.” (Ed. Note: Please go back and read that again) The fair thing to do – the equal thing to do – is to give people what they need. Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same thing. Fair means everyone deserves what they need.

Will you log-in on the McGraw philosophy in light of equal opportunity?

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 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. Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports 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!

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March “Coaches” Madness!

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Jim Tunney Ed.D

On the TunneySide of Sports April 15, 2019 #739 Up Next...March “Coaches” Madness!On the TunneySide of Sports April 15, 2019 #739 Up next… March “Coaches” Madness!

After further review… ’Hope you enjoyed the NCAA Final Four last week, but please don’t respond by saying your tournament bracket had all four of those teams! If so, you should be buying Powerball tickets. There’s no question that the Spartans, Tigers, and Red Raiders provided unexpected thrills! Congratulations to the Virginia Cavaliers 2019 NCAA Champions, the first time in Virginia’s history. However, Texas Tech should keep their heads held high as they provided an outstanding – and overtime – final game.

Having played, coached and officiated basketball at the high school and college levels, I have always loved the game for its strategies, finesse, and athleticism. However, the power vs finesse style of play in today’s game leaves me wanting. Players in today’s college game are “on-the-floor” during almost every transition – that’s what is called up and down the court now – transition. Dr. Naismith didn’t envision it that way.

The physical contact by the defense, both on the man (we’ll leave the girls/women’s game for another time) with the ball as well as contact away from the ball is beyond a reasonable game of basketball. With the height of players today, the game is played above the rim, so dunking (never did like that) the ball becomes a necessity. The 3-point shot has kept the game wide-open with players cutting, screening and using the pick-and-roll. However, driving to the basket has made the game officials’ call of charging vs blocking an impossible task.

My personal college officiating experience, albeit some 40 -50 years ago, at the Divisional One level was with coaches John Wooden, U.C.L.A. and Pete Newall, Cal/Berkeley to name just a couple. I learned from both that coaching takes place throughout the week with the game being a place to sit, strategize and enjoy. However, in today’s college game most coaches don’t “sit.” They’re on their feet screaming at their players and officials. Some are even in-the-ear of the closest official berating him while the game is on-going.

You probably are aware there is a coaches box (that line about 15-20 feet from the center court line) wherein coaches, by rule, are supposed to remain –except they don’t. Moreover, some are even on the court itself, which is a “T” (technical foul). In one “MM” game, an official stopped the game and warned the coach to stay off the court. He did, but reluctantly.

Will you log-in your thoughts about today’s college basketball game?

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 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. Another 101 Best of TunneySide of Sports 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 | 1 Comment