On the TunneySide of Sports
October 17, 2022 #922
Up next…
After further review…
Since Steve Young, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former All-Pro Quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers is prominent on the ESPN Monday Night Football pre-game show each and every Monday night I thought you might like to see a story that he sent me.
“I have often been told that I am a quarterback with the mindset of a running back. People always commented on my ability to scramble, yet that wasn’t always my style. All professional athletes retain vivid memories of events that helped mold them into the players they turn out to be. Here’s the story that marks the beginning of my scrambling career.
“I was nine years old and playing in a competitive game of Pop Warner football. I played running back for the north Mianus (Riverside, Connecticut). We were playing against the Belle Haven Buzzards and our quarterback tossed me the ball. I took a few tentative steps and while I was trying to figure out where I should run, I was tackled. It was an illegal neck tackle that threw me on my back and knocked the wind out of me.
As I tried to catch my breath, I saw my parents run onto the field toward me. I thought, ‘Oh, gosh, please Mom, go back to the sideline’. See, it’s okay to have my dad run onto the field, but it was certainly not cool to have my mother come charging over with him. When they finally reached me, and much to my surprise, as my father bent down to see how I was doing, my mom leapt over me, ran several more yards, and grabbed the kid who had tackled me. She picked him up off the ground by his jersey, she shook him, and shouted, “Don’t you ever neck tackle!”
Needless to say, I was fine but I’m not sure that kid ever recovered from the shock. From that moment forth, I learned to scramble, and quickly. I lived in fear of being tackled and had visions of my mother storming onto the field to reprimand the tackler. So, through a little motivation from my mom, I learned that there are tremendous advantages to scrambling and avoiding tacklers”.
Will you learn proper techniques in playing any game?
To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
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This story was printed in Chicken Soup for the Sports Fans Soul which was co-authored by Dr. Jim Tunney. This book is available on his website (above) for $20 with his personal autograph and as a special – the second book of your choice from his website will be included. Shipping is FREE.
To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
